US4149416A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Balancing machine spindle mounting
Assignee: Repco Ltd
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Filing: 1977-09-12
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Granted: 1979-04-17
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Expires: 1997-09-12
Abstract
Abstract A spindle mounting for a wheel balancing machine of the kind in which the spindle is arranged substantially horizontal and has a cantilevered end portion for receiving a wheel to be balanced. The mounting includes a housing for rotatably supporting the spindle, and flexible support means connecting that housing to a base which is securable to a frame of the balancing machine. The support means includes at least three elongate support members which extend transverse to the spindle axis and are arranged in spaced side by side relationship, and an elongate restraining member arranged substantially parallel to the spindle. The support members are connected between the housing and base to provide column supports for the housing, and the restraining member has its opposite end portions connected to the housing and base respectively to hold the housing against endwise movement relative to the base. Each support member and the restraining member has sufficiently low lateral stiffness to permit relatively free lateral movement of the housing relative to the base in a plane extending transverse to the support members. A pair of force transducers are secured to the base and are connected to the housing through elongate reactor members so as to respond to lateral movement of the housing by generating a signal characteristic of the force causing that movement, and each reactor member is elongate and has sufficiently low lateral stiffness to substantially limit the transducer response to those forces acting in the aforementioned plane laterally of the spindle.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerhart W. Harant
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:56
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M1/00; G01M1/02; G01M1/04; G01M1/045; G01M1/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
A balancing machine spindle mounting including: a housing; a spindle rotatably mounted on said housing and having a cantilevered end portion projecting beyond said housing to receive a workpiece to be balanced; a support base; flexible support means connecting said housing and base and including, at least three elongate support members which extend transverse to the axis of said spindle and are arranged in spaced side by side relationship, said support members being connected between said housing and base to provide column supports for said housing, and each said support member has sufficient low lateral stiffness to permit relatively free movement of said housing relative to said base in all directions within a plane extending transverse to said support members; and an elongate restraining member arranged substantially parallel to said spindle and having opposite end portions connected to said housing and base respectively so as to restrain said housing against endwise movement relative to said base in the axial direction of the spindle, and said restraining member having sufficiently low lateral stiffness to permit relatively free movement of said housing relative to said base in all other said directions within said plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
A balancing machine spindle mounting including: a housing; a spindle rotatably mounted on said housing and having a cantilevered end portion projecting beyond said housing to receive a workpiece to be balanced; a support base; flexible support means connecting said housing and base and including, at least three elongate support members which extend transverse to the axis of said spindle and are arranged in spaced side by side relationship, said support members being connected between said housing and base to provide column supports for said housing, and each said support member has sufficient low lateral stiffness to permit relatively free movement of said housing relative to said base in all directions within a plane extending transverse to said support members; and an elongate restraining member arranged substantially parallel to said spindle and having opposite end portions connected to said housing and base respectively so as to restrain said housing against endwise movement relative to said base in the axial direction of the spindle, and said restraining member having sufficiently low lateral stiffness to permit relatively free movement of said housing relative to said base in all other said directions within said plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A spindle mounting according to claim 1, further including transducer means arranged to respond to lateral movement of said spindle in said plane so as to provide a signal characteristic of the force urging said spindle laterally from a mean position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A spindle mounting according to claim 2, wherein said transducer means is rigidly connected to said base and responds to said spindle lateral movement through reactor means connected to said housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A spindle mounting according to claim 3, wherein said transducer means includes two force transducers which are connected to said base so as to be spaced apart in the axial direction of said spindle, each said force transducer being located adjacent a respective opposite end of said housing, and said reactor means includes two reactor members, each of which is connected to a respective said force transducer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
A spindle mounting according to claim 4, wherein each said reactor member is elongate and has its opposite ends connected to a said force transducer and said housing respectively, each said reactor member has its axis substantially parallel to said plane and arranged transverse to said spindle axis, and each said reactor member has sufficiently low lateral stiffness to substantially limit said transducer response to those forces acting in said plane laterally of said spindle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A spindle mounting according to claim 5, wherein said transducers are located on one side of said housing, and said reactor members are connected to the opposite side of said housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A spindle mounting according to claim 3, wherein said reactor means is connected to said housing through said support members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A spindle mounting according to claim 4, wherein said spindle is rotatably mounted in two bearings spaced apart in the axial direction of said spindle and which are rigidly connected together through said housing, and each said transducer is arranged adjacent a respective said bearing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A spindle mounting according to claim 1, wherein two pair of said support members are provided, each said pair being located adjacent a respective opposite end of said housing, and the support members of each said pair are located at respective opposite sides of said housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A spindle mounting according to claim 9, wherein the support members of each said pair are located substantially the same distance from the axis of said spindle, and said restraining member is arranged with its axis substantially midway between the support members of each said pair.