Hunter Engineering Company

Gregory F Meyer

Michael T Stieff

Daniel R Dorrance

Mark S Shylanski

Thomas J Golab

Timothy A Strege

Michael Wayne Douglas

Joel A Clasquin

Dennis M Linson

James D Wilson, Ii

Patrick G J Callanan

Sean D Reynolds

Balancer weight tray

Methods and apparatus for utilizing vehicle wheel assembly surface profile data acquired by a vehicle wheel service system from a non-contact imaging sensor and a projected pattern of optically distinct elements on the vehicle wheel assembly surface to identify one or more features of the vehicle wheel assembly, to receive operator input, and to facilitate the placement of imbalance correction weights onto the vehicle wheel assembly surface.

Method and apparatus for utilizing wheel profile data during wheel assembly service procedures

A vehicle wheel service system configured with a load roller assembly to apply a generally radial load to a vehicle wheel assembly during rotation, and which is configured with sensors to obtain one or more measurements of lateral forces associated with the vehicle wheel assembly during the loaded rotation, from which a quantified representation of lateral force for the tire of the vehicle wheel assembly is determined.

Method and apparatus for wheel assembly lateral force measurement

A vehicle service or inspection system including a load roller for applying a radial load to a vehicle wheel assembly consisting of a tire mounted to a rim, with at least one sensor for acquiring measurements of acoustical energy generated by the wheel assembly during loaded rotational movement. The vehicle service or inspection system is configured with a programmed processor to evaluate the acquired measurements to provide a measure of tire road noise, identification of tire defects, and/or identification of sources of noise, vibrations, or acoustical energy on the tire surface such as tire flat spots, cupping, bubbles, embedded foreign objects, or other defects. The processor is further configured with software instructions to utilize the acquired measurements to provide a consumer with a figure of merit associated with the acoustics of the tire undergoing testing.

System and method for wheel assembly acoustical evaluation

A machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system optical target assembly which incorporates an adaptor for attachment of an optical target to a vehicle wheel assembly. The adaptor includes a circular sinusoidal edge for seating in a non-determined position against surfaces of a vehicle wheel assembly, and a pair of pivoting arm assemblies capable of independent movement which are configured to position tire hooks for gripping the tread surfaces of a tire mounted to the wheel rim. Forces exerted between the pivoting arms are transferred to the tire hooks to hold the optical target assembly in contact with the wheel assembly surface. The optical target is integrated into the adaptor, and maintained in a stationary relationship to the wheel assembly thereby during a vehicle wheel alignment procedure.

Vehicle wheel optical target mounting assembly

A machine vision vehicle wheel alignment system optical target assembly incorporating an adaptor for attachment of an optical target to a vehicle wheel assembly. The adaptor includes at least three contact points for abutment against surfaces of a vehicle wheel assembly, and an attachment mechanism configured to grip surfaces of a tire mounted to the wheel rim to hold the optical target assembly in contact with the wheel assembly surface. The optical target is secured to the adaptor, and maintained in a fixed relationship to the wheel assembly thereby during a vehicle wheel alignment measurement procedure.

Method and apparatus for vehicle service system optical target assembly

Method and apparatus for vehicle service system optical target

Alignment target apparatus

Growing community of inventors

St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Gregory F Meyer