US 4,084,350 A · Correction of rubber tires for forces generated by dynamic non-uniformities

Abstract

An integrated system for measuring and correcting rubber tires for forces generated by dynamic non-uniformities and for measuring and marking both sides of the tire for lack of symmetry. The force measurements are fed to a computer and the forces indicative of dynamic non-uniformities correlated to given angular positions on the tire by means of a pair of transmissions which act as a shaft encoder, the transmissions incorporating computer controlled timing discs which act through an hydraulic controller to control the honing mechanism which cuts the outside periphery of the tires at the proper locations and in the proper amounts to reduce the non-uniformities to an acceptable low level. Computer control means are also provided to revolve the tires to the proper positions for the marking of their side walls to inidcate points of maximum unbalance so that corrective measures may be thereafter taken to correct the tires for lack of symmetry.

Claims33

Dependent claims

The system for correcting an automobile rubber tire or the like for centrifugally generated non-uniformities comprising:

means for rotating the tire under load and at speeds in excess of 35 m.p.h. to generate centrifugal non-uniform areas of growth in said tire;
sensors means to sense the forces developed by the centrifugally generated non-uniform areas and to develop force signals having an amplitude and duration representative of the areas of non-uniform growth of the tire;
cutter means, and means to movably position said cutter means relative to the outside periphery of the tire;
signal control means responsive to said force signals operative to actuate said movable cutter positioning means to cause said cutter means to engage the tire in the areas of non-uniform growth as the tire is rotated at said centrifugal growth speed;
encoder means for developing a rotational reference position on the circumference of the tire, and mechanical means driven in timed relation to the rotational speed of the tire for correlating said rotational reference position with said force signals to accurately locate the positions on the tire of said areas of non-uniform growth.

2 more elements

In a system for correcting a rubber tire for centrifugally generated peripheral non-uniformities:

means to rotate the tire under load and at speeds in excess of 35 m.p.h. to generate centrifugal non-uniform areas of peripheral growth in said tire;
sensor means to sense the forces developed by the centrifugally generated areas of non-uniform peripheral tire growth, and means to develop force signals having an amplitude and duration representative of the sensed areas of non-uniform growth;
honing means for removing rubber from the periphery of the tire, and means to movably position said honing means relative to the outside periphery of the tire;
encoder means for developing a rotational reference position on the circumference of the tire, said encoder means including mechanical means driven in timed relation to the rotational speed of the tire operative to actuate said movable cutter positioning means to cause said cutter means to engage the periphery of the tire;
and
signal control means responsive to said force signals for correlating said rotational reference position with said force signals to accurately locate the positions on the tire of the areas of non-uniform peripheral growth, said control means acting through said mechanical means to cause said honing means to engage and hone the tire in the areas of non-uniform peripheral growth.

3 more elements

In a system for correcting a rubber tire for both centrifugally generated non-uniformities and for lack of symmetry:

a support frame, opposing pairs of slides mounted on said frame for movement toward and away from each other, channel shaped frame members having opposing legs interconnecting the slides in each pair, and means for moving said pairs of slides in unison;
pairs of pillow blocks mounted on corresponding slides in each pair, axially aligned spindles mounted on said pairs of pillow blocks, and a pair of mating wheel halves mounted on said spindles, said wheel halves engaging and supporting a tire to be corrected when said slides are moved toward each other;
a first pair of piezo-electric quartz crystal sensors lying between one of the pillow blocks in each pair and the opposing legs of said channel-shaped members;
a road wheel for driving a tire mounted on said wheel halves, said road wheel having an axle rotatably journaled in a pair of pillow blocks secured to a housing mounted on said supporting frame, a second pair of piezo-electric quartz crystal sensors interposed between said last named pair of pillow blocks and said housing, means for rotating said road wheel at high speeds, means mounting said housing for movement toward and away from the tire, and means for applying a load to said road wheel through said housing;
encoder means for developing a rotational reference position on the circumference of the tire;
control means responsive to said sets of sensors and to said encoder means for correlating said relative reference position with signals generated by said sensors;
honing means operatively connected to said control means for removing rubber from the periphery of the tire in accordance with the signals generated by said sensors;
and
means operatively connected to said control means for acting on the tire in response to signals generated by said sensors.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Correction of rubber tires for forces generated by dynamic non-uniformities

Life of this patent

Correction of rubber tires for forces generated by dynamic non-uniformities

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33