Balancing ring

• US 5,466,049 A
• Filed: 01/27/1992
• Issued: 11/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Arlyn Harmsen
• Original Assignee: Arlyn Harmsen
• Inventors: Harmsen, Arlyn
• Primary Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D.
• Application Number:
  US07/826,103
• Time in Patent Office: 1,387 Days
• Field of Search: 301/5 B, 301/5 BA, 74/573 R, 74/573 F
• US Class Current: 301/5.22
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/366 using fluid or powder means, i.e. non-discrete material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2122 with fluid balancing means

Abstract

A balancing ring automatically balances an unbalanced rotating object without adding or removing weight to the object. The balancing ring comprises an airtight annular chamber that is partially filled with a high viscosity balancing material. The annular chamber is preferably created as an enclosed chamber by casting the object using the lost foam process. Alternately, the annular chamber may be a groove formed in the object and sealed with a cover, or it may comprise a tube formed into a circular hoop and fastened to the object. In any case, when the object is rotated, the balancing material redistributes itself inside the annular chamber in a manner that automatically compensates for the imbalance of the object. The balancing material can be introduced into the annular chamber at the manufacture of the balancing ring. Alternately, a port can be used to provide access to the annular chamber for enabling introduction of the balancing material subsequent to manufacture.

Claims

1. A balancing ring for balancing an imbalanced object that is rotatable about an axis of rotation comprising:

a. an annular chamber formed in the object generally concentric with the axis of rotation thereof;

b. a predetermined amount of a selected gel material placed in the annular chamber, the material automatically distributing itself within the annular chamber to a location that balances the object when the object is rotated; and

c. hardener means for permanently maintaining the gel material at the location that balances the object.

2. A method of balancing an unbalanced object that rotates about an axis of rotation comprising the steps of:

a. forming an annular chamber in the object generally concentric with the axis of rotation;

b. introducing a predetermined quantity of a selected gel balancing material into the annular chamber;

c. introducing a predetermined quantity of a hardening agent with the balancing material into the annular chamber;

d. rotating the object and redistributing the balancing material within the annular chamber to compensate the imbalance of the object; and

e. setting the hardening agent to permanently maintain the redistributed balancing material within the annular chamber of the compensated object.

3. A balancing ring for balancing an imbalanced object that is rotatable about an axis of rotation comprising:

a. an annular chamber formed in the object generally concentric with the axis of rotation thereof; and

b. a predetermined amount of a selected gel material placed in the annular chamber, the chamber being empty except for the gel material therein, the material automatically distributing itself within the annular chamber to a location that balances the object when the object is rotated.

4. Balanced apparatus rotating about an axis of rotation comprising:

a. an object that is imbalanced rotationally about the axis of rotation, the object defining a generally circular airtight annular chamber generally concentric with the axis of rotation;

b. balancing means introduced into the annular chamber for automatically distributing itself within the annular chamber when the object is rotated to compensate for the imbalance of the object; and

c. hardener means introduced into the annular chamber for permanently maintaining the distributed balancing means at a location within the annular chamber that compensates for the imbalance of the object,

so that the object and the balancing means rotate together in a balanced condition.

5. A method of balancing an unbalanced object that rotates about an axis of rotation comprising the steps of:

a. forming an annular chamber in the object generally concentric with the axis of rotation;

b. introducing a predetermined quantity of only a selected gel balancing material into the annular chamber; and

c. rotating the object and redistributing the balancing material within the annular chamber to compensate the imbalance of the object.