Spindle Shaft Support for Tire Changer Unbalance Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing apparatuses for servicing vehicle wheels, which include wheel balancing and tire changing devices, face interference issues as the forces applied by tire changer tools affect the sensitivity of force transducers used for unbalance measurement.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus features a spindle shaft supported by a machine frame with rigid spindle supporting means, keeping the force acting range of tire changer tools outside the sensitive area of the unbalance measuring force transducers, and includes drive and control means for controlled rotational speed and torque during tire assembly/disassembly and unbalance measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the tire changer tools are supported on the machine frame within the force acting range, then the tire assembling and disassembling operations can be performed effectively, but the forces applied during these operations interfere with the sensitivity of the force transducers used for unbalance measurement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetire assembling and disassembling efficiencyVSAvoidunbalance measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the interference between tire changing forces and unbalance measurement by introducing a spatial dimension solution. The force acting range for tire changing operations is positioned in a different spatial location (outside the unbalance measuring direction) compared to the sensitive area of the force transducers. This spatial separation allows both functions to operate simultaneously without interference, as the strong forces during tire assembly/disassembly do not affect the sensitivity of the transducers that detect much smaller unbalance forces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If the force transducers are operatively connected to the spindle shaft, then the forces created by unbalance can be detected, but the strong forces during tire assembling and disassembling act onto the transducers and influence their sensitivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveunbalance force detection capabilityVSAvoidtransducer sensitivity stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the measurement and operation functions into separate spatial zones. The force transducers remain operatively connected to the spindle shaft for detecting unbalance forces, but the tire changing operations are conducted in a separate force acting range that does not overlap with the transducer's sensitive area. This segmentation allows the transducers to maintain their sensitivity for detecting small unbalance forces while the tire changing tools apply large forces in a different spatial location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid structure is used for spindle supporting means, then the spindle shaft is stably supported during operations, but the forces from tire changer tools may still affect the unbalance measurement if within the measuring direction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespindle shaft stabilityVSAvoidinterference forces on measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful interference forces from the measurement system by positioning the tire changing force acting range outside the unbalance measuring direction. The rigid spindle supporting means provides stable support for the spindle shaft during both tire changing and unbalance measurement operations, while the spatial separation ensures that the extraction of the tire changing function to a different location prevents force interference with the sensitive transducers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2711206B1Apparatus for servicing vehicle wheels
Publication Date: 2015.08.26 SNAP ON EQUIP SRL
  • EP2711206B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2711206B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2711206B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus for servicing vehicle wheels including a wheel balancing device and a tire changing device, wherein - a spindle shaft 1 is rotatable supported on a machine frame 2 for mounting and dismounting a tire/rim assembly on it or from it; - unbalance measuring means 3, 4 are operatively connected to the spindle shaft 1; - the unbalance measuring means 3, 4 have a spatial unbalance measuring area in which forces created by an unbalance of the tire/rim assembly 8, 9 or by the wheel rim 9 are detected; - tire changer tools 5,6 are supported on the machine frame 2 and adapted to assemble a tire onto a rim and - spindle supporting means 10 comprises in one direction a rigid structure and in the other direction perpendicular to the first direction an elastic structure The forces of the tire changing tools are directed to the rigid structure without interfering the unbalance measurement in the direction of the elastic structure.