Apparatus and method of introducing a free-flowing balancing material within a tire
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is disclosed for introducing a free-flowing balancing material into a tire through a tire valve stem. The apparatus comprises a container for confining a predefined amount of free-flowing balancing material, and a flow path for pressurized air which extends from the source of the pressurized air to an air inlet, from the air inlet to a mixing chamber in communication with the container through an opening, and from the mixing chamber to an air outlet. The flow path has a pressure regulator therein, a venturi nozzle within the 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 a chuck for introducing the mixture of free-flowing balancing material and pressurized air from the air outlet and into a tire valve stem. The volume of the container is large enough 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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Citations
9 Claims
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1. An apparatus for introducing a free-flowing balancing material into a tire through a tire valve stem comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of introducing a free-flowing balancing material into a tire through a tire valve stem comprising the steps of:
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(a) confining a predetermined amount of free-flowing balancing material within a container having an opening at one end thereof; (b) creating a flow path for directing pressurized air through a filter and drying element and then by the opening of the container and having a venturi located upstream of the opening for creating a region of lower pressure within the flow path in the region of said opening for drawing said free-flowing balancing material out of said container and into said air flow path; and (c) directing said free-flowing balancing material in said air flow path into a tire through an associated tire valve stem. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. An apparatus for introducing a free-flowing balancing material into a tire through a tire valve stem comprising:
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(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 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 (e) an air filter and drying element between the air inlet and the venturi of the mixing chamber, and forming a part of the flow path therebetween, (f) 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. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification