Self-balancing wheel

• US 20060226696A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gordon Bruce Jones
• Original Assignee: Gordon Bruce Jones
• Inventors: Jones, Gordon Bruce
• Application Number:
  US11/093,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20060226696A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 301/5.220
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/36 operating automatically , i.e. where, for a given amount of unbalance, there is movement of masses until balance is achieved damping vibrations of washing machines by displacing, supplying or ejecting a material, e.g. liquid, into or from counterbalancing pockets D06F37/245
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/36 by adjusting position of masses built-in the body to be tested

Abstract

This invention relates to a method of balancing a rotating mass mounted on a compliant axis. This method uses acceleration vector information, extracted only from points on said mass while in motion, to determine the relocation of movable weights mounted on said mass. The shifting of these weights causes the center of gravity to coincide with the intended center of rotation which, in turn, causes the mass to be dynamically balanced.

Claims

1. A method for dynamically balancing a rotating member about a compliant axis comprising the steps of:

a) detecting and quantifying, from locations on said member, vectors of acceleration, and

b) using said vectors to re-position self-powered balancing weights about said member,

c) whereby said rotating member will achieve a state of dynamic balance.

2. A self-balancing rotating assembly comprised of

a) a rotating member mounted on a compliant axis,

b) a plurality of sensors mounted in or on said member, each of which detects and measures vectors of acceleration,

c) a plurality of self-powered balancing weights which, using said vectors, reposition themselves about said member.

3. A wheel-balancing kit for installation on a vehicle wheel comprising:

a) one annular ring which is affixed to said wheel in a circumferential manner,

b) not less than two but not more than three sensors, each of which detects and measures vectors of acceleration,

c) not less than two but not more than three self-powered balancing weights, each said weight corresponding to only one said sensor, and each said sensor corresponding to only one said weight.

4. A wheel-balancing kit for installation as in claim 3 wherein the numbers of said annular rings, sensors and weights are doubled, with the duplicate set of components being mounted in said circumferential manner, but on a plane substantially different from the first.