Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the condition of a tire tread of a vehicle wheel including a rim and a tire configured to perform the steps of: (1) emitting an electromagnetic radiation towards the tread of the tire, (2) receiving a reflected electromagnetic radiation from said tread of the tire in response to the emitted radiation, (3) processing the reflected radiation to obtain height data including respective heights of a plurality of points located on the tread of the tire, (4) repeating the steps (1) to (3) in successive time intervals within which the vehicle wheel has driven a predetermined distance, and storing the respective height data, particularly average values of the height data, each in dependence of the driven distance, and (5) deriving from the succession of the stored height data a residual mileage of the tire.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring forces which are produced by an unbalance of a rotary member, the apparatus including a measuring shaft (2) which is supported in a rotary mounting (26) rotatably about its axis (23) and to which the rotary member (1) is fixed for the measurement operation, and a support device (3) having force measuring sensors (4, 5) for supporting the measuring shaft (2) on a stationary frame (6), wherein the support device (3) has an intermediate frame (7) on which the measuring shaft is supported in a mounting plane having a force measuring sensor (4), the intermediate frame (7) is supported on the stationary frame (6) by way of a further force measuring sensor (5) and by way of a first pair (11, 12) of support levers and pivots (15 to 18), the rotary mounting (26) is fixedly connected to a stiff holding device (29) at an axial spacing with respect to the mounting plane (8) in which the force measuring sensors (5, 6) are disposed, the holding device (29) is supported on the intermediate frame (8)

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a wheel diagnosis system (DS) for diagnosing a wheel (12) under test mounted to a vehicle and including at least a rim (18) and a tire (13). The wheel diagnosis system comprises a plurality of sensing units (1, 2, 3) being adapted for scanning predetermined surfaces of the wheel under test when the wheel under test is rotated, a supporting unit (5) to which the plurality of sensing units is mounted. Specifically, the supporting unit is freely movable relative to the wheel under test, and the sensing units are located at different positions on the supporting unit for scanning different portions of the predetermined surfaces of the wheel under test and collecting data of the operation result when the supporting unit is placed at the wheel under test at a predetermined scanning position. The present invention further refers to a method of diagnosing the condition of the wheel under test mounted to a vehicle.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for carrying out the method are disclosed for hidden spokes placement of balancing weights on a wheel, having a hub, a rim and the hub and the rim being connected by several spokes, comprising determination of spoke configuration data. Now, it is possible to analyze spoke configuration and width of the spokes in details, enabling the weight splitting behind spokes even if spokes are forked, oblique, not equidistant, or they have different dimension.

Abstract: A tire fitting machine having a wheel mounting means 1 which is mounted rotatably about a vertical axis 5 and to which a wheel rim 6 is to be fixed when fitting or removing a tire, wherein the wheel rim 6 rests on a support surface 2 of the wheel mounting means 1, the support surface extending perpendicularly to the axis 6, wherein the support surface 2 is displaceable along the axis 5 and is fixable in a plurality of positions.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of determining geometrical dimensions of a motor vehicle wheel (rim/tire assembly) 1 by contact-less sensing, wherein the wheel is fixed on wheel receiving means 2 of a tire changer, that at least one light beam 21 is emitted on to the wheel or at least a part of the wheel, wherein the light beam reflected at the impingement area is detected, and wherein the directions of the emitted and reflected light beams are evaluated for determining the shape and/or position of the respective impingement area on the wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus for fitting or removing tyre to or from a rim 1 of a vehicle wheel comprising a hooked tool 2 which is controlledly moved in a pivotal connection location 4 along a sliding guide 11 and in a second pivotal connection location connected to a link lever, on a tool holder 5, wherein the control movement of a rod-shaped control portion 10 is transmitted to the tool 2 by way of the gear transmission 9.

Abstract: An alignment measuring apparatus for 3D contactless measuring alignment of a wheel of an automotive vehicle, a system formed by several apparatuses for a total wheel alignment of all wheels of an automotive vehicle, and a respective method for carrying out 3D contactless wheel alignment in real time. The several embodiments provide a comprehensive diagnosis tool for the alignment operation of vehicle wheels by contactless scanning, in particular a real time measuring for total wheel alignment, and enable a respective hassle-free adjustment operation.

Abstract: Tire changer apparatus having a horizontally extended frame; a wheel holder device provided on said frame and designed to support a tired wheel (14) with horizontally positioned wheel axis; a carriage supported movably along the frame; a tool holder provided on the carriage; at least one tire changing tool for mounting the tire onto the wheel and/or for demounting the tire from the wheel; and actuator means to move the tool holder on the carriage to operating positions in which the tire changing tool is able to act on the tire for mounting or demounting on both sides of the tire, wherein during the mounting operation or demounting operation the carriage is driven by an actuator device along the frame; the tool holder is movably supported on a tool holder carriage which is movably supported on said carriage and driven by an additional actuator device provided on said carriage, and said additional actuator device is in drive connection with the tool holder carriage via a mechanical speed-increasing transmiss

