Abstract:
A method for determining a top dead-center of a wheel. The method includes (i) removably connecting a self-aligning laser guide to a wheel balancer shaft; (ii) allowing gravity to position said self-aligning laser guide such that its longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to a floor surface; and (iii) powering said self-aligning laser guide to indicate said top dead-center of said wheel.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/859,996, filed on Aug. 20, 2010, which claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/265,843, filed Dec. 2, 2009, all entitled Self-Aligning Laser Guide for a Wheel Balancer, the entire disclosure of all applications being incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present teachings relate to a self-aligning laser guide for a wheel balancer. In particular, the present teachings relate to a device and process for locating the top dead-center of a wheel. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Electro-mechanical wheel balancers are well known in the vehicle maintenance trade. These machines often include a chassis in the form of a cabinet in which various components and systems are housed. An imbalanced wheel is mounted to a rotatable shaft that extends from the chassis, typically using various mounting cones or other adapters. The shaft is rotatably driven by a suitable drive system (such as a direct drive motor or motor with a belt drive connected to a spindle) to create a dynamic imbalance condition. In addition, prior art balancing systems include an arm that can assist in measuring the wheel&#39;s dimensions (i.e., the distance from the machine and the wheels diameter). These devices have further included sensors to detect the wheel imbalance forces and electronic circuitry to analyze the forces and display an amount of weight needed to balance the wheel. 
         [0004]    It is well known in the art to attach corrective weights (typically clip weights) of various masses to the outer and inner flange of a wheel to balance the wheel. After spinning the wheel to determine its dynamic imbalance, if any, the wheel balancer may resolve the imbalance vector into two opposite vectors corresponding to the positions on the two wheel flanges (outer and inner) where the weights are to be placed. 
         [0005]    When using this type of balancer, the wheel balancer defines the locations where the corrective weights can be applied. An operator of the wheel balancer can then rotate the wheel to the location determined by the wheel balancer. Next, the operator places a corrective weight at top dead-center on the flange of the wheel in an amount calculated by the wheel balancer. 
         [0006]    A challenge in placing weights on the outer surface of the wheel is accurately placing the weight at the location prescribed by the machine. If the weight is mislocated, then the wheel will show an imbalance when a check spin is performed. Determining the exact location of the top dead-center of the wheel where the balancing weight should be attached is complicated and time consuming. Thus, correctly placing the balancing weight on the first attempt can help reduce time and cost. 
         [0007]    Many attempts to solve the above-mentioned problems have been made. For example, complex wheel balancers with laser-assisted weight placement systems have been developed. Such systems are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,484,574 and 6,244,108, and U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0175275. However, these systems are prohibitively expensive and their laser system is proprietary, non-portable, and unusable on many existing wheel balancers. 
         [0008]    Accordingly, a need exists in the industry for a portable laser guide for a wheel balancer that can be connected to most existing wheel balancers and can indicate the top dead-center of a wheel so that the operator of the wheel balancer can accurately position and secure the balancing weight on the proper area of the wheel, thereby saving time and providing a more accurate balance. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present teachings provide a self-aligning laser guide for a wheel balancer that includes a body having a laser beam generating device and a wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor. The wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor can be configured to be rotatably connected to the body at one end and configured to be removably connected at another end to a wheel balancer shaft of the wheel balancer. 
         [0010]    The present teachings provide that the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor is configured to be rotatably connected to the body via an axle and at least one bearing disposed around the axle. 
         [0011]    The present teachings provide that the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor includes a threaded opening such that the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor screws onto the wheel balancer shaft. 
         [0012]    The present teachings provide that the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor includes an opening sized to receive said wheel balancer shaft. 
         [0013]    The present teachings provide that the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor is configured to be friction fitted onto the wheel balancer shaft. 
         [0014]    The present teachings provide that the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor includes a magnet disposed in the opening such that when the wheel balancer shaft is received in the opening, the magnet magnetically connects to the wheel balancer shaft. 
         [0015]    The present teachings provide that the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor includes an electromagnet to removably connect the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor to the wheel balancer shaft. 
         [0016]    The present teachings further provide a setscrew in communication with the laser beam generating device for calibrating and securing the laser beam generating device at a desired location. 
         [0017]    The present teachings provide that the laser beam generating device is mounted on a pivot. 
