Abstract: An inlet conveyor for conveying tires through a tire uniformity testing system includes a tire centering mechanism and a pair of conveyor belts for delivering tires to a tire testing station. A fixed conveyor having rollers on which tires can easily slide is secured to a frame that supports the centering mechanism. The conveyor belts are reeved around respective pulleys and are supported by support rails fixed to and extending away from the centering mechanism in cantilever fashion. A conveyor elevator is raised or lowered with respect to the frame unit to raise or lower the support rails and conveyor belts to either engage or disengage a tire resting on the fixed conveyor. The support rails and conveyor belts are adjustable in a lateral direction to vary the width of the space between the belts to accommodate different size tires. The conveyor belts are advanced by a rotary pneumatic actuator that precisely controls the distance the belts move to position the tire with respect to the testing station.

Abstract: A tire uniformity testing system includes a testing station mounted on a gantry-like frame structure and an inlet conveyor located adjacent to the testing station. The inlet conveyor receives a tire and centers the tire such that its rotational axis is located at predetermined distance from the rotational axis of the testing station, and a conveyor transports the tire to the testing station. The testing station includes rotatable chuck assembly for engaging and rotating a tire which in turn is engaged by a loadwheel that generates tire uniformity data. The inlet conveyor is mechanically isolated from the testing station. The frame forming part of the testing station includes a plurality of I-beams joined together in flange abutting relationship which, in addition to producing a mechanically rigid structure, provides spaces defined between the flanges of the beams that are suitable for routing electrical wiring, pneumatic or hydraulic lines, etc.

Abstract: An automatic, adjustable width chuck apparatus for securely positioning tires in a tire testing machine includes a lower chuck in the form of a spindle assembly and an upper chuck in the form of a movable chuck assembly. The spindle assembly includes a rotatable spindle having a tapered portion and the chuck assembly includes a chuck member having a mating tapered recess. The spindle assembly and chuck assembly each carry a half-rim for engaging the lower and upper beads of the tire. The entire chuck assembly is movable toward and away from the spindle assembly under force of a hydraulic cylinder and can be stopped at any point between fully raised and fully lowered positions. In addition, the chuck member is independently movable by pneumatic cylinders to engage the spindle member at various relative positions of the spindle and chuck assemblies. The movable chuck has an increased stroke length to accommodate various size tires.

Abstract: A loadwheel assembly for a tire testing machine includes a loadwheel with a tire contacting surface supported along substantially its entire circumference by one or more solid discs. The loadwheel consistently measures forces and generates electrical signals corresponding to the forces to more precisely determine tire uniformity. The loadwheel, formed as an aluminum weldment which reduces manufacturing costs, rotates about spindles provided with load cells and mounted to a C-shaped carriage. The carriage has upper and lower legs with the spindles fixed to one side of each leg such that the load cells are easily accessible from one side of the carriage.