Fmc Corporation

Hanford D Monroe

James L Dale, Jr

Steven W Rogers

Jerry M Hill

Raymond Titsworth

J Tom Lipe

Jean O deBellefeuille, Jr

Allen D McConnell

Carl W Pruitt

Sherman Paul

The invention provides a wheel balancer with a filtering system that reduces signal noise using a phase shift and subtraction circuit. In addition the inventive wheel balancer utilizes an automated parameter entry device, and a fast data refresh system which reduces the burden on the central processing unit CPU.

Wheel balancer apparatus and method

The disclosure herein relates to an alignment system and method which provides improved accuracy measurement of vehicle wheel alignment characteristics, guidance for an operator through known yet obscure adjustment procedures, an interface between system alignment sensors and the system controller which provides efficient handling of system generated data and system inputs and outputs, and live measurements and display of all alignment quantities so that interdependent changes between adjustable alignment quantities are observable.

Wheel alignment system

A force sensing apparatus and method in a vehicle wheel balancer is disclosed which in one embodiment includes use of a voltage controlled oscillator connected to drive a piezoelectric crystal at an oscillation frequency which is compared in phase to a frequency generated by the wheel balancer spin shaft encoder. When unbalance force imposed changes occur in the crystal oscillation frequency, an unbalance output is provided by the comparison which contains the unbalance force magnitude and angular orientation information. The unbalance output is processed to provide operator indications for facilitating application of counterweights to the vehicle wheel.

Apparatus and method for sensing unbalance force and location through

A wheel alignment system includes either four wheel mountable alignment heads or two alignment heads and two retroreflectors or two alignment heads alone together with a control console and display. A main processing unit is included in the console for performing calculations and for controlling systems function control components communications sequences. Each console function control component includes its own controller. The control console further includes a CRT display module and optional voice instruction and printer output modules. A bar code reader is available for quick specifications entry. Communications and decision making instructions are downloaded from the controller in each console function control component to the main processing unit at initialization. Communication between the heads and the console is accomplished either through the use of conducting cords or infrared transmission and reception. Each alignment head also includes a controller which controls collection of alignment data in parallel at each head as well as serial transmission from each head to the console during discrete transmission periods as required by the main processing unit.

Vehicle wheel alignment apparatus and method

A wheel alignment system includes either four wheel mountable alignment heads or two alignment heads and two retroreflectors or two alignment heads alone together with a control console and display. A main process unit is included in the console for performing calculations and for controlling systems function control components communications sequences. Each console function control component includes its own controller. The control console further includes a CRT display module and optional voice instruction and printer output modules. A bar code reader is available for quick specifications entry. Communications and decision making instructions are downloaded from the controller in each console function control component to the main processing unit at initialization. Communication between the heads and the console is accomplished either through the use of conducting cords or infrared transmission and reception. Each alignment head also includes a controller which controls collection of alignment data in parallel at each head as well as serial transmission from each head to the console during discrete transmission periods as required by the main processing unit.

Growing community of inventors

Conway, AR, United States of America

Hanford D Monroe