# US 2013/0152679 A1 · Wheel Balance And Force Measurement Procedure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0152679 A1 - Document ID: US20130152679A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/687,861 - Filed: 2012-11-28 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-19 - Assignees: Hunter Engineering Company - Inventors: Joel Clasquin; Michael D. Gerdes - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152679A1 ## CPC - G01M 1/20: and applying external forces compensating forces due to imbalance - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A method for efficiently operating a vehicle wheel balancing system having a wheel mounting structure upon which a vehicle wheel assembly is mounted for rotation during a measurement or service procedure, and a load roller assembly disposed in operative proximity to the wheel mounting structure for engaging a surface of the vehicle wheel assembly and applying a controlled load there to during rotation. After mounting a vehicle wheel assembly to the mounting structure, the wheel assembly is rotationally driven and a measurement of imbalance is initially acquired and the results displayed to an operator. Subsequently, the load roller assembly is engaged with the still rotating wheel, while measurements of radial forces and/or runout of the wheel are acquired, before the wheel rotation is stopped. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating a vehicle wheel service system having a wheel mounting structure upon which a vehicle wheel assembly is mounted for rotation during a measurement or service procedure, and a load roller assembly disposed in operative proximity to said wheel mounting structure, said load roller assembly including a load roller for applying a controlled load to a vehicle wheel assembly mounted to said wheel mounting structure during rotation, the operating method comprising: mounting the vehicle wheel assembly onto said mounting structure; rotationally driving said vehicle wheel assembly on said mounting structure in a first rotational direction; measuring an imbalance of the vehicle wheel assembly during said rotation; following measurement of said imbalance, engaging said load roller of said load roller assembly with a surface of the rotating vehicle wheel assembly; subsequently measuring radial forces and/or runout of the vehicle wheel assembly during said rotation of the vehicle wheel assembly in said first rotational direction and while in engagement with said load roller; and presenting an operator with a display of information associated with said measured imbalance before said step of measuring said radial forces and/or runout of the vehicle wheel assembly is completed. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 where said step of rotationally driving said vehicle wheel assembly on said mounting structure includes controlling a rotational speed, a rotational direction, and an acceleration of said vehicle wheel assembly during at least one of said steps of measuring said imbalance and measuring said radial forces and/or runout of the vehicle wheel assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein said rotational speed, direction, and acceleration is controlled to (a) initially provide a constant acceleration in a first rotational direction for a first period of time; (b) at the end of said first period of time, accelerate said vehicle wheel assembly in said first rotational direction for a second period of time to achieve a selected rotational speed; (c) measure an imbalance of said vehicle wheel assembly during a third period of time after said selected rotational speed is achieved; (d) at the end of said third period of time, decelerate said vehicle wheel assembly to a second selected rotational speed in said first rotational direction, said load roller engaged with said surface of the rotating vehicle wheel assembly at said second selected rotational speed; (e) optionally accelerate said vehicle wheel assembly to a third selected rotational speed in said first rotational direction; (f) maintain either said second selected rotational speed or said optional third selected rotational speed in said first rotational direction during said step of measuring said radial forces and/or runout of the vehicle wheel assembly; and (g) decelerate said wheel assembly to a stop. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein said vehicle wheel assembly is maintained at said selected rotational speed during said third period of time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein said display of said measured imbalance of the vehicle wheel assembly is presented to said operator at said end of said third period of time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3 wherein said rotational speed, direction, and acceleration is further controlled to accelerate said wheel assembly from said stop to return to said second selected rotational speed or said optional third selected rotational speed in a second and opposite rotational direction; wherein lateral forces of the vehicle wheel assembly are measured during said rotation of the vehicle wheel assembly in said second and opposite rotational direction while in engagement with said load roller; and wherein said wheel assembly is decelerated to a stop while in engagement with said load roller following measurement of said lateral forces. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein a portion of said step of measuring said radial forces and/or runout of the vehicle wheel assembly is completed during rotation of the vehicle wheel assembly in said second and opposite rotational direction while in engagement with said load roller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein said rotational speed is controlled in response to one or more characteristics of the wheel assembly, said characteristics including, but not limited to, wheel assembly inertia and wheel assembly outer diameter. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein said rotational speed is selected prior to mounting the vehicle wheel assembly, and wherein said selected rotational speed is altered in response to a measured characteristic of the vehicle wheel assembly exceeding a threshold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further including the step of measuring lateral forces of the vehicle wheel assembly during said rotation of the vehicle wheel assembly in engagement with said load roller. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10 wherein said step of measuring lateral forces is conducted concurrent with said step of measuring radial forces and/or runout of the vehicle wheel assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said step of engaging said load roller of said load roller assembly with said surface of the rotating vehicle wheel assembly engages said load roller and said surface with a constant force. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said load roller assembly includes a pneumatic actuator, and wherein said step of engaging said load roller of said load roller assembly with said surface of the rotating vehicle wheel assembly includes inflating said pneumatic actuator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein said pneumatic actuator is inflated for a select period of time. