Wheel Diagnosis System Using Movable Scanning Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wheel diagnosis systems require detaching the vehicle wheel from the vehicle for analysis, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A wheel diagnosis system with a freely movable supporting unit equipped with sensing units that can be positioned close to the vehicle wheel without detaching it, allowing for scanning of the wheel's surfaces while it is still mounted, using cameras and a rotary encoder for data collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the wheel is detached from the vehicle for scanning analysis, then the diagnostic accuracy is improved, but the time consumption and operator effort increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

A freely movable supporting unit serves as an intermediary between the vehicle and the scanning system. This supporting unit can be positioned close to the wheel while the wheel remains mounted on the vehicle, enabling scanning without wheel detachment. The supporting unit acts as a mediator that brings the sensing units into optimal scanning position without requiring wheel removal, thus maintaining diagnostic accuracy while reducing time consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the wheel is detached from the vehicle for analysis, then the scanning quality is improved, but the operator effort and work complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescanning qualityVSAvoidoperator effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The freely movable supporting unit acts as an intermediary that eliminates the need for wheel detachment. It can be easily positioned close to the wheel while the wheel remains mounted on the vehicle, and then moved away after scanning. This intermediary approach maintains scanning quality while significantly reducing operator effort and simplifying the operational process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If multiple sensing units are positioned at different locations to scan different wheel portions, then the diagnostic comprehensiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediagnostic comprehensivenessVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple sensing units are merged onto a single freely movable supporting unit structure. This integration allows all sensing units to be positioned at different locations on the supporting unit to scan different wheel portions simultaneously or sequentially, while the supporting unit itself can be easily moved into position. This merging approach maintains diagnostic comprehensiveness while avoiding the complexity of multiple separate scanning devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This approach reduces operator effort and time, enabling efficient and precise wheel condition analysis without the need to detach the wheel, facilitating quicker data collection and improved diagnostic accuracy.

Implementation Method 1

a non-contact method and a system for analyzing tire conditions by directing radiation to the tire to be examined and sensing reflected radiation (scanning)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2211161B1Wheel diagnosis system
Publication Date: 2012.07.11 SNAP ON EQUIP SRL
  • EP2211161B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2211161B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2211161B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to the present invention there is provided a wheel diagnosis system (DS) for diagnosing a wheel (12) under test mounted to a vehicle and including at least a rim (18) and a tire (13). The wheel diagnosis system comprises a plurality of sensing units (1, 2, 3) being adapted for scanning predetermined surfaces of the wheel under test when the wheel under test is rotated, a supporting unit (5) to which the plurality of sensing units is mounted. Specifically, the supporting unit is freely movable relative to the wheel under test, and the sensing units are located at different positions on the supporting unit for scanning different portions of the predetermined surfaces of the wheel under test and collecting data of the operation result when the supporting unit is placed at the wheel under test at a predetermined scanning position. The present invention further refers to a method of diagnosing the condition of the wheel under test mounted to a vehicle.