Method and apparatus for improving the ride characteristics of motor vehicle wheels
AssigneeGebr. Hofmann GmbH & Co. KG Maschinenfabrik
InventorHerwig Honlinger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and appartus for measuring forces of reaction of a wheel rim and tire so as to minimize smooth road vibrations whereby the wheel and rim are rotated together in a first measuring run, the wheel and rim are rotated with respect to each other by a predetermined angle, and the wheel and rim are rotated together in a second run. The offset angle which minimizes vibrations can then be determined from the reaction forces of the two runs and the wheel and rim rotated with respect to each other to that offset angle.
Claims6
A method for reducing the smooth road vibrations of motor vehicles having a wheel rim and a tire mounted on said rim, comprising the steps of:
- rotating the rim and tire in a first measuring run;
- measuring the amplitude and angle of the first forces of reaction of the rim and tire produced during said first run;
- rotaing the rim and tire with respect to each other by a predetermined angle;
- rotating the rim and tire in a second measuring run;
- measuring the amplitude and angle of the second forces of reaction of the rim and tire produced during said second run;
- at least when the vibrations can be corrected by more than a predetermined amount, calculating the offset angle between tire and rim to reduce vibrations from said measured first and second forces;
- and
- rotating said rim and tire with respect to each other to said offset angle.
An apparatus for measuring forces of reaction of a wheel rim and a tire having treads mounted thereon comprising:
- a frame;
- means mounted on said frame for mounting said rim and tire for rotation;
- means mounted on said frame for rotating said wheel and rim together;
- means mounted on said frame for engaging said thread during rotation and for measuring the angle and amplitude of the forces of reaction of the rim and tire produced;
- means mounted on said frame for engaging said tire to prevent rotation of the same so that operating said rotating means causes relative rotation between said tire and rim;
- computing means connected to said engaging and measuring means for producing a signal from the reaction forces produced during first and second measuring runs of said wheel and rim at different offset angles for determining an offset angle between rim and wheel to reduce vibrations;
- and
- means for causing rotation of said rim and wheel with respect to each other to said offset angle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.