Apparatus for straightening a damaged or deformed wheel

Abstract

A wheel straightener for repairing a damaged or deformed wheel. The wheel straightener includes a shaft mounted to a cabinet. The shaft includes a mounting plate affixed to an extended end of the shaft. The wheel is seated on the shaft and held in a centered location by a centering cone. The centering cone is seated within a bore of the wheel and held in place by a nut threaded onto the shaft. A hydraulic cylinder/piston assembly is also mounted to the shaft. Force is applied from the shaft, outwardly toward a rim of the wheel through the hydraulic cylinder/piston assembly. The wheel straightener also incorporates a dial indicator for determining the run-out variances of a damaged wheel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for repairing a wheel, said apparatus comprising: 
 a shaft affixed to a fixed object;    a mounting plate affixed to a portion of said shaft;    a centering cone for centering the wheel upon said shaft against said mounting plate;    a force applicator providing a force emanating outwardly from said shaft toward a selected area of the wheel; and    a measuring mechanism for determining a run-out of the wheel;    whereby the wheel is positioned on said shaft and centered by said centering cone and force is applied at the selected area to return the wheel to an approximately original form, said measuring mechanism determining the variance of the run-out of the wheel.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus for repairing a wheel of  claim 1  wherein the fixed object is a cabinet.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus for repairing a wheel of  claim 1  wherein said force applicator is powered by a hydraulic system.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus for repairing a wheel of  claim 3  wherein the hydraulic system includes a hydraulic cylinder/piston assembly.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus for repairing a wheel of  claim 1  wherein said force applicator is mounted on said shaft.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus for repairing a wheel of  claim 1  wherein said force applicator is mounted on said shaft and powered by a hydraulic system.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus for repairing a wheel of  claim 1  wherein said force applicator includes an actuating mechanism for metering a force generated by said force applicator.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus for repairing a wheel of  claim 1  wherein said centering cone is held against the wheel by a fastener.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus for repairing a wheel of  claim 1  wherein said force applicator includes a removable wheel die for applying force directly to the wheel, said removable wheel die being sized to fit against the wheel.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus for repairing a wheel of  claim 1  further comprising an auxiliary hydraulic ram for applying a generally vertical force to a portion of the wheel.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus for repairing a wheel of  claim 1  wherein said measuring mechanism is a dial indicator.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for repairing a wheel of  claim 11  wherein the dial indicator measures a variance from norm of run-out for an undamaged wheel.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus for repairing a wheel of  claim 1  whereby localized heat is applied to an area of the wheel being repaired prior to applying force from said force applicator.  
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for repairing a wheel, said apparatus comprising: 
 a shaft affixed to a fixed object;    a mounting plate affixed to a portion of said shaft;    means for centering the wheel upon said shaft against said mounting plate;    means for generating a force on the wheel, said force emanating outwardly from said shaft toward a selected area of the wheel; and    means for measuring a run-out of the wheel;    whereby the wheel is positioned on said shaft and centered by said centering means and force is applied at the selected area to return the wheel to an approximately original form, said measuring means determining the variance of the run-out of the wheel from a nominally determined run-out of an undamaged wheel.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus for repairing a wheel of  claim 14  wherein said force generating means is a hydraulically powered ram assembly.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus for repairing a wheel of  claim 14  wherein the hydraulically powered ram assembly includes a removable wheel die sized to fit an undamaged wheel.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus for repairing a wheel of  claim 14  wherein the measuring means is a dial indicator.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus for repairing a wheel of  claim 14  wherein the shaft is affixed to the fixed object by a plurality of lock rings.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus for repairing a wheel of  claim 14  further comprising means for generating a generally vertical force upon the wheel, said vertical force being used to repair lateral damage to the wheel.  
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for repairing a wheel, said apparatus comprising: 
 a shaft affixed to a fixed object;    a mounting plate affixed to a portion of said shaft;    a centering cone for centering the wheel upon said shaft against said mounting plate;    a fastener for holding said centering cone against the wheel;    a force applicator providing a force emanating outwardly from said shaft toward a selected area of the wheel, said force applicator being hydraulically powered and having a removable wheel die sized to an undamaged wheel; and    a dial indicator for determined a run-out of the wheel;    whereby the wheel is positioned on said shaft and centered by said centering cone and force is applied at the selected area to return the wheel to an approximately original form, said dial indicator determining the variance of the run-out of the wheel.