Apparatus and method for an electronic wheel balancer with multiple balancing plane control and improved operator interface

Abstract

An electronic wheel balancer performs imbalance measurements at variable speeds for different size wheels. The inertia of a wheel mounted on the balancer is determined by measuring the acceleration time of the wheel from a first speed to a second higher speed and the operating speed is adjusted accordingly. An improved operator interface pod incorporates correction plane indicators/selection buttons adjacent the weight display. Auxiliary weight storage is also provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for balancing a wheel with a weight correction by an operator, comprising: 
 visually presenting to said operator a spatial relationship between a correction plane selection and a weight placement location on said wheel.    
     
     
         2 . A method for balancing a wheel with a weight correction by an operator, comprising: 
 selecting a measurement mode;    selecting a first correction plane;    selecting a balancing mode; and    calculating said weight correction.    
     
     
         3 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 2 , further comprising: displaying said weight correction.  
     
     
         4 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 2 , wherein said measurement mode is selected from a group including a preset mode and a measured mode.  
     
     
         5 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 4 , 
 wherein said preset mode includes entering wheel profile data and selecting a first correction plane; and    wherein said calculating said weight correction utilizes said wheel profile data and said first correction plane.    
     
     
         6 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 5 , wherein said wheel profile data includes a standard wheel offset, a wheel diameter, and a wheel width measurement.  
     
     
         7 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 5 , wherein said selecting a first correction plane comprises: 
 entering a selection choice using a selection button; and    indicating said selection choice with a location indicator.    
     
     
         8 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 4 , wherein said measured mode comprises: 
 entering wheel profile data;    selecting a first correction plane; and    measuring the position of said first correction plane.    
     
     
         9 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 8 , wherein entering said wheel profile data comprises: 
 recording a standard wheel offset;    recording a wheel diameter; and    selectively recording a wheel width measurement when required.    
     
     
         10 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 9 , wherein said measuring the position of said first correction plane, comprises: 
 placing a positioning arm against said plane;    determining a position of said plane utilizing said arm; and    notifying said operator of said position.    
     
     
         11 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 10 , wherein said notifying said operator of said position includes sounding an audible notice.  
     
     
         12 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 10 , wherein said notifying said operator of said position includes visually displaying said plane information.  
     
     
         13 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 12 , wherein said plane information is selected from a group including a first information choice and a second information choice, said first information choice including AIN, DIN, AOUT, and DOUT, and said second information choice including A, W, and D.  
     
     
         14 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 2 , wherein said balancing mode is selected from a group including a dynamic mode and a static mode.  
     
     
         15 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 14 , wherein said dynamic mode comprises: 
 calculating separate corrective weight measurements for multiple planes of said wheel.    
     
     
         16 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 15 , wherein said multiple planes includes an inner plane and outer plane.  
     
     
         17 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 15 , wherein said calculating takes a single spin.  
     
     
         18 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 14 , wherein said static mode comprises: 
 calculating a single corrective weight requirement for placement at a point as    close to the centerline of the wheel as possible.    
     
     
         19 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 implementing said dynamic mode automatically when performing an alloy balancing with weight locations other than dynamic default planes.    
     
     
         20 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 selecting an alternative correction plane; and    calculating corrective weight measurements for the alternative correction plane.    
     
     
         21 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 18 , wherein said selecting lo an alternative correction plane includes: 
 entering an alternative selection choice using a selection button; and    indicating said alternative selection choice with a location indicator.    
     
     
         22 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 selecting multiple correction planes; and    calculating corrective weight measurements for said multiple correction planes.    
     
     
         23 . The method for balancing a wheel of  claim 18 , wherein said selecting multiple correction planes, comprises: 
 entering an multiple selection choice using a selection button; and    indicating said multiple selection choice with a location indicator.    
     
     
         24 . An apparatus for selection of a correction plane for balancing a wheel, comprising: 
 an operator interface pod including a front panel, wherein said front panel includes a mode button, a keypad, a plane selection button, a plane location indicator, and a display screen; connected to    a main processor board including processor memory.    
     
     
         25 . An operator interface pod for an apparatus for selection of a correction plane for placement of weight to balance a wheel, comprising: 
 a means for selecting a correction plane for placement of said weight;    a display for indicating said correction plane, a magnitude of said weight, and an angular position of said wheel for attachment of said weight.    
     
     
         26 . The operator interface pod of  claim 25 , wherein said means for selecting a correction plane includes a graphic representation of a wheel rim assembly.  
     
     
         27 . The operator interface pod of  claim 26 , wherein said graphic representation of a wheel rim assembly presents a spatial relationship between the correction plane selection and the correction plane location on said wheel.  
     
     
         28 . The operator interface pod of  claim 25 , wherein said means for selecting a correction plane includes a correction plane indicator with a graphic representation of said correction plane.  
     
     
         29 . The operator interface pod of  claim 25 , wherein said correction plane indicator includes an illuminated representation of a correction plane  
     
     
         30 . The operator interface pod of  claim 25 , wherein said means for selecting a correction plane include touch controls.  
     
