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Apparatus and method of introducing a free-flowing balancing material within a tire

  • US 6,019,145 A
  • Filed: 10/31/1997
  • Issued: 02/01/2000
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for introducing a free-flowing balancing material into a tire through a tire valve stem comprising:

  • (a) a container for confining a predefined amount of free-flowing balancing material;

    said container having means for introducing the free-flowing balancing material into the container, and an opening through which the free-flowing balancing material is drawn when subjected to pressurized air currents;

    (b) a source of pressurized air;

    (c) a flow path for pressurized air extending from said source of pressurized air to an air inlet, from said air inlet to a mixing chamber in communication with said container through said opening, and from the mixing chamber directly to an air outlet;

    said flow path having a pressure regulator therein;

    (d) a venturi nozzle within said mixing chamber to accelerate the air flow and lower the air pressure within the mixing chamber to draw the free-flowing balancing material from the container into the mixing chamber and directly to the air outlet; and

    (e) means for introducing the mixture of free-flowing balancing material and pressurized air from said air outlet and introducing same into a tire through the associated tire valve stem;

    the volume of said container sufficient to contain an amount of free-flowing balancing material sufficient to effect dynamic balancing of a tire and associated wheel assembly.

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