Tire uniformity machine grinding assembly
AssigneeAkron Special Machinery, Inc.
InventorsDavid Poling, Richard Delmoro, David Krause
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A grinding assembly contacts a tire supported by a frame relative to the tire. The grinding assembly includes at least one section, and an axial positioning assembly supporting the at least one section. The axial positioning assembly enables the at least one section to be axially repositioned relative to the tire. The at least one section includes a grinding head, where the grinding head includes a grindstone rotatably supported thereon, the grindstone having rounded shoulders at its axial extremities. The grinding assembly further includes a radial positioning assembly supporting the grinding head for radial movement with respect to the tire.
Claims12
A grinding assembly in a tire uniformity machine for profile grinding a tire, the grinding assembly comprising, a first section;
- an axial positioning assembly supporting said first section and actuating said first section axially relative to the tire, wherein said first section includes a grindstone, a radial positioning assembly adapted to radially move said grindstone relative to the tire, said grindstone being rotatable and driven by a motor, wherein said grindstone has a grinding surface adapted to contact the tire, said grinding surface defining at least one rounded shoulder formed at an axial extremity thereof, wherein said axial positioning assembly and radial positioning assembly are adapted to move said grindstone along a selected profile while said grindstone contacts the tire to shape the tire according to said profile.
A grindstone used in connection with a grinding assembly having a grinding head moveable at least axially and radially relative to a tire to contact said grindstone with the tire to remove material therefrom, said grindstone comprising a grinding surface adapted to contact the tire, said grinding surface having a pair of axial extremities, wherein one of said axial extremities defines a rounded shoulder.
A grinding assembly for contacting a tire supported by a frame relative to the tire, the grinding assembly comprising:
- at least one section;
- an axial positioning assembly supporting said at least one section and enabling said at least one section to be axially repositioned relative to the tire, said at least one section including a grinding head, said grinding head including a grindstone rotatably supported thereon, said grindstone having rounded shoulders at its axial extremities;
- a radial positioning assembly supporting said grinding head for radial movement with respect to the tire;
- and a tilt adjuster provided adjacent said grinding head to provide for pivotal movement thereof, wherein said axial positioning assembly includes at least one rail extending along the frame, and a rail carriage supporting said at least one section on said at least one rail, said rail carriage being axially repositionable along said at least one rail.
A grinding process for removing material from the tread, sidewall, and shoulder of a tire comprising:
- i. providing a grinding assembly having a grinding head having at least one grindstone rotatably supported thereon, said grinding stone having a pair or rounded shoulders at its axial extremities, said grinding head being movable axially and radially relative to the tire;
- ii. providing actuators operatively connected to said grinding assembly to move the grinding head;
- iii. providing a controller in communication with said actuators and at least one sensor;
- iv. profiling the tire by contacting said grindstone to the tire to remove material from the tire and adjusting the position of said grindstone while it is in contact with said tire to define a selected profile.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.