Abstract:
A tire uniformity testing machine that includes a base, a pair of vertical spaced apart columns supporting an upper cross frame member. The base carries a load wheel carriage movable towards and away from a testing station. The vertical uprights establish a peripheral footprint plane that does not extend beyond a plane that is tangent to an outer rolling surface of the load wheel when it is redirected. The upper frame member includes clearance spaces and cutouts that enable at least a portion of an upper chuck to move into the upper frame member and a super structure mounted to a top of the cross member that mounts at least a portion of an actuator for translating the upper chuck. The configuration establishes a machine height that enables the machine to be loaded into a standard shipping container and reduces the overall footprint of the tire uniformity machine without compromising its ability to precisely sense tire uniformity parameters.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/086,288, filed Dec. 2, 2014, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to tire uniformity testing and, in particular, to a tire uniformity testing machine with a compact footprint and which can be easily shipped in a standard shipping container. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0003]    Many, if not most, tire manufacturing facilities, in addition to tire making equipment, also have tire uniformity testing machines for testing and/or grading tires that have been manufactured. An example of such a machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,695. These types of machines are very complex and include many components, including a tire testing station and a load wheel that contacts the tire during a testing cycle and applies a predetermined force to the tire. Sensors, usually in the form of load cells that support the load wheel sense tire uniformity parameters in the tire being tested. This information can be used to grade the tire, pass the tire as having met manufacturing requirements or reject the tire as failing to meet the requirements. In order to perform the tire uniformity test, the components must be rigidly attached to a frame structure so that the forces generated during the testing cycle do not cause excessive movement, vibration, etc. in the testing components. As a consequence, many prior art tire uniformity testing machines, such as the one disclosed in the above-mentioned patent, occupy significant floor space in the manufacturing facility. In many facilities, floor space is at a premium and, as a result, there is a need for tire uniformity testing machines having a reduced or smaller footprint. 
       DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention provides a new and improved tire uniformity testing machine that occupies a smaller footprint in the manufacturing facility as contrasted to prior art machines without compromising its ability to precisely measure tire uniformity parameters in a tire being tested. 
         [0005]    According to one embodiment of the invention, the tire uniformity testing machine includes a base, an upper cross frame member spaced above the base and vertical support structure extending upwardly from at least one end of the base versus supporting at least one end of the upper cross frame member. According to the invention, a pair of spaced apart vertical columns extend upwardly from another end of the base and support another end of the upper cross frame member. 
         [0006]    The base defines a tire testing position at which a tire to be tested is rotatably mounted. A load wheel carriage at least partially supported by the base includes a rotatable load wheel that is movable towards and away from the tire testing station along a transverse line of action. The load wheel defines a rolling surface engageable with a periphery of a tire to be tested and the load wheel and tire are rotatable about a pair of parallel, substantially vertical axes such that the transverse line of action passes through the axes of rotation. According to the invention, the upwardly extending spaced apart columns are located such that a peripheral portion of the load wheel is located between the support and the supports define an outer footprint plane that is not substantially outside a plane tangent to an outside portion of the rolling surface of the load wheel and that is orthogonal to the line of action. 
         [0007]    According to a further feature of the invention, a load wheel carriage assembly is disclosed that includes a pair of spaced apart vertical supports and upper and lower, vertically spaced apart cross pieces that are supported by the vertical supports. Upper and lower load cells are mounted to the upper and lower cross pieces, respectively, between which a load wheel is rotatably supported. The load wheel rolling surface engages a periphery of a tire to be tested when the carriage assembly is moved into a tire testing position. According to a feature of this embodiment of the load carriage assembly, the load wheel includes a portion nested between the vertical columns. At least one actuator moves the carriage towards and away from the tire testing position. 
         [0008]    According to a feature of this embodiment, the vertical supports of the load wheel carriage are triangular in cross section, such that a hypotenuse of the triangular cross section confronts the rolling surface of the load wheel. According to this embodiment, the triangular vertical supports, the upper and lower vertical spaced apart cross pieces, as well as other structure are configured to substantially rigidize the carriage assembly frame so that a bending moment generated when the load wheel is in contact with the tire being tested, is substantially resisted. As a result, deflections in the load wheel mounting are substantially inhibited, which would otherwise cause imprecise measurements. In the preferred embodiment, the load wheel actuator is located below the load wheel, rather than aligned with a center radial plane of the load wheel and, as a result, the carriage frame, as indicated above, is configured to be substantially rigid since, in the preferred embodiment, the actuator and associated drive components are not in a position to resist the bending moment applied to the load wheel carriage during testing of a tire. 
