Wheel Assembly Force Variation Analysis for Tire Rim Non-uniformity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wheel service systems face challenges in accurately determining the contributions of tire and rim non-uniformity to vehicle wheel assembly vibrations, as they often require measuring rim runout, which is labor-intensive and prone to errors, especially with modern wheel designs that do not provide a suitable surface for measurement.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that determine the force variation vectors of a wheel assembly with and without the tire rotated relative to the rim, allowing for the separation of tire and rim contributions without directly measuring rim runout, using a rotatable spindle, load device, and controller to apply loads and control rotations, thereby isolating the components' effects on assembly force variation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If rim runout is measured with the tire mounted for convenience, then measurement accessibility is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to inability to measure the actual bead seat surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement accessibilityVSAvoidrim runout measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the measurement process into two independent parts: (1) measuring the wheel assembly force variation with the tire mounted, and (2) measuring the tire-only force variation with the tire removed from the rim. By separating these measurements, the system can accurately determine rim contribution without directly measuring rim runout, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement accessibility and accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses force variation measurements as an intermediary to indirectly determine rim runout effects. Instead of directly measuring rim runout (which requires accessing the bead seat), the system measures force variation of the wheel assembly and tire separately, then calculates rim contribution through mathematical decomposition. This intermediary approach maintains measurement accessibility while achieving accurate rim runout determination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the tire is removed to measure the bare rim directly at the bead seats, then measurement accuracy is improved, but labor intensity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverim runout measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention makes the tire itself serve as the measurement medium. By measuring force variation with the tire mounted and then with the tire removed, the system uses the tire's presence and absence as the variable to isolate rim effects. This self-service approach eliminates the need for direct bead seat measurement while maintaining accuracy, thereby improving productivity without sacrificing measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If contact measurement methods are used for rim runout, then measurement simplicity is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to errors from tire bead positioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement system simplicityVSAvoidrim runout measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the tire from the measurement process in a controlled manner. By performing one measurement with the tire mounted and another with the tire removed, the system extracts the rim's contribution to force variation through mathematical subtraction. This extraction method eliminates errors from tire bead positioning while maintaining measurement simplicity, as the same measurement system is used in both cases.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Adaptability or versatility

If modern wheel designs are used that do not provide a proper surface for measurement, then wheel design versatility is improved, but measurement capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewheel design flexibilityVSAvoidrim runout measurement difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the traditional measurement approach. Instead of trying to measure rim runout directly on the rim surface (which fails with modern wheel designs), the system measures force variation of the complete wheel assembly and decomposes it to find rim contribution. This inversion makes the measurement process independent of rim surface characteristics, thereby maintaining measurement capability while accommodating diverse wheel design versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS8770022B2Method and system for determining non-uniformity characteristics of a vehicle tire and rim

Publication Date: 2014.07.08 HUNTER ENGINEERING COMPANY

AI summary

A method and system for a wheel assembly service system are provided. The system includes a rotatable spindle configured to receive a wheel assembly wherein the wheel assembly includes at least a rim and a tire. The system further includes a load device configured to apply a load to the tire during a rotation of the wheel assembly on the spindle, and a controller configured to determine a first force variation vector of the wheel assembly, prompt a user to rotate the tire with respect to the rim, determine a second force variation vector of the wheel assembly with the tire rotated with respect to the rim, and determine a force variation of at least one of the tire and the wheel using the first and second force variation vectors. The system also outputs at least one of the determined force variation vector values.