Appliance, method and device for straightening wheels

A method for identifying at least one irregularity in a wheel, the wheel comprising a rim, a central region and a plurality of lug nut holes, the method comprising the steps of:

• fastening the wheel to be straightened on a device, the device including:
• a) a spindle having a first end and a second end;
• b) a platen mounted on the spindle at a point intermediate to the first and second ends, the platen configured to engage a wheel assembly in a fixed position relative to the spindle, the wheel assembly comprising a rim and a central portion, the central portion having a dress face and an inbound face, the platen having a spline projecting from the platen;
• c) an appliance mounting mechanism including:
• a rotatable attachment mechanism radially removably connected to the spindle, the rotatable attachment mechanism having a locking cuff radially surrounding the spindle, the locking cuff having an outer surface, a first edge and a second edge and having at least one spindle connection device projecting through the locking cuff from the outer surface to an interior thereof, the rotatable attachment mechanism further including a sleeve coaxial to and rotatably connected to the locking cuff at the first edge thereof;
• an arm member, the arm member having a first end and a second end opposed to the first end, a first face and a second face opposed to the first face, the first face of the arm member connected to the sleeve at a location proximate to the first end and oriented parallel to the outer surface of the locking cuff, the arm member projecting perpendicularly outward from the locking cuff relative to the first edge of the locking cuff;
• a socket, the socket connected to the second face of the arm member at a location proximate to the second end of the arm member, the socket configured to removably receive a wheel working appliance, the wheel working appliance having an arcuate head;
• rotating the appliance mounting mechanism relative to the wheel assembly and platen to locate at least one irregularity in the wheel assembly;
• positioning at least one actuator device at a location on the wheel associated with the at least one irregularity in the wheel assembly;
• and
• triggering the actuator devices to exert a straightening force on a location associated with the irregularity, the actuator devices each exerting an independent coordinated straightening force.

A rotatable wheel working appliance attachment mechanism comprising:

• a locking cuff configured to radially surround a spindle, the locking cuff having an outer surface, a first edge and a second edge and at least one spindle connection device projecting through the locking cuff from the outer surface to an interior thereof;
• a sleeve coaxial to and rotatably connected to the locking cuff at the first edge thereof;
• an arm member, the arm member having a first end and a second end opposed to the first end, a first face and a second face opposed to the first face, the first face of the arm member connected to the sleeve at a location proximate to the first end and oriented parallel to the outer surface of the locking cuff, the arm member projecting perpendicularly outward from the locking cuff relative to the first edge of the locking cuff;
• a socket, the socket connected to the second face of the arm member at a location proximate to the second end of the arm member, the socket configured to removably receive a wheel working appliance.