Method and Apparatus For Utilizing Wheel Profile Data During Wheel Assembly Service Procedures

• US 20150042787A1
• Filed: 08/08/2014
• Published: 02/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
• Original Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
• Inventors: Douglas, Michael W., Reynolds, Sean D., Meyer, Gregory F., Dorrance, Daniel R.
• Granted Patent: US 10,013,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/95
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/2513 with several lines being projected in more than one direction, e.g. grids, patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/326 the body being a vehicle wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/081 by using a contact-less detection method, i.e. with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/013 Wheels
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/10028 Range image; Depth image; 3D point clouds
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0004 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0008 checking presence/absence

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for utilizing vehicle wheel assembly surface profile data acquired by a vehicle wheel service system from a non-contact imaging sensor and a projected pattern of optically distinct elements on the vehicle wheel assembly surface to identify one or more features of the vehicle wheel assembly, to receive operator input, and to facilitate the placement of imbalance correction weights onto the vehicle wheel assembly surface.

Claims

1. A service system for a vehicle wheel assembly having an inner surface and an outer surface, the service system comprising:

a spindle shaft configured to receive the vehicle wheel assembly for rotation about an axis;

at least one source of optical energy configured to project at least one pattern of light defining a plurality of discrete optically detectable elements towards the inner surface or the outer surface of the wheel assembly;

an imaging sensor configured to acquire at least one image of the plurality of discrete optically detectable elements projected on the wheel assembly surface as the vehicle wheel assembly is rotated about said axis; and

a processor configured with program instructions to;

determine spatial positions for at least two of the plurality of discrete optically detectable elements using the acquired images;

determine a profile associated with at least a portion of the wheel assembly based on the determined spatial positions; and

identify at least one feature or characteristic of the wheel assembly from contour elements present in the determined profile.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said identified wheel assembly feature is a non-circumferential surface feature of the vehicle wheel assembly.

3. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said non-circumferential features is at least one of an index marker, an installed valve stem, a wheel spoke, a valve stem receiving bore, a bolt hole, surface-adhered material, wheel damage, or a tire defect.

4. A system in accordance with claim 2 wherein said non-circumferential feature is an installed imbalance correction weight;

and

wherein said processor is further configured with program instructions to identify one or more characteristics of said installed imbalance correction weight, said characteristics including, but not limited to, placement position, placement orientation, spatial dimensions, and weight style.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said identified wheel assembly feature is an axial position of a hub face of the vehicle wheel assembly relative to an axial position of at least one rim edge.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said imaging sensor is configured to acquire a plurality of images of the plurality of discrete optically detectable elements projected on the wheel assembly surface, each image acquired at a different rotational orientation of the wheel assembly as the vehicle wheel assembly is rotated about said axis of rotation of the spindle shaft;

wherein the processor is further configured with program instructions to;

determine a spatial position of at least two of the plurality of discrete optically detectable elements from each of the acquired images;

determine a plurality of profiles associated with the wheel assembly based on the determined spatial positions from each of the acquired images; and

determine, as said at least one characteristic of the wheel assembly, a representation of runout associated with the wheel assembly surface using the plurality of determined profiles.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said wheel assembly surface is a circumferential surface of the vehicle wheel assembly selected from a set of circumferential surfaces including an inner rim edge, an outer rim edge, an inner bead seat, an outer bead seat, a tire surface, or an imbalance correction weight placement surface.

8. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said representation of runout is a representation of one or more of an axial runout and a radial runout of the vehicle wheel assembly.

9. A system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said processor is further configured with program instructions to compare a first determined representation of runout with a second determined representation of runout to identify a change in at least one of a phase and a magnitude there between, said change representative of a change in mounting of the vehicle wheel assembly on the spindle shaft having occurred between said first and second determinations of runout.

10. A method for operating a vehicle wheel service system including a spindle shaft for receiving a vehicle wheel assembly for rotation about an axis, comprising:

projecting, from at least one source of optical energy, at least one pattern of light including a plurality of discrete optically detectable elements, towards a spatial region expected to contain a surface of a vehicle wheel assembly mounted to the spindle shaft;

acquiring, with an imaging sensor, at least one image of the spatial region; and

evaluating the acquired image, by

identifying said plurality of discrete optically detectable elements within said acquired image;

determining spatial positions for said identified discrete optically detectable elements; and

determining a profile based on the determined spatial positions; and

identifying at least one feature of the wheel assembly from contour elements present in the determined profile.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said at least one feature is a presence of, or an absence of, a vehicle wheel assembly mounted to said spindle shaft;

wherein said step of determining spatial positions for said identified discrete optically detectable elements further determines the presence or absence of said plurality of discrete optically detectable elements within said spatial region; and

wherein an absence of said plurality of discrete optically detectable elements within said spatial region excludes said determined profile from being within said spatial region, which is indicative of an absence of a vehicle wheel assembly from said spindle shaft.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein said steps of acquiring and evaluating are repeated at least once for a plurality of images each obtained at a different rotational orientation of the vehicle wheel assembly as the vehicle wheel assembly rotates about the spindle axis of rotation;

