Wheel Balancer Safety Cover Locking by Rotation Speed
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wheel balancing apparatuses lack sufficient safety features for operators during balancing operations, compromising ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A wheel balancing apparatus with a safety cover that includes an active portion movable between distal and proximal positions, controlled by a locking system, which automatically adjusts to lock the cover in place based on wheel rotation parameters to ensure operator safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a movable safety cover is provided to protect the operator, then operator safety is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to manual locking/unlocking requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system automatically locks the safety cover when the wheel reaches high rotation speeds and automatically unlocks when the wheel stops or slows down, eliminating the need for manual intervention. The system serves itself by using the wheel's rotation state to control the locking mechanism, thereby maintaining safety without compromising ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The locking system transitions between locked and unlocked states based on changes in the wheel's rotation speed parameter. When rotation speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, the system automatically locks; when the wheel stops or slows below the threshold, it automatically unlocks. This parameter-based control resolves the contradiction by making the safety mechanism responsive to operational conditions without requiring manual operation
2Reliability
If automatic locking based on rotation speed is implemented, then operator safety is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic control systems with a mechanically-based automatic locking system that responds to the wheel's rotation state. The locking mechanism is triggered by the wheel's own motion characteristics, using mechanical sensing and actuation rather than elaborate electronic sensors and controllers, thereby achieving automatic safety without excessive complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The locking system incorporates feedback from the wheel's rotation speed to automatically adjust the safety cover state. The system continuously monitors the wheel's motion and responds by locking or unlocking accordingly, creating a simple feedback loop that enhances safety without requiring complex control architecture
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A wheel balancing apparatus comprising a wheel hub (2) movable by rotation about its own rotation axis (R), said wheel hub (2) being configured to removably engage a wheel and rotate said wheel about said rotation axis (R), and a safety cover (3) comprising at least one active portion (4) movable towards and away from said wheel hub (2) between a distal position and a proximal position. The balancing apparatus comprises a locking system (10) of the safety cover (3).