Abstract: A method of verifying the operation of an accelerometer is provided. The method includes channeling a high frequency signal through a positive lead of the accelerometer, and detecting a signal at a negative lead of the accelerometer. If the detected signal is substantially similar to the high frequency signal channeled through the positive lead, the integrity of the accelerometer is verified.

Abstract: A shaft assembly has a shaft body, a first universal joint coupled to a first end of the shaft body, and a second universal joint coupled to a second end of the shaft body. A method for dynamically balancing the shaft assembly includes rotating the shaft assembly at a predetermined speed, determining a level of imbalance of the shaft assembly while rotating the shaft assembly at the predetermined speed, iteratively adjusting the position of the shaft body with respect to the first and second universal joints in response to the level of imbalance to determine an optimal level of imbalance while rotating the shaft assembly, and securely positioning the first and second universal joints with respect to the shaft body.

Abstract: A balancing device includes an active balancing mechanism. The active balancing mechanism maintains the balancing device in an actively balanced state within a range of the active balancing mechanism. An auxiliary balancing mechanism is configured to support the balancing device in an unbalanced state that is outside the range of the active balancing mechanism and aid a transition of the balancing device to the actively balanced state that is within the range of the active balancing mechanism, wherein the auxiliary balancing mechanism is configured to support the balancing device includes to prop up the balancing device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying out auto-calibration of one or more piezoelectric elements in a force transducer assembly of a vehicle wheel balancing system. Output electrical signals from the piezoelectric transducers in response to application of a known imbalance force are measured and recorded. Subsequently, during an auto-calibration procedure, a known input signal is selectively applied to at least one piezoelectric element in the force transducer assembly, and at least one output electrical signal is received from the force transducer assembly. The obtained auto-calibration output signals are evaluated with respect to the output signals obtained from a previous auto-calibration, and compensation values are derived there from for application to subsequent output signals obtained during imbalance measurements.

Abstract: A runout measurement system is proposed for measuring the runout of a moving surface of a device having a rotating body, such as a mass storage device (100) (e.g. a hard disk drive) having a rotor which in use includes a rotating recording medium. A sensor (102) interacting with the moving surface obtains a displacement signal. The displacement signal is sampled by a sampling unit (104) controlled by a unit (109) which initiates sampling based on both a signal indicating a ZCP and the clock signal of a high frequency (e.g. 20 MHz) clock (106). Simultaneously, the same clock (106) is used by a counter 108 to measure the spacing between one or more ZCP times. This permits the correspondence between the sampling times and the angular position of the rotor to be found with a high accuracy which depends upon the clock frequency, and thereby allows calculation of repeatable runout (RRO) and non-repeatable runout (NRRO).

Abstract: A balancing device includes an active balancing mechanism. The active balancing mechanism maintains the balancing device in an actively balanced state within a range of the active balancing mechanism. An auxiliary balancing mechanism is configured to support the balancing device in an unbalanced state that is outside the range of the active balancing mechanism and aid a transition of the balancing device to the actively balanced state that is within the range of the active balancing mechanism.

Abstract: A self-aligning laser guide device capable of indicating a top dead-center of a wheel on a wheel balancer and a process for locating the top dead-center of the wheel. The self-aligning laser guide can include a body having a laser beam generating device and a wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor configured to be rotatably connected to the body at one end and configured to be removably connected to a wheel balancer shaft at the other end.

