Abstract: An imbalance measurement machine for determining tire imbalance has a hollow shaft rotatably driven relative to a fixed hollow axle. A tubular air feed for filling the tire with air is centered within and rotates with the shaft to rotate the tire for determining imbalance. An air hose is connected to a rotational coupling disposed at an air feed end that faces away from the tire. Force transducers between the axle and a machine bed measure forces that occur there during operation. The air hose is attached not only to the rotational coupling but also to the axle, at a distance from the rotational coupling. An alternative embodiment omits the rotational coupling and fills the tire in the resting state of the shaft, via the air hose and the non-rotating air feed. Subsequently, the air hose is separated from the air feed, and the tire retains the supplied air.

Abstract: An imbalance measurement machine for determining tire imbalance has a hollow shaft rotatably driven relative to a fixed hollow axle. A tubular air feed for filling the tire with air is centered within and rotates with the shaft to rotate the tire for determining imbalance. An air hose is connected to a rotational coupling disposed at an air feed end that faces away from the tire. Force transducers between the axle and a machine bed measure forces that occur there during operation. The air hose is attached not only to the rotational coupling but also to the axle, at a distance from the rotational coupling. An alternative embodiment omits the rotational coupling and fills the tire in the resting state of the shaft, via the air hose and the non-rotating air feed. Subsequently, the air hose is separated from the air feed, and the tire retains the supplied air.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for testing tires, for measuring the radial and lateral forces which the tires of motor vehicles will exert on a road. According to the method, a load-application wheel is forced with a predetermined force against the tread of the tire which is filled with air, the tire rolling off on the load-application wheel. The test is carried out in both rotational directions of the tire. After the first test the rotational direction is changed and the second test is carried out. The method is characterized in that the force with which the load-application wheel is forced against the tread of the tire is reduced during change of the rotational direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for testing tires, for measuring the radial and lateral forces which the tires of motor vehicles will exert on a road. According to the method, a load-application wheel is forced with a predetermined force against the tread of the tire which is filled with air, the tire rolling off on the load-application wheel. The test is carried out in both rotational directions of the tire. After the first test the rotational direction is changed and the second test is carried out. The method is characterized in that the force with which the load-application wheel is forced against the tread of the tire is reduced during change of the rotational direction.

Abstract: A method for correcting lateral force measuring values for determining the cone effect of a vehicle tire is accomplished by recording with sensors lateral forces and radial forces at top and bottom clamping locations of a vertical axle of rotation of a load wheel of vehicle tire test equipment. In this method, the load wheel is eccentrically subjected to a force at least once, and the lateral forces and radial forces acting on the upper and lower clamping locations of the rotary axle of the load wheel are recorded both in a position where force is introduced at or near a line of contact between the load wheel and a vehicle tire, and in a position which is opposite in relation to the rotary axis of the load wheel. From the differences of the recorded upper and lower lateral forces and radial forces, a correction quantity is derived with which the lateral force measuring values are corrected depending on the radial force measuring values during subsequent tire tests.

Abstract: A method for correcting lateral force measuring values for determining the cone effect of a vehicle tire is accomplished by recording with sensors lateral forces and radial forces at top and bottom clamping locations of a vertical axle of rotation of a load wheel of vehicle tire test equipment. In this method, the load wheel is eccentrically subjected to a force at least once, and the lateral forces and radial forces acting on the upper and lower clamping locations of the rotary axle of the load wheel are recorded both in a position where force is introduced at or near a line of contact between the load wheel and a vehicle tire, and in a position which is opposite in relation to the rotary axis of the load wheel. From the differences of the recorded upper and lower lateral forces and radial forces, a correction quantity is derived with which the lateral force measuring values are corrected depending on the radial force measuring values during subsequent tire tests.

Abstract: A capactive sensor contains a bridge circuit (1,2,3,4) which is comprised of an electrode surface (21) and a reference electrode surface (24) with the electrode surfaces located on the opposite sides of a plate. The bridge circuit is constructed as a multi-layered printed circuit board. The feed areas (23) which are opposite the electrode areas (21, 24) on one or two inner layers serve as feed capacitors (1, 2) in the bridge circuit (1, 2, 3, 4).