Defective wheel bearing detection device

• US 8,555,723 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2009
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joe French
• Original Assignee: Joe French
• Inventors: French, Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Macchiarolo, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah, Samir M
• Application Number:
  US12/591,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20110113882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 735/77, 735/93, 736/49, 736/60, 736/62, 736/63
• 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 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.

2. The bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pin rotatably mounted on the block is fixed to the rim mounting mechanism.

3. The bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pin is mounted on the rim mounting mechanism by a magnet.

4. The bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pin and the magnet are rigidly interconnected for rotation together while the block and the handle are fixed together and held immobile.

5. The bearing defect amplifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle extends perpendicular to the block.

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

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

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