Abstract: A method to balance spindles in a plurality of disk drives is disclosed and claimed. An initial imbalance and initial phase for one of the plurality of disk drives is determined, the determination depending upon an amplitude and phase calibration. One of a plurality of balancing masses is selected based on the initial imbalance and attached at an angular position selected based upon the initial phase. A final imbalance after attachment is similarly determined. These determinations are repeated for each of the plurality of disk drives, with the final imbalance and the initial imbalance recorded for each. The amplitude calibration is adjusted based on a comparison of a measured distribution and a theoretical distribution of the final imbalance versus the initial imbalance.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the automatic detection and identification of errors in a balancing machine during operation, in which a rotor provided with an unbalance is rotatably mounted in a vibratory bearing in the balancing machine and is set in rotation by a drive, the rotational frequency of the rotating rotor and the vibrations stimulated by the rotor are measured and measurement signals which comprise the measured values of the rotational frequency and the vibrations are generated and delivered to an evaluation computer. The evaluation calculation is based on mathematical models of the dynamic properties of the balancing machine which describe stimulations of the machine structure due to the unbalance, in particular in the balancing planes, and/or due to the rotor geometry and/or due to the bearing and/or possible damage to the bearing.

Abstract: A device to balance a disc, comprising a shaft disposed for rotation about an axis having one end adapted to coaxially receive the disc and an opposite end including rotor structure stator structure to magnetically drive the rotor structure, shaft and disc about the axis; and structure for determining imbalance in the disc.

Abstract: The present invention is based on imparting of oscillatory motion to a rotor and to a coaxial balanced body relative to a fixed point selected at the common axis of the rotor. To eliminate an interference of imbalance datum planes on the parameters to be measured, at one stage of measurements the fixed point is used as the crossing point of the rotor axis with one of the imbalance datum planes, whereas at the next stage the rotor is along its axis by a fixed distance to a second position. The measured parameters are used to determine imbalance parameters in two imbalance datum planes.

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 shaft assembly has a shaft body, a first universal joint coupled to a first end of the shaft body, and a second universal joint coupled to a second end of the shaft body. A method for dynamically balancing the shaft assembly includes rotating the shaft assembly at a predetermined speed, determining a level of imbalance of the shaft assembly while rotating the shaft assembly at the predetermined speed, iteratively adjusting the position of the shaft body with respect to the first and second universal joints in response to the level of imbalance to determine an optimal level of imbalance while rotating the shaft assembly, and securely positioning the first and second universal joints with respect to the shaft body.

Abstract: In a method and a device for balancing production related inaccuracies of the magnetic wheel of an electromotive drive of a vehicle, correction factors are used, the initial value of which is factory preset, and which are modified in the course of an adaption process until the production-related inaccuracies of the magnetic wheel have been balanced as much as possible.

Abstract: A method is provided for analyzing vibrations of a variable speed rotating body. The method includes producing a signal that is proportional to an acceleration of the rotating body and producing a plurality of pulses. Each pulse represents a revolution of the rotating body and is indicative of a vibration sample at a rotational position of the rotating body. The signal is converted to a numeric value that is indicative of a vibrational amplitude of the rotating body. The plurality of pulses are converted to revolution time periods indicative of a rotational rate of the rotating body. The method also includes producing a harmonic vibrational amplitude at a harmonic of the rotational rate of the rotating body, and representing a phase of the harmonic vibrational amplitude relative to the rotational position of the rotating body.

Abstract: A wheel balancer includes a microprocessor configured to receive data associated with a vehicle wheel rim and tire assembly imbalance from at least one sensor, and to identify optimal correction weight plane locations, as well as to present the operator with the imbalance correction weight arrangement. The microprocessor is further configured to control a projection display system disposed to project a two-dimensional image onto a surface of the vehicle wheel rim and tire assembly, to facilitate completion of a wheel imbalance correction procedure.

Abstract: The balancing machine for balancing vehicle wheels comprises a supporting structure for supporting grip and rotation means for gripping and rotating a wheel to be balanced, detection means for detecting the unbalance of the wheel during rotation, a processing unit which is operatively associated to the grip and rotation means and to the detection means, and interface means associated to the supporting structure and operatively associated to the processing unit. The interface means comprise a support associated to the supporting structure, a screen housed internally of a first housing on the support and a keyboard housed internally of a second housing on the support.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring forces which are produced by an unbalance of a rotary member 8, comprising support means 3 for supporting the rotary member 8 rotatably about its axis 1 and having at least one measurement sensor 4 placed at a vibratory location of the support means 3, wherein the at least one measurement sensor 4 is designed to measure vibratory accelerations of the location at which the measurement sensor 4 is placed.

