Vehicle tire changing system with tool positioning sensor

• US 8,284,390 B1
• Filed: 04/21/2008
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
• Original Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
• Inventors: Clasquin, Joel, Colarelli, Nicholas J. III, Gerdes, Michael D., Hanneken, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Ratcliffe, Luke
• Application Number:
  US12/106,441
• Time in Patent Office: 1,632 Days
• Field of Search: 356 301- 315, 356 401- 41, 356 501- 515, 356 6- 22, 356/28, 356/28.5, 35613901-13909
• US Class Current: 356/139.09
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 25/0554 optical, e.g. cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 25/132 for removing and mounting tyres for only seating the beads B60C25/12; for only breaking the beads B60C25/125 ; for locating provisionally the beads of tubeless tyres against the sealing surfaces of the rims B60C25/145
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 25/138 with rotary motion of tool or tyre support
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/02 Details of balancing machines or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/16 by oscillating or rotating the body to be tested

Abstract

A vehicle tire changing system is configured with sensors to acquire dimensional information associated with tire service tools and a vehicle wheel assembly. The sensors acquire dimensional information associated with at least one feature of the vehicle wheel assembly or a tire service tool. The vehicle tire changing system is configured to utilize the acquired dimensional information to automate and monitor the movement of an associated tire service tool and optionally, to store or convey the acquired dimensional information for use by other vehicle service systems.

Claims

1. An improved vehicle tire changing system having a processing unit, a support structure to secure a vehicle wheel assembly during a vehicle tire changing procedure, and an actuated tire service tool for operatively engaging a secured vehicle wheel assembly, the improvement comprising:

a sensor assembly configured to acquire spatial position data, said sensor assembly operatively coupled to the processing unit for communicating said spatial position data thereto;

wherein said sensor assembly includes an imaging sensor disposed to acquire spatial position data in the form of at least one optical image of either a surface region of the vehicle wheel rim or an actuated tire service tool; and

wherein the processing unit is configured to utilize said communicated spatial position data to control automated movement of the actuated tire service tool.

2. The improved vehicle tire changing system of claim 1 wherein the actuated tire service tool includes at least one tire bead removal arm supporting a tire bead roller for operatively engaging the vehicle wheel assembly to displace a tire from the wheel rim, and wherein said imaging sensor assembly is disposed on said at least one tire bead removal arm.

3. The improved vehicle tire changing system of claim 1 wherein said imaging sensor is disposed in a stationary location with a stable field of view.

4. The improved vehicle tire changing system of claim 3 wherein said imaging sensor is associated with an optical energy source, said optical energy source disposed in a stationary location to emit illuminating optical energy.

5. The improved vehicle tire changing system of claim 1 wherein said processing unit is configured to utilize said communicated spatial position data to control automated movement of the actuated tire service tool responsive to wheel assembly features observed in said at least one optical image during a wheel assembly operation including, but not limited to, tire removal from a secured vehicle wheel assembly.

6. An improved vehicle tire changing system having a processing unit, a support structure to secure a vehicle wheel assembly during a vehicle tire changing procedure, and an actuated tire service tool for operatively engaging a secured vehicle wheel assembly, the improvement comprising:

a sensor assembly configured to acquire spatial position data, said sensor assembly operatively coupled to the processing unit for communicating said spatial position data thereto;

wherein said sensor assembly includes a dataset arm having a contact probe and configured with a range of movement sufficient to position said contact probe in contact with a surface on the vehicle wheel assembly;

a plurality of sensors associated with said dataset arm, said sensors configured to provide output signals associated with a position of said dataset arm within said range of movement;

wherein said communicated spatial position data includes at least one position of said dataset arm contact probe identified from said output signals; and

wherein the processing unit is configured to utilize said communicated spatial position data to control automated movement of the actuated tire service tool.

7. An improved vehicle tire changing system having a processing unit, a support structure to secure a vehicle wheel assembly during a vehicle tire changing procedure, and an actuated tire service tool for operatively engaging a secured vehicle wheel assembly, the improvement comprising:

an sensor assembly configured to acquire spatial data associated with a vehicle wheel assembly secured to the support structure, said sensor assembly operatively coupled to the processing unit for communicating said spatial data thereto; and

wherein said processing unit is configured to utilize said communicated spatial data associated said vehicle wheel assembly to automate movement of the actuated tire service tool.

8. The improved vehicle tire changing system of claim 7 wherein the processing unit is further configured to utilize said spatial position data to alter a configuration of at least one component of the improved vehicle tire changing system.

9. The improved vehicle tire changing system of claim 8 wherein the processing unit is configured to alter the configuration of at least one component of the improved vehicle tire changing system during a vehicle tire changing procedure.

10. The improved vehicle tire changing system of claim 7 wherein the actuated tire service tool is a tire mount/demount tool for operatively engaging the vehicle wheel assembly to facilitate mounting/demounting a tire from the wheel rim, and wherein said automated movement controlled by said processing unit positions said tire mount/demount tool to facilitate mounting/dismounting said tire from said wheel rim.