         [0009]    According to a further feature of the invention, the base, vertical columns and the upper cross frame member are configured such that the machine defines a height dimension that can fit within a standard shipping container. 
         [0010]    According to another feature of the invention, the tire uniformity testing machine includes an upper chuck assembly movable towards and away from the tire testing position. According to this feature, the upper cross frame member includes clearance spaces and openings which enable at least a portion of the upper chuck assembly to be received within the upper cross frame member when the upper chuck assembly is retracted. A super structure is secured to the top of the upper cross frame member that at least partially supports an actuator for moving the upper chuck assembly towards and away from the tire testing position. 
         [0011]    With this disclosed feature, the overall height of the tire uniformity machine as measured from the bottom of the base and the top of upper cross frame member can be configured to be equal to or less than the height dimension of a standard shipping container, i.e., 96 inches, so that the tire uniformity machine can be loaded into a standard shipping container after the super structure and other associated components are removed. This facilitates shipping of the disclosed tire uniformity machine and substantially reduces shipping costs and the need for extensive reassembly at the customer&#39;s location. 
         [0012]    According to a feature of another embodiment of the load wheel carriage assembly, a carriage assembly is disclosed that engages a track way mounted to the base, the track way supporting linear motion of the carriage towards and away from the tire testing position. According to this feature, a linkage arrangement is provided that couples the spaced apart vertical supports to the track way so that a bending moment in the vertical supports that is generated during a testing cycle, is resisted. 
         [0013]    According to another feature of the invention, the tire testing machine includes a human control module for controlling the testing machines. The control module that is carried by a pendant does not require removal in order to ship the machine. In particular, the pendant includes at least one arm segment pivotally connected to a mounting plate. The mounting plate is slidably attached to one end of the upper cross frame member until it is locked with locking fasteners. According to the invention, the pendant arm can be raised to a position where it is raised above a top surface of the upper cross frame member. If the pendant arm was permanently attached in this way, the ability to ship the tire uniformity machine in a standard shipping container could only be effected by removing the top of the pendant arm. With the disclosed invention, for shipping purposes, the mounting plate can be slid downwardly by releasing the locking fasteners so that the pendant arm is below the top surface of the upper cross frame member, and, therefore, does not impede the ability to ship the tire uniformity machine in a standard shipping container. To achieve this feature, the mounting plate includes vertical slots which allow the mounting plate to move vertically from an upper, operative position, to a lower shipping position. 
         [0014]    With the disclosed invention, a tire uniformity testing machine with a smaller footprint is provided so that the machine occupies less space on the manufacturer&#39;s floor, as compared to prior art devices. This reduction in footprint does not compromise the machine&#39;s ability to precisely measure tire uniformity parameters in a tire being tested. 
         [0015]    Additional features of the invention will become apparent and a fuller understanding obtained by reading the following detailed description made in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tire uniformity testing system constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is side elevational view of the system; 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a right side elevational view of the system; 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a fragmentary view of the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of the system with parts removed to show details; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is a fragmentary view of the system showing details of a load wheel carriage constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a portion of the system showing portions of a frame and a load wheel carriage frame operatively connected to a frame member; 
           [0024]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of the system with parts removed to show details of a load carriage assembly and load wheel constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 10  is a side elevational view showing details of the load wheel carriage; 
           [0026]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the tire testing system as seen from the plane indicated by the line  11 - 11  in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 12  is a view of a portion of the tire uniformity testing system as seen from the plane indicated by the line  12 - 12  in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 13  is perspective view of the load wheel carriage; 
           [0029]      FIG. 14  is a sectional view of the tire testing system as seen from the plane indicated by the line  14 - 14  in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 15  is a sectional view of the tire testing system as seen from a plane indicated by the line  15 - 15  in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 16  is a sectional view of the tire testing system as seen from a plane indicated by the line  16 - 16  in  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 17  is a sectional view of the tire testing system as seen from the plane indicated by the line  17 - 17  in  FIG. 5 ; and 
           [0033]      FIG. 18  illustrates the construction of an alternate load wheel carriage. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0034]      FIG. 1  illustrates the overall construction of a tire uniformity testing system constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The illustrated apparatus is an improvement to the tire uniformity testing system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,016,695 which is hereby incorporated by reference. Referring also to  FIGS. 2-4 , the improved tire uniformity testing system includes a frame structure indicated generally by the reference character  10 . Referring also to  FIG. 17 , which is a sectional view of the tire testing machine as seen from the plane indicated by the line  17 - 17  in  FIG. 2 , details of the frame are shown. The frame  10  includes a pair of spaced apart uprights  14 - 16  on one side of the frame and a pair of angled uprights  20 ,  22  on the opposite side of the frame. The frame  10  includes a base  26  that includes as crosspiece  26   a  on the right side as viewed in  FIG. 17  to which the uprights  14 ,  16  are rigidly attached. A relatively short cross piece  26   b  is located on the left side of the base  26  and includes a base plate BP to which the uprights  20 ,  22  are rigidly attached. 