Abstract: The machine for balancing vehicle wheels comprises a base frame supporting a substantially horizontal balancing spindle, a lifting device for lifting a vehicle wheel to be fitted/removed to/from the balancing spindle, contact-free reading means of the profile of the tire associated with the base frame, and a processing and control unit operatively associated with the lifting device and with the reading means and suitable for calculating the position of the center of the wheel in accordance with the values read by the reading means, and for stopping the lifting device in an end-of-lifting position, in which the wheel center is substantially at the same height as the balancing spindle.

Abstract: Methods and systems of balancing a rotatable member are provided. A method includes separately balancing a first portion and a second portion of the rotatable member wherein the second portion mateable to said first portion, coupling the first and second portions to each other, measuring a physical dimension of the coupled first and second portions, and determining a balance weight magnitude and position based on the measured physical dimension.

Abstract: The balancing machine for balancing vehicle wheels comprises a supporting structure of grip and rotation means for gripping and rotating a wheel to be balanced, detection means for detecting the unbalance of the wheel during rotation, a processing unit which is operatively associated to said grip and rotation means and to said detection means, a screen associated to the supporting structure which is operatively associated to the processing unit and adapted to display the detected unbalance data and selectable functions or lists of functions, a control panel for the selection of the functions or lists of functions having a touch-screen control surface, and control means for controlling the operation of the control surface between a continuous operating mode, in which the touching of the control surface between two positions leads to scrolling between the functions or lists of functions, and a discrete operating mode, in which on the control surface is determined at least a discrete portion and the touching of

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a driving device of armature balance machine, in which a driving motor is formed on the same centerline of the armature, a hinge block pivot-connected by the hinge shaft is installed in the finger mounter of the bracket in such a manner that the hinge shaft is disposed on the same centerline of the driving motor and the variable roller is formed at one side of the hinge shaft, the finger provided with a complementary roller is symmetrically constructed about the centerline of the driving motor, and thereafter a belt is wound around each roller, so that the construction of the driving motor can be simplified and thus the length of the belt is minimized and the vibration of the belt is minimized, thereby enabling to keep the tension applied to the belt in an optimum state, due to the facts that the tension of the belt is symmetrical about the centerline of the belt and also the variable roller i.e. the tension adjusting means is not operated by the belt.

Abstract: A balancing machine for rotating bodies, particularly for wheels of motor vehicles and the like, comprising a rotating shaft supported by a supporting element which is connected rigidly to the frame of the balancing machine, at least one first measurement transducer and one second measurement transducer being coupled elastically, along perpendicular planes, to an extension of the supporting element, an actuation motor being connected to the rotating shaft by means of a belt, said actuation motor being connected on an extension of the supporting element, said extension connecting the rotating shaft to the measurement transducers.

Abstract: A particle filling line comprises a vertically-oriented conduit that includes a conduit hollow. The conduit includes a conduit top and a conduit bottom. The conduit bottom defines an outlet. The conduit is arranged so that particles supplied to the conduit top flow through the outlet to be received by one or more containers disposed on a movable conveyor belt. The conduit hollow includes one or more conduit hollow elements disposed therein. The one or more conduit hollow elements include any of a plurality of agitators and an auger. The particle filling line is arranged for determining a resistance that is based on the spacing between the one or more conduit hollow elements and the conduit inner walls. When the resistance is determined to be less than a threshold resistance value, the particle filling process ceases.

Abstract: A wheel balancing system determines a type of corrective weight for application to an edge of a rim of a wheel for correcting imbalance of the wheel. One or more corrective weights are identified from a varied inventory of corrective weights. An inventory database is incremented or decremented for each identified corrective weight. Database reports can be generated that specify weight usage and inventory status. One or more wheel balancers may be coupled to a network.

