JP2019035659A - Device for holding tire in tire equilibration tester - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a device for holding a tire using a ball bearing locking mechanism.SOLUTION: A device 10 for holding a tire in a tire equilibration tester has a base 12 receiving a locking member 14. When the locking member 14 is arranged in the base 12, a tire is fixed between an upper rim 16 and a lower rim 18. The base 12 has an inside sleeve 20 supporting a ball bearing 22 in a channel 28. An outside sleeve 30 is arranged around the inside sleeve 20, and can move between a locking cancel position and a locking position. The outside sleeve 30 causes movement of the ball bearing 22 in the channel 28 of the inside sleeve 20, and especially allows an inside ball bearing 22A to move into and out from each groove 78 on an outer surface of a locking base 66 of the locking member 14.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for holding a tire in a tire balance testing machine. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for holding a tire that uses a ball bearing locking mechanism.

  Typically, manufactured tires undergo some kind of testing before being generally sold. One such test involves checking the balance of the tire by rotating the tire at high speed. The machine used to test the balance of the tire must also have the ability to rotate the tire while it must be fixed in place.

  The conventional device described in US Pat. No. 6,131,455 has a locking shaft 300 disposed on the bracket 150 to secure the test tire T between the lower rim 10 and the upper rim 20. Yes. The locking shaft 300 is fixed at a predetermined position by a locking member 160 driven by a locking cylinder 165 to which air is supplied.

  However, there is a need in the prior art for an improved device for holding a tire in a tire balance tester. More specifically, there is a need in the prior art for an improved locking mechanism.

  It is an object of one aspect of the present invention to provide an improved apparatus for holding a tire in a tire balance tester.

  It is an object of another aspect of the present invention to provide an apparatus as described above in which the locking member can be placed on the base.

  It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide an apparatus as described above, wherein the locking member includes a locking shaft having a plurality of grooves in the outer surface. When the locking member is in the lower locking position, one or more of the grooves receive a plurality of inner ball bearings.

  It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a device as described above, wherein the inner sleeve has a channel. The channel houses a ball bearing therein. The inner sleeve is located inside the outer sleeve, and movement of the outer sleeve places the ball bearing in the locked position.

  These and other objects of the present invention, as will become apparent from the following description, and its advantages over existing prior art structures, are realized by the improvements described and claimed below.

  In general, an apparatus for holding a tire in a tire balance tester includes a sleeve having a plurality of ball bearings therein. A locking member having a grooved outer surface can be disposed within the sleeve. When the locking member is disposed within the sleeve, the groove of the locking member receives a ball bearing from each of the channels.

  The present invention also includes a method of securing a tire to be tested for balance, comprising placing a first side of the tire on a first rim of a sleeve. The locking member that supports the second rim is moved to a predetermined position in the sleeve. After the second rim is engaged with the second side of the tire, the locking member is locked to the sleeve.

  A suitable exemplary apparatus for holding a tire in a tire balance tester is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings without intention to show all the various structures and modifications in which the invention may be embodied, The invention is to be determined by the appended claims rather than by the detailed description herein.

1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of one part of a tire locking device according to the concept of the present invention. The vertical direction sectional view of a locking member. The vertical direction sectional view of a base. The enlarged view of a ball bearing locking mechanism.

  The device for checking the balance of the tire has a base which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 and generally indicated by the reference numeral 12. The base 12 receives a locking member generally indicated at 14 disposed therein. When the locking member 14 is placed on the base 12, a tire to be tested (not shown) is secured between the upper tire rim 16 and the lower tire rim 18. The lower rim 18 can also be described as a fixed tire rim 18 and the upper rim 16 can also be described as a movable tire rim 16.

  Base 12 includes a cylindrical inner 20 sleeve with a bore. The inner sleeve 20 is adapted to receive at least a portion of the locking member 14 as described below. The inner sleeve 20 has at least one row of ball bearings 22. For example, the inner sleeve 20 may have a first row 24 of ball bearings 22 and a second row 26 of ball bearings 22. The second row 26 is spaced apart from the second row 24 in the longitudinal direction.

