MAURICE J BEDARD
Radio and Television Technicians in Lowell, MA

6050876, Apr 18, 2000

Aug 8, 1997

8/907712

George Ouyang - Lexington MA
Stanley L. Markowitz - Framingham MA
Gary K. Wolfrom - Rockport MA
Maurice J. Bedard - Lowell MA
Lawrence A. Roy - Marlboro MA

Cabot Corporation - Boston MA

B24B 4900

451 5

An automated apparatus for testing a plurality of sample wheels includes a grindstone, a first programmable servo motor coupled to the grindstone, a plurality sample wheels disposed about a circumference of the grindstone, and a second programmable servo motor coupled to each of the plurality of sample wheels. In addition, the automated apparatus also includes a controller that outputs a first control signal to the first programmable servo motor and a second control signal to the second programmable servo motor to provide a variable slip ratio between the grindstone and the plurality of sample wheels. The controller includes a simulator that simulates a plurality of road conditions and varies the plurality of slip ratios to simulate the plurality of road conditions. The automated apparatus also includes a first optical encoder that detects the angular velocity of the grindstone and that outputs a first signal and a plurality of second optical encoders that each detect the angular velocity of a corresponding sample wheel and output a second signal. The controller includes a processor that is responsive to the first output signal and the second output signal that computes, in situ, a free rolling diameter of each of the plurality of sample wheels.