wherein said at least one feature of the wheel assembly is a runout measurement of a surface of a vehicle wheel assembly identified from contour elements present in a plurality of determined profiles; and

further including the step of providing a representation of said surface runout utilizing said plurality of determined profiles.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said surface of the vehicle wheel assembly is a circumferential feature of the vehicle wheel assembly selected from a set of circumferential features including an inner rim edge, an outer rim edge, an inner bead seat, an outer bead seat, a tire surface, or an imbalance correction weight placement surface.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said representation of surface runout is a representation of one or more of an axial runout and a radial runout of the vehicle wheel assembly.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said representation of surface runout is identified at least twice for a vehicle wheel assembly;

wherein said representations of surface runout are compared with each other to identify any changes in at least one of a magnitude or a phase there between; and

wherein said changes in said magnitude and/or phase of said surface runout of the vehicle wheel assembly are indicative of a change in a mounting of said vehicle wheel assembly on said shaft.

16. A method for operating a vehicle wheel service system including a spindle shaft for receiving a vehicle wheel assembly for rotation about an axis, comprising:

projecting optical energy towards a spatial region expected to contain a surface of a vehicle wheel assembly mounted to the spindle shaft;

acquiring, with an imaging sensor, at least one image of the spatial region, said image including optical energy reflected from said surface of a vehicle wheel assembly present within said spatial region;

evaluating the acquired image to determine a surface profile associated with said reflected optical energy; and

identifying at least one feature associated with the wheel assembly from contour elements present in the determined profile.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said features associated with the wheel assembly is at least one of, a valve stem receiving bore, a bolt hole, surface-adhered material, wheel damage, a tire defect, and an axial position of a hub face of the vehicle wheel assembly relative to an axial position of at least one rim edge of the vehicle wheel assembly.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said feature associated with the wheel assembly is an installed imbalance correction weight;

and

further including the step of identifying one or more characteristics of said installed imbalance correction weight, said characteristics including, but not limited to, spatial dimensions of said installed imbalance correction weight, an amount of said installed imbalance correction weight, and a style of said installed imbalance correction weight.

19. The method of claim 16 further including the step of identifying a presence of, or an absence of, a vehicle wheel assembly mounted to said spindle shaft prior to said step of identifying at one feature associated with the vehicle wheel assembly;

wherein said step of evaluating further includes evaluating a spatial location of said determined surface profile to establish the presence or absence said surface of a vehicle wheel assembly within said spatial region, an absence of said surface within said spatial region indicative of an absence of a vehicle wheel assembly from said spindle shaft.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein said at least one identified feature is an initial profile of the vehicle wheel assembly surface onto which said pattern of light is projected, and further including

repeating the steps of projecting, acquiring, and evaluating at least once to identify as a feature or characteristic of the vehicle wheel assembly, at least one current profile of the vehicle wheel assembly surface;

detecting a deviation of said at least one current profile from said initial profile resulting from the placement of an indicator object between said light source and said surface, said indicator object including, but not limited to, and imbalance correction weight and an operator'"'"'s finger; and

interpreting the spatial position of said indicator object relative to said determined initial profile as an operator input.

21. The method of claim 20 further including the step of calculating one or more imbalance correction weight characteristics and residual imbalance values associated with the vehicle wheel assembly in response to said interpreted spatial position being representative of an operator input of a selected imbalance correction weight placement plane.

22. The method of claim 20 further including the step of controlling said at least one source of optical energy to provide visual guidance for placement of an imbalance correction weight onto said vehicle wheel assembly surface in response to said interpreted operator input.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein said at least one identified feature is a surface contour of a rim of the vehicle wheel assembly suitable for attachment of an imbalance correction weight;

and further including the steps of;

measuring an imbalance associated with the vehicle wheel assembly;

identifying at least one imbalance correction weight and an associated placement location on said vehicle wheel assembly based on said measured imbalance and said rim surface contour;

activating said source of optical energy to illuminate a region on said rim surface; and

rotationally positioning said vehicle wheel assembly such that said associated placement location for said at least one identified imbalance correction weight intersects said illuminated region.

24. The method of claim 23 further including the step of observing said illuminated region with said imaging sensor and evaluating one or more resulting images to detect the presence of an object which is in proximity to, or placed on, said rim surface, and at least partially within said illuminated region;

wherein said step of identifying at least one imbalance correction weight identifies at least a second imbalance correction weight and a second associated placement location on said vehicle wheel assembly based on said measured imbalance and said identified rim surface contour;

wherein said object is a first installed imbalance correction weight; and

responsive to said first installed imbalance correction weight detected at a location which is spaced from said identified associated placement location by more than a tolerance, further including the step of altering at least one of said identified second imbalance correction weight and said identified second associated placement location to achieve an imbalance goal for the vehicle wheel assembly.