         [0018]    The present teachings further provide a timer connected to a power source and configured to disconnect power provided from the power source to the laser beam generating device after a predetermined time. 
         [0019]    The present teachings provide that the body includes a top half and a bottom half and wherein the laser beam generating device is positioned on the top half of the body. 
         [0020]    The present teachings further provide a counterweight disposed on the bottom half of the body. 
         [0021]    The present teachings provide that the counterweight has a selected weight, wherein when the self-aligning laser guide is connected to the wheel balancer shaft, the self-aligning laser guide longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to a floor surface. 
         [0022]    The present teachings provide that the counterweight comprises a power source. 
         [0023]    The present teachings further provide a sensor configured to detect a signal generated by the wheel balancer that indicates to an operator to place and secure a balancing weight at a top dead-center of a wheel. 
         [0024]    The present teachings provide that the sensor is configured to turn on the self-aligning laser guide after receiving the signal generated from the wheel balancer. 
         [0025]    The present teachings provide a method for placing balancing weight on a wheel using a self-aligning laser guide including mounting a wheel on the wheel balancer shaft of a wheel balancer, starting the wheel balancer, removably connecting the self-aligning laser guide to the wheel balancer shaft, powering the self-aligning laser guide to indicate a top dead-center of the wheel, positioning a desired balancing weight on the indicated top dead-center of the wheel, and securing the balancing weight on the wheel. 
         [0026]    The present teachings provide that the step of removably connecting the self-aligning laser guide to the wheel balancer shaft includes securing at least a portion of the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor to the wheel balancer shaft. 
         [0027]    The present teachings further provide calibrating said self-aligning laser guide. 
         [0028]    The present teachings provide a method for determining a top dead-center of a wheel. The method includes the steps of removably connecting the self-aligning laser guide to a wheel balancer shaft, allowing gravity to position the self-aligning laser guide such that its longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to a floor surface, and powering the self-aligning laser guide to indicate the top dead-center of the wheel. 
         [0029]    The present teachings provide a self-aligning laser guide that includes a body including a laser beam generating device; and a mounting adaptor configured to be rotatably connected to the body at one end and configured to be removably connected at another end to a device, such that when the self-aligning laser guide is removably connected to the device, the self-aligning laser guide longitudinal axis is substantially perpendicular to a floor surface. 
         [0030]    Additional features and advantages of various embodiments will be set forth, in part, in the description that follows, and will, in part, be apparent from the description, or may be learned by the practice of various embodiments. The objectives and other advantages of various embodiments will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the description herein. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a self-aligning laser guide according to various embodiments; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a wheel balancer with a self-aligning laser guide attached therein according to various embodiments; 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the self-aligning laser guide according to various embodiments; 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the self-aligning laser guide according to various embodiments; 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of another alternative embodiment of the self-aligning laser guide according to various embodiments; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a wheel balancer with a self-aligning laser guide attached therein according to various embodiments. 
           [0037]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are intended to provide an explanation of various embodiments of the present teachings. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0038]    The present teachings are directed to a self-aligning laser guide that can include a body having a laser beam generating device and a mounting adaptor that is configured to be rotatably connected to the body at one end and configured to be removably connected at another end to a device, such as a wheel balancer. 
         [0039]    The present teachings are directed to a self-aligning laser guide for locating the top dead-center of a wheel. The self-aligning laser guide can be a portable handheld device that can be removably connected to most existing wheel balancers to precisely determine the top dead-center of a wheel where balancing weights can be placed and secured to properly balance a wheel. 
         [0040]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the self-aligning laser guide  10  of the present teachings. The self-aligning laser guide  10  can include a body  12  and an adaptor, such as a wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16  that can be rotatably connected to the body  12  at one end. 
