Patents Assigned to Gebr. Hofmann GmbH & Co. KG, Maschinenfabrik
  • Patent number: 4554833
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for determining the unbalance of wheels mounted on the drive axle of an automobile by transducers detecting the forces and/or vibrations produced by the unbalance present in an automobile wheel which is jacked up for this purpose. Other equipment, in addition to the engine of the automobile, drives or brakes either of the two wheels in order to obtain a speed difference between the wheels. A measuring unit determines the magnitude and direction of unbalance. A device also determines the speeds of the driven wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: Gebr. Hofmann GmbH & Co. KG Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Eickhart Goebel
  • Patent number: 4480471
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for marking the amount and location of unbalance on a rotatable body, such as a vehicle wheel. The apparatus uses a conventional system for determining the amount and location of unbalance in the body. A marking device is actuated to mark one or both sides of the body with a mark or marks representative of the amount and location of determined unbalance. The beginning and ending points of the mark can be representative of the beginning and end points of the correction mass to be applied to the body. The marks also can be representative of the predetermined weights of correcting masses to be applied to the body. Application of marks representative of the amount and location of unbalance to the bodies provides a visual indicator that facilitates subsequent check of the correct application of unbalance correction masses to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1984
    Assignee: Gebr. Hofmann GmbH & Co. Kg, Maschinenfabrik
    Inventors: Horst Kogler, Peter Drust
  • Patent number: 4458532
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining and indexing the angular location of unbalance of a rotatable body. Such unbalance is determined by mounting the body on a balancing machine and rotating the body to obtain an unbalance measurement. The method and apparatus provide for the subsequent rotation of the body to a correction position over the shortest possible distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1984
    Assignee: Gebr. Hofmann GmbH & Co. KG. Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Eickhart Goebel
  • Patent number: 4442712
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for correcting the unbalance present in a rotor in one or several correction steps by adding or removing material only to or from given points on the rotating body on which only a limited quantity of material is available for correction, with the unbalance being resolved into components as given by the design of the rotor, with correction being carried out in one of several given components, and with the unbalance determined being eliminated in the given components as to the possibility permitting the least quantity of material to be added or removed in a minimum number of correction runs, so that finally an uninterrupted sequence of correction points is available on the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1984
    Assignee: Gebr. Hofmann GmbH & Co. KG, Maschinenfabrik
    Inventors: Gunter Junck, Hans Seidel, Jesus Varona
  • Patent number: 4441355
    Abstract: A method for displaying the amount of unbalance during rotation of a rotor, preferably in two correction planes, includes adjustment of the amounts of unbalance determined during measurement by a factor obtained during calibration. The method is characterized by measuring unbalance forces of known magnitude and comparing them with predetermined nominal data identical to the known unbalance forces during measurement, and by adjusting the amounts of unbalance of the rotor determined during measurement by the result of the above comparison. The apparatus of the invention comprises an unbalance measuring device, data memories for providing nominal reference data, comparator circuits for comparing the measured values derived from an auxiliary shaft with the nominal reference data to determine adjustment values, and multiplier circuits for adjusting the measured values derived from the main shaft in accordance with the adjustment values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1984
    Assignee: Gebr. Hofmann GmbH & Co. KG, Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Karl Rothamel
  • Patent number: 4348885
    Abstract: A method and system for operational testing of a device for the balancing of a rotor in two balancing planes, wherein the device is provided with a clamping fixture, a housing, and pickups for bracing the clamping fixture in relation to the housing, the device further including a computing unit for measuring the unbalance of the rotor, and for computing and indicating a size and direction of the unbalance. The method and system further call for the device to be provided with a weight of known size mounted in the housing, the weight being removed from the housing when operational testing of the device is desired. Upon removal of the weight of known size from the housing, data corresponding to the geometric measurement of the position of the weight as mounted on the clamping fixture are automatically entered into the computing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1982
    Assignee: Gebr. Hofmann GmbH & Co. KG, Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: H. Richard Mueller
  • Patent number: 4336717
    Abstract: A clamping device for clamping a vehicle wheel on a threaded clamping shaft of a test machine, such as, a balancing machine. The clamping device includes a basic body positionable on the clamping shaft and a pair of swivelling levers pivotally mounted on the basic body. Each of the levers has an extremity forming a threaded section movable into and out of engagement with the threaded clamping shaft and an actuating lever for controlling engagement of the threaded segment with the clamping shaft. The levers have portions thereof cooperating with each other in such manner that movement of one of the levers results in conjoint movement of the other of the levers. The basic body has handles formed integrally therewith or attached thereto that protrude away from the axis of the threaded shaft. The handles have recessed portions for receiving the actuating ends of the swivelling levers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1982
    Assignee: Gebr. Hofmann GmbH & Co. KG, Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Eickhart Goebel
  • Patent number: 4168627
    Abstract: Apparatus for mounting and centering a wheel on a mounting spindle of a testing machine, including a shaft portion, a centering taper member on the shaft portion for engaging a center hole in a wheel to be mounted, a fixing nut which can be screwed on the shaft portion for pressing the wheel against the centering taper member for centering the wheel, a spring operable to urge the taper member towards the nut, a housing member on the shaft portion around a part of the spring, a covering means covering the spring for protection thereof, the covering means being disposed on the shaft portion and at least partly in the housing member, and means for limiting the movement of the spring towards a fully relaxed condition thereof thereby to maintain a pre-stressing in the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1979
    Assignee: Gebr. Hofmann GmbH & Co. KG Maschinenfabrik
    Inventors: Ludwig Held, Eickhart Goebel
  • Patent number: 4105097
    Abstract: A locking device for a lift having an arm pivotably mounted for horizontal movement about a lifting carriage with two tubular members each pivotably connected at one end to the arm. One of the tubular members extends into a cylindrical housing and is locked thereto by balls mounted in ball cages urged by a spring to a locking position. The other tubular member is locked to the first tubular member by similar balls, cages and spring. A sleeve longitudinally slidably exterior to the two tubular members includes pins for engaging the ball cages to release the two tubular members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1978
    Assignee: Gebr. Hofmann GmbH & Co. KG, Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Horst Hegenbart