Burke E. Porter Machinery Company

Timothy James Leep

Jon D Lawrence

James R Lehman

Mark S Hoenke

Bryan K VandenBosch

A tire inflation system comprising a tire inflation apparatus having an inflation head, a pressurized gas source, and a controller, with the inflation head being positioned at a tire and wheel assembly inflation location at which a tire and wheel assembly is received to inflate the tire and wheel assembly. The tire and wheel assembly includes a tire pressure monitoring (TPM) valve stem that detects and transmits inflation pressure data of the tire and wheel assembly. The inflation head defines a tire inflation cavity that seals with the tire of the tire and wheel assembly when engaged with the inflation head. Pressurized gas is delivered from the pressurized gas source through an outlet in the tire inflation cavity for inflation of the tire and wheel assembly. The controller receives inflation pressure data from the TPM valve stem and controls operation of the tire inflation apparatus in response thereto.

Modular tire inflator

A compact, modular and versatile vehicle testing assembly for testing at least the brakes of an assembled vehicle comprises a pair of rollers adapted to support a tire of a tire and wheel assembly of a vehicle positioned on the testing assembly, with the pair of rollers being moveable relative to one another to alter the spacing there between. A drive system is connected to one of the rollers to operate as a drive roller for selectively imparting rotational motion to a tire of a vehicle tire and wheel assembly, with the other roller comprising a freewheeling roller to which rotational motion is imparted by a vehicle tire. A brake member is engageable with the freewheeling roller to selectively inhibit rotation of the freewheeling roller.

Vehicle brake testing assembly

A vehicle testing assembly for performing tests to determine certain characteristics of a motorized vehicle having a set of driven wheels. The testing assembly includes an annular roller with an outer surface. The roller is preferably formed of a steel composition. A controller is connected to the roller for retrieving data from the roller during a rotation of the roller. The testing assembly is characterized by a coating being applied to the outer surface of the roller to define a contact surface of the roller. The coating is formed of a coating composition different from the steel composition of the roller. Preferably, the coating composition comprises nickel and phosphorus. During operation of the vehicle testing assembly the wheel of the vehicle continuously contacts the contact surface of the coating to provide an accurate testing of the characteristics of the vehicle as the roller rotates.

Growing community of inventors

Zeeland, MI, United States of America

Timothy James Leep