  Each row 24, 26 of ball bearings 22 has a plurality of channels 28 for receiving the ball bearings 22. The channels 28 are spaced circumferentially about the respective rows 24, 26 and extend through the side walls of the inner sleeve 20. In one or more embodiments, each channel 28 includes an inner ball bearing 22A, a central ball bearing 22B, and an outer ball bearing 22C. As will be described later, the locking function is exhibited by the movement of the ball bearing 22.

  In one or more embodiments, each of the rows 24, 26 of the ball bearing 22 has 16 channels 28 of the ball bearing 22. Thus, in these embodiments, each channel 28 will be approximately 22.5 ° apart from the adjacent nearest channel 28. 22.5 ° conforms to the circular cross section of the inner sleeve 20. The number of rows, channels and ball bearings employed can be determined based on the force and load required by the apparatus 10 for proper fixation and tire balance checking. In one or more embodiments, the number of rows, channels and ball bearings is selected so that the device 10 is suitable for the maximum load required for the device 10. That is, typically, the number of rows, channels and ball bearings employed will take into account the range of tires being tested. Each tire requires that the device 10 have a sufficient predetermined load so that the tire balance is properly fixed and checked.

  Channel 28 can also be characterized by the angle or slope of channel 28. In certain embodiments, the angle of the channel 28 is 22 ° or approximately 22 °, which is based on the vertical axis. As will be described later, the movement of the ball bearing 22 inside the channel 28 is allowed depending on the angle of the channel 28.

  The base 12 further includes a cylindrical outer sleeve 30 disposed adjacent to the periphery of the inner sleeve 20. The outer sleeve 30 has a bore and the inner sleeve 20 is disposed within the bore. As will be described later, the outer sleeve 30 is movable between an upper position and a lower position so as to perform a locking function. The outer sleeve 30 has at least one groove for receiving a corresponding ball bearing 22 therein. For example, the outer sleeve 30 has a first groove 32 for receiving the ball bearing 22 from the second row 24 and a second groove 34 for receiving the ball bearing 22 from the second row 26. obtain. Preferably, the outer sleeve 30 has as many grooves as there are rows of ball bearings in the inner sleeve 20. Each groove 32, 34 is formed on the side wall of the outer sleeve 30 and has an inclined peripheral surface 36. Its function will be described later.

  The outer sleeve 30 is connected to the circular guide portion rate 38 so that it can move between an upper position and a lower position. For example, one or more extending rods 40 can be used to connect the guide plate 38 to the outer sleeve 30. The extending rod 40 can be received in a hole or channel (not shown) in the outer sleeve 30. A fastener 42 may also be used to secure the guide plate 38 in a secure position relative to the outer sleeve 30. Therefore, when the guide plate 38 is biased upward or downward, the outer sleeve 30 will move correspondingly as described below.

  The guide plate 38 is disposed between the two sets of the upper guide member 44 and the lower guide member 46 so as to realize the upward and downward movement. That is, each upper guide member 44 is disposed longitudinally above the upper surface of the guide plate 38, and each lower guide member 46 is disposed longitudinally below the lower surface of the guide plate 38. The upper guide member 44 and the lower guide member 46 are respectively disposed adjacent to the guide plate 38 to cause the movement thereof. Each guide member has a base portion 48 extending from the plate support portion 50, and the base portion is fixed to the base 52. The plate support 50 can be formed in a cylindrical shape. As described above, a portion of the guide plate 38 is disposed between each set of plate support portions 50 such that movement of the plate support portion 50 drives movement of the guide plate 38.

  Each pair of the upper guide member 44 and the lower guide member 46 is connected to the air cylinder 54, and the upper and lower movements thereof are caused. For example, the air cylinder 54 is shown as being connected to the base 52 in the longitudinal direction, and the upper guide member and the lower guide member 46 are connected to the base 52 in the lateral direction. Accordingly, the air cylinder 54 moves the base 52 upward and downward, thereby moving the upper guide member 44 and the lower guide member 46, thereby moving the guide plate 38, and thereby moving the outer sleeve 30. Can be operated as follows. As will be described later, this movement allows the device 10 to exhibit a locking function.