         [0035]    A horizontal frame member  30  similar in configuration to the base  26  is attached to the tops of the columns  14 ,  16 ,  20  and  22 . The horizontal frame member  30  removably mounts a super structure  34  which mounts a linear actuator  36  which is operative to move an upper portion  36   a  of an adjustable width chuck towards and away from a spindle assembly  36   b  which is mounted to the base member  26 . The upper portion  36   a  of the chuck and the spindle portion  36   b  mount half rims which are used to clamp a tire during a testing cycle. The adjustable width chuck is substantially similar to the chuck disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,227 which is hereby incorporated by reference. Referring to  FIG. 14 , an important feature of the invention is shown in detail. In particular, the horizontal frame member  30  includes a clearance opening  30   a  and cutout  30   b.  This frame member configuration, allows at least a portion of the upper chuck  36   a  to move into the horizontal frame member  30  when fully retracted. In conjunction with this feature, the super structure  34  mounts the chuck actuating cylinder  36  and is mounted above the top surface  30   d  of the frame member  30 . In a prior art arrangement, the chuck actuation cylinder would be mounted to the horizontal frame member and the upper chuck portion  36   a  would be raised until its upper end abuts the lower flange  30   c.  As a result, the horizontal frame member in prior designs must be mounted substantially higher than the frame member  30  shown in  FIG. 14  so that the full range of motion of the upper chuck portion  36   a  can be accommodated. With the disclosed arrangement shown in  FIG. 14 , the vertical dimension between the base of the machine and the top surface  30   d  of the horizontal cross member is reduced. If the height dimension indicated by the reference character “S” is less than or equal to 96 inches, the machine can be loaded into a standard shipping container once the super structure  24  and associated components are unbolted and removed from the horizontal cross member  30 . This facilitates shipping of the disclosed tire uniformity machine and reduces overall shipping costs. It should be noted that the height dimension S does not include leveling pads  39  that may be used at the customer&#39;s site to level the machine. 
         [0036]    The upright column  16  mounts a jib crane  40  which, as seen in  FIG. 6 , includes segments  40   a  and  40   b  which are pivotally attached to each other to allow articulation of the arm elements. The arm element  40   a  is pivotally attached to the column  16 . The attachment of the jib crane  40  to the frame is best shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0037]    Referring also to  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 8 , the frame mounts a load wheel carriage indicated generally by the reference character  50 , which rotatably mounts a load wheel  52 . The load wheel may be of conventional construction, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,231 which is hereby incorporated by reference. Referring in particular to  FIG. 8 , the load wheel carriage comprises a slidably movable carriage frame  50   a  (see  FIG. 13 ). The carriage frame  50   a  includes a pair of spaced apart side supports  54  which include bearing blocks  60  that slidably engage a pair of linear bearing rails  58 . The side supports  54  include horizontal mounting blocks  54   a,  which rigidly mount the bearing blocks  60  (see  FIGS. 5 and 7 ) that engage the rails  58 . 
         [0038]    The carriage  50  also includes upper and lower load cell and load cell mountings  66 ,  68  (see  FIGS. 7 and 8 ) which rotatably support the load wheel  52 . The load wheel carriage  50  includes a pair of uprights  70 ,  72  which, in the preferred embodiment, are triangular in shape and are best shown in  FIGS. 12 and 17 . With the disclosed construction, the shape of the uprights surround a portion of the load wheel  52  and reduce the overall transverse dimension of the load wheel and carriage, as compared to the load wheel carriage shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,231. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment, a hypotenuse of each triangle upright controls the rolling surface  52   a  for the load wheel. In effect, an outer portion  53  of the load wheel is nested between the uprights  70 ,  72  (shown best in  FIG. 12 ). As a result, and as best shown in  FIG. 17 , the overall footprint of the tire uniformity machine/system is substantially reduced. With the disclosed construction, the load wheel  52 , when retracted, substantially can define the rearmost plane of the machine. In the preferred embodiment, the back of the load wheel, when retracted, and the back of the vertical columns  14 ,  16  are substantially in the same plane. (seen best in  FIG. 17 ). 
         [0039]    As seen in  FIG. 17 , the wheel spindle  36   b  mounted to the base  26  is operatively connected to a drive motor  76  by an associated drive belt  76   a . An encoder  78  (only partially shown) is also operatively connected to the output of the drive motor  76  by an associated belt  78   a  and monitors the rotative position of a tire being tested. 