Abstract: A tire testing machine according to the present invention, which can measure both uniformity and dynamic balance of a tire T, comprises a spindle for driving the tire T to rotate about a vertical axis, a spindle housing which supports the spindle rotatably, and a rotating drum rotatable about an axis parallel to an axis of the spindle and movable toward and away from the tire T. The spindle housing is fixed to a base through a piezoelectric sensor so that it can bear a pressing force provided from the rotating drum. The piezoelectric sensor is disposed within a plane including the axis of the spindle and perpendicular to the pressing force. With this structure, dynamic balance of the tire can be measured accurately and easily.

Abstract: System and method for active detection of asymmetry in a rotating structure, the method comprises: imparting harmonic mechanical excitation on the rotating structure that is asynchronous to the speed of rotation of the structure; obtaining a response from the excited rotating body; and analyzing the response to determine a presence of modulation of the imparted harmonic mechanical excitation, that causes vibration at a frequency that is a combination of both the harmonic mechanical excitation and the modulation speed of rotation.

Abstract: A method of operation of a vehicle wheel balancer system for identifying an imbalance correction weight mode which an operator desires to utilize during an imbalance correction procedure without requiring the operator to manually input or select an imbalance correction weight mode prior to beginning the placement of the imbalance correction weights. The imbalance correction weight mode is determined from operator guided movements of one or more dataset arms which identify if an operator-selected imbalance correction weight placement plane is associated with a clip-on imbalance correction weight, an adhesive imbalance correction weight, or a patch-type imbalance correction weight.

Abstract: A balance assembly for a rotating assembly comprising: a first movable rotor and a second movable rotor which are selectively movable about the rotating assembly; and a controller with a microprocessor operating with stored control programs for controlling movement of the first movable rotor and second movable rotor and adapted to calculate a value and to periodically modify the value and to cause the first movable rotor and the second movable rotor to move in accordance with the calculated value and the modified value, wherein the values are adjusted during a plurality of control iterations to reduce vibrational signals from an at least one vibration sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring forces generated by an unbalance of a vehicle wheel, comprising a horizontally oriented measuring shaft (1) which is supported rotary about its shaft axis (2) in a rotary mounting (3) on a stationary machine frame (4) and which is adapted that a vehicle wheel (5) is fixed onto it for the measurement operation, wherein the measuring shaft (1) is movably guided in a vertical direction on the stationary machine frame (4) between a first vertical position in which the measuring operation is conducted and a second vertical position in which the shaft axis is brought into alignment with a wheel axis (6) of the uprightly positioned vehicle wheel (5).

Abstract: A method for balancing motor vehicle wheels, comprising mounting the wheel onto the rotating spindle of a balancing machine, using a probe of known type, selecting balancing planes and diameters, providing the data to the balancing machine, spinning the wheel, calculating the value of imbalance, calculating an entity and angular position for balancing weights to be applied in the balancing planes and diameters previously selected by the operator; during the spinning of the wheel, measuring an acceleration time between two predetermined speeds of the wheel; calculating an imbalance threshold value and applying the balancing weight only if it is above the calculated threshold value.

Abstract: Vibration is monitored in a dual rotor engine. A first total vibration of the engine is measured during operation. Relative phase of the two rotors is then clocked, and a second total vibration of the engine is then measured during operation. First and second total unbalances are then resolved at a common response frequency from the measured total vibrations. First and second rotor unbalances are then resolved for the corresponding rotors from the first and second total unbalances. In a further method, corresponding corrective balance weights may be determined for offsetting the resolved rotor unbalances.

Abstract: Provided is a dynamic balancing apparatus using a linear time-varying angular velocity model, which includes a rotational shaft on which a rotational body having a rotating unbalanced mass is installed; a linear time-varying angular velocity generator which allow the rotational shaft to be rotated at a linear time-varying angular velocity; a support for supporting both sides of the rotational shaft; and a transducer for measuring applied force or vibration transferred to the support by revolution of the rotational shaft having a linear time-varying angular velocity.