         [0041]      FIG. 2  illustrates the side view of a typical wheel balancer  50  with the self-aligning laser guide  10  of the present teachings removably connected thereon. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the wheel balancer  50  includes a balancer shaft  52 , to which a wheel  54  can be secured. Once the wheel  54  has been secured and the wheel balancer  50  has determined the amount of weight that is needed to be placed and secured at the top dead-center of the wheel, the self-aligning laser guide  10  can be removably connected to the balancer shaft  52 . In an exemplary configuration, the self-aligning laser guide  10  can be removably connected to the end portion of the balancer shaft  52  via the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 3  illustrates one exemplary embodiment of the self-aligning laser guide  10  of the present teachings. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the self-aligning laser guide  10  can include the body  12  that is capable of housing at least a portion of a laser beam generating device  14 . Additionally, the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16  can be rotatably connected to the body  12  at one end and is configured to be removably connected to the balancer shaft  52  at the other end. The wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16  may be rotatably connected to the body  12  via an axle  18  and at least one bearing  20  (e.g., a roller bearing) positioned around the axle  18 , such that the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16  and the body  12  can rotate freely, with respect to one another, along an axis, e.g., axis A. 
         [0043]    The wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16  may be designed to fit and removably connect to most size wheel balancer shaft  52 . For example, the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16  can be cylindrical in shape having an opening  22  with a diameter and a depth large enough such that the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16  can slide over the wheel balancer shaft  52 . For example, the depth of the opening can be from about 1 inch or less to about 2 inches or more. In one exemplary embodiment, to secure the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16  to the wheel balancer shaft  52 , the opening  22  can include a diameter such that the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16  is friction fitted onto the wheel balancer shaft  52 . Alternatively and/or additionally, the opening  22  can include a magnet  24  to further secure the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16  onto the wheel balancer shaft  52 . For example, the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16  can be made of magnetic material. Magnet  24  may be an electromagnet powered, for example, by battery  36 . In another exemplary embodiment, the opening  22  can include threads such that the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16  can be threaded onto the wheel balancer shaft  52 . In one example, where the diameter of the opening  22  is substantially larger than the diameter of the wheel balancer shaft  52 , a diameter reducing sleeve  16 A can be inserted into the opening  22 . 
         [0044]    Although the figures illustrate the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16  to be cylindrical in shape having the opening  22 , one skilled in the art would recognize that any type of securing device can be used to removably secure the self-aligning laser guide  10  to the wheel balancer shaft  52 . For example, the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16  can be in a form of a clamp, a sleeve with one or more locking setscrews, and/or a magnet or any other suitable device. 
         [0045]    As stated above, the self-aligning laser guide  10  includes a body  12  that is capable of housing at least a portion of the laser beam generating device  14 . In one exemplary embodiment, the laser beam generating device  14  may be mounted on a pivot  28  located in the body  12  so that an operator can easily adjust the position of the laser beam generating device  14  and reflect a generated laser beam  14 A at a desired location on the top dead-center of the wheel (e.g., the rim flange of the wheel where balancing weights are generally placed and secured). Accordingly, referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , if the wheel  54  is on the x-axis and z-axis, the pivot  28  can allow the operator to rotate the laser beam generating device  14  around the x-axis to reflect the generated laser beam  14 A from location  14 B to location  14 C ( FIG. 2 ). Alternatively, the laser beam generating device  14  can generate a line laser that can illuminate a line extending across a portion of the wheel  54  (e.g., extend a line laser beam from approximately the top dead-center edge of the wheel  54  to approximately the wheel balancer shaft  52 ). In this alternative embodiment, the need for mounting the laser beam generating device  14  on the pivot  28  can be eliminated. 
         [0046]    The body  12  may also include a locking setscrew  26  that is in communication with the laser beam generating device  14 . The locking setscrew  26  can allow the operator to secure the laser beam generating device  14  in a position such that a generated laser beam/line is perpendicular to the top of the wheel balancer mounting adaptor  16 ; therefore, reflecting a laser beam/line at the top dead-center of the wheel  54 . Accordingly, referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , if the wheel  54  is on the x-axis and the z-axis, an operator can move the laser beam generating device  14  around the y-axis to reflect the laser beam/line at the top dead-center of the wheel  54  and then secure laser beam/line in that position by the locking setscrew  26 . 
         [0047]    Again referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the body  12  can also include a power source  36  that is in communication with a power switch  38  and the laser beam generating device  14 . In one exemplary embodiment, the power source  36  may be positioned below the laser beam generating device  14  so that it can act as a counterbalance to the laser beam generating device  14 . Accordingly, when the self-aligning laser guide  10  is removably connected to the wheel balancer shaft  52  via the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16 , the weight of the battery  36  can cause the body  12  to freely rotate around the axle  18 , due to gravity, thereby self-aligning the laser guide  10 . 
