Patent ID: 7881879
Filing Date: 2011-02-01
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
1. A computer implemented method of analyzing a vehicle wheel assembly including a tire and a rim, the method utilizing a wheel balancer system including a drive shaft having a longitudinal axis and being rotatable about the longitudinal axis, a load roller, and at least one sensor, and a computer receiving a signal input from the at least one sensor, the vehicle wheel assembly removably mountable to the drive shaft, and said method comprising: rotating the wheel assembly about the longitudinal axis with the drive shaft while the wheel assembly is mounted thereto; applying a substantially radial force to the wheel assembly with the load roller; measuring variations, with the at least one sensor, in the radial force from tire flatspotting; and determining, with the computer based on the signal input of the at least one sensor, a condition of the wheel assembly based on a plurality of radial harmonics of the measured variations.