GB2406177A

GB2406177A - Balancing machine comprising a mounting device for mounting a wheel of a motorcycle

Info

Publication number: GB2406177A
Application number: GB0418490A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harold Oppermann; Guy Carter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-09-04
Filing date: 2004-08-18
Publication date: 2005-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 2024-08-18
Also published as: DE10341212B3; GB2406177B; FR2859529A1; GB0418490D0; FR2859529B1

Abstract

A balancing machine 1 comprises a mounting device 4 for mounting a wheel 2 of a motorcycle on a shaft 3 of the balancing machine 1. The mounting device 4 has at least two pivotal mounting elements 9 each with a driving element 10 which, in an operating position of the mounting device 4, bears radially on the wheel 2 and transmits a rotation to the wheel 2 to be balanced. In order not to introduce any distortion into the mounting device 4 the mounting elements 9 are coupled to one another by means of a belt element 14. A spring element 15 constructed as a flat spiral spring is associated with the mounting elements 9 and presses the mounting elements 9 and the driving elements 10 against the wheel 2 to be balanced with a defined force F. The use of a spring element 15 with a progressive characteristic means that the force F in a wheel 2 with a relative large wheel diameter is greater and thus prevents slipping between the wheel 2 and the driving elements 10.

Description

2406 1 77 Balancing machine comprising a mounting device for mounting a

wheel of a motorcycle This invention relates to a balancing machine comprising a mounting device for mounting a wheel of a motorcycle on a shaft of the balancing machine, comprising at least two movable mounting elements for transmitting a rotation to the wheel which, in a respective operating position of the mounting device, bears radially on the wheel, wherein the mounting elements can be transferred in a coupled manner into the operating position by means of a coupling element.

DE 196 18 301 C2 has already described a mounting device for mounting a wheel of a motorcycle on a shaft of a balancing machine. The mounting device comprises two diametrically opposed pivotal mounting elements. The mounting elements are constructed as articulated levers and comprise a driving element which can be moved radially toward the wheel for frictionally driving the wheel, and a centrifugal weight. On rotation of the mounting device, the centrifugal weights are pressed outwards and the driving elements thus pressed against the wheel. In addition, the mounting elements are each in operative connection with a tension spring or a gas spring which presses the mounting elements or the driving element against the wheel. The pivotal movement of the mounting elements is positively coupled by two parallel rigid joint rods arranged with equal spacing from a rotational axis of the shaft.

The described coupling via two parallel rods presents a geometric problem as, when the mounting elements move, the rods arranged in parallel also move and a collision can occur with adjacent attachments of the mounting device or the balancing machine. The device also has path-dependent coupling with the problem of spatially over-defined mounting. Jamming of the entire mounting device and the resulting mounting or balancing errors can occur as a result of this.

The force acting on the wheel via the spring is substantially constant and with relatively large and heavy wheels is no longer sufficient to prevent slipping of the mounting elements. Wheels with a relatively large diameter have a greater mass inertia which, with insufficient contact pressure of the mounting elements, causes torsion in the wheel and attachment of the balancing masses in the wrong position.

The centrifugal weights provided for this reason produce additional contact s pressure of the mounting elements onto the wheel but the fact that the additional contact pressure is directly dependent on the speed of the balancing machine and therefore cannot be influenced has proven to be disadvantageous. Distortions of the mounting device can occur and also adversely affect the balancing result to a considerable extent.

DE 196 45 703 C2 has already described a mounting device for mounting a wheel of a motorcycle. The mounting device comprises two mounting elements via which the wheel is set in rotation. To generate the contact pressure, a spring element and an additional balancing weight are associated with each mounting element. Due to the effect of the centrifugal force during rotation of the mounting device, the balancing weight increases the tensioning movement of the mounting elements onto the wheel and therefore the contact pressure.

It has proven to be disadvantageous here that the movements of the mounting elements are not coupled with one another. The mounting elements are applied to the wheel to be balanced one after the other. This results in distortion in the mounting device, which adversely affects the resultant balancing. In addition, the contact pressure of the mounting elements on the wheel is also dependent on the speed of the balancing machine in this mounting device. Adaptation of the contact pressure to the size or weight of the wheel to be mounted is not possible.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a balancing machine with a mounting device, by means of which distortion and jamming when mounting a wheel of a motorcycle and the resultant balancing errors are reduced.

According to the invention, there is provided a balancing machine comprising a mounting device for mounting a wheel of a motorcycle on a shaft of the balancing machine, said mounting device comprising at least two movable mounting elements for transmitting a rotation to the wheel which, in a respective operating position of the mounting device, bears radically on the wheel, wherein the mounting elements can be transferred in a coupled manner into the operating position by means of a coupling element which is constructed as a belt element via which force-dependent coupling takes place between the at least two movable mounting elements.

