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CA-2573912-C - WHEEL BALANCER HAVING LASER-ASSISTED WEIGHT PLACEMENT SYSTEM

CA2573912CCA 2573912 CCA2573912 CCA 2573912CCA-2573912-C

Abstract

A wheel balancer for balancing a wheel having a rim and tire. The wheel balancer comprises a chassis and a driven shaft extending away from the chassis for rotating the wheel. An A&D arm, pivotal and axially extendible with respect to the chassis, is also provided. A first laser device is operable to produce a laser spot at a desired weight placement location on an inner surface of the rim. The first laser device is manipulable by an operator to move the laser spot to the desired weight placement location. A second laser device is attached to the A&D arm and movable therewith. The second laser device produces a visible marker on the inner surface of the rim for determining when the A&D arm is in a plane of the desired weight placement location.

Inventors

  • CARPENTER DAVID M
  • TRUEX DON A
  • CUNNINGHAM CHARLES L
  • LABORDE BRIAN W

Assignees

  • HENNESSY IND

Dates

Publication Date
20141216
Application Date
20070112
Priority Date
20060112

Claims (12)

  1. 1. A wheel balancer for balancing a wheel having a rim and tire, said wheel balancer comprising: a chassis; a driven shaft extending away from said chassis for rotating the wheel; a first laser device mounted at a fixed location relative to said chassis; said first laser device being operable to produce a laser spot at a desired weight placement location on an inner surface of the rim; an A&D arm; and a second laser device attached to said A&D arm and movable therewith, said second laser device producing a visible marker on said inner surface of the rim for determining when said A&D arm is in a plane of the desired weight placement location.
  2. 2. A wheel balancer as set forth in claim 1, said first laser device being manipulable by an operator to move said laser spot to said desired weight placement location.
  3. 3. A wheel balancer as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first laser device includes a rotatable adjustment knob for moving said laser spot.
  4. 4. A wheel balancer as set forth in claim 2, wherein said first laser device is located adjacent said driven shaft.
  5. 5. A wheel balancer as set forth in claim 2, wherein said laser spot will impinge said inner surface of said rim in a lower hemisphere thereof.
  6. 6. A wheel balancer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said wheel balancer further includes a mechanism for determining a plane location and wheel diameter of said laser spot.
  7. 7. A wheel balancer as set forth in claim 6, wherein said mechanism comprises an A&D arm.
  8. B. A wheel balancer as set forth in claim 7, wherein said visible marker is a line transverse to an axis of rotation of said wheel.
  9. 9. A wheel balancer as set forth in claim 8, wherein said second laser device is mounted such that said line will be in alignment with an outer edge of a head of said A&D arm.
  10. 10. A wheel balancer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first laser device is operative to indicate an angular location for placement of said corrective weight after imbalance of said heel has been determined.
  11. 11. A wheel balancer as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first laser device indicates said angular location by blinking said spot as said wheel is rotated such that said spot is closer to said angular location.
  12. 12. A wheel balancer as set forth in claim 11, wherein said first laser device constantly illuminates said spot when said spot is at said angular location.

Description

CA 02573912 2007-01-121WHEEL BALANCER RAVING LASER-ASSISTEDWEIGHT PLACEMENT SYSTEMBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to the art of wheel balancers. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electro-mechanical wheel balancer having a laser-assisted weight placement system.Electro-mechanical wheel balancers have been well known in the vehicle repair trade for many years. These machines often include a chassis in the form of a cabinet in which various components and systems are housed. An imbalanced wheel is attached to a rotatable shaft that extends from the chassis, typically using various mounting cones or other adapters. The shaft is rotatably driven by a suitable drive system (such as a direct drive motor) to create a dynamic imbalance condition. In addition, prior art balancing systems have included an A&D arm that assists in measuring the wheel and determining the locations of the corrective weights. These machines have further included sensors to detect the wheel imbalance forces and electronic circuitry to analyze the forces and display an amount of weight needed to balance the wheel.It is well known in the art to attach corrective weights (typically clip weights) of various masses to the outer and inner flange of a wheel to balance the wheel. After spinningCA 02573912 2007-01-12 2the wheel to determine the dynamic imbalance, if any, the wheel balancer may resolve the imbalance vector into two opposite vectors corresponding to the positions on the two wheel flanges (outer and inner) where the weights are to be placed.When using this type of balancer, the operator defines the locations where the corrective weights can be applied by using the A&D arm. The machine then rotates the wheel mass and calculates an effective amount of corrective weight based on the available locations inputted by the user and the wheel's imbalance characteristics. Next, the operator places a corrective weight at top dead center on each of the flanges in an amount calculated by the machine.The recent development of wheels without flanges has complicated the operator's task of installing corrective weights. When balancing wheels without flanges, the weights may need to be placed in "hidden- locations on the wheel. In many situations, one corrective weight (a clip weight) is placed on the inner flange of the wheel and another weight (an adhesive weight) is attached to the inner surface of the wheel hub in aplane just behind the spokes or center disk of the wheel. The closer proximity of the corrective planes in this configuration may require that the weights be larger and more accurately placed on the wheel.CA 02573912 2007-01-12 3A challenge in placing hidden weights on the inner surface of the wheel is accurately placing the weight at the location prescribed by the machine. If the adhesive weight is mislocated, then the wheel will show an imbalance when a check spin is performed. Attaching adhesive weights is alsocomplicated by difficulties in locating the proper radial position for the clip weight on the interior flange and freeing the area of the adhesive weight of grease, typically near the 12 o'clock position on the wheel's inner surface. Because the adhesive weights are one-time use only, replacing and discarding mislocated weights can lead to additional expense. Thus, correctly placing the weight on the first attempt may help reduce time and cost.Many attempts to solve the above-mentioned problems havebeen made. For example, some balancer manufacturers have provided an arm which assists in mounting the corrective adhesive weight. These systems are often cumbersome because the weight needs to be attached near the 12 o'clock position and is therefore not visible to the operator during placement.Other prior art techniques include the following: (1) Theuse of a laser over the top of the tire that creates a line across the top of the tire to help the operator in placing the corrective weight at top dead center. (2) Brakes on the wheel spindle to help the operator in placement of the correctiveCA 02573912 2007-01-12 4weights at top dead center. (3) Alone or in combination with (2), a measuring arm that stops at the correct inboard outboard location to help the operator in placing the weight at top dead center. (4) An audible sound buzzer to help the operator in placing the corrective weight at the proper location. (5) An arm that places the weight on the wheel at the correct location. When the wheel stops after the first spin, the operator places the correct amount of weight in the A&D arm device and it automatically places the weight at the correct location on the wheel rim.Another prior art method uses a laser to guide the operator to the location on the inside of the wheel where the weight is to be placed. The placement of the laser beam is accomplished with the help of a mechanical servo system. The laser is mounted to the end of a small tube that translates in and out of the inside of the