         [0040]    The load wheel carriage  50  (which carries the load wheel  52 ) moves toward and away from a tire held by the upper and lower chuck portions  36   a,    36   b.  Referring in particular to  FIG. 17 , the carriage  50  moves along a line  80  (also designated as centerline CL) that extends through an axis of rotation  82  of the load wheel  52  and an axis of rotation  84  of the lower spindle  36   b  so that the axis of rotation  82  of the load wheel  52  remains aligned with the axis of rotation  84  of the spindle  36   b  as the load wheel moves into contact with a tire held by the chuck. 
         [0041]    Referring also to  FIG. 11 , movement in the load wheel carriage  50  is achieved using a linear actuator which comprises a rotatable ball screw  90 . The ball screw  90  is rotated by a drive motor  92  that depends downwardly from a gear box  94 . The ball screw  90  is attached to an output gear (not shown) in the gear box in a conventional way. A ball nut  96  is attached to the load wheel carriage  50  via a transverse drive plate  96   a  (shown best in  FIG. 8 ). As seen in  FIG. 8 , rotation of the ball screw  90  produces linear movement of the load wheel carriage  50  along the linear bearing rails  58 , the direction of movement being dependent on the direction of rotation of the ball screw  90 . The frame base  26  includes a fixed stop  99 , which limits the inward movement of the load carriage  50  (shown best in  FIG. 8 ). 
         [0042]    The construction of the load carriage  50  and, in particular, the configuration of the carriage drive system substantially reduces the footprint of the disclosed tire uniformity machine/system. Referring to  FIG. 11 , the load wheel  52  defines upper and lower radial planes P 4  and P 5 ) respectively. As seen best in  FIG. 11 , the carriage drive is located below the load wheel  52 , i.e., below the lower plane P 5 , as compared to prior art designs, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,979,231 which illustrates a construction where the carriage drive is mounted to the side and outboard of the load wheel and carriage, thus substantially increasing the footprint of the machine. The present invention contemplates the mounting of the carriage drive above the load wheel, i.e., above the plane P 4 . The invention also contemplates one or more carriage drives mounted on either side of the load wheel  52  above, below or between the planes P 4  and P 5 . For example, one or more carriage drives can be mounted in line with and/or coupled to the load wheel uprights  70 ,  72 . 
         [0043]    With the disclosed construction, however, the application of force by the tire to load wheel during a test cycle tends to urge the upper load cell  66  out of vertical alignment with the lower load cell mounting  68 . In the disclosed construction, this is compensated for by utilization of the triangular uprights  70 ,  72  and rigid cross piece  110  which interconnects the top of the uprights. The carriage frame is best shown in  FIG. 13  and, in addition to the upper cross piece  110 , also includes a rigid lower cross member  112  which together form a substantially rigid frame that can withstand bending moments generated when the load wheel is urged into operating contact with the tire to be tested. With the disclosed construction, the carriage frame  50  can withstand the bending moment applied by the load wheel  52  during testing, such that the net distortion of the positions of the upper and lower cell mounts  66 ,  68  are within vertical alignment limits. 
         [0044]    The construction of the carriage, as indicated above, substantially reduces the transverse dimension of the load wheel assembly and, as a result, the back of the load wheel  52 , substantially can define the rearmost plane of the machine. In the preferred embodiment, the back of the load wheel and the back of the triangular uprights,  70 ,  72  are substantially in the same plane. 
         [0045]    The relationship between the various components that affect the machine&#39;s “footprint” are best illustrated in  FIGS. 9, 12 and 17 . Referring in particular to  FIG. 12 , the outermost or left peripheral side (as viewed in  FIG. 12 ) of the base is indicated by the plane designated by the reference character “P 1 ”. Referring to  FIG. 17 , a plane P 2  is defined which is tangent to the rolling surface  52   a  of the load wheel  52  and which is also orthogonal to the center line  80 , which, as indicated above, extends through the axis of rotation  82  of the load wheel  52  and the axis of rotation  84  of the lower spindle  36   b.  As seen best in  FIG. 9 , in the preferred embodiment, the outermost surface of the load wheel carriage (which comprises the vertical supports  70 ,  72 ) and the horizontal cross piece  110  define a plane P 3 . In the preferred and illustrated embodiment the plane P 1  (defined by the upright  14 ,  16 ) does not extend to the left, as viewed in  FIG. 12 , of the plane P 2  defined by the load wheel. The plane P 3  is preferably coincident with the plane P 2  or located slightly to the right of the plane P 2  as viewed in  FIG. 3 . As seen best in  FIG. 14 , the footprint dimension F 1  is minimized to the extent possible, as compared to prior art. The footprint dimension F 1  may be considered a transverse dimension or a front to back dimension (or depth) of the machine depending on the positioning of the machine on a factory floor. 
