Apparatus and method for reducing vibration characteristics in a wheel rim and tire assembly
AssigneeFMC Corporation
InventorsJames L. Dale, Steve Rogers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combination tire and rim assembly match mounting, match grinding and balancing machine has a load roller for contacting the mounted tire periphery with a predetermined force. The displacement of the roller provides a measure of tire radial runout and either a vision system or mechanical probes provide a measure of rim radial runout. A controller operates to calculate the least square best fit between the tire and the rim and to control the match grinding to provide improvement in the tire and rim assembly operating vibration characteristics.
Claims40
A method of adjusting a rim and tire assembled in a first positional relationship so that the assembled rim and tire is within acceptable radial runout and unbalance limits comprising the steps of
- measuring the radial runout of the rim and tire in the first positional relationship for at least one revolution,
- comparing the measured rim and tire radial runout with the acceptable runout limits,
- measuring the rim radial runout for at least one revolution when the measured rim and tire radial runout limit is exceeded in the first positional relationship,
- calculating a least squares best fit second rim and tire positional relationship using the rim and tire and the rim radial runout measurements, and
- adjusting the tire on the rim rotationally to the second positional relationship when sufficient radial runout improvement is predicted.
A method of diagnosing and adjusting a rim and tire assembled in a first positional relationship so that the assembled rim and tire is brought within acceptable operating limits comprising the steps of
- detecting the unloaded tire profile for the entire profile,
- inspecting the detected profile of the tire for proper bead seating and for surface defects.
- measuring the unloaded runout of the rim and tire in the first positional relationship,
- computing the runout of the tire from the unloaded runout measurement of the rim and tire in the first positional relationship,
- performing a tread wear analysis from the unloaded runout measurement, and
- matching the rim and tire in a second positional relationship, match grinding the tire as required by the foregoing dimensional mapping steps and applying mass to correct rim and tire unbalance to bring the rim and tire within the acceptable limits.
A method of diagnosing and adjusting a rim and tire assembled in a first positional relationship so that the assembled rim and tire is brought within acceptable operating limits comprising the steps of
- measuring the loaded radial runout profile of the rim and tire in the first positional relationship for the entire profile,
- detecting the unloaded tire surface profile for the entire profile,
- inspecting the detected profile for proper bead seating and for surface defects,
- measuring the unloaded runout of the rim and tire in the first positional relationship,
- computing the runout of the tire from the unloaded runout measurement of the rim and tire assembly in the first positional relationship,
- and
- matching the rim and tire in a second positional relationship, match grinding the tire as indicated by the results of the foregoing steps and applying mass to correct rim and tire unbalance to bring the rim and tire within acceptable operating limits.
Apparatus for diagnosing and adjusting a tire and wheel rim for optimal relative mounting position, comprising
- means for supporting the wheel rim for driven rotation thereon,
- means for detecting the position, configuration and radial runout of the wheel rim and the tire mounted thereon,
- means for loading the periphery of the mounted tire with a constant force,
- means for sensing the displacement of said means for loading, and
- means for comparing coupled to said means for detecting and means for sensing operating to compare measured radial runout of the wheel rim with the radial runout of the tire mounted in an initial position on the wheel rim and for calculating a least squares best fit between the tire and the wheel rim radial runouts representing an optimal position of the tire on the wheel rim.
Apparatus for diagnosing and adjusting a tire and wheel rim for optimal relative mounting position, comprising
- means for supporting the wheel rim for driven rotation thereon,
- means for detecting the position, configuration and radial runout of the wheel rim and the tire mounted thereon,
- means for loading the periphery of the mounted tire with a constant force,
- means for sensing the displacement of said means for loading, and
- means for comparing coupled to said means for detecting and means for sensing operating to compare measured radial runout of the wheel rim with the radial runout of the tire mounted in an initial position on the wheel rim and for calculating a least squares best fit between the tire and the wheel rim radial runouts representing an optimal position of the tire on the wheel rim.
Apparatus for diagnosing and correcting vibration causing characteristics in a wheel rim and tire assembly comprising
- means for measuring unbalance in the wheel rim and tire assembly and for indicating angular position and magnitude of mass change for correcting the unbalance,
- means for measuring radial runout of the wheel rim,
- means for measuring radial runout of the tire mounted on the wheel rim, and
- means for calculating the least squares best fit between the tire and the wheel rim radial runouts and for indicating the relative angular position of the wheel rim and tire at which the least squares best fit occurs.
A method of reducing operational vibration characteristics to be within specifications in a wheel rim and tire assembly having the tire mounted in an initial position, comprising the steps of
- measuring the loaded runout of the assembly with a constant force applied against the periphery of the tire,
- measuring the runout of the wheel rim,
- determining if the runout of either the rim or the tire is excessive,
- comparing the runout of the tire and the wheel rim if neither tire or rim runout is excessive to determine if match-mounting the tire on the wheel rim to a subsequent position would produce vibration improvement,
- match-mounting the tire on the wheel rim to the subsequent position if vibration improvement would be produced,
- checking for match-grinding vibration improvement if the loaded runout of the assembly is not within specifications,
- match-grinding the tire if the assembly is not within specification and vibration improvement would be produced,
- measuring the wheel rim and tire assembly unbalance on a wheel balancing machine, and
- correcting the assembly unbalance if it is not within specifications.
A method of reducing operational vibration characteristics to be within specifications in a wheel rim and tire assembly having the tire mounted in an initial position, comprising the steps of
- measuring the loaded runout of the assembly with a constant force applied against the periphery of the tire,
- measuring the runout of the wheel rim,
- determining if the runout of either the rim or the tire is excessive,
- comparing the runout of the tire and the wheel rim if neither tire or rim runout is excessive to determine if match-mounting the tire on the wheel rim to a subsequent position would produce vibration improvement,
- match-mounting the tire on the wheel rim to the subsequent position if vibration improvement would be produced,
- checking for match-grinding vibration improvement if the loaded runout of the assembly is not within specifications,
- match-grinding the tire if the assembly is not within specification and vibration improvement would be produced,
- measuring the wheel rim and tire assembly unbalance on a wheel balancing machine, and
- correcting the assembly unbalance if it is not within specifications.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.