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 further including the step of monitoring a rate of change of pressure within said pneumatic actuator to detect contact between said load roller assembly and said surface of the rotating vehicle wheel assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said step of engaging said load roller of said load roller assembly with said surface of the rotating vehicle wheel assembly further includes monitoring a rate of change of position of said load roller assembly to detect contact between said load roller assembly and said surface of the rotating vehicle wheel assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein said display of information associated with said measured imbalance is presented to said operator before engaging said load roller of said load roller assembly with said surface of the rotating vehicle wheel assembly. ### Claim 18 A method for operating a vehicle wheel service system having a wheel mounting structure upon which a vehicle wheel assembly is mounted for rotation during a measurement or service procedure, and a load roller assembly disposed in operative proximity to said wheel mounting structure, said load roller assembly including a load roller for engaging a vehicle wheel assembly mounted to said wheel mounting structure to apply a controlled load during rotation of the vehicle wheel assembly, the operating method comprising: mounting the vehicle wheel assembly onto said mounting structure; rotationally driving said vehicle wheel assembly on said mounting structure in a first rotational direction; engaging said load roller of said load roller assembly with a surface of the rotating vehicle wheel assembly; measuring radial forces and/or runout of the vehicle wheel assembly during said rotation of the vehicle wheel assembly in said first rotational direction and while in engagement with said load roller; measuring lateral forces of the vehicle wheel assembly during said rotation of the vehicle wheel assembly in engagement with said load roller concurrent with said step of measuring radial forces and/or runout of the vehicle wheel assembly; decelerating said rotating vehicle wheel assembly to a stop; and disengaging said load roller of said load roller assembly from said surface of the vehicle wheel assembly. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18 further including the steps of measuring an imbalance of the vehicle wheel assembly during said rotation, prior to said step of engaging said load roller of said load roller assembly with said surface of the rotating vehicle wheel assembly; and providing a display of said measured imbalance prior to the step of disengaging said load roller of said load roller assembly from said surface of the vehicle wheel assembly. ### Claim 20 A vehicle wheel service system having a wheel mounting structure upon which a vehicle wheel assembly is mounted for driven rotation by a drive system during a measurement or service procedure, a load roller assembly disposed in operative proximity to said wheel mounting structure, said load roller assembly including a load roller for engaging a vehicle wheel assembly mounted to said wheel mounting structure during rotation to apply a controlled load there to, sensors for measuring parameters associated with said vehicle wheel assembly, and a control system operatively coupled to the drive system, the load roller assembly, and the sensors, comprising: the control system configured with software instructions to carry out a vehicle wheel assembly service procedure which includes engaging said drive system to rotationally drive a vehicle wheel assembly disposed on said mounting structure in a first rotational direction; measuring with said sensors, an imbalance of the vehicle wheel assembly during said rotation; engaging said load roller of said load roller assembly with a surface of the rotating vehicle wheel assembly after measurement of said imbalance; subsequently measuring, with said sensors, radial forces and/or runout of the vehicle wheel assembly during said rotation of the vehicle wheel assembly in said first rotational direction and while in engagement with said load roller; and presenting an operator with a display of information associated with said measured imbalance before said step of measuring said radial forces and/or runout of the vehicle wheel assembly is completed. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The vehicle wheel service system of claim 20 where said control system is further configured with software instructions to control a rotational speed, a rotational direction, and an acceleration of said vehicle wheel assembly when measuring said imbalance and when measuring said radial forces and/or runout of the vehicle wheel assembly. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The vehicle wheel service system of claim 21 wherein said control system is further configured with software instructions to control said rotational speed, direction, and acceleration to (a) initially achieve a constant acceleration in a first rotational direction for a first period of time; (b) at the end of said first period of time, accelerate said vehicle wheel assembly in said first rotational direction for a second period of time to achieve a selected rotational speed; (c) to carry out said measurement of said imbalance during a third period of time after achieving said selected rotational speed; (d) at the end of said third period of time, decelerate said vehicle wheel assembly to a second selected rotational speed in said first rotational direction, said load roller engaged with said surface of the rotating vehicle wheel assembly at said second selected rotational speed; (e) optionally accelerate said vehicle wheel assembly to a third selected rotational speed in said first rotational direction; (f) maintain either said second selected rotational speed or said optional third selected rotational speed in said first rotational direction during said step of measuring said radial forces and/or runout of the vehicle wheel assembly; and (g) decelerate said wheel assembly to a stop. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The vehicle wheel service system of claim 22 wherein said control system is further configured with software instructions to maintain said vehicle wheel assembly at said selected rotational speed for said third period of time during which said step of measuring said imbalance is completed. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The vehicle wheel service system of claim 22 wherein said control system is further configured with software instructions to control said rotational speed, direction, and acceleration to subsequently smoothly accelerate said wheel assembly from said stop to return to said second selected rotational speed or said optional third selected rotational speed, in a second and opposite rotational direction; to measure, with said sensors, lateral forces of the vehicle wheel assembly during said rotation of the vehicle wheel assembly in said second and opposite rotational direction while in continued engagement with said load roller; and to subsequently decelerate said wheel assembly to a second stop while in engagement with said load roller following measurement of said lateral forces. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The vehicle wheel service system of claim 20 wherein said control system is further configured with software instructions to control said rotational speed in response to one or more characteristics of the wheel assembly, said characteristics including, but not limited to, wheel assembly inertia and wheel assembly outer diameter. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The vehicle wheel service system of claim 20 wherein said load roller assembly includes at least one sensor configured to detect an indication of contact between said load roller and said surface of the rotating vehicle wheel assembly, said at least one sensor selected from a set of sensors including a pressure sensor, a force sensor, and a position sensor.