PARAMETER DETECTION SYSTEM

• US 20090267784A1
• Filed: 03/11/2009
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Equipment S.r.l. (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Equipment S.r.l. (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Inventors: TRALLI, Marco, SOTGIU, Paolo, BRAGHIROLI, Francesco
• Granted Patent: US 8,169,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/002 for measuring two or more coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/58 Wireless transmission of information between a sensor or probe and a control or evaluation unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/16 by oscillating or rotating the body to be tested
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/326 the body being a vehicle wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/02 Tyres

Abstract

The present invention refers to a parameter detection system for detecting in a non-mechanical manner at least one parameter of an object (1) to be examined. The parameter detection system includes a mounting device (2) for holding the object, and a mobile unit (14) which is freely movable and adapted for indicating a position on the object. A sensing means is provided for sensing the position on the object indicated by the mobile unit and for outputting corresponding detection signals indicative of the sensed position. A calculation means (13) is provided for calculating the at least one parameter from the position on object based on the detection signals.

Claims

1. Parameter detection system for detecting in a non-mechanical manner at least one parameter of an object (1) to be examined or treated, comprising:

a mounting device (2) adapted for holding said object (1),

a mobile unit (14) adapted for indicating a position on said object,

sensing means (10, 11;

14, 20;

23, 24, 25) adapted for sensing said position on said object (1) indicated by said mobile unit (14) and outputting corresponding detection signals indicative of said position, and

calculation means (13) adapted for calculating said at least one parameter from said position on said object (1) based on said detection signals.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein said object (1) is a wheel assembly including at least a rim (4) and a tire (5), and the mounting device (2) is a wheel balancing apparatus or a tyre changer.

3. System according to claim 1, wherein said at least one parameter of said object (1) is calculated relative to a reference point or a reference plane (9) related to said object.

4. System according to claim 1, wherein said mobile unit (14) includes an illumination means (15) for illuminating said predetermined position (19) on said object (1), and said sensor means include at least two image pickup means (10, 11) for picking-up images of said illuminated position (19) on said object.

5. System according to claim 4, wherein said at least two image pickup means (10, 11) supply the picked-up images of said illuminated position on said object (1) to said calculation means (13) connected thereto to calculate from said images the spatial coordinates of said predetermined position (19) on said object (1) from which said at least one parameter is calculated.

6. System according to claim 4, wherein said at least two image pickup means (10, 11) form a stereo pair of cameras.

7. System according to one of claims 4 to 6, wherein said illumination means (15) includes at least one of a laser means or an LED-based illumination means.

8. System according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said mobile unit (14) is a handheld device and is freely movable within a predetermined working space related to said object (1).

9. System according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said mobile unit (14) comprises a switching means (18) for instructing said calculation means (13) to perform calculations of said at least one parameter of the object (1) based on the actual position indicated by said mobile unit (14).

10. System according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said sensor means include a plurality of receivers (20) for receiving signals emitted from said mobile unit (14).

11. System according to claim 10, wherein said signals emitted by said mobile unit (14) include at least one of ultrasonic signals or radio frequency signals.

12. System according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said receivers (20) are adapted for generating detection signals based on said received signals, and for supplying said detection signals to said calculation means (13) connected to said plurality of receivers (20) to calculate from said detection signals the spatial coordinates of said predetermined position on said object (1) from which said at least one parameter is calculated.

13. System according to claim 10, further comprising a reference position (22) to which the mobile unit (14) can be placed to perform calibration or presetting of the system.

14. System according to one of claims 10 to 13, wherein said system includes at least three receivers (20) each located at a predetermined position, and wherein said at least one parameter related to said object (1) is detected by time-of-flight trilateration.

15. System according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said sensor means (23, 24, 25) are arranged in said mobile unit (14) and include at least two sensors (23, 24) for continuously sensing a linear and an angular orientation of said mobile unit (14) which is freely movable in all degrees of freedom.

16. System according to claim 15, further comprising a reference position (22) to which said mobile unit (14) can be placed to perform a calibration and presetting of said at least two sensors (23, 24).

17. System according to claim 1 and 2, wherein the mounting device (2) comprises a shaft (6) onto which the wheel assembly is to be fixed.