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of determining geometrical dimensions of a motor vehicle wheel (rim/tyre assembly) 1 by contact-less sensing, wherein the wheel is fixed on wheel receiving means 8 of a tyre changer, that at least one planar light beam 3 is emitted on to the wheel or at least a part of the wheel, wherein the light beam reflected at the impingement area is detected, and wherein the directions of the emitted and reflected light beams are evaluated for determining the shape and/or position of the respective impingement area 4 on the wheel 1.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of fitting or removing a motor vehicle tyre (4) comprising a rotatably supported wheel receiving device (2) to which the rim (3) is to be fixed, at least one fitting or removal tool (5), a rotary drive device (10) for the wheel receiving device and a sensing device (6), (7), (8) for sensing the radially outer rim contour (12), (14) along which the at least one fitting or removal tool is to be guided during the fitting or removal operation, wherein the sensing device (6), (7), (8) is a sensing device which contact-lessly senses the rim contour and the sensing signals of which are converted into electrical sensing signals, and connected to the sensing device (6), (7), (8) is a control device (9) which evaluates the electrical sensing signals and which controls the at least one fitting or removal tool (5) in the fitting or removal operation in dependence on the sensing signals without contact with the rim surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a network system for automotive shops including at least one computer-aided automotive shop machine and a respective computer network, wherein the computer-aided machine is connected to the computer network by communicating by transmitting information signals on a power supply line. Further, the invention relates to a machine for an automotive shop with a computer and communication means configured to communicate by transmission of information signals on a power supply line to at least one peripheral functionality over a communication line.

Abstract: A method of and an apparatus for optically scanning the tread surface of a pneumatic tire 10 which for forming a vehicle wheel 1 is mounted on a disc wheel 5, wherein measurement data are obtained along a plurality of peripheral lines by light beam scanning, said data corresponding to the spacings of the impingement points of the light beams on the tread surface from a reference position, wherein associated first or higher harmonics for quality classification of the rotational truth of the vehicle wheel are formed in a computer-aided evaluation apparatus 9 from the measurement data along the respective peripheral lines.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optically scanning a pneumatic tire of a vehicle wheel that is rotatably mounted on a measuring shaft of a wheel balancing machine. A light source, such as a laser beam source, is provided to emit at least one light beam onto the surface of the pneumatic tire, which is reflected by the surface and received by a receiver. In response, the receiver produces position signals based on the impingement point of the reflected beam for evaluation by a computer-aided evaluation device. Rotary angle signals representing the rotational angle of the wheel are supplied to the computer-aided evaluation device by a rotary angle sensor. The computer-aided evaluation device determines dimensions and positions of the pneumatic tire or its constituent parts based on the positional signals and the rotary angle signals.

Abstract: Tyre changer apparatus having a horizontally extended frame (13); a wheel holder device (1) provided on said frame (13) and designed to support a tyred wheel (14) with horizontally positioned wheel axis (15); a carriage (5) supported movably along the frame (13); a tool holder (4) provided on the carriage (5); at least one tyre changing tool (2) for mounting the tyre onto the wheel and/or for demounting the tyre from the wheel; and actuator means to move the tool holder (4) on the carriage (5) to operating positions in which the tyre changing tool (2) is able to act on the tyre for mounting or demounting on both sides of the tyre, wherein during the mounting operation or demounting operation the carriage (5) is driven by an actuator device along the frame (13); the tool holder (4) is movably supported on a tool holder carriage (3) which is movably supported on said carriage (5) and driven by an additional actuator device (16) provided on said carriage (5), and said actuator device (16) is in drive connection

Abstract: An alignment measuring apparatus for 3D contactless measuring alignment of a wheel of an automotive vehicle, a system formed by several apparatuses for a total wheel alignment of all wheels of an automotive vehicle, and a respective method for carrying out 3D contactless wheel alignment in real time. The several embodiments provide a comprehensive diagnosis tool for the alignment operation of vehicle wheels by contactless scanning, in particular a real time measuring for total wheel alignment, and enable a respective hassle-free adjustment operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for balancing a motor vehicle wheel, in which after an unbalance measuring operation, at least one balancing weight is attached to at least one balancing plane in a given angular position of the rim of the motor vehicle wheel. The rim surface is scanned to determine its contour features. The contour features are compared to reference contour features of stored rim surfaces, to determine matching rim types and at least one balancing plane associated with the best match.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scanning a vehicle wheel rotatable about a measuring shaft of a wheel balancing machine. A light source scans the vehicle wheel by emitting a light beam onto the wheel surface, which is reflected and received by a receiver 11. The light source and the receiver are configured to move together with each other. An evaluation device is coupled to the receiver and a position sensor specifying the positions of the light source and the receiver. The evaluation device ascertains dimensions and positions of constituent parts of the vehicle wheel in a computer-aided procedure based on data obtained by the scanning process.

Abstract: A method for determining an optimized position between the tire and rim of a wheel to improve operation smoothness of the wheel. Measurements are conducted to determine respective effects of wheel imbalance and non-uniformities contributed by the tire and rim at different rotational positions. An index vector representing the respective effects is defined. The optimized position is determined based on an observation of changes of the index vector relative to the changes of respective effects of wheel imbalance and non-uniformities contributed by the tire and rim at different rotational positions. The relative position between the tire and rim is adjusted according to the optimized position to achieve better operation of the wheel.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining geometrical data of a motor vehicle wheel 2 mounted rotatably about an axis of rotation 1, in which in at least two planes 19, 20 which are perpendicular to the axis of rotation 1, the distances of a plurality of measurement points on a respective periphery of the corresponding part of the wheel (wheel rim 9) from a reference location 5 and the rotary angle positions of the respective measurement points are measured and the position of the motor vehicle wheel 2 with respect to the axis of rotation 1 is determined from the measurement values.