  The outer sleeve 30 may also have one or more gas springs 55 attached thereto. Such a gas spring 55 is widely known to those skilled in the art and can be used to exert additional force in addition to the force biased by the air cylinder 54 to move the outer sleeve 30 upward. For example, the piston of the gas spring 55 may be connected to the outer sleeve 30, and the cylinder of the gas spring 55 may be connected to the plate 56 connected to the inner sleeve 20. Thus, the gas spring 55 can be actuated to provide additional force to move the outer sleeve 30 upward.

  In addition to the upward and downward movement of the outer sleeve 30 limited by the travel distance of the air cylinder 54, the circular plate 56 also limits the downward movement of the outer sleeve 30. As described above, the plate 56 is connected to the inner sleeve 20. For example, the plate 56 can be secured to the inner sleeve 20 by providing a fastener 58 in the threaded channel 60 of the inner sleeve 20. Therefore, the fixed position of the plate 56 with respect to the inner sleeve 20 limits the downward movement of the outer sleeve 30. The plate 56 has a hole and allows the rod 40 to be placed therein.

  As described above, as best shown in FIG. 2, the device 10 further includes a locking member 14 that can be disposed within the base 12. More specifically, at least a portion of the locking shaft, indicated generally at 62, of the locking member 14 can be disposed within the inner sleeve 20. The locking shaft 62 has a longitudinally extending handle portion 64 at one end and an enlarged locking base 66 at the other end. Between the handle portion 64 and the locking base 66, the shaft 62 has a portion for supplying air to inflate the tire to be tested. This portion can be described as an air supply unit 68.

  The air supply unit 68 is located at one end of the partial bore, indicated generally by the reference numeral 70. The partial bore 70 extends through the base 66 and reaches the air supply portion 68. Air is provided to the air passage 72 through the partial bore 70 to provide air that inflates the tire to be tested. When the tire is in place to inflate the tire, the air passage 72 communicates with the interior of the tire being tested.

  As shown in FIG. 2, each end of the locking member 14 is tapered. The end of the locking member 14 closest to the handle portion 64 may have an outer taper 74. The outer taper 74 may be particularly useful to allow the locking member 14 to be captured by other devices and placed in place. The end of the locking member 14 closest to the locking base 66 has an inner taper 76. The inner taper 76 may be particularly useful to allow the locking member 14 to be placed on the inner sleeve 20 more easily.

  The locking base 66 has an outer surface formed with a plurality of grooves 78 for receiving the ball bearing 22. In one or more embodiments, each groove 78 spans the entire outer surface of the locking base 66. It should be understood that different sized tires, for example, tires of different widths, can be used with the device 10 based on the plurality of grooves 78 as described below.

  The handle portion 64 has a circular support member 80 extending in the lateral direction therefrom. The cylindrical support member 80 is connected to the upper rim 16 by, for example, a fastener (not shown). For example, the upper rim 16 may have a plurality of threaded channels therein and the cylindrical support member 80 may have a plurality of holes therethrough. The threaded channel can be adapted to align with the hole. The channels and holes are adapted to receive fasteners for securing the upper rim 16 to the cylindrical support member 80. The upper rim 18 is fixed to the cylindrical support member 80, thereby moving the upper rim 16 to a predetermined position and fixing the test tire between the upper rim 16 and the lower rim 18 as will be described later. In one or more embodiments, an O-ring 82 is provided between the upper rim 16 and the cylindrical support member 80.

  Similarly, the lower rim 18 is supported by a radially extending plate 84 that extends from the top of the inner sleeve 20. The lower rim 18 may be connected to the plate 84 by a fastener 81, for example. For example, the lower rim 18 can have a plurality of holes and the radially extending plate 84 can have a plurality of threaded channels. The threaded channel of the radially extending plate 84 can also extend inside the sidewall 90. The threaded channel can be adapted to align with the hole. The channels and holes are adapted to receive fasteners for securing the lower rim 18 to the radially extending plate 84. In one or more embodiments, an O-ring 86 is provided between the lower rim 18 and the radially extending plate 84.

