The present invention relates to measuring unit for measuring forces generated by unbalance of rotor mounted on measuring shaft, particularly of vehicle wheel mounted on measuring shaft of wheel balancing machine, the measuring unit comprising stationary frame, first bearing for receiving measuring shaft rotatably about its shaft axis (Z), second bearing pivotally supporting first bearing about pivot axis (Y) which intersects shaft axis (Z) and being supported on stationary frame, first force sensor for measuring forces generated by unbalance of rotating rotor and acting on measuring shaft about pivot axis (Y), and second force sensor for measuring forces generated by unbalance of rotating rotor and acting on measuring shaft and on second bearing in direction intersecting shaft axis (Z), wherein second bearing and stationary frame are integrally formed of single element as support plate.

A tire testing apparatus includes: a lower rim that is formed with a lower through hole, and a rim-side inclined surface that increases in diameter in a downward direction of an inner peripheral surface of a lower end portion of the lower through hole; an upper rim that is held to face the lower rim; an insertion part capable of being inserted through the lower through hole; and an apparatus-side inclined surface that is provided at a lower end portion of the insertion part, increases in diameter from an outer peripheral surface of the insertion part in the downward direction, and is capable of coming into contact with the rim-side inclined surface.

The subject matter of the present invention relates to a system for the optical determination of correction planes in rotating elements, used in the process of balancing, in particular in diagnostic devices equipped with a system which has at least one video camera (K), at least one line projector (RL), a monitor screen (M) and a computer (P) which controls individual component elements of the system, wherein the video camera (K) cooperates with the line projector (RL) while projecting a view of the rotating element (EW) on the monitor screen (M) together with an image of a line (L) projected by means of the line projector (RL).

The subject matter of the present invention also relates a method for determining correction planes which consists in that an area of measurement space is defined on the basis of a virtual rotating element (EW) before placing a rotating element (EW) on the shaft of a diagnostic device (PM) onto which line (L) is projected by means of line projector (RL), and subsequently a view of the rotating element (EW) is transmitted by means of the video camera (K) to the monitor screen (M) together with an image of the projected line (L), and thus the run of the line is obtained which maps a change in the value of the radius r.sub.n from the axis of the shaft of the diagnostic device (PM) and the value of distance D.sub.n of the rotating element (EW) from the diagnostic device (PM) in the defined area of measurement space.

A vehicle wheel imbalance measurement system having a rotationally driven spindle for receiving a vehicle wheel assembly, a motor drive for rotating the spindle and wheel assembly about an axis of rotation, and a set of force transducers for measuring imbalance forces generated by the rotating wheel assembly, and in particular, to a structure within the vehicle wheel imbalance measurement system for conveying a portion of the generated imbalance forces to be measured from the wheel assembly to a fixed ground.

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.

The present invention relates to measuring unit for measuring forces generated by unbalance of rotor mounted on measuring shaft, particularly of vehicle wheel mounted on measuring shaft of wheel balancing machine, the measuring unit comprising stationary frame, first bearing for receiving measuring shaft rotatably about its shaft axis (Z), second bearing pivotally supporting first bearing about pivot axis (Y) which intersects shaft axis (Z) and being supported on stationary frame, first force sensor for measuring forces generated by unbalance of rotating rotor and acting on measuring shaft about pivot axis (Y), and second force sensor for measuring forces generated by unbalance of rotating rotor and acting on measuring shaft and on second bearing in direction intersecting shaft axis (Z), wherein second bearing and stationary frame are integrally formed of single element as support plate.

A method is provided for determining a magnitude of a mass to be placed on a wheel assembly using data from one or more inertial measurement units (IMU's). The one or more IMU's are mounted to a removably attachable object that is attached to a wheel of the vehicle in a manner that inhibits the object from coming off of the vehicle when the vehicle is in motion. Each of the IMU's include an accelerometer. A set of acceleration data is collected from the one or more IMU's while the vehicle is in motion. The acceleration data is applied to a predictive model to determine the magnitude of the mass.

A method is provided for detecting vibrational anomalies of a vehicle using a plurality of devices that are removably attachable to the vehicle. One of the devices is removably attachable to a wheel assembly and includes an IMU configured to remotely collect data. At least one of the other devices is not attached to any of the wheel assemblies. Acceleration data is collected from the device that is removably attachable to the wheel assembly. Vibrational data is collected from at least one of the other devices that are not attached to any of the wheel assemblies. The acceleration data is analyzed from the device that is removably attachable to the wheel assembly to determine whether a vibrational anomaly exists in the wheel assembly. The vibrational data from the at least one of the other devices that are not attached to any of the wheel assemblies is analyzed to determine whether a vibrational anomaly exists. The acceleration data that was analyzed from the device that is removably attachable to the wheel assembly is compared to the vibrational data analyzed from the at least one of the other devices that are not attached to any of the wheel assemblies to identify a potential source of vibrational anomaly in the vehicle.

A method is provided for determining a magnitude of a mass to be placed on a wheel assembly using data from one or more inertial measurement units (IMU's). The one or more IMU's are mounted to a removably attachable object that is attached to a wheel of the vehicle in a manner that inhibits the object from coming off of the vehicle when the vehicle is in motion. Each of the IMU's include an accelerometer. A set of acceleration data is collected from the one or more IMU's while the vehicle is in motion. The acceleration data is applied to a predictive model to determine the magnitude of the mass.

A wheel balancing apparatus comprising a wheel hub (2) movable by rotation about its own rotation axis (R), the wheel hub (2) being configured to removably engage a wheel and rotate the wheel about the rotation axis (R), and a safety cover (3) comprising at least one active portion (4) movable towards and away from the wheel hub (2) between a distal position and a proximal position. The balancing apparatus comprises a locking system (10) of the safety cover (3).