Wheel Balancing Load Roller Engagement Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-volume automotive service shops face inefficiencies in vehicle wheel balancing procedures, leading to prolonged service times due to sequential and time-consuming measurement processes in existing wheel balancer systems.
Innovation Solution
The method optimizes vehicle wheel balancing by controlling rotational speed, direction, and acceleration to measure imbalance and radial forces concurrently, allowing for earlier display of imbalance data and reducing overall measurement time through efficient engagement and disengagement of the load roller assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If standard sequential measurement and repair procedures are used, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but service time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by measuring wheel imbalance during the acceleration phase before load roller engagement, and by pre-positioning the load roller to engage at optimal timing. This allows overlapping of measurement and preparation activities, reducing total service time while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system eliminates idle time between operations by continuously measuring wheel parameters during rotation. The load roller engages smoothly during maintained rotation rather than requiring stop-start operations, ensuring continuous useful action throughout the balancing process
2Adaptability or versatility
If the load roller assembly is engaged during wheel rotation to measure radial forces, then force measurement capability is improved, but measurement complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The load roller assembly serves multiple functions: it applies controlled radial load to the wheel, enables force measurement during rotation, and can be positioned at different locations. This multi-functionality improves measurement capability without proportionally increasing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from wheel speed sensors and force measurements to automatically adjust load roller engagement timing and magnitude. This closed-loop control simplifies operation by eliminating manual coordination while enhancing measurement versatility
Data Source
AI summary
A method for efficiently operating a vehicle wheel balancing system having a wheel mounting structure upon which a vehicle wheel assembly is mounted for rotation during a measurement or service procedure, and a load roller assembly disposed in operative proximity to the wheel mounting structure for engaging a surface of the vehicle wheel assembly and applying a controlled load there to during rotation. After mounting a vehicle wheel assembly to the mounting structure, the wheel assembly is rotationally driven and a measurement of imbalance is initially acquired and the results displayed to an operator. Subsequently, the load roller assembly is engaged with the still rotating wheel, while measurements of radial forces and/or runout of the wheel are acquired, before the wheel rotation is stopped.