Abstract: Tire conditioning apparatus wherein the tire may be loaded and conditioned both in a static mode and in a dynamic mode, the apparatus including a tire mounting assembly comprising a pair of pivotally mounted upright arms rotatably mounting a drive shaft by means of which the tire is rotated at any desired speed, the tire mounting assembly having a static mode in which the arms are held in fixed position and the tire is loaded by pressing a road wheel against the tire under a predetermined fixed load, and a dynamic mode in which the upright arms are spring loaded and act to press the tire into contact with the road wheel under conditions simulating the action of the vehicle's suspension system, sensors being provided to locate and measure the forces generated by the tire in each mode and also in a third or free running mode in which the tire is free from contact with the road wheel.

Abstract: A vibration-free hydraulic power system having an opposing pair of pistons adapted to be moved in unison with the same stroke and equal force, but in opposite directions, one of the pistons being operatively connected to an external mass to be moved, the other of the pistons being operatively connected to a reactive mass the weight of which is identical to the weight of the mass being moved, the reactive mass acting to maintain the system in an equilibrium state during its complete operating cycle, the system incorporating a pair of control valves each having a series of sequentially acting valve elements which control fluid flow to and from the system, the pistons and control valves working at all times against solid columns of fluid under positive but variable pressure.

Abstract: A multiple plane road wheel for use in apparatus for correcting rubber tires wherein the periphery of the tire being corrected is in contact with and driven by the road wheel, the multiple plane road wheel comprising a series of uniform diameter wheel discs mounted for independent rotation about a common axis, each of the wheel discs being provided with sensor means positioned to sense forces generated by the rotating tire and transmitted to the wheel discs in the peripheral areas of the tire contacted by each wheel disc, thereby enabling the user to isolate and measure the forces generated by the tire throughout the full width of the tread.

Abstract: An integrated system for measuring and correcting rubber tires for forces generated by dynamic non-uniformities and for measuring and marking both sides of the tire for lack of symmetry. The force measurements are fed to a computer and the forces indicative of dynamic non-uniformities correlated to given angular positions on the tire by means of a pair of transmissions which act as a shaft encoder, the transmissions incorporating computer controlled timing discs which act through an hydraulic controller to control the honing mechanism which cuts the outside periphery of the tires at the proper locations and in the proper amounts to reduce the non-uniformities to an acceptable low level. Computer control means are also provided to revolve the tires to the proper positions for the marking of their side walls to inidcate points of maximum unbalance so that corrective measures may be thereafter taken to correct the tires for lack of symmetry.