  The radially extending plate 84 forms part of the main shaft, indicated generally at 88. The main shaft 88 has a cylindrical side wall 90 extending from the plate 84. The side wall 90 is disposed inside the spindle housing, indicated generally by the reference numeral 91. The main shaft housing 91 may have an upper radial extending member 93 fixed to a cylindrical side wall 95. The cylindrical side wall 95 extends from the upper member 93. The upper member 93 can be secured to the side wall 95 by fasteners 97. Side wall 95 may optionally be coupled to a spare housing, generally designated 92. The spare housing 92 may have a platform 94 and a mounting base 96. One or more parts of the spare housing 92 may be further coupled to other parts of the apparatus 10, to other machines, or to the support structure.

  One or more ball bearings may be disposed between the side wall 90 and the side wall 95. For example, two sets of upper bearings, indicated generally at 99, 101, and a set of lower bearings, indicated generally at 103, may be disposed between the sidewall 90 and the sidewall 95. Such a ball bearing is widely known to those skilled in the art, and may include an inner ring 105, a plurality of balls 107, and an outer ring 109.

  In operation of the device 10, the outer sleeve 30 is initially placed on the base 12 in the down position, as shown in FIG. The downward movement of the outer sleeve 30 is defined by the arrangement of the plate 56 and the movement restriction of the air cylinder 54. When the outer sleeve 30 is in the down position, the outer ball bearing 22C is disposed in the corresponding groove 32, 34. The central ball bearing 22B and the inner ball bearing 22A are disposed completely within the channel 28 so as not to limit the movement of the locking member 14 upon insertion into the inner sleeve 20.

  When the outer sleeve 30 is in the lower position, the tire to be tested (not shown) is placed on the lower rim 18. As shown in FIG. 1, the locking base 66 of the locking shaft 62 is then inserted into the tire and inner sleeve 20. This also causes the upper rim 16 to contact the tire and the tire is disposed between the upper rim 16 and the lower rim 18. When the locking shaft 62 is disposed at a desired position, the outer sleeve 30 is biased against the upper frame member 84. As described above, the air cylinder 54 then moves the base 52, thereby moving the upper guide member 44 and the lower guide member 46 upward, thereby moving the guide plate 38 upward, and thereby It can be actuated to move the outer sleeve 30 upward.

  As described above, each groove 32, 34 of the outer sleeve 30 has an inclined inner peripheral surface 36. As the outer sleeve 30 is biased against the upper frame member 84, the inclined peripheral surface 36 biases the ball bearing 22 toward the locking shaft 62. The inclined circumferential surface 36 engages the outer ball bearings 22C and biases them toward the locking base 55, thereby causing the outer ball bearings 22C to drive the movement of the central ball bearing 22B, thereby Movement of the bearing 22A occurs. As a result, the inner ball bearing 22A enters the corresponding groove 78 of the locking base. When the outer sleeve 30 is positioned adjacent to the upper frame member 84, the bearing retainers 98 on the inner surface of the outer sleeve 30 are such that the inner ball bearing 22A remains in place in the corresponding groove 78 in the locking base 66. Maintain the inner ball bearing 22A. This provides a locking function that keeps the locking member 14 in the lower locking position. That is, the bearing retainer 98 positions the ball bearing 22 in a fixed manner so that the locking member 14 does not move until the outer sleeve 30 is moved again to the lower unlocking position.

  After the tire is locked in place by the locking feature described above, the tire's dynamic balance, the tire's static balance, or both the tire's dynamic and static balance can be tested. These test methods are widely known to those skilled in the art. To perform a balance measurement, an air supply (not shown) tests air through an air bore, indicated generally at 100, through a partial bore 70, and through an opening 72. Supplied inside the tire. Thus, the tire to be tested can be secured between the upper rim 16 and the lower rim 18 while properly inflating. The inflation of the tire provides a detachment force to the device 10, which further biases the inner ball bearing 22A into the corresponding groove 78 of the locking base 66, thus providing further locking force.

