Edward Vernell Harmon

US Patent:

42625360, Apr 21, 1981

Filed:

Oct 5, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/082317

Inventors:

Donald E. Orem - Indianapolis IN
Vernon P. Holmes - Danville IN
Thomas J. Bacsanyi - Novi MI
Edward J. Harmon - Detroit MI

Assignee:

Ransburg Corporation - Indianapolis IN

International Classification:

G01M 122

US Classification:

73462

Abstract:

An imbalance-determining system for a dynamic balancing machine for two-plane balancing of rotary elements such as vehicle wheel-and-tire assemblies includes a chuck and spindle mounted in a spindle housing in vibration-isolation orientation on a machine base. A drive mechanism includes main and auxiliary motors mounted on the machine base. The rotary element is brought to speed by a drive wheel mounted on the main motor to move between a driving orientation in contact with the rotary element and a storage orientation out of contact with the rotary element. A lightweight belt coupling the spindle to the auxiliary motor transmits power from the auxiliary motor to the rotary element. Once the rotary element is accelerated to the desired rotation frequency, the drive wheel is moved out of contact with the rotary element and the auxiliary motor is energized to maintain the rotary element rotation rate at about the desired frequency of rotation with little effort. Vibrational forces resulting from imbalance in the moving rotary element at the desired rotation frequency are transmitted through the spindle to the housing free of the effect of any imbalance in the drive wheel.