Abstract: A tire-mounting apparatus for mounting a tire having two beads on a rim in a tire/rim assembly where the rim has two opposed flanges that are bent radially inwards to define a drop center, and where the beads of the tire extend over the rim and are located behind the rim flanges in the drop center. The apparatus includes a base on which a rim-mounting adaptor is rotatably mounted. A clamp is used to retain the beads of the tire on the rim. A mounting tool forces one of the tire beads over one of the rim flanges. The mounting tool is rotatably driven to move the tire and the rim so that the one tire bead is rolled over the one rim flange into the drop center of the rim.

Abstract: A unitary adaptor plate for determining static unbalance in a body. The plate includes an outer body, a middle body, and an inner body, and each of the inner and outer bodies is connected to the middle body by means of opposed torsion elements to provide a structure that defines a gimbal system capable of rotation about two mutually perpendicular axes of rotation defining two degrees of freedom of the adaptor plate. Deflection sensors sense the inclination of the adaptor plate caused by unbalance in a body placed on the adaptor plate, and force transducers operate to restore the plate to a horizontal position and provide an output indicative of the unbalance of the body.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determination of run-out of a rotating body, especially an automobile tire, without the need for mechanically contacting the rotating body. The apparatus includes a device for rotating the body, a scanning system with a transmitter for transmitting parallel rays directed toward the rotating body, a receiver to receive the residual rays not blocked by the rotating body, and an analyzer circuit for determination of variations in blockage on the basis of which run-out of the rotating body is determined.

Abstract: Delivery apparatus for carrying a plurality of balance weights for automobile wheels and delivering a suitable weight to an insertion device to fit the weight on the rim of a wheel in a predetermined circumferential position. The balance weights have parallel through bores and the insertion device includes a pair of spaced mandrels receivable in the through bores of the weights to carry the weights from a storage compartment to an automobile wheel and install the weight on the rim at the predetermined position. The apparatus includes a clip applying apparatus to force a retaining clip over the balance weight and the wheel rim to secure the weight to the rim.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for measurement of nonuniformity of mass of a gyro rotor having a single bearing. The gyro rotor, which is mounted in a radially fixed and spherically yielding pivot, is rotated to a predetermined speed. The static imbalance of the rotating rotor is then determined by measuring the magnitude and angular position of excursion of the rotating rotor. A force couple acting on the gyro rotor and drift of mass of the gyro rotor are determined by sensing movement of a surface of the rotating rotor at two different times. Preferably, the determination of static imbalance, force couple, and drift are obtained in a single course of measurement. After the preceding have been measured, the components of a mass balancing operation for correcting the measured nonuniformities are determined.

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.

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.