# US 5,703,291 A · Power clamping system for mounting/securing of automotive wheel assemblies onto wheel balancing machines

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- Number: US 5,703,291 A
- Document ID: US5703291A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/614,245
- Filed: 1996-03-12
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1995-03-28
- Assignees: Hofmann Werkstatt-Technik GmbH
- Inventors: Gerhard Rossteuscher
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5703291A

## CPC

- G01M 1/045: {the body being a vehicle wheel}
- G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A clamping arrangement for clamping a rotary member to be balanced on a main shaft of a balancing machine comprises a centering cone which is axially resiliently supported on the shaft for centering the rotary member with respect to the shaft. A pressure element can be fixed on the shaft for pressing the rotary member against the centering cone into a centering position, and a support flange holds the rotary member against the pressure element. The support flange is non-rotatably and axially displaceably mounted on the shaft and can be pressed by an actuating means against the rotary member which is held in a centered condition, whereby the rotary member is clamped against the pressure element on the shaft.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A clamping arrangement for clamping a rotary member to be balanced on a main shaft of a balancing machine, comprising a centering cone adapted to be axially resiliently supported on the main shaft for centering the rotary member with respect to the main shaft, a pressure element adapted to be fixed on the main shaft for pressing the rotary member against the centering cone into a centering position, a support flange member for holding the rotary member against the pressure element, means for mounting the support flange member non-rotatably and axially displaceably on the main shaft, and an actuating means for pressing the support flange member against a centeredly held rotary member so that said centeredly held rotary member can be clamped against the pressure element on the main shaft.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the actuating means has at least one axial expansion element adapted to be mounted on the main shaft.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

An arrangement as set forth in claim 2 wherein the actuating means includes at least one pneumatically actuable air bellow.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

An arrangement as set forth in claim 3 wherein the air bellow is annular and is adapted to be mounted to the periphery of the main shaft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1 including means for mounting the actuating means rotatably on the main shaft.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pressure element is of a cup-shaped configuration.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1 including a sleeve on which the support flange member, the centering cone and the pressure element are mounted and which is adapted to be fixed on the main shaft.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

An arrangement as set forth in claim 7 wherein the actuating means is mounted on the sleeve.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

An arrangement as set forth in claim 7 wherein the sleeve is a compensating sleeve for adaptation to different main shafts.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

An arrangement as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rotary member comprises a motor vehicle wheel having a rim portion with a central centering opening.

### Claim 11

A balancing machine including a main shaft for supporting a rotary member to be balanced, and a clamping arrangement for mounting the rotary member on the main shaft of the balancing machine, the arrangement comprising: a centering cone; means for axially resiliently supporting the cone of the main shaft for centering the rotary member with respect to the main shaft; a pressure element on the main shaft and operable to press the rotary member against the centering cone into a centering position; a support flange member for holding the rotary member against the pressure element; means for mounting the support flange member non-rotatably and axially displaceably on the main shaft; and an actuating means for pressing the support flange member against a centeredly held rotary member so that said centeredly held rotary member can be clamped against the pressure element on the main shaft.