Patents Assigned to Balance Technology, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10272542
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for correcting unbalance of a turbocharger component relative to an axis of rotation of the turbocharger component. The method includes determining one or more unbalance characteristics for the turbocharger component, determining parameters for a first correction operation to be performed in a first correction plane, and moving the turbocharger component to align a first correction area of the turbocharger component with respect to a first water jet cutter and performing the first correction operation using the first water jet cutter. The method may include determining parameters for a second correction operation to be performed in a second correction plane and moving the turbocharger component to align a second correction area of the turbocharger component with respect to a second water jet cutter and performing the second correction operation using the second water jet cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Balance Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce J. Mitchell, Jr., John Haidler, Mbala Robert Mayanga, Stephen Strinka
  • Publication number: 20160325402
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for correcting unbalance of a turbocharger component relative to an axis of rotation of the turbocharger component. The method includes determining one or more unbalance characteristics for the turbocharger component, determining parameters for a first correction operation to be performed in a first correction plane, and moving the turbocharger component to align a first correction area of the turbocharger component with respect to a first water jet cutter and performing the first correction operation using the first water jet cutter. The method may include determining parameters for a second correction operation to be performed in a second correction plane and moving the turbocharger component to align a second correction area of the turbocharger component with respect to a second water jet cutter and performing the second correction operation using the second water jet cutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: Balance Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce J. Mitchell, JR., John Haidler, Mbala Robert Mayanga, Stephen Strinka
  • Patent number: 6079268
    Abstract: The cycle times of an automatic single station residual unbalance measuring arrangement for a tire-wheel assembly are improved by the application of servo control to the vertical displacement drive of an elevator. Information relating to a particular tire-wheel type is obtained by direct measurement and/or correlation with data associated with predetermined tire-wheel types. A computer controls the operation of a servo motor that controls the vertical displacement of the tire-wheel assembly onto and off of a precision spindle and chuck on which the residual unbalance measurement is performed. The arrangement affords rapid acceleration onto and off of the precision spindle and chuck, but a gentle engagement between the wheel-tire assembly and the precision chuck to avoid tire bounce and damage to the precision balancer tooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Balance Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Metzner
  • Patent number: 6067857
    Abstract: A processing arrangement for a brake element for a vehicle employs a rotational support, such as a precision collet arrangement, for supporting the brake element rotatably about a fixed axis of rotation. The brake element and the spindle are rotated by a drive arrangement that causes the brake element to rotate about the axis of rotation while a rotary encoder that is coupled to the drive arrangement produces a rotation data signal containing rotational information responsive to the rotation of the brake element. Residual unbalances are measured by the production of an unbalance data signal that is responsive to forces that are themselves responsive to a residual unbalance of the brake element. In addition, a surface dimension detector produces a surface dimension data electrical signal that is responsive to a dimensional characteristic of a surface of the brake element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Balance Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Cooper, Thomas P. Plunkett
  • Patent number: 5965815
    Abstract: A machine for determining dynamically a residual unbalance in a workpiece having a conical surface is provided with a plurality of support elements, such as roller elements, that communicate with the workpiece at the conical surface thereof. The roller elements are arranged circumferentially equidistant about the workpiece and may have cylindrical or conical configurations. Further support elements, such as roller elements, can be applied against an annular surface of the workpiece, such as on a flange portion thereof. At least one of the support rollers that communicates with the conical surface is arranged to rotate about an adjustable axis of rotation that can be oriented with respect to the workpiece to achieve good rotative communication therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Balance Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary K. Grim, Bruce J. Mitchell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5763777
    Abstract: A machine for determining dynamically a residual unbalance in a workpiece having a conical surface is provided with a plurality of support elements, such as roller elements, that communicate with the workpiece at the conical surface thereof. The roller elements are arranged circumferentially equidistant about the workpiece and may have cylindrical or conical configurations. Further support elements, such as roller elements, can be applied against an annular surface of the workpiece, such as on a flange portion thereof. At least one of the support rollers that communicates with the conical surface is arranged to rotate about an adjustable axis of rotation that can be oriented with respect to the workpiece to achieve good rotative communication therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Balance Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary K. Grim, Bruce J. Mitchell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5355728
    Abstract: A balancing station includes a vertical spindle having a collet for frictionally engaging the center hole of a wheel. A motor driven drum is mounted on an arm which is moved by an actuator to urge the drum against the wheel with a radial force so that it can frictionally drive the wheel. An idler drum or a second driven drum mounted on a similar arm on the opposite side of the wheel is moved by an actuator to engage the wheel at a location diametrically opposite the driven drum to apply a radial force to the wheel equal and opposite to the force from the driven drum. The arms are symmetrically mounted with respect to the spindle so that the two drums will contact diametrically opposite locations on the wheel for any size wheel over a large size range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Balance Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Hartmann, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4868762
    Abstract: The balancing machine of the present invention automatically determines the position of unbalance in a rotating part and stops the rotating part with the unbalance position in a predetermined location. Sensors on the bearings holding the rotating part generate signals proportional to the instantaneous unbalance. These signals are filtered and digitized at a sampling rate synchronous with the motor driving the rotation. Two contiguous sets of samples, each set spanning several revolutions of the part, are stored. The X and Y components of the unbalance signal are calculated for each sample set and the actual rotation rate of the part is calculated from the assumed rate and any difference in the phase angle of the unbalance location between the first and second sample sets. These calculations are performed during a calculation interval of predetermined length which follows the sampling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Balance Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary K. Grim, Matthew Kimble