Compact radial force measuring apparatus for determining variations in radial force around a tire and rim assembly
First Claim
1. A compact radial force measuring apparatus for use in determining the radial force variation exhibited by a tire and rim assembly of a vehicle wheel comprising:
- a base member;
a rim mounting flange rotatably mounted on said base member for rotation about a fixed axis, said flange being adapted to receive a tire and rim assembly;
rotatable drum means movably mounted on said base member for selective contact with the circumference of a tire and rim assembly mounted on said flange, said drum means having a diameter less than the diameter of said tire and rim assembly;
force applying means associated with said rotatable drum means for moving said rotatable drum means against said circumference of said tire and rim assembly, said force applying means being disposed to maintain a constant center-to-center distance between said tire and rim assembly and said rotatable drum means subsequent to the application of an initial predetermined force;
means for causing relative rotation between said rotatable drum means and said tire and rim assembly; and
,sensing means for measuring the force existing between said tire and rim assembly and said rotatable drum means at a plurality of points around the circumference of said tire and rim assembly.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A compact radial force measuring apparatus for determining variations in radial force exhibited by a tire and rim assembly permits mounting of a tire and rim assembly on a rigidly mounted rotatable hub assembly. A rotatable drum having a diameter substantially smaller than that of the tire and rim assembly is disposed with its rotational axis parallel to the rotational axis of the hub assembly and is then brought into contact against a circumferential area of the mounted tire and rim assembly with a force that will load the tire and rim assembly to a desired level. The load force is measured by a force sensor such as a load cell. The tire and rim assembly and drum are then rotated, either manually or by other means, while holding the tire-to-drum center-to-center dimension constant. Variations in the force attempting to change the center-to-center dimension exerted by the tire and rim assembly against the drum are sensed, and recorded.
24 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A compact radial force measuring apparatus for use in determining the radial force variation exhibited by a tire and rim assembly of a vehicle wheel comprising:
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a base member; a rim mounting flange rotatably mounted on said base member for rotation about a fixed axis, said flange being adapted to receive a tire and rim assembly; rotatable drum means movably mounted on said base member for selective contact with the circumference of a tire and rim assembly mounted on said flange, said drum means having a diameter less than the diameter of said tire and rim assembly; force applying means associated with said rotatable drum means for moving said rotatable drum means against said circumference of said tire and rim assembly, said force applying means being disposed to maintain a constant center-to-center distance between said tire and rim assembly and said rotatable drum means subsequent to the application of an initial predetermined force; means for causing relative rotation between said rotatable drum means and said tire and rim assembly; and
,sensing means for measuring the force existing between said tire and rim assembly and said rotatable drum means at a plurality of points around the circumference of said tire and rim assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22)
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21. A radial force measuring apparatus for use in determining the radial force variation exhibited by a tire and rim assembly of a vehicle wheel comprising:
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a base member; a rim mounting flange rotatably mounted on said base member for rotation about a fixed axis, said flange being adapted to receive a tire and rim assembly; a rotatable drum having a cylindrical periphery of a diameter less than the diameter of said tire and rim assembly, said drum being mounted for rotation about an axis laterally movable on said base member and parallel to said fixed axis for selective contact with the circumference of a tire and rim assembly mounted on said flange; force applying means operatively associated with said drum and acting along a line between said axes for moving said drum against said circumference of said tire and rim assembly, said force applying means being disposed, upon establishing a desired load between said drum and said tire and wheel assembly, to maintain a constant center-to-center distance between said tire and rim assembly and said drum while permitting variations in the force therebetween; and
,load sensing means for measuring the force existing between said tire and rim assembly and said rotatable means at a plurality of points around the circumference of said tire and rim assembly. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification