Hines Industries, Inc.

Ronald W Anderson

Gordon E Hines

Leonard J Salenbien

Vernon J Burzan

Arthur W Henke

Lee D Case

A workpiece support tool is disclosed for use with in providing an infinite variety of positions to receive and engage workpieces of differing shapes and sizes. The workpiece support tool provides precise support and positioning of the workpiece with respect to an operational centerline. The support tool includes a plurality of radially moving jaw members having support surfaces for supporting the inner circumference of the workpiece. The jaw members are expanded and contracted in solely radial movement through driving forces imparted by a position encoded servo drive motor.

Workpiece support tool

The present invention provides for a method of generating an electronic bobweight signal used to offset an unbalance signal before the unbalance signal is received at the input portion of the electronic circuitry of the unbalance detection system. The electronic bobweight signal and unbalance signal are matched in their phase angle and are each sampled a specified number of equally spaced times per revolution of the workpiece to provide accurate bobweighted unbalance data without the need for use of physical bobweights and their inherent disadvantages.

Electronic bobweight eliminator

A tire balance audit apparatus with an improved tire support tool is disclosed. The tire support tool utilizes a plurality of jaw members, each driven radially by a ball screw, to engage, center and level an unbalanced tire about the centerline of an unbalance measuring device. The tire is supported solely through engagement of the bead of the tire with the individual jaw members.

Tire unbalance audit apparatus

Fishing lure

The present invention provides for a method of generating an electronic bobweight signal used to offset an unbalanced signal before the unbalance signal is received at the input portion of the electronic circuitry of the unbalance detection system. The electronic bobweight signal and unbalance signal are matched in their phase angle and are each sampled a specified number of equally spaced times per revolution of the workpiece to provide accurate bobweighted unbalance data without the need for use of physical bobweights and their inherent disadvantages.

A method and apparatus for the automatic balancing of workpiece having diverse surface geometry is disclosed. The balancing machine of the present invention provides for computer numerical controls in the balancing and material removal operations. The processes provide for alternative methods of material removal and further provides for the balancing operation to be self-calibrating and self-programming.

Automatic grinder

A vertical static balancer incorporating novel methods for workpiece support and pivoting, restoring force spring placement, and means for transmission of motion and force therebetween. A single-element flexure pivot provides workpiece support while permitting near frictionless tilting movement around a vertical axis. Restoring force springs, separate from the pivoting function, are interchangeable to readily alter machine capacity. A rigid tubular member transmits unbalance effects from the workpiece to springs and displacement transducers attached thereto. Simplified electrical circuitry enables data to be transmitted from panel controls to a digital computer by means of a single conductor.

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Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Ronald W Anderson