Abstract: A vibration suppressor system includes an annular electric motor system which independently controls rotation of at least two masses about the axis of rotation to reduce in-plane vibration of the rotating system. A method of reducing vibrations in a rotary-wing aircraft includes independently controlling a relative angular position of a multiple of independently rotatable masses to reduce vibrations of a main rotor system.

Abstract: A wheel balancing system may include a wheel imbalance measuring system, a memory system, a user interface, and a processing system. The processing system may be configured to cause initial imbalance information relating to an initial imbalance in a wheel assembly that was measured by the wheel imbalance measuring system to be stored in the memory system. The processing system may also be configured to recall the initial imbalance information from the memory system after a residual imbalance measurement of the wheel assembly by the wheel imbalance measuring system. The processing system may also be configured to cause the user interface to communicate weight information to the user about an amount and placement location of at least one weight needed to correct for the imbalance based on the initial imbalance information recalled from the memory system.

Abstract: A magnetically aligned scraped-surface heat exchanger and method are provided. A stator includes electromagnetic elements, such as solenoids. A rotor, attached to a shaft of the heat exchanger, rotates within the stator. Sensors detect the position of the rotor, such as a radial or an axial position. The position data is provided to the control circuit. When the position of the rotor is to be re-aligned or adjusted, the control circuit activates or de-activates one or more of the solenoids of the stator to alter or complete a magnetic field through the rotor to re-align the rotor and the shaft attached thereto.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments provide a rotating machine assembly comprising a rotor machine assembly including a shaft, a plurality of laminations shrink fit around the circumference of the shaft, and weights affixed therebetween the laminations for balancing the rotating machine assembly.

Abstract: A method for correcting offsets in sensors includes mounting, on a rotating machine, a first set of sensors in locations selected to measure vector loads in a first set of coordinates. The method further includes mounting, on the rotating machine, a second set of sensors in locations selected to measure vector loads in a second set of coordinates, wherein the first set of coordinates and the second set of coordinates rotate with respect to one another when the rotating machine is operating. The method also includes utilizing measurements from either or both of the two sets of sensors to correct offset errors in vector loads measured by the other set of sensors.

Abstract: A method of verifying the operation of an accelerometer is provided. The method includes channeling a high frequency signal through a positive lead of the accelerometer, and detecting a signal at a negative lead of the accelerometer. If the detected signal is substantially similar to the high frequency signal channeled through the positive lead, the integrity of the accelerometer is verified.

Abstract: A system and a method of determining imbalances of at least one wheel on a vehicle, when said wheel is rotating, is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a vibration signal from at least one wheel vibration sensor associated with said wheel; providing an angular velocity signal of the rotation of said wheel, the angular velocity signal including a reference signal indicating the start of a wheel revolution; and based thereupon performing signal processing upon these signals for detecting a periodic signal of a predetermined nature corresponding to imbalances in said wheel and determining the position upon said at least one wheel of such imbalance. Accordingly, a wheel imbalance detection system separate from the vehicle is no longer necessary, because the present method provides an indication as to the precise location and type of any detected imbalance in a wheel. By being able to locate the position upon the wheel of such wheel imbalance, the maintenance time used is reduced considerably.

Abstract: A particle filling line comprises a vertically-oriented conduit that includes a conduit hollow. The conduit includes a conduit top and a conduit bottom. The conduit bottom defines an outlet. The conduit is arranged so that particles supplied to the conduit top flow through the outlet to be received by one or more containers disposed on a movable conveyor belt. The conduit hollow includes one or more conduit hollow elements disposed therein. The one or more conduit hollow elements include any of a plurality of agitators and an auger. The particle filling line is arranged for determining a resistance that is based on the spacing between the one or more conduit hollow elements and the conduit inner walls. When the resistance is determined to be less than a threshold resistance value, the particle filling process ceases.

