Defective wheel bearing detection device

• US 20110113882A1
• Filed: 11/18/2009
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joe French
• Original Assignee: Joe French
• Inventors: French, Joe
• Granted Patent: US 8,555,723 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/593
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/045 Acoustic or vibration analysis

Abstract

A front wheel drive bearing defect amplifier is attached to a wheel gauge mount. The amplifier includes a magnet which is positioned approximately at the center of the wheel assembly. A spacing block, including a hollow aluminum handle, is pivotally mounted onto the magnet. A shaft or pin interconnects the magnet and the aluminum block and allows rotation of the magnet, in fixed engagement with the wheel assembly. The shaft is loosely fitted through a hole in the block. Opposite ends of the shaft are rigidly secured with the magnet so as to rotate with the magnet. An aluminum tube defines a handle having one end of the handle force fitted into an opening in the aluminum block. An opposite end of the aluminum tube or handle is to be held by the hand of the operator.

Claims

1. A front wheel drive bearing defect amplifier comprising

a block,

a handle having two ends, one of the two ends of the handle being rigidly secured to the block, the other of the two ends being located remote from the block,

a pin rotatably mounted in the block, and

a mechanism secured to one end of the pin for mounting the pin on a rim of a wheel assembly so that vibrations caused by a defective bearing during rotation of the wheel assembly are transmitted to the block and from the block to the other end of the handle.

2. The front wheel drive bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle extends perpendicular to the block.

3. The front wheel drive bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pin is rotatably mounted in engagement with the block.

4. The front wheel drive bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanism includes a magnet for mounting the block on the rim of the wheel assembly.

5. The front wheel drive bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 4, wherein the magnet is mounted on a wheel gauge mount and the wheel gauge mount is secured to the rim of the wheel assembly.

6. The front wheel drive bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle is hollow.

7. The front wheel drive bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 6, wherein the block and the handle are made of aluminum.

8. The front wheel drive bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 4, wherein the pin and the magnet are rigidly interconnected for rotation together while the block and the handle are fixed together and held immobile.

9. The front wheel drive bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pin is mounted in the block by set screws located at opposite ends of the pin.

10. The front wheel drive bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 4, wherein the magnet is integral with a wheel gauge mount and the wheel gauge mount is secured to the rim of the wheel assembly.

11. A bearing defect amplifier for mounting on a wheel assembly of a front wheel drive automobile, the wheel assembly including a tire mounted on a rim with the rim rotating on an axle of the automobile by a bearing, the bearing defect amplifier comprising

a rim mounting mechanism for mounting on the rim of the wheel assembly,

a block mounted on the rim mounting mechanism, the block being stationary while the rim mounting mechanism is rotated with the rim, and

a handle having two ends, one of the two ends of the handle being rigidly secured to the block, the other of the two ends being located remote from the block,

the other end of the handle receiving vibrations from a defective bearing of the automobile during rotation of the tire.

12. The bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 11, wherein a pin rotatably mounted on the block is fixed to the rim mounting mechanism.

13. The bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 12, wherein the pin is mounted on the rim mounting mechanism by a magnet.

14. The bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 11, wherein the handle extends perpendicular to the block.

15. The bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 11, wherein the handle is hollow.

16. The bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 15, wherein the block and the handle are made of aluminum.

17. The bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 13, wherein the pin and the magnet are rigidly interconnected for rotation together while the block and the handle are fixed together and held immobile.

18. The bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pin is mounted in the block by set screws located at opposite ends of the pin.