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A spindle mounting according to claim 1, wherein each said support member has a portion of reduced cross-sectional size intermediate its ends, and said reduced portion is of circular cross-section and constitutes a substantial part of the length of the respective said support member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A spindle mounting according to claim 1, wherein said restraining member is connected to said housing adjacent one end of the housing and is connected to said base adjacent the opposite end of said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
243 words
A balancing machine including: a main frame; a spindle housing connected to said main frame through flexible support means; a spindle rotatably mounted on said housing and having a cantilevered end portion projecting beyond said housing to receive a workpiece to be balanced; drive means connected to said spindle and being operative to cause rotation thereof; transducer means secured to said main frame and being responsive to movement of said housing relative to said frame to generate a signal characteristic of the force causing such movement; said flexible support means including at least three elongate support members which extend transverse to the axis of said spindle and are arranged in spaced side by side relationship, said support members being connected between said housing and main frame to provide column supports for said housing, and each said support member has sufficiently low lateral stiffness to permit relatively free movement of said housing relative to said main frame in all directions within a plane extending transverse to said support members; and an elongate restraining member arranged substantially parallel to said spindle and having opposite end portions connected to said housing and main frame respectively so as to restrain said housing against endwise movement relative to said main frame in the axial direction of the spindle, and said restraining member having sufficiently low lateral stiffness to permit relatively free movement of said housing relative to said main frame in all other said directions within said plane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
243 words
A balancing machine including: a main frame; a spindle housing connected to said main frame through flexible support means; a spindle rotatably mounted on said housing and having a cantilevered end portion projecting beyond said housing to receive a workpiece to be balanced; drive means connected to said spindle and being operative to cause rotation thereof; transducer means secured to said main frame and being responsive to movement of said housing relative to said frame to generate a signal characteristic of the force causing such movement; said flexible support means including at least three elongate support members which extend transverse to the axis of said spindle and are arranged in spaced side by side relationship, said support members being connected between said housing and main frame to provide column supports for said housing, and each said support member has sufficiently low lateral stiffness to permit relatively free movement of said housing relative to said main frame in all directions within a plane extending transverse to said support members; and an elongate restraining member arranged substantially parallel to said spindle and having opposite end portions connected to said housing and main frame respectively so as to restrain said housing against endwise movement relative to said main frame in the axial direction of the spindle, and said restraining member having sufficiently low lateral stiffness to permit relatively free movement of said housing relative to said main frame in all other said directions within said plane.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
92 words
A balancing machine according to claim 13, wherein transducer means is connected to said main frame and arranged to respond to said housing lateral movement by generating a signal characteristic of the force urging said housing from a mean position, said transducer means including two force transducers which are connected to said main frame so as to be spaced apart in the axial direction of said spindle, each said force transducer being located adjacent a respective opposite end of said housing, and being connected to said housing through a respective reactor member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
75 words
A balancing machine according to claim 14, wherein each said reactor member is elongate and has its opposite ends connected to a said force transducer and said housing respectively, each said reactor member has its axis substantially parallel to said plane and arranged transverse to said spindle axis, and each said reactor member has sufficiently low lateral stiffness to substantially limit said transducer response to those forces acting in said plane laterally of said spindle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A balancing machine according to claim 15, wherein said spindle is rotatably mounted in two bearings spaced apart in the axial direction of said spindle and which are rigidly connected together through said housing, and each said transducer is arranged adjacent a respective said bearing.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
71 words
A balancing machine according to claim 13, wherein two pair of said support members are provided, each said pair being located adjacent a respective opposite end of said housing with the support members thereof located at respective opposite sides of said housing and at substantially the same distance from the spindle axis, and said restraining member is arranged with its axis substantially midway between the support members of each said pair.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-04-16 | 1982-10-16 | 1983-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-04-16 | 1986-10-16 | 1987-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-04-16 | 1990-10-16 | 1991-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |