Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A vehicle tire and wheel balancing system for indicating the amount and position of weights needed for proper wheel balance, said system comprising: a housing; a cylindrical member horizontally positioned within said housing; pivot means supported by said housing and supporting a point on said cylindrical member's circumference located approximately midway to the length of said cylindrical member; suspension means attaching said cylindrical member to said housing, said suspension means restricting the vertical movement of said cylindrical member; a rotatable shaft coaxially journaled within said cylindrical member for rotation therein, said shaft having a first end extending therefrom for concentrically mounting a vehicle wheel thereto; shaft rotating means coupled to the second end of said shaft for rotating said shaft; a speed sensor coupled to said shaft, said sensor generating an electric signal indicative of the rotational velocity of said shaft; at least one transducer coupled to said cylindrical member to sense the amplitude of horizontal oscillatory vibrations in shaft resulting from imbalances in a rotating vehicle wheel mounted on the first end of said shafts, said transducer generating electrical signals indicative of said imbalances; and computing means responsive to said speed sensor and said transducer for computing and indicating the balance weights necessary for eliminating said imbalances.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
A vehicle tire and wheel balancing system for indicating the amount and position of weights needed for proper wheel balance, said system comprising: a housing; a cylindrical member horizontally positioned within said housing; pivot means supported by said housing and supporting a point on said cylindrical member's circumference located approximately midway to the length of said cylindrical member; suspension means attaching said cylindrical member to said housing, said suspension means restricting the vertical movement of said cylindrical member; a rotatable shaft coaxially journaled within said cylindrical member for rotation therein, said shaft having a first end extending therefrom for concentrically mounting a vehicle wheel thereto; shaft rotating means coupled to the second end of said shaft for rotating said shaft; a speed sensor coupled to said shaft, said sensor generating an electric signal indicative of the rotational velocity of said shaft; at least one transducer coupled to said cylindrical member to sense the amplitude of horizontal oscillatory vibrations in shaft resulting from imbalances in a rotating vehicle wheel mounted on the first end of said shafts, said transducer generating electrical signals indicative of said imbalances; and computing means responsive to said speed sensor and said transducer for computing and indicating the balance weights necessary for eliminating said imbalances.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The balancing system claimed in claim 1 further including a brake drum connected to said shaft, and a manually operable brake shoe for cooperating with said drum for slowing the rotational velocity for said shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The balancing system claimed in claim 1 wherein said cylindrical member is elongated and wherein said shaft is journalled for rotation within said member near each end of said member and wherein said ends are restricted in a horizontal direction by first and second transducers adjacent each exterior end surface of said member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The balancing system claimed in claim 3 further including first and second adjustable pins adjacent said first and second transducers and threaded through a wall of said housing and engaging radial holes in said cylindrical member for preventing rotation of said member, said pins having adjustable springs exerting a bias force against the exterior walls of said cylindrical member for providing adjustment sensitivity control for said first and second transducers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wheel balancing system claimed in claim 1 wherein said shaft rotating means is a manually operated crank.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The balancing system claimed in claim 1 further comprising a releasable shaft clutch intercoupling said shaft with said shaft rotating means, and wherein said computing means is further operative to release said shaft clutch at a predetermined rotational velocity of said shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The balancing system claimed in claim 1 wherein said pivot means includes a ball bearing supported by said housing and supporting said cylindrical member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The balancing system claimed in claim 1 wherein said suspension means includes a pair of leaf springs coupled at their upper ends to said housing and coupled at their lower ends to said cylindrical member.