Patent ID: 6854329
Filing Date: 2005-02-15
Classification: G01M

Abstract:
1. A wheel balancer comprising: a shaft adapted for receiving a wheel/tire assembly, said shaft having a longitudinal axis and being rotatable about said axis so as to rotate the wheel/tire assembly removably mounted thereon; a sensor assembly for measuring rotation of the shaft about said longitudinal axis; a vibration sensor assembly for measuring vibration of the wheel/tire assembly as the wheel/tire assembly is rotated; a motor operatively connected to the shaft for rotating said shaft about said longitudinal axis, thereby to rotate the wheel/tire assembly; a load roller for applying a generally radial force to the wheel/tire assembly during rotation of said wheel/tire assembly; a sensor for detecting at least one condition selected from the group consisting of lateral force, wheel/tire assembly radius, and wheel/tire assembly diameter, said condition having a tendency to cause a vehicle on which the wheel/tire assembly is mounted during use to deviate from a straight line path; and a control circuit responsive to the measured vibration of the wheel/tire assembly to determine wheel imbalance, and responsive to the detecting of said condition to provide information relating to the condition to a user.