Facom

Gerard C Brihier

Jacques M Hennes

Luc Renaud

This dynamometer wrench (6) includes a head (2) for tightening a member to be screwed, an operating grip (3), a deformable and bending-sensitive handle (7) connecting the grip to the tightening head, and an electronic means (M) for measuring the deformation of the handle and for displaying the tightening torque determined from the deformation measurement. The handle includes a region whose principal cross-section differs from that of the remainder of the handle by virtue of a void (9) and such that it can locally transform shear stresses generated by the operating force (F) into elongation/compression stresses parallel to the surface of the handle. This arrangement makes it possible to compensate for error caused by taking bending alone into consideration when determining the torque transmitted by the tightening head, and hence to avoid exceeding the maximum tightening torque beyond which the profile of the tightening head or the screw thread of the member to be screwed would be damaged, and this by an inexpensive system.

Tool for measuring torque, such as an electronic dynamometer wrench

The wheel (3) to be balanced is mounted on a rotatable shaft carried by two spaced bearings (6, 4) provided with force sensors ( 8, 10). Two standard weights are mounted on the wheel rim at two points spaced angularly apart. The sensors (8, 10) signal the forces exerted on the bearings by the rotation of the wheel equipped with said weights. The weights are then removed and a new measurement ofthe forces exerted on the bearings is made. The values and the positions of the correcting weights to be placed on the wheel are then determined from the characteristic relationship of the wheel-apparatus assembly obtained by comparison of the results of these two measurements.

Process and apparatus for balancing a vehicle wheel

In this equilibrating apparatus, the shaft 19 supporting the face-plate 20 for receiving the wheel is rotatively mounted in bearings 18 which are mounted in annular end parts 16, 17 of a tubular body 13. The median part 15 of the latter is fixed to the frame 11, 12 of the apparatus and connected to the end parts by resiliently deformable devices 25, 26 which are deformable in a direction located in a measuring plane which is an axial plane of the shaft and of the tubular body. Measuring detectors are fixed on the resiliently deformable devices 25, 26. The arrangement eliminates any parasitic force which is liable to have a disadvantageous effect on the measurement and consequently permits the use of a simple gear drive for the shaft.

Equilibrating apparatus in particular for motor vehicle wheels

A device for measuring the relative position of two objects by variation of capacitance. The device comprises a capacitive detector of the differential type which has at least two first electrodes adapted to be mechanically connected to one of the objects and at least a second electrode adapted to be mechanically connected to the other object and forming with the first electrodes two capacitances which vary as a function of the relative position of the objects. These two capacitances are in a ratio which is only a function of this relative position. There is provided a circuit for determining the values of these capacitances. The measuring device further comprises switching means for selectively connecting said capacitances to the input of said value determining circuit so as to measure successively said capacitances and also the parasitic capacitance inherent in the measuring system.

Device for measuring the relative position of two objects

The apparatus for testing a device controlling the ignition of an engine comprises rotary driving means for driving the device and simulating the driving of the device in normal operation; an angular encoder mechanically coupled to the driving means for providing a series of clock pulses the frequency of which is a function of the speed of rotation of the driving means; means for producing a pulse signal representing the ignition initiating signal delivered by the device when it operates in the course of its use with the internal combustion engine; at least one circuit for measuring an angular parameter of operation of the device, the measuring circuit being connected to the encoder and to the pulse signal producing means for producing a measurement signal formed by a series of measurement pulses each of which occurs respectively in the course of a revolution of the driving means, each pulse representing the angular parameter to be measured and a display device for displaying the number of clock pulses occurring per revolution during a measurement pulse.

Apparatus for testing the operation of a device controlling the ignition

In this machine, an optical coding device furnishes a plurality of code numbers one of which is stored upon each rotation of the wheel to be balanced when the latter rotates at a stable measuring speed. This stored number corresponds to the passage of the imbalance through a predetermined position. Thereafter, the motor driving the wheel in rotation is switched off and the number is retained in the store and compared, in the course of a new rotation of the wheel, with the instantaneous number furnished by the coding device. The result of this comparison is displayed by three indicator lamps. When, in the course of the new rotation, the imbalance reaches the position it had at the moment of storage, one of the lamps lights up and the other two lamps are extinguished. The balancing weight must then be fixed to the wheel in a position diametrally opposed to the predetermined position.

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Ollainville, France

Gerard C Brihier