Tire balancing

• US 5,728,243 A
• Filed: 05/31/1996
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael Heffernan, Russel J. Freeman
• Original Assignee: Michael Heffernan, Russel J. Freeman
• Inventors: Heffernan, Michael, Freeman, Russel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Knable, Geoffrey L.
• Application Number:
  US08/655,964
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 152/154.1, 152/450, 152/504, 152/521, 156/75
• US Class Current: 156/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/003 Balancing means attached to the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/366 using fluid or powder means, i.e. non-discrete material
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/36 by adjusting position of masses built-in the body to be tested
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/365 using balancing liquid

Abstract

A method and composition of matter for balancing tire and rim assemblies of vehicles is disclosed wherein the composition of matter has rounded balancing elements of different sizes to line the interior of a tire casing and to move over the lining to offset points of imbalance.

Claims

1. A method for balancing a tire rim assembly comprising the steps of,

providing a tire rim assembly having a hollow tire casing surrounding a space about the rim, said space to be filled and pressurized with air;

pouring a mixture into the interior of the tire casing, said mixture comprising a first weight portion of first beads of atomized metallic micro-spheres having a first density and a first size and a second weight portion of second beads of glass having a second density and second size wherein said first weight portion is less than said second weight portion, said first density is greater than said second density and said first size is smaller than said second size; and

rotating the tire rim assembly to distribute the material within the tire casing to offset forces of imbalance.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the first portion is in a range of 10% to 30% by weight, the second portion is in a range of 60% to 80% by weight and where the mixture includes a third portion in the range of 5% to 15% by weight of a mixture of vermiculite having a specific gravity in the range of 2-3 and a mesh size in the range of 20-325.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the first portion is in a range of 10% to 30% by weight, the second portion in a range of 60% to 80% by weight and where the mixture includes a third portion in the range of 5% to 15% by weight of the mixture of vermiculite having a specific gravity in the range of 2-3 and a mesh size in the range of 20-325 and a fourth portion in the range of 1% to 5% by weight of the mixture of silica gel of a mesh size in the range of 20-40.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the tire casing is a track tire where the atomized metallic micro-spheres are in the range from 15% to 20% by weight of the mixture, the glass beads are in the range of 65% to 75% of the mixture, and where the mixture also includes vermiculite in the range of 7% to 12% by weight of the mixture and silica gel in the range of 2% to 4% by weight of the mixture.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the tire casing is a track tire where the atomized metallic micro-spheres comprise 17% by weight and are composed of metal selected from the group consisting of brass, bronze and zinc, the glass beads comprise 70% by weight of lead-free soda lime glass, and further characterized in that the mixture contains 10% by weight of vermiculite and 3% by weight of silica gel.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the tire casing is an automobile tire and the atomized metallic micro-spheres are in the range of 20% to 30% of the mixture by weight, the glass beads are in the range of 60% to 70% by weight and the mixture also contains vermiculite in the range of 5% to 12% by weight and silica gel in the range of 1% to 3% by weight.

7. The method of claim 1 in which the tire casing is an automobile tire and the atomized metallic micro-spheres comprise 24% by weight and are composed of metal selected from the group consisting of brass, bronze and zinc, the glass beads comprise 65% by weight of lead-free soda lime glass and further characterized in that the mixture contains 9% by weight vermiculite and 2% by weight silica gel.

8. A method for balancing a tire rim assembly comprising the steps of,

providing a tire rim assembly having a hollow tire casing surrounding a space about the rim, said space to be filled and pressurized with air;

pouring a mixture into the interior of the tire casing, said mixture comprising a first portion in a range of 15% to 30% by weight of the mixture of first beads of atomized metallic micro-spheres having a specific gravity in the range of 5-9 and a mesh size in the range of 80-325; and

a second portion in a range of 70% to 85% by weight of the mixture of second beads of glass having a specific gravity of 2-3 and a mesh size in the range of 20-40; and

rotating the tire rim assembly to distribute the material within the tire casing to offset forces of imbalance.