Tire balancing

• US 6,129,797 A
• Filed: 12/14/1998
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: M&R Tire Products Inc.
• Original Assignee: M&R Tire Products Inc.
• Inventors: Freeman, Russell J., Heffernan, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Knable, Geoffrey L.
• Application Number:
  US09/211,211
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 156/75, 156/110.1, 152/154.1, 152/450, 152/504, 152/521, 301/5.22, 301/5.21
• US Class Current: 156/75
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/003 Balancing means attached to the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/363 using rolling bodies, e.g. balls free to move in a circumferential direction
• 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 size to line the interior of a tire casing and to move over the lining to offset points of imbalance.

Claims

1. A method for continuous self balancing of a tire rim assembly during rotation comprising, in combination, the steps of,

providing a tire rim assembly having a hollow tire casing surrounding the space about the rim defining an interior space and having a point of imbalance when the interior of the tire is pressurized with air;

adding a balancing media comprising solid spherically shaped particulate material selected from the group consisting of glass, ceramics, alumina, corderite, porcelain and titanates into the interior space of the tire casing before or during pressurization with air, the balancing media having a size of about 20-40 mesh;

rotating the tire rim assembly to distribute the balancing media within the tire casing; and

continuously self-balancing the tire rim assembly by rotating the pressurized tire rim assembly and distributing the balance media within the tire casing so that a thicker portion of the balancing media lies opposite the point of imbalance.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the balancing media further comprises a desiccant to maintain a dry atmosphere within the tire casing pressurized with air.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the balancing media further comprises a partitioning agent reducing friction between the spherical solid particulate material and the tire casing.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the solid particulate material has a density of about 2-5 gr/cm³.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the balancing media is added during pressurization of the tire rim assembly.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the balancing media is added during the assembly of the tire and rim.

7. The method according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4 wherein the solid particulate material comprises glass beads.

8. A system for maintaining a rotating tire rim assembly in balance comprising:

a tire rim assembly having a hollow casing surrounding a space about the rim and having a point of imbalance when said space is pressurized with air; and

a balancing media located in the interior of the tire casing, wherein the balancing media comprises a solid spherically shaped particulate material selected from the group consisting of glass, ceramics, alumina, corderite, porcelain and titanates, the balancing media having a size of about 20-40 mesh so that when the tire rim assembly is rotated the balancing media is distributed within the tire casing so that a thicker portion of the balancing media lies opposite the point of imbalance.

9. The system according to claim 8 wherein the balancing media further comprises a desiccant to maintain a dry atmosphere within the tire casing pressurized with air.

10. The system according to claim 8 wherein the balancing media further comprises a partitioning agent reducing friction between the spherical solid particulate material and the tire casing.

11. The system according to claim 8 wherein the solid particulate material has a density of about 2-5 gr/cm³.

12. The system according to claims 8, 9, 10 or 11 wherein the solid particulate material spherical in shape comprises glass beads.