In a method for detecting wheel imbalances in a vehicle, the profile of the driving state variable is ascertained by sensor over a speed range of the vehicle; a frequency analysis is performed; and a resonance step-up is indicative of a wheel imbalance.

Methods and systems for improving the uniformity of a tire by determining one or more high speed uniformity parameters of the tire are provided. The high speed uniformity parameters can be determined by continuously acquiring uniformity data while ramping the tire to and from high speeds. For instance, measured uniformity data can be continuously collected for the tire as the tire is increased to high rotational speeds and decreased from high rotational speeds. The measured uniformity data can then be analyzed to determine one or more high speed uniformity parameters for the tire. For instance, the measured uniformity data can be corrected for non-high speed uniformity contributions to the uniformity measurements, such as contributions resulting from non-uniformity of a road wheel use to load the tire during uniformity testing, contributions resulting from mass unbalance of the tire, and contributions from low speed uniformity parameters of the tire.

A wheel balancing device for balancing spoked wheels, includes a rotatable holding device that is configured to receive and rotatably support a spoked wheel to be balanced, as well as at least one spoke sensor that is configured to detect the spokes of the wheel.

A dynamic balancer includes a support frame with a frame plate that has a spindle opening through which a spindle assembly with a rotatable spindle shaft is received. A sensor plate is coupled to at least the support frame, and at least one force sensor is coupled between the sensor plate and the spindle assembly to detect force variations therebetween as the rotatable spindle shaft rotates. A related method for detecting a balance condition of a tire includes providing a plurality of force sensors maintained in a substantially horizontal plane with respect to the tire's rotation, chucking and inflating the tire, spinning the tire to a predetermined speed, generating force data from the plurality of force sensors, calculating an imbalance condition from the force data, and marking the tire at a location of imbalance if the imbalance condition exceeds a predetermined threshold.

A wheel balancer incorporates tire bead manipulating tools under control of a processing system to apply a clamping pressure to tire sidewall surfaces of a wheel assembly secured to a spindle shaft, facilitating the proper seating of tire beads to the wheel rim. The spindle shaft is operatively coupled to a drive motor and transmission system under control of the processing system, capable of operating in both a high speed, low torque regime and a low speed, high torque regime to rotate the wheel assembly during either an imbalance measurement procedure or a tire bead adjustment procedure. A load roller assembly, under control of the processing system, is disposed to selectively apply a radial force at a tire circumferential tread surface as the wheel assembly is rotated about the spindle axis, further facilitating the proper seating of the tire beads.

The invention relates to a method of balancing a wheel assembly of an electric car, in which the wheel assembly comprises an in-wheel motor. The wheel assembly (with the tire mounted on it) is spun by the in-wheel motor, the imbalance is measured by a sensor on the wheel and the angular orientation is determined by an orientation sensor. A control unit in the car then determines the position and weight needed for balancing the wheel.

In a method for detecting wheel imbalances in a vehicle, the profile of the driving state variable is ascertained by sensor over a speed range of the vehicle; a frequency analysis is performed; and a resonance step-up is indicative of a wheel imbalance.

A computer-based method to facilitate detecting wheel imbalance, a tire pressure problem, or excessive tread wear on tires of a moving vehicle is disclosed. The method includes collecting (e.g., from an accelerometer of a mobile personal computing device) data that represents vibration that results, at least in part, from the vehicle's motion, and determining, with a computer-based processor, whether the moving vehicle has wheel imbalance, a tire pressure problem, and/or excessive tire tread wear based at least in part on the vibration data produced by the accelerometer (and, possibly other data), where the mobile personal computing device and the accelerometer are moving with the vehicle when the data is being collected.

An apparatus is removably attached to lug nuts of a vehicle's wheel assembly for use in determining imbalance forces of the wheel assembly during motion of the vehicle. The apparatus includes a plurality of data collection devices. Each data collection device is removably attachable to one lug nut of the same wheel. Each data collection device includes a single cup-shaped object and a motion measurement sensor. The data collection object is mounted to the vehicle's wheel by fitting the cup-shaped object over the lug nut of the wheel. The motion measurement sensor measures parameters that are used for calculating the imbalance forces during motion of the vehicle. A processor receives the measured parameters from motion measurement sensors of each of the data collection devices and uses the measured parameters to identify an instantaneous center of rotation of the wheel assembly for use in determining imbalance forces of the wheel assembly of the vehicle during motion of the vehicle.

A system dynamically balances a rotating body. The system includes a support that holds the body as it rotates. At least one sensor generates signals indicative of a balance of the body as it rotates and a controller identifies a position on the body where material can be placed to balance the body. The controller operates at least one actuator to move a plurality of ejectors opposite the identified position where the controller operates at least one ejector in the plurality of ejectors to eject material onto the identified position. The system can operate iteratively until the body is balanced within a predetermined range.