Mobile robotic apparatus and method for use in balancing a vehicle wheel
OwnerHongbin Weninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mobile robot tool for use in testing balance of a wheel has a pressure plate assembly having a pressure plate member rotatable about the first attachment element. The pressure plate member is driven along a tool operational axis in one direction to cause the pressure plate member to bear against the wheel rim flat. A cone assembly has a cone block rotatable about the second attachment element. The cone block is driven along the axis in the opposite direction to drive it against the rim center bore on the other side of the wheel. The first and the second attachment elements are screwed together to clamp the rim between the core block and the pressure plate ready for conducting a wheel balance test.
Claims20
A mobile robot tool for use in testing balance of a wheel, the wheel having a rim, a center bore through the rim, and a rim flat surrounding the bore at one end thereof, the tool comprising
- a tool base,
- a first assembly comprising a first pressure member mounted for rotation about a part of a first attachment element, and a first drive operable to drive the first pressure member along a tool operational axis in a first direction to cause the first pressure member to contact and bear against the rim on one side thereof, the wheel axis is coaxial with said tool operational axis when said wheel is being spined for balance testing.
- a second assembly comprising a second pressure member mounted for rotation about a second attachment element, and a second drive operable to drive the second pressure member in a second direction opposite to the first direction to cause second pressure member to contact and bear against the rim on the other side thereof.
A method for use in testing balance of a wheel, the wheel having a rim, a center bore through the rim, and a rim flat surrounding the bore at one end thereof, the method comprising
- driving a first assembly comprising a pressure plate member forming part of a mobile robotic tool and mounted for rotation about a part of a first attachment element along a tool operational axis in a first direction to cause a pressure plate member to bear against the rim flat at one end of the rim center bore,
- driving a second assembly forming part of the mobile robotic tool and mounted for rotation about a second attachment element in a second direction opposite to the first direction to cause a conical surface thereof to bear against an edge of the rim center bore at the other end of the rim center bore, wherein the second attachment element has a second screw portion having a second screw axis, and
- screw engaging a first screw portion forming part of the first attachment element and having a first screw axis with a second screw portion forming part of the second attachment element and having a second screw axis, and driving the engagement between the first and second screw portions to clamp the wheel rim between the attachment elements in a wheel balance test position.
- Clamp the tool base to ground.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.