     
         31 . The operator interface pod of  claim 25 , wherein said means for selecting a correction plane includes a correction plane selection button.  
     
     
         32 . The operator interface pod of  claim 25 , wherein said display includes an interactive display screen, wherein said interactive display screen provides visual prompts to an operator.  
     
     
         33 . The operator interface pod of  claim 32 , wherein said interactive display screen includes a visual information display.  
     
     
         34 . The operator interface pod of  claim 32 , wherein said interactive display screen includes soft keys.  
     
     
         35 . The operator interface pod of  claim 32 , wherein said interactive display screen includes control buttons with associated prompts displayed on said interactive display screen.  
     
     
         36 . The operator interface pod of  claim 35 , wherein said control buttons are functionally programmable.  
     
     
         37 . The operator interface pod of  claim 32 , wherein said interactive display screen includes a graphic liquid crystal display.  
     
     
         38 . The operator interface pod of  claim 25 , wherein said display also indicates a mode selected from a mode group including a dynamic mode, a static mode, a measured mode, and a preset mode.  
     
     
         39 . The operator interface pod of  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 operator interface controls.    
     
     
         40 . The operator interface pod of  claim 39 , wherein said operator interface controls include a key pad.  
     
     
         41 . The operator interface pod of  claim 40 , wherein said operator interface controls include a manual start switch.  
     
     
         42 . An operator interface panel for a wheel balancing apparatus for selection of a correction plane for placement of weight to balance a wheel by an operator, comprising: 
 a means for selecting a correction plane for placement of said weight on said wheel including a graphic representation of correction planes corresponding to a wheel rim; and    an interactive display screen for information exchange between said operator and said apparatus.    
     
     
         43 . The operator interface panel of  claim 42 , wherein said means for selecting a correction plane includes graphically-positioned, illuminated, touch activated selection switch for selecting said correction plane.  
     
     
         44 . The operator interface panel of  claim 42 , wherein said interactive display screen includes a display area and an associated programmable switch, wherein said programmable switch may be utilized to perform different functions in association with information displayed on said display screen.  
     
     
         45 . A wheel balancing apparatus interface system for selection of a correction plane for placement of weight to balance a wheel, comprising: 
 touch-control correction-plane selection switches for selecting said correction plane for placement of said weight;    illuminated graphic plane position indicators associated with said selection switches, wherein the location of said plane position indicators represent a spatial relationship between said correction plane and the location of said correction plane on said wheel;    an interactive display screen with a visual information display area constructed from a graphic liquid crystal display, wherein said interactive display screen provides visual prompts to an operator and displays a magnitude of said weight and an angular position of said wheel for attachment of said weight;    functionally programmable control buttons located in proximity to said interactive display screen allowing interactive use of said control buttons with associated prompts displayed on said interactive display screen;    a mode display for selecting a mode from a mode group including a dynamic mode, a static mode, a measured mode, and a preset mode;    a numeric keypad for entering information constructed from soft keys;    an operator selection button; and    a manual start switch.    
     
     
         46 . A machine for balancing of motor vehicle wheels by positioning weight on a wheel in an angular position within a correction plane, comprising: 
 a shaft for mounting said wheel;    a drive motor operatively connected to said shaft;    a processing control system operatively connected to said drive motor; and    an operator interface operative connected to said processing control system, wherein said interface includes    a correction-plane selection switch for selecting said correction plane for placement of said weight; and    a graphic plane position indicator associated with said selection switch, wherein the location of said plane position indicator represents a spatial relationship of a location of said correction plane and said wheel.    
     
     
         47 . The machine for balancing of motor vehicle wheels of  claim 46 , further comprising: 
 a graphic angular position display indicating an angular attachment location for attachment of said weight to said wheel.    
     
     
         48 . The machine for balancing of motor vehicle wheels of  claim 46 , further comprising: 
 an interactive display screen operatively connected to said processing control system, wherein said interactive display screen includes a visual information display area constructed from a graphic liquid crystal display, and said interactive display screen provides visual prompts to an operator including a displays of a magnitude of said weight and an angular position of said wheel for attachment of said weight    
     
     
         49 . The machine for balancing of motor vehicle wheels of  claim 48 , further comprising: 
 functionally programmable control buttons located in proximity to said interactive display screen allowing interactive use of said control buttons with associated prompts displayed on said interactive display screen.    
     
     
         50 . A machine for balancing of motor vehicle wheels by positioning weight on a wheel in an angular position within a correction plane, comprising: 
 a shaft for mounting said wheel;    a drive motor operatively connected to said shaft;    a processing control system operatively connected to said drive motor;    an interactive display screen operative connected to said processing control system, wherein said interactive display screen includes a visual information display area constructed from a graphic liquid crystal display, and said interactive display screen provides visual prompts to an operator including a displays of a magnitude of said weight and an angular position of said wheel for attachment of said weight.    
     
     
         51 . The machine of  claim 50 , further comprising: 
 functionally programmable control buttons located in proximity to said interactive display screen allowing interactive use of said control buttons with associated prompts displayed on said interactive display screen.