Abstract:
A wheel servicing machine (10) such as a wheel balancer includes an acoustic transducer (30) configured to measure energy of one or more reflected acoustic waves after the waves have bounced off a material boundary surface such as a wheel assembly (100). In some embodiments, a return energy index signal (84) representative of the measured energy is generated by a transducer and is further processed by a processor to control operations of the machine. The acoustic transducer also measures distance between the transducer and the wheel assembly surface in some embodiments. One or more values in a sample queue of acquired distance data may be flagged, or indexed, based on variation in the magnitude of the return energy signal. Methods of measuring wheel width using sonar measurement of both distance and reflected energy are also provided.
Abstract:
A computer-controlled system automatically measures and records various physical characteristics of an elongated shaft or tube, such as a golf club shaft or other structural member. The characteristics measured include the principal planar oscillation plane, oscillation frequency, stiffness asymmetry, relative stiffness, torsional stiffness, shaft length, shaft straightness and tip angle.
Abstract:
A computer-controlled system automatically measures and records various physical characteristics of an elongated shaft or tube, such as a golf club shaft or other structural member. The characteristics measured include the principal planar oscillation plane, oscillation frequency, stiffness asymmetry, relative stiffness, torsional stiffness, shaft length, shaft straightness and tip angle.
Abstract:
A system for assembling a rotor stack having a plurality of rotor disks may include a measurement system for measuring characteristics of the rotor disks, a computer electronically connected to {he measurement system for capturing data from the measurement system, and solid modeling software for creating a virtual stack of the rotor disks optimized for concentricity.
Abstract:
A wheel balancer (10) includes a microprocessor (12) configured to receive data associated with a vehicle wheel rim and tire assembly (100) imbalance from at least one sensor, and to identify optimal correction weight plane locations (w1, w2), as well as to present the operator with the imbalance correction weight arrangement. The microprocessor (12) is further configured to control a projection display system (50) disposed to project a two-dimensional image (75) onto a surface of the vehicle wheel rim and tire assembly (100), to facilitate completion of a wheel imbalance correction procedure.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods for use in measuring the uniformity of a body such as a tire, wheel or the like wherein a waveform related to the uniformity of the body is digitally sampled to acquire a series of data samples, each of which is correlated with a respective physical location on the body. According to a first aspect of the invention, a non-repetitive error component of the waveform is corrected for by sampling the same location on the body at two different times and determining the difference between the corresponding data samples. A fraction of the total difference is allocated to each of the data samples in the series according to a predetermined mathematical function which at least approximately describes the non-repetitive component of the waveform. The fraction of the difference allocated to each sample is then subtracted from it to obtain a corrected series of data sample. According to a second aspect of the invention, the maximum, minimum and/or peak-to-peak values of the waveform are more accurately determined by relating selected extreme data samples and one or more data samples adjacent thereto to a polynomial function of at least second order. The function is then evaluated at the location where its first derivative equals zero to determine a more accurate and repeatable approximation of a maximum, minimum or peak-to-peak value of the waveform. According to yet another aspect of the present invention the first and second aspects above are practiced in conjunction with one another.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods for use in measuring the uniformity of a body such as a tire, wheel or the like wherein a waveform related to the uniformity of the body is digitally sampled to acquire a series of data samples, each of which is correlated with a respective physical location on the body. According to a first aspect of the invention, a non-repetitive error component of the waveform is corrected for by sampling the same location on the body at two different times and determining the difference between the corresponding data samples. A fraction of the total difference is allocated to each of the data samples in the series according to a predetermined mathematical function which at least approximately describes the non-repetitive component of the waveform. The fraction of the difference allocated to each sample is then subtracted from it to obtain a corrected series of data sample. According to a second aspect of the invention, the maximum, minimum and/or peak-to-peak values of the waveform are more accurately determined by relating selected extreme data samples and one or more data samples adjacent thereto to a polynomial function of at least second order. The function is then evaluated at the location where its first derivative equals zero to determine a more accurate and repeatable approximation of a maximum, minimum or peak-to-peak value of the waveform. According to yet another aspect of the present invention the first and second aspects above are practiced in conjunction with one another.