Wheel Service Apparatus Shaft Isolation for Balancing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wheel service machines are cumbersome, occupy excessive space, and face reliability issues due to the combination of tire changing and balancing operations, which often result in damage to the measuring system and loss of calibration settings.

Innovation Solution

A wheel service apparatus with a shaft that rotates about a longitudinal axis, featuring a measuring system with sensors to detect vibrations, a control unit to manage the support device and connector positions, and actuators to adjust the shaft's configuration for tire changing and balancing, isolating the measuring system from stresses during high-stress operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If tire changing and balancing operations are combined in a single machine, then space requirements are reduced, but the measuring system is exposed to high stresses that can cause damage or loss of calibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkshop spaceVSAvoidmeasuring system reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The machine is divided into distinct functional zones: a tire changing station and a balancing station, each with dedicated tooling and measuring systems. The shaft assembly can be selectively positioned in either zone, allowing the fragile measuring system to remain isolated from high-stress tire changing operations while still enabling both services in one machine footprint.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A movable shaft assembly acts as an intermediary between the two service types. The shaft can be selectively engaged with either tire changing tooling or balancing tooling, mediating the transition between high-stress operations and precision measurement operations, thereby protecting the measuring system from damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a clutch system is used to selectively engage different motors for tire changing and balancing, then operational versatility is achieved, but system complexity and potential points of failure increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational versatilityVSAvoidmotor engagement system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using complex clutch mechanisms to engage different motors, the system employs a dynamic, movable shaft assembly that can be physically repositioned to engage with different tooling stations. This dynamic positioning approach achieves operational versatility while eliminating the need for complex selective motor engagement mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

A single shaft assembly serves multiple functions by being selectively positionable in different operational zones. The same shaft used for tire changing operations is also used for balancing operations, eliminating the need for separate motors or complex engagement systems for different service types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the shaft is subjected to high torque during tire mounting/demounting, then tire changing capability is achieved, but the measuring system experiences force discharge that damages sensors and calibration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetire changing capabilityVSAvoidmeasuring system damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The measuring system is extracted from the high-stress tire changing zone and placed exclusively in the balancing zone. By separating the measuring system from the torque-intensive operations, the patent eliminates the harmful effect of force discharge on sensors while preserving tire changing capability through dedicated tooling in the other zone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

The apparatus efficiently performs wheel services while minimizing space requirements and reducing the risk of measuring system damage, maintaining precise calibration settings by isolating the measuring system from high stresses and automatically adjusting configurations for different operations.

Implementation Method 1

a shaft which rotates about a longitudinal axis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRotation:

Implementation Method 2

a measuring system with sensors to detect vibrations

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS11554619B2Vehicle wheel service apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.01.17 NEXION SPA

AI summary

A vehicle wheel service apparatus that includes: a frame; a plurality of working tools, connected to the frame and movable to perform operations for mounting and/or demounting the tyre relative to the wheel rim; a shaft driven by an actuator rotationally about a longitudinal axis and connectable to the rim; a measuring system for generating vibration signals representing vibrations of the shaft produced by wheel imbalances; a control unit, connected to the measuring system to receive the vibration signals; a support device, connected to the frame and movable between an activated position, where it encircles the shaft while still allowing it to rotate, and a deactivated position, where it is spaced from the shaft; a connector, movable between a working position, where it mechanically connects the measuring system to the frame, and a rest position, where the measuring system is mechanically disengaged from the frame.