  Once the tire to be tested is properly inflated, the tire can be rotated by mechanisms well known to those skilled in the art. For example, this includes one or more belts, pulleys, and motors (not shown). Such belts, pulleys, and motors can be coupled to the shaft 102 of the base 12 and can be coupled to the mounting location 104. The rotation of the tire being tested can be utilized to detect changes in the load applied to the load cell 106. One or more methods for measuring tire balance based on detected changes in load are widely known to those skilled in the art. When dynamic balancing is implemented, these methods determine which part of the test tire the counterweight should be placed on the basis of the dynamic balancing calculation. A marking device (not shown) can then mark the unbalanced position of the tire.

  Rotate the tire to be tested and test, then shrink the tire. Next, the air cylinder 54 is actuated to move downward, thereby moving the base 52 downward, thereby moving the upper guide member 44 and the lower guide member 46 downward, thereby moving the guide plate 38 downward. And thereby moving the outer sleeve 30 downward. Also, if present, the gas spring 55 is stopped to allow downward movement. The outer sleeve 30 is moved downward until it is positioned adjacent to the plate 56. This is the unlocking position.

  In a mode opposite to the locking function, the downward movement of the outer sleeve 30 biases the ball bearing 22 away from the locking base 66. When the outer sleeve 30 moves a sufficient distance downward, the ball bearing 22 is biased toward the grooves 32 and 34 by gravity. As with the starting position, the outer ball bearing 22C is disposed in the corresponding groove 32, 34, and the central ball bearing 22b and the inner ball bearing 22A are also disposed near the corresponding groove 32, 34. When the locking member 14 is removed from the inner sleeve 20, the inner ball bearing 22 </ b> A and the central ball bearing 22 </ b> B are completely disposed in the channel 28 so as not to limit the movement of the locking member 14. Once the locking member 14 has been removed, the first tire to be tested can be removed, another tire to be tested can be placed in place, and the above-described method can be repeated.

  It should be understood that the apparatus 10 is adapted to allow testing of different size tires. For example, the upper rim 16 has various sized diameters, such as a small diameter 108 and a large diameter 110. Similarly, the lower rim 18 has various sized diameters, such as a small diameter 112 and a large diameter 114. Small diameters 108, 112 can be used to engage tires having a smaller inner circumference, and large diameters 110, 114 can be used to engage tires having a larger inner circumference. In one or more embodiments, the upper rim 16 and the lower rim 18 may have more than two diameter sizes. In one or more embodiments, the upper rim 16 and the lower rim 18 may have two diameter sizes.

  Also, as described above, each groove 78 may exist over the entire outer surface of the locking base 66 or over most of the entire outer surface of the locking base 66. Thus, when the outer sleeve 30 is in the lower unlocked position, the locking member 14 can move so that its respective grooves 78 are aligned and ultimately receive the inner ball bearing 22A. It should be understood that when the tire to be tested is in place between the upper rim 16 and the lower rim 18, how far the locking member 14 moves can be determined by the thickness or width of the tire. . With the first side of the tire positioned adjacent to the lower rim 18, the locking member 14 is movable until the upper rim 16 contacts or substantially contacts the other side of the tire. However, based on the plurality of grooves 78, tires of different widths can be tested.

  The apparatus 10 may further comprise a bar code reader (not shown) for scanning the bar code of the tire to be tested. From the bar code information, the device 10 can know the inner circumference and thickness of the tire being tested. The device 10 may also be configured to be automatically controlled by an associated electronic software system. With such a system, one or more of the method steps described above may be automated. Further information regarding bar codes, bar code readers, and electronic software systems is widely known to those skilled in the art.

  In view of the above description, an apparatus for holding a tire in a tire balance tester constructed and operating as described herein substantially fulfills the objectives of the present invention and substantially eliminates the prior art. It is clear to improve.