11. The improved vehicle tire changing system of claim 7 further including a second sensor assembly associated with said actuated tire service tool, said sensor assembly configured to acquire data associated with the position of said actuated tire service tool, and operatively coupled to the processing unit for communicating said position data thereto;

and

wherein said processing unit is further configured to utilize said communicated position data together with said communicated spatial data to automate movement of the actuated tire service tool.

12. The improved vehicle tire changing system of claim 11 wherein said processing unit is configured to automate movement of the actuated tire service tool to operatively engage the vehicle wheel assembly secured to said support structure.

13. The improved vehicle tire changing system of claim 7 wherein said processing unit is configured to automate movement of the actuated tire service tool to a desired spatial location.

14. The improved vehicle tire changing system of claim 13 wherein said desired spatial location is selected to enable said actuated tire service tool to operatively engage a vehicle wheel assembly.

15. An improved vehicle tire changing system having a processing unit, a support structure to secure a vehicle wheel assembly during a vehicle tire changing procedure, and an actuated tire service tool for operatively engaging a secured vehicle wheel assembly, the improvement comprising:

a sensor assembly configured to acquire spatial position data, said sensor assembly operatively coupled to the processing unit for communicating said spatial position data thereto;

wherein the processing unit is configured to utilize said communicated spatial position data to control automated movement of the actuated tire service tool; and

wherein the actuated tire service tool is a pair of tire bead removal arms each supporting a tire bead roller for operatively engaging the vehicle wheel assembly to displace a tire from the wheel rim, and wherein said automated movement controlled by said processing unit includes positioning each of said tire bead removal arms such that said associated tire bead rollers operatively engage the vehicle wheel assembly to facilitate dismounting said tire from said wheel rim.

16. An improved vehicle tire changing system having a processing unit, a support structure to secure a vehicle wheel assembly during a vehicle tire changing procedure, and an actuated tire service tool for operatively engaging a secured vehicle wheel assembly, the improvement comprising:

a first sensor assembly configured to acquire position data associated with the position of said actuated tire service tool, and operatively coupled to the processing unit for communicating said position data thereto;

a second sensor assembly configured to acquire spatial data associated with a vehicle wheel assembly secured to the support structure, said additional sensor assembly operatively coupled to the processing unit for communicating said spatial data thereto;

wherein said processing unit is configured to utilize said communicated position data associated with said actuated tire service tool and said vehicle wheel assembly to automate movement of the actuated tire service tool.

17. The improved vehicle tire changing system of claim 16 wherein said first sensor assembly is configured to acquire position data representative of movement along at least a vertical axis and along at least a horizontal axis associated with said actuated tire service tool.

18. The improved vehicle tire changing system of claim 16 wherein said first sensor assembly and said second sensor assembly each include at least one sensor selected from a set of sensors including a potentiometer, a hall effect sensor, a rotary encoder, an optical slide, a magnetic slide, and LVDT, or a resistive sensor.

19. An improved vehicle tire changing system having a processing unit, a support structure to secure a vehicle wheel assembly during a vehicle tire changing procedure, and an actuated tire service tool for operatively engaging a secured vehicle wheel assembly, the improvement comprising:

a sensor assembly configured to acquire position data associated with the position of said actuated tire service tool, and operatively coupled to the processing unit for communicating said position data thereto;

an operator interface operatively coupled to the processing unit for receiving information from an operator;

wherein said processing unit is configured to identify a desired spatial location, to which to move the actuated tire service tool to, from information received from the operator through said operator interface; and

wherein said processing unit is further configured to utilize said sensor assembly communicated position data associated with said actuated tire service tool to automate movement of the actuated tire service tool to said desired spatial location.

20. The improved vehicle tire changing system of claim 19 wherein said received information includes dimensional data associated with the wheel assembly.

21. A method for automating an operation of a vehicle tire changing system having a processing unit, a support structure to secure a vehicle wheel assembly during a vehicle tire changing procedure, and an actuated tire service tool for operatively engaging a secured vehicle wheel assembly including at least a wheel rim secured by the vehicle tire changing system during service of a vehicle wheel assembly, comprising the steps of:

acquiring position data associated with the actuated tire service tool for operatively engaging the secured vehicle wheel assembly;

acquiring spatial position data associated with a feature of the secured vehicle wheel assembly;

controlling movement of the actuated tire service tool to operatively engage the secured vehicle wheel assembly utilizing said acquired position data associated the actuated tire service tool and said acquired spatial position data associated with a feature of said secured vehicle wheel assembly.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the step of controlling movement of the actuated tire service tool to operatively engage the secured vehicle wheel assembly utilizing said position data associated the actuated tire service tool is carried out during a vehicle tire changing procedure.