Abstract: A device according to the invention for performing vibration measurements on a test part that has a rotor, especially a transmission, includes a base structure, on which a fastening device for the test part is arranged, and a vibration measuring device for measuring vibrations caused by a rotation of the rotor of the test part. According to the invention, a balancing device is provided, arranged on the base structure or at least partially integrated into the base structure, for identifying and/or eliminating an imbalance in the rotor. The device of the invention thus enables both a balancing of the rotor and the performance of vibration measurements on the rotor, using a single device.

Abstract: A balancing device includes an active balancing mechanism. The active balancing mechanism maintains the balancing device in an actively balanced state within a range of the active balancing mechanism. An auxiliary balancing mechanism is configured to support the balancing device in an unbalanced state that is outside the range of the active balancing mechanism and aid a transition of the balancing device to the actively balanced state that is within the range of the active balancing mechanism. A processor is configured to actively control the transition from the unbalanced state to the actively balanced state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for applying a magnetic mark to a rotatable article (1) to be positioned, to a corresponding device and to a system (2) consisting of a device for applying a magnetic mark and a device (25) for determining the angle of rotation. In the region that comprises magnetizable material of the rotatable article to be positioned and is selected for determining the angle of rotation, a magnetic dipole is generated as a magnetic mark by a magnetic field, by means of the device for applying a magnetic mark. Said mark is used for determining the angle of rotation of the rotor.

Abstract: A synchronous signal generator is provided for use in conjunction with an aircraft engine having a spool and an engine output shaft driven by the spool. The synchronous signal generator includes a generator housing, a generator output member rotatably mounted in the generator housing, a once-per-revolution timing mark on the generator output member, and conversion gearing disposed within the housing and configured to couple the engine output shaft to the generator output member. The conversion gearing rotates the generator output member at substantially the same rotational frequency as the spool when the conversion gearing is coupled to the engine output shaft.

Abstract: A method to determine eccentricity of a rotor in a turbine including: collecting sensor data of rotor eccentricity for a plurality of startup operations; establishing a baseline eccentricity value using the sensor data corresponding to a selected startup operation; determining an eccentricity value using the filtered sensor data for each of a plurality of startup operations subsequent to the selected startup operation; determining a rotor eccentricity difference between the baseline eccentricity value and each of the eccentricity values for the plurality of startup operations subsequent to the selected startup operation, and reporting a rotor eccentricity condition based on the rotor eccentricity difference.

Abstract: A family of vehicles is presented which exploit dynamic controls to stabilize in-line two wheeled vehicles. The stabilization results in improved safety at high speeds and on uncooperative surfaces. Stabilization affords balance at zero speed without auxiliary support means. Transformational wheel base length affords high visibility at low speeds and low drag at high speeds. In wheel chair configurations transforming wheel base length allows navigation up and down stairs.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments provide a rotating machine assembly comprising a rotor machine assembly including a shaft, a plurality of laminations shrink fit around the circumference of the shaft, and weights affixed therebetween the laminations for balancing the rotating machine assembly.

Abstract: A balanced rotating assembly with a spindle automatically provides balancer limits, which achieves a balancing state while substantially minimizing short term vibration increases and which provides for multi-plane balancer dithering.

Abstract: A machine and method for performing balancing measurements on a tire or tire/wheel assembly that includes a structure defining spaced apart tire centering and tire testing positions. A first conveyor moves a tire to a centering position where a shuttle assembly is operative to center the tire and, after it has been centered, engages the tire and effects the transfer of the tire from the centering station to a testing station. The shuttle assembly includes a pair of grippers that move towards and away from each other, in a lateral direction in order to engage the tire. The first conveyor permits movement of the tire in a lateral direction; whereas it substantially resists relative movement between the tire and conveyor in the longitudinal direction, i.e., the direction of movement of the conveyor.