Claims (20)

An apparatus for holding a tire in a tire balance testing machine, comprising a sleeve having a plurality of channels,
Each of the channels has a plurality of ball bearings therein;
A locking member can be disposed within the sleeve;
The locking member has an outer surface provided with a groove,
When the locking member is disposed within the sleeve, the groove receives a ball bearing from each of the channels;
apparatus. The apparatus further comprises a base that supports the sleeve,
The base supports one tire rim,
The locking member supports another tire rim;
The apparatus of claim 1. When the locking shaft is placed in the sleeve, the tire to be tested is placed between the rims,
The tire rim supported by the base is a fixed tire rim, and the tire rim supported by the locking member is a movable tire rim,
The fixed tire rim and the movable tire rim each have a small diameter and a large diameter.
The apparatus of claim 2. The outer surface of the locking member has a plurality of grooves,
One of the plurality of locking member grooves receives a ball bearing from each of the channels having a plurality of ball bearings when the locking shaft is disposed within the sleeve;
The apparatus of claim 1. The sleeve is an inner sleeve having an outer sleeve disposed around the sleeve;
The outer sleeve has a groove;
The outer sleeve groove has an inclined inner peripheral surface,
The apparatus of claim 1. Each of the plurality of ball bearings has an outer ball bearing and an inner ball bearing;
The outer sleeve can be disposed at a lock release position and a lock position;
The outer ball bearing is disposed in the groove of the outer sleeve at the unlocking position;
The inner ball bearing is disposed in the groove of the locking member when in the locking position;
The apparatus of claim 5. While the outer sleeve moves from the unlocked position to the released position, the inclined inner peripheral surface biases the outer ball bearing toward the inner ball bearing, and thereby the inner ball bearing. Is disposed in the groove of the inner sleeve,
The apparatus of claim 6. Each of the plurality of ball bearings has a central ball bearing disposed between the outer ball bearing and the inner ball bearing;
The inclined inner peripheral surface biases the outer ball bearing to the central ball bearing, and thereby biases the central ball bearing to the inner ball bearing.
The apparatus of claim 7. The outer sleeve is connected to a guide plate;
The guide plate is connected to an air cylinder;
By the operation of the air cylinder, the outer sleeve moves from the locking release position to the locking position.
The apparatus of claim 8. The sleeve has a side wall and a bore;
The channel extends through the side wall at an angle;
The apparatus of claim 1. The sleeve has a first row of channels and a second row of channels;
The second row is spaced longitudinally from the first row;
The apparatus of claim 1. The outer sleeve further includes a second outer sleeve groove.
The apparatus of claim 5. Each of the channels in the first row of channels and each of the channels in the second row of channels has an outer ball bearing and an inner ball bearing,
The apparatus of claim 12. The locking member further has a second locking member groove,
Each of the channels in the first row of channels and each of the channels in the second row of channels has a central ball bearing disposed between the outer ball bearing and the inner ball bearing;
The apparatus of claim 13. The outer sleeve can be disposed at a lock release position and a lock position;
In the unlocked position, the outer ball bearings in the first row of channels are disposed in the first outer sleeve grooves, and the outer ball bearings in the second row of channels are in the second outer sleeve. Placed in the groove,
In the locked position, the inner ball bearings in the first row of the channels are disposed in the first locking member grooves, and the inner ball bearings in the second row of the channels are in the second locked state. Arranged in the member groove,
The apparatus of claim 14. Placing the first side of the tire on the first rim supported by the sleeve;
Moving a locking member that supports the second rim to a predetermined position in the sleeve;
Locking the locking member to the sleeve after the second rim is engaged with the second side of the tire;
A method for fixing a tire to be tested for equilibrium, comprising: The locking step may be performed at different longitudinal positions along the locking member.
The method of claim 16. The locking step includes a step of transferring a ball bearing in the inner sleeve to a groove of the locking member.
The method of claim 16. The locking member has a plurality of grooves,
In the transfer step, the ball bearing is moved to a selective groove according to the distance from the first side of the tire to the second side of the tire.
The method of claim 18. The locking step is performed by an outer sleeve that moves to a locking position and thereby urges a ball bearing in the inner sleeve into a groove in the locking member.
The method of claim 18.

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