         [0046]    Referring also to  FIG. 6 , the footprint dimension of the machine that is transverse to the dimension F 1  is shown and is labeled F 2 . The footprint dimension F 2  is preferably the same or smaller than the dimension F 2 . In the preferred illustrated embodiment, it is smaller. In many large tire manufacturing facilities, multiple lines of tires, each feeding an associated tire uniformity machine are used. These lines of tires are often positioned side by side in a more or less parallel relationship. Aisles are located between each tire line. The spacing of these adjacent lines of tires are affected by the transverse dimension of the tire uniformity machine, i.e., the F 1  dimension. By reducing the F 1  dimension of each tire uniformity machine, in a large manufacturing machine, additional lines of tires could be accommodated in a given space, since the space taken up by the adjacent tire uniformity machines is reduced. Accordingly, more machines and associate tire lines can be accommodated. Additionally, by minimizing the F 1  dimension, it allows the tire uniformity machine of the present invention to fit within more limited available space. This dimension is minimized by this invention and, as a result, the disclosed tire uniformity machine occupies a much smaller footprint in the manufacturing environment, as compared to prior art machines of this type. 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the tire uniformity testing system includes features which enable the system to be easily shipped in a shipping container. In particular, and as seen best in  FIG. 1 , an articulatable pendant arm  120  extends from the side of the machine and mounts a HMI  126 . It is preferable that a first arm segment  120   a  of the pendant  120  be mounted at a elevation above the cross member  30  so that the full range of pendant motion can be accommodated without interference with the top frame member  30 . The articulated arm  120  carries a plurality of signal wires (not shown) from the human operated control module  126 . To avoid the necessity of requiring disconnection of the pendant arm  120  and associated signal wires from the main frame, the upper end of the pendant arm is attached to a mounting plate  130  which is slidably attached at one end of the upper cross member  30 . The vertical dimensions (shown in  FIG. 14 ) between the bottom of the base member  26  and top  30   d  of the cross member  30  is designed such that the machine can fit within a shipping container. Thus, in order to load the test system/machine  10  into a shipping container, a pressure tank  140  and the upper super structure  34  (which mounts the linear actuator  36 ) are removed from the cross member  30 . The upper end of the pendant arm  120  is mounted to a the plate  130  which includes slots  130   a,  seen best in  FIG. 1 . Bolts  132  holding the plate  130  to the end of the upper horizontal frame member  30  are loosened to allow the plate  130  to slide downwardly so that the pendant arm  120  is lowered so that its upper link  120   a  is below the level established by the top surface  302  of the cross member  30 . The pendant arm  120  is then suitably folded against the side of the machine and, thus, allows the testing system to be loaded into a standard shipping container. 
         [0048]      FIG. 18  illustrates an alternate construction for the load wheel carriage  50 ′. In the alternate construction, the carriage comprises a rigid frame structure  150  that carries a pair of vertically aligned load cell/load wheel mountings  66 ′,  68 ′. The load cells rotatably mount the load wheel  52 . As discussed earlier, the loading of the tire by the load wheel, during a testing cycle, exerts bending moments on the frame tending to misalign the upper and lower load cells  66 ,  68 . In accordance with the construction shown in  FIG. 18 , a pair of parallel links  156  extend between the carriage frame  150  and a rigid cross piece  160 . The cross piece  160  mounts a pair of spaced apart bearing blocks (not shown, but the same or similar to the bearing blocks  60 , discussed earlier) which slidably engage the linear bearing rails  58  (shown in  FIG. 8 ). The frame  150  (which rotatably holds the load wheel  52 ) also includes a pair of bearing blocks (not shown, but the same or similar to the bearing blocks  60 — FIGS. 2 and 5 ) which also engage the linear bearing rails  58  so that the frame  150  and rigid cross piece  160  move as assembly along the linear bearing rails  58 . The links  156  that extend between the load wheel frame  150  and the cross piece  160  resist the bending moment exerted on the load wheel frame  50  when the load wheel  52  is in contact with the tire during a testing cycle, The links  156  resist the distortion force which would produce misalignment of the upper and lower load cells  66 ′,  68 ′. The linkage arrangement resists distortions in the carriage  150  outside the allowed limits for accurate testing. 
         [0049]    Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it should be understood that those skilled in the art can make various changes to it without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.