Abstract: A system is disclosed for manually pre-selecting and retrieving a position of an apparatus arranged inside a vehicle. The system includes an adjustment device operatively connected to the apparatus and configured to manually pre-select and lock the position of the apparatus relative to the vehicle. The system additionally includes a sensory signaling device operatively connected to the apparatus and selectively moveable within a predetermined range with respect to the vehicle. The sensory signaling device is configured to identify the pre-selected position of the apparatus and provide a sensory signal indicative of the pre-selected position, thereby facilitating the manual retrieval of the position without trial and error experimentation. A method for manually pre-selecting and retrieving a position of an apparatus arranged inside a vehicle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A high-accuracy wheel spacer is used in an off-vehicle wheel servicing machine. The servicing machine includes an elongated mounting shaft operatively connected to a drive motor and extending outwardly from a motor housing. A face plate is fixed to the mounting shaft proximate the motor housing and cooperates with a clamping assembly to sandwich and dynamically center the vehicle wheel on the shaft. The wheel spacer includes a base having first and second opposing major surfaces. A plurality of outwardly-projecting spacer pins depend from the first major surface of the base, and are adapted for engaging a limited surface area of the face plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for operating a control apparatus in a motor vehicle. At least one input signal is applied to the control apparatus. The essence of the invention is that means are provided with the aid of which the control apparatus is activated in response to a change of the input signal. With the means of the invention, the control apparatus can correspondingly respond anytime to a change of the input signal. In an especially advantageous configuration, the means of the invention include a lower internal current draw than the activated control apparatus. According to the invention, one obtains a high operational reliability of the control apparatus without an excessive energy consumption because the means of the invention have only a low internal current draw and the control apparatus with the higher internal current draw is activated only as required (change of the input signal).

Abstract: A device for installing a tire-wheel assembly onto a wheel balancer comprises a rotating shaft of the wheel balancer for rotating the tire-wheel assembly, a wheel receiving member comprised of a disc-contacting portion and a cup-shaped base portion, a taper cone of a frustoconical shape, a spring disposed between a bottom of the cup-shaped base portion and a bottom of the taper cone, a wheel pushing member, and a female screw member, in which the disc-contacting portion of the wheel receiving member is provided at a side facing the disc portion with an elastic member embedded in the disc-contacting portion in a peripheral direction thereof and a protruding member contacting with the elastic member and retractably moving from an outer surface of the disc-contacting portion in an axial direction thereof.

Abstract: A suspension-type static wheel balancer for do-it-yourself mechanics including an upwardly-sloping conically-shaped body both centering and supporting the wheel through its center hub aperture in a generally horizontal position under the lifting point. The entire wheel and balancer assembly is supported by a flexible cable attached through a disk centrally attached inside the cone body and passing upwardly through the aperture in the upper end of the cone body for attachment to a suitable lifting means. After manual centering any imbalance condition is indicated when the wheel is lifted by a lack of centrality of the cable relative to the upper opening of the cone body. A ramification incorporates a means of adjusting the sensitivity of the balancer by vertically adjusting the universal pivot point relative to the center of gravity of the wheel.

Abstract: The device described is designed to balance wheels and comprises a tripod, an element sliding vertically and mounted upon the tripod, a supporting element serving to support the wheel to be balanced and supported, in turn, in one instance, by the vertically-sliding element, a suspension element mounted upon the tripod and comprising a lever extending above the supporting element, a connecting element uniting the supporting element to the lever and allowing it, in a second instance, to be supported in free suspension upon being released from the vertically-sliding element. A first reference mark is associated with the connecting element, and a second reference mark is associated with the supporting element. Wheel balancing is carried out by adding weights to the wheel until the two reference marks coincide.

Abstract: A pendently suspended instrument for indicating the balance condition of a generally horizontal centrally apertured wheel includes a wheel support member having an upwardly facing surface for engaging the bottom side of the wheel. An elongated tube extends upward from the surface and a line is trained through the tube and secured to a member threaded in the center of the tire support member and tube for enabling vertical adjustment of the effective point of attachment of the line to the wheel support member. The upper end of the line is configured for attachment to an elevated support. A spring loaded wheel centering element, of upwardly converging shape, is carried slideably at the center of the wheel support member. The upwardly converging shape is produced by a plurality of angularly spaced apart triangular blades projecting upward from the wheel centering element and passing slideably through radially elongated slots in the wheel support member.

Abstract: An upright post has a rounded bearing member at its upper end provided with a discharge port through which air, supplied at the lower end of the post, exits. A cylindrical bearing body is formed with a vertical bore extending therethrough so as to accommodate therein a longitudinal portion of the upright post, the bore being slightly larger in diameter than the post. The bearing body supports upper and lower balancing mechanisms, each including a plate or platform having four quadrantly located sensing ports. A bearing cap overlying the rounded bearing member is affixed to the platform of the upper balancing mechanism. The platform of the upper balancing mechanism removably rests on the top of the bearing body and has mounted thereon a pair of reversible air motors, each having a shaft and shiftable weight threadedly disposed on the shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for balancing automotive wheels consisting of a horizontal support plate adapted to be disposed beneath the central wheel disc, a flexible cable affixed to the support plate to extend upwardly through the central hub aperture of the wheel disc, apparatus for centering the wheel accurately concentrically with the cable, and a gauge member fixed to the support plate and having an aperture spaced above and concentric with the attachment of the cable to the plate, the cable extending through the aperture and being suspended from a higher point to support the wheel, a balanced condition being indicated when the cable is centered in the aperture.

Abstract: A carrier for inflatable pneumatic tires is supported for tilting travel about a substantially vertical axis upon an arcuately spherical universal pivot resting upon a seat having a corresponding sphericity. The seat surmounts a pedestal, and the pedestal and carrier are jointly formed with an air conducting means, the continuity of which is interruptible, to admit air to and from a tire mounted for balancing upon the carrier, to inflate and deflate such tire. The pedestal surmounts a fluid motor provided with two pistons in tandem: one piston carries an actuating rod to operate a valve to admit air to a tire prior to balancing, and to resist escape of air from an inflated tire on the carrier during balancing. The carrier is equipped with a lower rim element to engage a lower bead of a tire and an upper rim element to engage an upper bead of a tire. The upper rim element is removable.