         [0048]      FIG. 4  illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the self-aligning laser guide  10  of the present teachings. In this exemplary embodiment, the body  12  can include a top portion or half  12 A and a bottom portion or half  12 B. For example, the laser beam generating device  14  may be positioned on the top half  12 A and the power source  36  may be positioned on the bottom half  12 B. Furthermore, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the body  12  can include a counterweight  34 . For example, the counterweight  34  may be positioned on the bottom half  12 B, so that when the self-aligning laser guide  10  is removably connected to the wheel balancer shaft  52  via the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16 , the weight of the counterweight  34  can cause the body  12  to freely rotate around the axle  18 , due to gravity, thereby self-aligning the laser guide. 
         [0049]      FIG. 5  illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the self-aligning laser guide  10  of the present teachings. In this exemplary embodiment, the body  12  includes a timer  42  that connects the power source  36  to the laser beam generating device  14 . Once the self-aligning laser guide  10  has been removably connected to the wheel balancer shaft  52  and has been turned on by the power switch  38 , the timer  42  can disconnect the power, thereby cutting power to the laser beam generating device  14 , after a predetermined time. 
         [0050]    In another exemplary embodiment, the self-aligning laser guide  10  can include a sensor (not shown in the Figs.) that is capable of communicating with the wheel balancer  50 . Generally, once the wheel balancer  50  or the operator has rotated the wheel to the position where the balancing weights need to be placed and secured at its top dead-center, the wheel balancer  50  provides the operator with a visual or audio signal. The sensor in the self-aligning laser guide  10  can then detect this signal (e.g., the audio or visual signal) and, in response, power the self-aligning laser guide  10  to indicate the exact location of the top dead-center of the wheel. 
         [0051]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 ,  4 , and  6 , the use of the self-aligning laser guide  10  of the present teachings on an existing wheel balancer is described. As shown in  FIG. 2 , first, the wheel  54  can be mounted to the wheel balancer shaft  52  of the wheel balancer  50 . The wheel balancer  50  is then turned on to rotate (i.e., spin) the wheel and calculate an effective amount of corrective weight based on the available locations and the wheel&#39;s imbalance characteristics or spin profile. Next, the operator may place the calculated effective amount of corrective weight at top dead-center on the flange of the wheel  54 . To determine the top dead-center of the wheel  54 , the operator can removably connect the self-aligning laser guide  10  to the wheel balancer shaft  52  by any method, such as sliding the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16  over the end of the wheel balancer shaft  52 . Given that the body  12 , which may include the counterweight  34 , is rotatably connected to the wheel balancer shaft mounting adaptor  16 , the gravity will rotate the self-aligning laser guide  10  to self-align itself in a vertical position such that the laser beam generating device  14  can reflect the generated laser beam  14 A at the top dead-center of the wheel  54 . The self-aligning laser guide  10  can then be turned on. In one exemplary embodiment, if the self-aligning laser guide  10  is being used for the first time, the self-aligning laser guide  10  may need to be calibrated to ensure that the laser beam generating device  14  of the self-aligning laser guide  10  is positioned such that it can reflect the generated laser beam  14 A at the top dead-center of the wheel  54 . To calibrate the self-aligning laser guide  10 , the operator can adjust the laser beam generating device  14  to the correct position and then secure it in that position by the setscrew  26 . 
         [0052]    Generally, the balancing weights can be secured to a location of the wheel indicated by the wheel balancer  50 , for example, the flange of the wheel rim. Therefore, the laser beam generating device  14  can be pivoted to reflect the generated laser beam  14 A to a proper location (e.g., from location  14 B to location  14 C, as shown in  FIG. 2 ) where the balancing weight can be placed and secured. The operator can then place and secure the proper amount of weight at the location indicated/illuminated by the generated laser beam  14 A. Alternatively, the laser beam generating device  14  can generate a line laser that can illuminate a line extending across a portion of the wheel  54  (e.g., extending from location  14 B to location  14 C or below location  14 C). This alternative embodiment, eliminates the need for the operator to pivot the laser beam generating device  14 . 
         [0053]    From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art can appreciate that the present teachings can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while these teachings have been described in connection with particular embodiments and examples thereof, the true scope of the present teachings should not be so limited. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the teachings herein.