WHEEL BALANCING DEVICE

Abstract

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.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A wheel balancing device for balancing spoked wheels, comprising: a rotatable holding device configured to receive and rotatably support a spoked wheel to be balanced; and at least one spoke sensor configured to detect the spokes of the wheel.

12. The wheel balancing device as recited in claim 11, wherein the spoke sensor is configured to detect at least one of the number of the spokes and a position of the spokes.

13. The wheel balancing device as recited in claim 11, wherein the spoke sensor is configured to detect the spokes (6) in a contactless manner.

14. The wheel balancing device as recited in claim 13, wherein the spoke sensor is an ultrasonic sensor.

15. The wheel balancing device as recited in claim 13, wherein the spoke sensor is a light reflection sensor.

16. The wheel balancing device as recited in claim 11, further comprising: an angular position sensor configured to detect a current angular position of the wheel; and an evaluation unit configured to determine positions of the spokes long a circumference of the wheel.

17. The wheel balancing device as recited in claim 16, wherein the evaluation unit is configured to determine positions of the spokes while the spoked wheel rotates at a constant speed.

18. The wheel balancing device as recited in claim 16, wherein the evaluation unit is configured to determine the positions of the spokes while the spoked wheel is accelerated or decelerated.

19. A method for determining the number and/or positions of spokes of a spoked wheel in a wheel balancing device, the method comprising: a) rotating the spoked wheel about its axis; and b) detecting the spokes of the spoked wheel, using a contactless spoke sensor, while the spoked wheel is rotating.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein rotating the spoked wheel in step a) includes rotating the spoked wheel manually or in motor-driven fashion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] In the following, the present invention is explained in greater detail with reference to the figures.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a spoked wheel.

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a schematic sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a wheel balancing device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a spoked wheel 2 axially symmetric about an axis A; the spoked wheel including a rim 4, which has a number of spokes 6, five in the embodiment shown, as well as a tire 8 fitted onto rim 4.

[0019] Balancing weights 10, which are attached to rim 4 to balance spoked wheel 2, are preferably attached behind spokes 6 of rim 4, in order that they are not visible from the outside and are protected from external mechanical effects. To that end, the positions of spokes 6 must be known to the wheel balancing device.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a wheel balancing device 1 according to the present invention.

[0021] Wheel balancing device 1 includes a rotatable shaft 20, which, in the representation of FIG. 2, runs in a horizontal direction from left to right; the shaft having a holding device (hub) 16, which is shown only schematically in FIG. 2, and to which spoked wheel 2 is mountable in such a manner, that it may be rotated by a motor 18, or manually, about the axis of shaft 20, which coincides with axis A of the wheel 2 mounted to holding device 16.

[0022] In addition, wheel balancing device 1 includes at least one spoke sensor 12, which is configured to detect if a spoke 6 of wheel 2 is situated in sensing region 13 of spoke sensor 12.

[0023] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, spoke sensor 12 is attached to a movable, in particular, swiveling covering device 14 of wheel balancing device 1. Covering device 14 is provided, in order to protect the operator of wheel balancing device 1 from coming into contact with rotating wheel 2. To that end, covering device 14 is preferably configured in such a manner, that motor 18 may only be operated when covering device 14 is closed and covering device 14 may only be opened when wheel 2 has stopped.

[0024] Alternatively, spoke sensor 12 may also be attached to a different point of wheel balancing device 1, which is stationary during operation and, in particular, does not rotate together with wheel 2.

[0025] In particular, spoke sensor 12 may take the form of a contactless sensor, which is able to detect spokes 6 without contact. Contactless detection of spokes 6 may allow reliable prevention of damage to and/or aesthetic deterioration, e.g., scratches, of spokes 6 by spoke sensor 12, as may occur in the case of a mechanical spoke sensor 12.

[0026] Contactless spoke sensor 12 may be, e.g., an acoustic sensor, in particular, an ultrasonic sensor, or an optical sensor, in particular, a light reflection sensor.

[0027] The optical sensor may operate, using light in the visible range and/or light in the invisible range. An optical sensor, which may take the form of, in particular, an infrared and/or laser sensor, also allows spokes 6 to be detected reliably at high rotational speeds of spoked wheel 2.

[0028] Spoke sensor 12 is connected to an evaluation unit 22 via a wireless and/or cable connection 26, in order to transmit the measuring signals generated by it to evaluation unit 22. Evaluation unit 22 is also connected to an angular position sensor 24 via a further wireless and/or cable connection 28; the angular position sensor being attached to rotatable shaft 20, in order to determine the current angular position of shaft 20 and, therefore, also the angular position of wheel 2 during rotation about axis A. By combining the signals supplied by angular position sensor 18 and by spoke sensor 12, the angular positions of spokes 6 along the circumference of rim 4 may be clearly determined.

[0029] If the angular positions of spokes 6 in the direction of the circumference of rim 4 are known, the positions to which balancing weights 8 are to be attached may be determined in such a manner, that balancing weights 8 are attached exclusively at the angular positions of spokes 6, in particular, behind the spokes 6 of rim 4, where they are not visible from the outside. In this manner, aesthetic deterioration of wheel 2 by the balancing weights may be prevented, and balancing weights 10 are protected from external mechanical effects by spokes 6.