Patents by Inventor Lorenz Lenhardt

Lorenz Lenhardt has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6826958
    Abstract: A method and a device for moving a wheel rotatably mounted on a wheel balancing machine from a first position at which unbalance compensation has been performed, to a second unbalance compensation position for further unbalance compensation. According to the method, the rotor is externally driven, e.g., by hand, to freely running rotation, at which time, a drive motor is energized to generate a torque which acts counter to the direction of rotation of the wheel and to bring the wheel to a stop over a braking distance brought about by the counter torque which corresponds to the angle of rotation which is traveled over up to the unbalance compensation position, whereupon, the motor is de-energized. The apparatus includes a motor drive including an alternating voltage controller having a longitudinal switching device; and a commutation switching device, the switching devices each including two semiconductor switches which are connected in an anti-serial configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Snap-On Equipment GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Rothamel, Lorenz Lenhardt
  • Patent number: 6639206
    Abstract: A rotary angle sensor for a rotary member such as a motor vehicle wheel comprises an emitter, and a plurality of reflectors arranged in the form of flat surfaces on a circular-cylindrical surface of the rotary member or of a rotational portion which in operation rotates with the rotary member, light emitted by the emitter being reflected by the reflectors and received by a detector. The detector produces corresponding signals which are evaluated in an evaluation arrangement for detection of the rotational angle involved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Snap-On Deustchland Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Karl L. Rothamel, Lorenz Lenhardt
  • Publication number: 20030115957
    Abstract: A method and a device for moving a wheel rotatably mounted on a wheel balancing machine from a first position at which unbalance compensation has been performed, to a second unbalance compensation position for further unbalance compensation. According to the method, the rotor is externally driven, e.g., by hand, to freely running rotation, at which time, a drive motor is energized to generate a torque which acts counter to the direction of rotation of the wheel and to bring the wheel to a stop over a braking distance brought about by the counter torque which corresponds to the angle of rotation which is traveled over up to the unbalance compensation position, whereupon, the motor is de-energized. The apparatus includes a motor drive including an alternating voltage controller having a longitudinal switching device; and a commutation switching device, the switching devices each including two semiconductor switches which are connected in an anti-serial configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: Snap-On Equipment GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Rothamel, Lorenz Lenhardt
  • Patent number: 5959204
    Abstract: A motor vehicle wheel balancing machine holds a motor vehicle wheel by clamping it on a balancing machine measuring spindle. After an operation to measure the unbalance of the the wheel has been preformed, a balancing weight is attached to the wheel using a sensor, and the measuring spindle is stopped with a holding brake which is activated when the sensor is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Hofmann Werkstatt-Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Rothamel, Lorenz Lenhardt
  • Patent number: 5587528
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for correcting unbalance of a motor vehicle wheel by at least one balancing weight has a sensor for sensing at least one predetermined position on the wheel, a position detector connected to the sensor for detecting the position thereof, and a storage device connected to the position detector for storing position data determining actual balancing positions on the wheel. An electronic evaluator is connected to a measuring arrangement for measuring wheel unbalance requiring correction and to the storage device for determining the balancing position and the magnitude of the respective balancing weight to be fixed to the wheel. A comparator is connected to the storage device and the position detector. In a retrieval mode, when the sensor reaches a position which corresponds to a stored balancing position a clamping device receives a clamping signal from the comparator for at least partially blocking displacement of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Hofmann Werkstatt-Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Rothamel, Lorenz Lenhardt, Gottfried Kuhn
  • Patent number: 5563342
    Abstract: A balancing machine for vehicle wheels of different sizes and types includes a main shaft, structure for mounting a wheel on the main shaft, and for unbalance measurement which is related to at least one compensating plane of the wheel, sensing structure for detecting a spacing of the at least one compensating plane relative to the machine and for detecting a compensating radius on the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Hofmann Werkstatt-Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Drechsler, Klaus Ruhl, Lorenz Lenhardt
  • Patent number: 5471874
    Abstract: A method of correcting unbalance on a motor vehicle wheel by means of at least one balancing weight which can be fixed to the wheel at appropriate positions ascertained by an electronic measuring apparatus during an unbalance measuring procedure involves the use of a sensing device which is coupled to the electronic measuring apparatus and which senses relevant dimensions of the wheel for storage thereof in the electronic measurement apparatus, for evaluation of the measurement values obtained in the unbalance measuring procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Hofmann Werkstatt-Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Rothamel, Ulrich Diez, Josef Drechsler, Eickhart Goebel, Lorenz Lenhardt, Klaus Ruehl
  • Patent number: 5447064
    Abstract: A balancing machine for motor vehicle wheels of different sizes and types has a clamp for clamping wheels on a main shaft of the machine. To measure an unbalance related to one or more compensating planes of the wheel, the machine determines the spacing of the compensating plane (or planes) relative to the machine and ascertains the compensating radius on the wheel. To perform this function, the machine has a sensing member which can be extended in a common plane with the longitudinal center line of the main shaft and which supplies electrical signals to an evaluation device in which unbalance measurement values which are ascertained during one or more measuring runs are evaluated to determine the unbalance of the wheel. The sensing member also has an angle measuring device that measures an angular position of the sensing member (or a part of the sensing member) which is proportional to the compensating radius to be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Assignee: Hofmann Werkstatt-Technik GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Drechsler, Klaus Ruhl, Lorenz Lenhardt