23. A method for automating an operation of a vehicle tire changing system having a processing unit, a support structure to secure a vehicle wheel assembly during a vehicle tire changing procedure, and an actuated tire service tool for operatively engaging a secured vehicle wheel assembly including at least a wheel rim secured by the vehicle tire changing system during service of a vehicle wheel assembly, comprising the steps of:

acquiring position data associated with the actuated tire service tool for operatively engaging the secured vehicle wheel assembly;

acquiring spatial position data associated with a feature of the secured vehicle wheel assembly; and

controlling movement of the actuated tire service tool to operatively engage the secured vehicle wheel assembly utilizing said position data associated the actuated tire service tool and said spatial position data associated with said feature of the secured vehicle wheel assembly;

wherein said step of acquiring spatial position data associated with said feature of the secured vehicle wheel assembly further includes

detecting reflected optical energy from a surface area of the vehicle wheel assembly;

generating an image of said surface area of the vehicle wheel assembly from said detected optical energy; and

processing said generated image to extract positional data associated with said feature of the vehicle wheel assembly.

24. A method for automating an operation of a vehicle tire changing system having a processing unit, a support structure to secure a vehicle wheel assembly during a vehicle tire changing procedure, and an actuated tire service tool for operatively engaging a secured vehicle wheel assembly including at least a wheel rim secured by the vehicle tire changing system during service of a vehicle wheel assembly, comprising the steps of:

acquiring position data associated with the actuated tire service tool for operatively engaging the secured vehicle wheel assembly;

acquiring spatial position data associated with a feature of the secured vehicle wheel assembly; and

controlling movement of the actuated tire service tool to operatively engage the secured vehicle wheel assembly utilizing said position data associated the actuated tire service tool and said spatial position data associated with said feature of the secured vehicle wheel assembly;

wherein said step of acquiring spatial position data associated with said feature of the secured vehicle wheel assembly includes providing a dataset arm having a contact probe and configured with a range of movement sufficient to position said contact probe in contact with a surface on the vehicle wheel assembly;

providing a plurality of sensors associated with said dataset arm, said sensors configured to provide output signals associated with a spatial position of said dataset arm within said range of movement;

positioning said dataset arm with said contact probe in contact with said feature of the secured vehicle wheel assembly;

acquiring said output signals from said plurality of sensors associated with said dataset arm during said positioning step; and

processing said acquired output signals to acquiring spatial position data associated with said feature of the secured vehicle wheel assembly.

25. An improved vehicle tire changing system having a processing unit, a support structure to secure a vehicle wheel assembly during a vehicle tire changing procedure, and an actuated tire service tool for operatively engaging a secured vehicle wheel assembly, the improvement comprising:

a sensor assembly configured to acquire positional data, said sensor assembly operatively coupled to the processing unit for communicating said positional data thereto;

wherein the processing unit is configured to utilize said communicated positional data to control automated movement of the actuated tire service tool;

wherein the actuated tire service tool is at least one tire bead removal arm supporting a tire bead roller for operatively engaging the vehicle wheel assembly to displace a tire from the wheel rim; and

wherein said automated movement controlled by said processing unit includes positioning said at least one tire bead removal arm such that said associated tire bead roller operatively engages the vehicle wheel assembly to facilitate dismounting said tire from said wheel rim.

26. An improved vehicle tire changing system having a processing unit, a support structure to secure a vehicle wheel assembly during a vehicle tire changing procedure, and an actuated tire service tool for operatively engaging a secured vehicle wheel assembly, the improvement comprising:

a sensor assembly configured to acquire positional data, said sensor assembly operatively coupled to the processing unit for communicating said positional data thereto;

wherein the processing unit is configured to utilize said communicated positional data to control automated movement of the actuated tire service tool during a tire mount/demount procedure; and

wherein the actuated tire service tool is a mount/demount tool for operatively engaging the vehicle wheel assembly to facilitate mounting / demounting a tire from the wheel rim.

27. A method for operating a vehicle tire changing system having a processing unit, a support structure to secure a vehicle wheel assembly during a vehicle tire changing procedure, and an actuated tire service tool for operatively engaging a secured vehicle wheel assembly, comprising:

acquiring positional data associated with said actuated tire service tool;

communicating said acquired positional data to said processing unit;

processing said acquired positional data at said processing unit to determine a relationship between said actuated tire service tool and a vehicle wheel assembly secured to said support structure; and

actuating said tire service tool in response to commands from said processing unit.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein said actuated tire service tool is at least one tire bead removal arm supporting a tire bead roller;

and

wherein the step of actuating said tire service tool positions the at least one tire bead removal arm such that said tire bead roller operatively engages the vehicle wheel assembly to displace a tire from the wheel rim so as to facilitate dismounting said tire from said wheel rim.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein said actuated tire service tool is a mount/demount tool;

and

wherein the step of actuating said tire service tool positions the mount/demount tool to operatively engage the vehicle wheel assembly to facilitate mounting / demounting a tire from the wheel rim.