Method and apparatus for utilizing wheel profile data during wheel assembly service procedures

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10013754-B2
Application number	US-201414455564-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2014
Priority date	Aug 9, 2013
Publication date	Jul 3, 2018
Grant date	Jul 3, 2018

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for utilizing vehicle wheel assembly surface profile data acquired by a vehicle wheel service system from a non-contact imaging sensor and a projected pattern of optically distinct elements on the vehicle wheel assembly surface to identify one or more features of the vehicle wheel assembly, to receive operator input, and to facilitate the placement of imbalance correction weights onto the vehicle wheel assembly surface.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A service system for a vehicle wheel assembly having an inner surface and an outer surface, the service system comprising:
a spindle shaft configured to receive the vehicle wheel assembly for rotation about an axis;
at least one source of optical energy configured to project at least one pattern of light defining a plurality of non-continuous discrete optically detectable elements towards the inner surface or the outer surface of the wheel assembly;
an imaging sensor configured to acquire a plurality of images of the plurality of non-continuous discrete optically detectable elements projected on the wheel assembly surface, at least two of said images acquired at different rotational orientations of the wheel assembly as the vehicle wheel assembly is rotated about said axis; and
a processor configured with program instructions to:
a) determine spatial positions for at least two of the plurality of non-continuous discrete optically detectable elements on the wheel assembly surface from at least two of the acquired images;
b) determine a plurality of axial profiles associated with the wheel assembly surface based on the determined spatial positions from the acquired images;
c) determine a representative axial profile associated with at least a portion of the wheel assembly based on the determined plurality of axial profiles; and
d) identify at least one observed feature of the wheel assembly using contour elements present in at least one determined axial profile representing a displacement of the wheel assembly surface from said representative profile.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said feature is at least one of an index marker, an installed valve stem, a wheel spoke, a valve stem receiving bore, a bolt hole, surface-adhered material, or wheel rim surface damage.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said feature is an installed imbalance correction weight; and
wherein said processor is further configured with program instructions to identify from determined plurality of axial profiles at least one characteristic of said installed imbalance correction weight, said characteristic selected from a set of characteristics including a placement position on said wheel assembly, a placement orientation on said wheel assembly, spatial dimensions, and a weight style.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said identified observed feature is an observed axial position along said spindle shaft, of a hub face of the vehicle wheel assembly relative to an observed axial position along said spindle shaft, of at least one rim edge of the vehicle wheel assembly;
wherein said processor is further configured with program instructions to identify a reverse axial mounting orientation of said vehicle wheel assembly on said spindle shaft from said identified observed feature; and
wherein an outside hub face of the wheel assembly is disposed axially closer to the balancer than an inside hub face of the wheel assembly.

5. A service system for a vehicle wheel assembly having an inner surface and an outer surface, the service system comprising:
a spindle shaft configured to receive the vehicle wheel assembly for rotation about an axis;
at least one source of optical energy configured to project at least one pattern of light defining a plurality of discrete optically detectable elements towards the inner surface or the outer surface of the wheel assembly;
an imaging sensor configured to acquire a plurality of images of the plurality of discrete optically detectable elements projected on the wheel assembly surface, each image acquired at a different rotational orientation of the wheel assembly as the vehicle wheel assembly is rotated about said axis of rotation of the spindle shaft;
a processor configured with program instructions to:
determine a spatial position of at least two of the plurality of non-continuous discrete optically detectable elements from each of the acquired images;
determine a plurality of profiles associated with the wheel assembly based on the determined spatial positions from each of the acquired images; and
determine, as a characteristic of the wheel assembly, a representation of observed runout present in the wheel assembly surface at a selected rotational position, using contour elements present in the plurality of determined profiles to establish an average profile, and wherein said observed runout is represented by a displacement of the wheel assembly surface at said selected rotational position from said average profile.

6. A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said wheel assembly surface is a circumferential surface of the vehicle wheel assembly selected from a set of circumferential surfaces including an inner rim edge, an outer rim edge, an inner bead seat, an outer bead seat, a tire surface, or an imbalance correction weight placement surface.

7. A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said representation of runout is a representation of an axial runout and/or a radial runout present in the wheel assembly surface.

8. A system in accordance with claim 5 wherein said processor is further configured with program instructions to compare a first determined representation of runout with a second determined representation of runout to identify a change in at least one of a phase and a magnitude there between, said change representative of a change in mounting of the vehicle wheel assembly on the spindle shaft having occurred between said first and second determinations of runout.

9. A method for operating a vehicle wheel service system including a spindle shaft for receiving a vehicle wheel assembly for rotation about an axis, comprising:
projecting, from at least one source of optical energy, at least one pattern of light including a plurality of non-continuous discrete optically detectable elements, towards a spatial region expected to contain a surface of a vehicle wheel assembly mounted to the spindle shaft;
acquiring, with an imaging sensor, a plurality of images of the spatial region, at least two of said images acquired at different rotational orientations of the wheel assembly as the wheel assembly is rotated about said axis;
evaluating at least two of said acquired images, by
identifying at least two of said plurality of non-continuous discrete optically detectable elements within said acquired image;
determining spatial positions for said identified non-continuous discrete optically detectable elements; and
determining a surface profile of the wheel assembly based on the determined spatial positions;

comparing a set of said determined surface profiles of the wheel assembly to detect at least one non-circumferential contour feature on the wheel assembly surface; and
identifying at least one observed feature of the wheel assembly directly from at least one detected non-circumferential contour feature present within the set of determined surface profiles.

10. A method for operating a vehicle wheel service system including a spindle shaft for receiving a vehicle wheel assembly for rotation about an axis, comprising:
projecting, from at least one source of optical energy, at least one pattern of light including a plurality of discrete optically detectable elements, towards a spatial region expected to contain a surface of a vehicle wheel assembly mounted to the spindle shaft;
acquiring, with an imaging sensor, at least one image of the spatial region;
evaluating the acquired image, by
identifying said plurality of discrete optically detectable elements within said acquired image;
determining spatial positions for said identified discrete optically detectable elements; and
determining a surface profile based

Assignees

• Hunter Eng Co

Inventors

• Douglas Michael W
• Reynolds Sean D
• Meyer Gregory F
• Dorrance Daniel R

Classifications

• G01M17/013

  Wheels · CPC title

• G01M11/081

  by using a contact-less detection method, i.e. with a camera · CPC title

• G01B11/2513

  with several lines being projected in more than one direction, e.g. grids, patterns · CPC title

• G01M1/326 Primary

  the body being a vehicle wheel · CPC title

• G06T7/0008 Primary

  checking presence/absence · CPC title