Patent GB-948315-A (GB)
Title: Wheel balancer
IPC: G01M1/04
Filed: 1962-10-25
Abstract: 948,315. Wheel balancing apparatus. McNEIL MACHINE & ENGINEERING CO. Oct. 25, 1962 [Nov. 30, 1961], No.40379/62. Heading G1X. A wheel balancer comprises a wheel carrier 37 mounted for universal tilting movement with respect to the vertical adapted to have a wheel centred thereon, the carrier being balanced and being tiltable in response to unbalance of a wheel thereon, means for indicating tilting of the carrier e.g. a spirit level, and means engageable with the wheel for applying force to the wheel at such a point and in such amount as to bring the carrier and wheel to a level position, and for measuring the force, thereby to indicate the amount of weight and position thereof required to balance the wheel. In the apparatus shown, the wheel carrier 37 is in the form of a cup-shaped element 61 secured to a tubular body 39 and having a rim 65 to support a wheel W. The upper end of the body 39 contains a head 45 having a screw 47 with a recessed lower end to accommodate a ball bearing 49 on a ball seat 35. The ball seat is secured to a vertical rod 11, which bears at its lower end on a pad 13 on a pivoted lever 15. In the position shown in Figs. 1, 5 the lower end of the body 39 rests on a conical portion 55 of a centre part 33 disposed in an oil cup 31 fixed to the base B of the apparatus, and the weight of the wheel W is taken solely by the conical portion 55. The lever 15 passes through a slot 25 in the base B, and this slot has a high step 29 arranged so that if the lever 15 is raised to rest on the step 29 the weight of the wheel W and carrier 37 will be taken solely on the ball 49. The head 45 carries a circular spirit level 51 and in use the apparatus is levelled using screws 3 with the lever 15 resting at the bottom of the slot 25. A wheel to be balanced is placed on the carrier 37 and is centred by use of a member 67 having ribs 69 whose outer faces are on the surface of a cone. The member 67 fits over the body 39 and may be removed after the wheel has been centred. The lever 15 is raised on to the step 29, and the wheel will tilt if unbalanced, the movement being damped by oil O in the cup 31. An arm 73, 75 is pivotable around a post 9 on the base 13 and this arm is pivotally connected to an arm 81 carrying the wheel engaging and force measuring means. This means, Fig. 6, comprises a gauge 109 secured to a nut 113 and mounted for vertical movement on a screw 101, the screw being carried in a bracket 91, Fig. 1, which may be clamped to the arm by a set screw 97 engaging in an indentation 99 in the arm 81 to prevent rotation of the bracket. The gauge has a wheel engaging plunger 131 which can move upwardly under the restraint imposed by a coil spring 137. Vertical movement of the plunger 131 is transmitted to a pivoted lever 117 having a free end 121 in the form of a pointer moving over a scale 127. In use the arms 73, 75, 81 are positioned so that the plunger 131 contacts the rim of the wheel W, so as to level the wheel as indicated by the spirit level 51. The reading of the gauge 109 gives an indication of the force required to correct for the unbalance of the wheel, and the portion of the plunger 131 on the rim gives the position at which weights may be attached to correct for the unbalance.