The mounting movement of the mounting elements takes place synchronously as a lo result. The mounting elements move simultaneously toward the wheel to be mounted, so distortion of the mounting device resulting from mounting elements striking the wheel one after the other according to the prior art and the resulting mounting or balancing errors can be avoided. As a result of an at least partially resilient construction or extensibility, the belt element allows a movement of one of the mounting elements even when the other mounting element is already connected to the wheel. The mounting elements are therefore connected to the wheel, at any time, independently of the size and weight of the wheel to the mounted. Slip-free driving of the wheel by the mounting elements is hereby facilitated, independently of the wheel diameter. In addition, only a single mounting device is required for all common wheel sizes.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous if the belt element is configured as a toothed belt. As a result of the interlocking fit achieved hereby, an undesirable relative movement between the belt elements and the mounting elements and resultant non-uniformity in the movement of the two mounting elements are prevented.

A further particularly expedient development of the present balancing machine is also created in that the mounting elements comprise a guide for the belt elements.

Defined and guided movement of the belt elements in the region of the mounting elements is ensured hereby. - 4

A particularly advantageous development of the invention is also created in that the mounting device comprises a protective covering which covers the belt element, at least in certain regions. Collision of the belt element with adjoining components of the balancing machine or of the mounting device is thus not possible. In addition, soiling of the belt element or penetration of a foreign body is prevented by the protective covering.

A further particularly advantageous development of the present invention is also achieved in that a spring element is associated with at least one of the mounting lo elements and presses a driving element of the mounting element onto the wheel with a defined force, the spring element having a progressive spring characteristic.

The force acting on the wheel, preventing slip between mounting element or driving element and wheel, is introduced exclusively by the spring tension.

Additional centrifugal weights for additional contact pressure in the case of relatively large and/or heavy wheels are not required. Therefore, the contact pressure is not dependent on the speed of the balancing machine, as in the prior art, and no additional undefined forces or moments, which have an adverse effect on the balancing result, pass into the mounting device. The spring element, with a progressive course of the spring characteristic, increases the force acting on the wheel as a function of the diameter of the wheel to be mounted so, even with larger and heavier wheels, slipping between mounting element or driving element and wheel can be effectively prevented. In practice, it has proven to be particularly effective that one respective spring element is associated with each of the mounting elements.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous here that the spring element is configured as a flat spiral spring and arranged coaxially to a pivot axis of the mounting element. This flat spiral spring or watch spring has the required progressive course of the spring characteristic and as a result of the geometry of the spring and of the mounting elements may be integrated very easily and effectively into the mounting device. The spring is adequately protected against external influences, in particular dirt and/or other foreign bodies thereby. - 5

A further particularly advantageous development is also created in that a locking device is associated with at least one of the mounting elements and prevents pivoting of the mounting elements from an assembly position into the operating position. Assembly of the wheel to be balanced is facilitated hereby. The locking device is only released after assembly. The mounting elements move completely synchronously into the operating position owing to the spring elements associated with the mounting elements or the driving elements and the coupling via the belt element. As a result, the mounting elements strike the wheel at the same time and 0 with the same force. Distortion according to the prior art, owing to mounting elements striking one after the other, can thus be prevented hereby.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous here that the locking device comprises a handle. Manual handling of the balancing machine and of the mounting device is fundamentally simplified hereby. Further simplification of balancing machine operation is also achieved in that a respective locking device with a respective handle is associated with each mounting element. Serviceability of the mounting device is also ensured hereby when one of the handles is not accessible.

The invention allows various embodiments. One of them is illustrated in the drawings and will be described hereinafter in order to further clarify its basic principle. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a front view of a balancing machine according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the mounting device, Fig. 3 is a side view of the mounting device, Fig. 4 is an enlarged section along the line IV-IV of the mounting device illustrated in Fig. 3, and - 6 Fig. 5 is a side view of a mounting element in an assembly position.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front view of a balancing machine 1 s according to the invention. For mounting a wheel 2 of a motorcycle, the balancing machine 1 has a driven shaft 3 and a mounting device 4 as well as a contact flange 5. The wheel 2 is arranged on the shaft 3 by means of a central opening 6 in the rim 7. The wheel 2 is fixed on the shaft 3 by means of a fixing cone 8 in such a way that the rim 7 rests without play on the contact flange 5. To set the wheel 2 in lo rotation, the mounting device 4 comprises two mounting elements 9 which rest radially on the wheel 2 in the illustrated operating position. For this purpose, the mounting elements 9 each have a driving element 10 arranged parallel to an axis of rotation 11 of the shaft 3. The mounting elements 9 are constructed pivotally around a pivot axis 12. The movements of the two mounting elements 9 are lS coupled to one another by means of a coupling element 13 configured as a belt element 14. For transmitting the rotation to the wheel 2 to be balanced, the mounting elements 9 and the driving element 10 press radially against the wheel 2 with a defined force F. For this purpose, a spring element 15 configured as a flat spiral or watch spring is associated with each of the mounting elements 9 and is arranged coaxially to the pivot axis 12. In addition, the mounting elements 9 have a locking device (not shown in Fig. 1), which is to be actuated via a handle element 16.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view and Fig. 3 a side view of the mounting device 4. The 2s mounting device 4 comprises a recess 17 for assembly on the shaft 3 of the balancing machine 1. The mounting device 4 and the mounting elements 9 are located in a position of non-use. This means that the driving elements 10 have the smallest possible spacing a from one another and the spring elements 15 are unloaded.

