Micro Stepper Motor Sensing Device for Wheel Service Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel service machines with manual or stepper motor-driven sensing devices face limitations in resolution, accuracy, and complexity, due to manual operation and the need for additional mechanical components like reduction gears, which also make them sensitive to impurities and require time-consuming alignment.
Innovation Solution
A wheel service machine equipped with a micro stepper motor-driven sensing device, featuring an optical sensing unit with a laser and accelerometer sensors for precise angular positioning, allowing for high-resolution scanning without additional mechanical elements, and a compact design that simplifies construction and reduces vibration, enabling efficient and accurate geometrical dimension determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a stepper motor with reduction gear is used to increase scan resolution, then the scanning resolution is improved, but the device complexity increases and the machine becomes more sensitive to impurities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical reduction gear system with a micro stepper motor that directly drives the sensing device. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical transmission elements while achieving high scan resolution through the motor's fine control capabilities, thereby reducing device complexity and sensitivity to mechanical impurities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the motor type from a standard stepper motor to a micro stepper motor, which provides finer control parameters and higher resolution without requiring mechanical reduction gears. This parameter change allows direct drive operation while maintaining or improving scan resolution.
2Measurement precision
If a reduction gear is added to increase scan resolution, then the scanning accuracy is improved, but the construction becomes more complex and assembly time increases
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing the reduction gear mechanism with a micro stepper motor capable of direct drive, the patent eliminates the need for complex mechanical assemblies. This simplifies construction and reduces assembly time while maintaining scanning accuracy through the motor's precise control capabilities.
3Device complexity
If manual operation is used for the sensing device, then the construction is simple, but the productivity and measurement efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automated operation of the sensing device through the micro stepper motor system, which can autonomously position and scan the wheel geometry. This self-service capability eliminates manual operation while maintaining construction simplicity, thereby significantly improving productivity and measurement efficiency.
4Measurement precision
If additional mechanical components like reduction gears are used, then the scanning resolution is improved, but the machine becomes more sensitive to impurities affecting measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical reduction gears with a micro stepper motor system that has fewer moving parts and no mechanical transmission elements. This substitution eliminates the sensitivity to mechanical impurities and wear that plagues reduction gear systems, while maintaining high scan resolution through the motor's electronic control capabilities.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides enhanced scanning resolution and accuracy, reduces the complexity and size of the machine, and eliminates the need for counter-weights and reduction gears, resulting in improved measurement precision and reduced assembly time, while also minimizing the risk of damage and measurement errors.
Implementation Method 1
an optical sensing unit which includes an emitter, preferably a laser, and a receiver
Implementation Method 2
a second sensing unit for sensing the angular position of the sensing device... which includes at least one accelerometer sensor
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel service machine and a method for servicing a wheel, such as a tire changer or a wheel balancer for a vehicle wheel, comprises a rotary mounting including a shaft to which the wheel is mounted, a frame work for carrying at least the rotary mounting, and a sensing device mounted to the frame work, for determining geometrical dimensions of the wheel, or parts of the wheel. The sensing device comprises a carrier element and a first sensing unit for sensing the wheel and a computing device for determining the geometrical dimensions of the wheel based on the data received from the sensing device, the first sensing unit being mounted on the carrier element. The wheel service machine further comprises a drive element for enabling a pivotal movement of the sensing device, wherein the drive element is a micro stepper motor.