Static Wheel Balancer Using Load Cells for Precise Imbalance Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel balancers face challenges in accurately measuring and correcting mass imbalance of vehicle wheels due to their complexity, cost, and lack of portability, particularly for dynamic wheel balancers, while static balancers are inaccurate and require precise horizontal positioning.
Innovation Solution
A static wheel balancer using a wheel carrier with support elements and a weight measuring arrangement, including load cells, measures partial wheel weights at specific angular orientations without requiring centripetal forces, allowing for accurate and portable imbalance correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a Dynamic Wheel Balancer is used to measure lateral imbalance, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity and weight increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential weight measurement function from complex dynamic balancing systems. By using simple load cells to measure wheel weight at different angular positions, it eliminates the need for complex rotational mechanisms, high-speed motors, and sophisticated force sensing systems while still achieving accurate imbalance measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical dynamic balancing systems with a simpler static weight measurement system. Instead of using rotational forces, centrifugal effects, and complex mechanical linkages, it uses static load cell measurements combined with angular position detection to calculate imbalance, significantly reducing mechanical complexity.
2Device complexity
If a Bubble Wheel Balancer is used for static balancing, then device simplicity is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to lack of absolute calculation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback by using load cell weight measurements combined with angular position information to calculate absolute imbalance values. The system provides feedback on the actual weight at each position, enabling mathematical calculation of the imbalance magnitude and position, rather than relying on visual bubble level indicators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the visual bubble level mechanism with electronic load cell weight measurement. This substitution enables absolute quantitative measurement of imbalance weight by directly measuring the force exerted by the wheel at different angular positions, providing numerical data for precise calculation.
3Device complexity
If a Vertical Rotational Wheel Balancer is used, then device portability is improved, but applicability deteriorates for heavy vehicle wheels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable and adjustable wheel support system that can adapt to different wheel sizes, weights, and types. The support elements can be repositioned along the wheel rim, and the system can handle both light motorcycle wheels and heavy vehicle wheels through flexible mechanical design and adjustable measurement geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal balancing system that can service multiple wheel types (motorcycle, bicycle, vehicle wheels) with different weight and diameter characteristics. The system achieves this through adjustable support elements, variable measurement positions, and a design that doesn't depend on wheel rotation or specific wheel geometry.
4Measurement precision
If precise horizontal positioning is required for Bubble Wheel Balancer, then measurement accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the horizontal leveling requirement with a system that measures weight at specified angular positions regardless of the device's orientation. By using angular position detection combined with weight measurement, it eliminates the need for precise horizontal positioning while maintaining measurement accuracy through mathematical calculation of imbalance from the angular-resolved weight data.
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
Enables precise, cost-effective, and portable measurement and correction of wheel imbalance using gravity-based measurements, applicable to various wheel types, including those with high weight and large diameters, without the need for high-speed rotation or complex machinery.
Implementation Method 1
measuring the weight of a wheel (WH) at a wheel edge (WE) when the wheel (WH) is positioned in a wheel carrier (WC)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a static wheel balancer (SWB); comprising a wheel carrier (WC); wherein the wheel carrier includes at least two wheel support elements (WSE); wherein the wheel support elements (WSE) supports and establish a reference for a selected edge of a wheel when the wheel is positioned in the wheel carrier, wherein the wheel support elements (WSE) defines a wheel positioning plane (WPP); and the static wheel balancer further comprising a weight measuring arrangement (WMA) including at least one load cell (EC); wherein a weight measuring point (WMP) of the load cell (EC) is arranged to measure a partial weight of the wheel (WH) at a selected wheel edge (WE) at a given angular orientation (AO) of the wheel (WH); and wherein the weight measuring point (WMP) is arranged at a predetermined distance (PD) to at least one of the at least two-wheel support elements (WSE); and wherein the weight measuring point (WMP) forms part of one of the at least two wheel support elements (WSE); and the static wheel balancer further including a display (DP) arranged to display a measure of imbalance obtained based on partial measured weight at the weight measuring point (WMP).