The spring elements 15 can be seen in Fig. 4, which is an enlarged section of the mounting device 4 illustrated in Fig. 3 along the line IV- IV. The spring elements i - 7 are constructed as flat spiral springs or watch springs and are arranged coaxially to the pivot axis 12. The pivoting movements of the mounting elements 9 are coupled to one another by means of a coupling element 13 configured as a belt element 14. For this purpose, the mounting elements 9 each comprise a guide 18. The belt element 14 is integrated in the mounting device 4 and surrounded, at least in certain sections, by a protective covering 19. In addition, a locking device is associated with each of the mounting elements 9 and is illustrated in use in Fig. 5.

lo Fig. 5 is a side view of a mounting element 9 in an assembly position. In this assembly position, the wheel 2 is fixed on the shaft 3. The mounting elements 9 are pivoted by means of one of the handles 16 against the force of the spring elements 15 in such a way that the driving elements 10 have the greatest possible spacing a from one another. In this position, one of the locking devices 20 is transferred into a locking position. In this locking position a locking pin 21 of the handle 16 engages through an opening 22 in the mounting element 9 into a recess 23 in the mounting device 4 and hereby fixes the mounting elements 9 in the assembly position. After the wheel 2 to be balanced has been fixed on the shaft 3, the locking device 20 is unlocked. For this purpose, the locking pin 21 is withdrawn from the recess 23 in the mounting device 4 by means of the handle 16.

The mounting elements 9 and the driving elements 10 move completely synchronously radially toward the wheel 2 as a result of the force of the spring elements 15 and the coupling by means of the belt element 14. Depending on the size or diameter of the wheel 2 to be balanced, the spring element(s) 15 develop a defined force corresponding to the progressive spring characteristic. The force F is greater with relatively large wheel diameters than it is with relatively small wheel diameters. Slippage between the driving elements 10 and the wheel 2 is hereby prevented with larger wheel diameters. The driving elements 10 strike the wheel 2 at the same time and with the same force, so introduction of distortions into the mounting device 4 or the balancing machine l is prevented and the resultant balancing errors are reduced. - 8

Claims

1. A balancing machine comprising a mounting device for mounting a wheel of a motorcycle on a shaft of the balancing machine, said mounting device comprising at least two movable mounting elements for transmitting a rotation to the wheel which, in a respective operating position of the mounting device, bears radially on the wheel, wherein the mounting elements can be transferred in a coupled manner into the operating position by means of a coupling element which lo is constructed as a belt element via which force-dependent coupling takes place between the at least two movable mounting elements.

2. A balancing machine according to claim 1, wherein the belt element is constructed as a toothed belt.

3. A balancing machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the mounting elements comprise a guide for the belt element.

4. A balancing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting device comprises a protective covering which covers the belt element, at least in certain sections.

5. A balancing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a spring element is associated with at least one of the mounting elements and presses a driving element of the mounting element against the wheel with a defined force, the spring element having a progressive spring characteristic.

6. A balancing machine according to claim 5, wherein the spring element is constructed as a flat spiral spring and is arranged coaxially to a pivot axis of the mounting element. - 9 -

7. A balancing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a locking device is associated with at least one of the mounting elements and prevents pivoting of the mounting element from an assembly position into the operating position.

8. A balancing machine according to claim 7, wherein the locking device comprises a handle.

9. A balancing machine substantially as described herein with reference to I lo the drawings.

9. A balancing machine substantially as described herein with reference to lo the drawings.

10. A mounting device for the balancing machine claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows:

6. A balancing machine according to claim 5, wherein the spring element is constructed as a flat spiral spring and is arranged coaxially to a pivot axis of the mounting element. \N