Device for sealing a lubricant reservoir and method for lubricating the internal cavity of a tire

• US 20020117244A1
• Filed: 04/17/2002
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Original Assignee: Michelin Recherche et Technique SA (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: POMPIER, Jean-Pierre
• Granted Patent: US 6,944,948 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 152/157
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 17/06 resilient
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 17/10 Internal lubrication
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 152/10054 Enclosed cushion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49494 Assembling tire to wheel body

Abstract

For a mounted assembly comprising a wheel rim and a safety support disposed against the rim inside the cavity of a tire; method of lubricating the tire cavity and more particularly the interface zone between the support and the tire, which allows lubricant to be dispensed in said zone only when the mounted assembly is in a flat rolling condition, such that the non-instantaneous contact established between the inside surface of the tread and the seal allows the lubrication port to be unblocked. The invention also concerns a lubrication device and a seal enabling said method to be implemented, and a support and a reservoir enabling implementation of the method.

Claims

1. A method of lubricating an interface zone between a safety support and a tire mounted as an assembly comprising the following steps:

a) providing the tire, the safety support and a wheel rim,

b) mounting the tire on the wheel rim having the safety support disposed against the rim and inside a cavity of the tire,

c) providing a lubricant reservoir capable of fluid communication with said interface zone via a lubrication port,

d) providing a quantity of lubricant in said reservoir,

e) closing said reservoir by a removable seal by placing said removable seal against said lubrication port, whereby said port remains closed and the lubricant remains in said reservoir when the mounted assembly is rolling while the tire is inflated,

f) establishing a non-transient contact between said seal and the inside surface of the tire when the mounted assembly is in a flat rolling condition,

g) removing said seal from said reservoir by action of said non-transient contact thereby opening said lubrication port, and

h) dispensing said lubricant into said interface zone through said open lubrication port.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of removing said seal requires a substantially simultaneous condition of a temperature increase in the tire cavity and of a mechanical contact between said seal and the inside portion of the tire.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of placing said removable seal against said lubrication port further comprises the steps of:

a) applying a thermally fusible adhesive having a melting temperature of at least about 100°

Celsius to an adhesion surface located around said port, and

b) bonding said seal to said lubrication port with said thermally fusible adhesive.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of removing said seal further comprises the step of heating said thermally fusible adhesive to a temperature at least equal to about 100°

Celsius.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of placing said removable seal against said lubrication port further comprises the step of:

a) providing a bonding solder having a melting temperature of at least about 100°

Celsius, and

b) soldering said seal to said reservoir with said bonding solder.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of removing said seal further comprises the step of heating said bonding solder to a parting temperature at least equal to about 100°

Celsius.

7. A device for sealing a lubricant reservoir for a mounted assembly, said mounted assembly comprising a wheel rim, a safety support disposed against a rim inside a cavity of a tire, a lubricant reservoir having a lubricating port to provide fluid communication between the inside of said reservoir and the cavity of said tire, said device comprising:

a) an adhesion surface disposed on at least some of the surround of the outer extremity of said port,

b) a seal removably placed against said adhesion surface,

c) a thermally fusible adhesive interposed between said seal and said adhesion surface being provided,

whereby said adhesive retains said seal in contact with said port and closes said port.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the melting temperature of said adhesive is at least equal to about 100°

Celsius.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said adhesion surface protrudes relative to the body of the reservoir.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the contour of said seal substantially matches the contour of the adhesion surface.

11. A safety support mounted in an assembly comprising said support, a wheel rim, and a tire which define a cavity, said assembly being capable of a condition of rolling with the tire inflated, a condition in which the pressure inside the cavity is at least sufficient to avoid other than momentary contact between the inside of the tire tread and the safety support, and capable of a condition of flat rolling, a condition in which the pressure inside the cavity is such that the inside of the tire tread is in substantially prolonged contact with said safety support and having an interface zone therebetween, said support having:

a) a lubricant reservoir for lubricating the cavity of said mounted assembly, and said reservoir further comprising

b) a lubrication port to provide fluid communication between the inside of said reservoir and the cavity of said assembly, and said port being located in said interface zone when said assembly is rolling in said flat condition,

c) an adhesion surface disposed on the radially outward surface of said support and comprising at least part of the surround of the outer end of said port,

d) a seal removably placed against said adhesion surface,

e) a thermally fusible adhesive interposed between said seal and said adhesion surface,

whereby said adhesive retains said seal in contact with said port and closes said port.

12. The safety support of claim 11, wherein the melting temperature of said adhesive is at least equal to about 100°

Celsius.

13. The safety support of claim 11, wherein said adhesion surface protrudes relative to the body of the reservoir.

14. The safety support of claim 11, wherein a contour of the seal substantially matches a contour of the adhesion surface.

15. The safety support of claim 11, wherein a cavity formed in the support serves as a lubricant reservoir.

16. The safety support of claim 11, wherein a ratio of the height of said reservoir to the height of said cavity in said support is less than about 0.8.

17. The safety support of claim 11, wherein a ratio of the height of the reservoir to the height of said cavity in said support is less than about 0.5.

19. The lubricant reservoir of claim 18, wherein the melting temperature of the adhesive is at least equal to about 100°

Celsius.

20. The lubricant reservoir of claim 18, wherein said adhesion surface protrudes relative to said housing of said reservoir.

21. The lubricant reservoir of claim 18, wherein a contour of said seal substantially matches a contour of said adhesion surface.

22. The lubricant reservoir of claim 18, wherein the ratio of a height of said reservoir to a height of a cavity in a safety support is less than about 0.8.

23. The safety support of claim 18, wherein a ratio of the height of said reservoir to the height of a cavity in a safety support is less than about 0.5.

18. A lubricant reservoir for a mounted assembly, said assembly comprising a wheel rim, a safety support and a tire, and said reservoir comprising:

a) a housing capable of accommodating a quantity of lubricant;

b) a port providing fluid communication between the inside of said reservoir and a wheel cavity formed when said reservoir is assembled within said mounted assembly,

c) an adhesion surface disposed on at least part of the surround of the outer end of said port,

d) a seal removably placed against said adhesion surface,

e) a thermally fusible adhesive interposed between said seal and said adhesion surface,

whereby said adhesive retains said seal in contact with said port and closes said port.