METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING GEOMETRICAL DIMENSIONS OF A WHEEL

• US 20110208476A1
• Filed: 02/24/2011
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2010
• 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: BRAGHIROLI, Francesco
• Granted Patent: US 9,212,964 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/155
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/02 for measuring length, width or thickness G01B11/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 17/06 for measuring contours or curvatures
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/02 for measuring length, width, or thickness G01B21/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/10 for measuring diameters
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/20 for measuring contours or curvatures, e.g. determining profile
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/02 Details of balancing machines or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/025 using infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions

Abstract

Method and apparatus for determining geometrical dimensions of a wheel, especially a vehicle wheel, or of at least a part of the wheel, comprising the steps of pivoting at least one sensing device for scanning the wheel surface or a part of the wheel surface about a pivot axis in plane perpendicular to the wheel axis and determining the geometrical dimensions of the scanned wheel surface in dependence from the angular position of the at least one sensing device, wherein the angular position is determined from measured accelerations of the sensing device in two predetermined directions during the pivotal movement of the sensing device.

Claims

1. Method for determining geometrical dimensions of a wheel, especially a vehicle wheel, or of at least a part of the wheel, comprising the steps of pivoting at least one sensing device for scanning the wheel surface or a part of the wheel surface about a pivot axis in plane perpendicular to the wheel axis and determining the geometrical dimensions of the scanned wheel surface in dependence from the angular position of the at least one sensing device,

characterized in that the angular position is determined from measured accelerations of the sensing device in two predetermined directions during the pivotal movement of the sensing device.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the two accelerations are measured in two orthogonal directions.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one of the two accelerations is measured in the radial direction of the pivotal movement of the at least one sensing device.

4. The method according to one of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the distance between the scanned spot on the wheel surface and the sensing device is measured.

5. The method according to one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the wheel surface is scanned by ultrasonic or optical waves.

6. The method according to one of the claims 1 to 5, wherein a rim profile of a vehicle wheel is determined from the scanned geometrical dimensions.

7. The method according to one of the claims 1 to 6, wherein the angular velocity of the pivotal movement of the at least one sensing device is determined from the measured accelerations.

8. Apparatus for determining geometrical dimensions of a wheel, especially a vehicle wheel, or of at least a part of the wheel, comprising

a machine frame (5) having a shaft (6) for mounting the wheel (1) and a bearing (3) for pivotal supporting a pivot member (2) on the machine frame (5),

wherein the axis (4) of the shaft (6) and the pivot axis (7) of the bearing (3) are substantially parallel to each other.

at least one sensing device (8) mounted on the pivot member (2) for scanning the wheel surface or at least one part of the wheel surface;

an angle measuring device (9) for measuring the angular positions during the pivotal motion of the member (2); and

computing means (10) to determine the geometrical dimensions of the wheel surface in dependence of the measured pivot angle,

characterized in that

the angle measuring device (9) includes accelerometers means (11, 12) adapted to measure accelerations of the at least one sensing device (8) in two predetermined directions, and

the computing means (10) are designed to determined from the measured accelerations the angular positions of the at least one sensing device (8) during its pivotal movement.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the accelerometer means are sensitive in two orthogonal directions.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein accelerometer means are sensitive in radial direction of the pivot motion of the sensing device (8) and in an orthogonal direction thereto.

11. The apparatus according to one of the claims 8 to 10, wherein the accelerometer means (11, 12) are connected rigidly to the sensing device (8).

12. The apparatus according to one of the claims 8 to 11, wherein the accelerometer means (11, 12) are mounted on the pivotally arranged part of the pivot member (2).

13. The apparatus according to one of the claims 8 to 12, wherein the sensing device (8) and the angle measuring device (9) are integrated in one measuring unit (13).

14. The apparatus according to one of the claims 8 to 13, wherein the accelerometer means (11, 12) are designed as Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS).

15. The apparatus according to one of the claims 8 to 14, wherein the sensing device (8) includes at least one ultrasonic sensor or optical sensor.