Load balancing system

• US 6,267,450 B1
• Filed: 06/29/1999
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Christopher L. Gamble
• Original Assignee: Christopher L. Gamble
• Inventors: Gamble, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LONG B
• Application Number:
  US09/342,886
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 301/5.21, 301/5.22, 301/63.1, 745/73.R, 745/73.F, 152/DIG.20
• US Class Current: 301/5.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 21/00 Rims non-metallic B60B5/00; of high resiliency B60B9/00; capable of carrying more than one tyre B60B11/04; multiple rims on a single wheel body B60B11/06; of multi-part type B60B25/00; metal tyres B60C
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/36 operating automatically , i.e. where, for a given amount of unbalance, there is movement of masses until balance is achieved damping vibrations of washing machines by displacing, supplying or ejecting a material, e.g. liquid, into or from counterbalancing pockets D06F37/245

Abstract

A load balancing system for rotating members such as vehicle wheels and engine flywheels. An annular groove or recess in the wheel or flywheel receives a length of flexible tubing joined to form a continuous annular ring. The ends of the tube are secured by a sleeve. The tube is partially filled with a balancing fluid mass such as a mercury or small metal balls in a viscous fluid such as silicon. To protect the tube, a sealant is injected into the groove or recess.

Claims

1. A method of balancing a generally circular rotating member comprising:

(a) providing an annular recess in said rotating member concentric about the axis of rotation;

(b) providing a length of flexible tubing having passageway;

(c) partially filling said passageway with a fluid mass that will shift therein to compensate for imbalance and vibration;

(d) applying a sleeve over the abutting ends of said tubing and shrink fitting a sleeve onto the abutting ends to form a continuous ring having a generally circular passageway containing the fluid mass; and

(e) placing said ring in said recess and applying a protective material over said ring in said recess.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said member is a flywheel.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said member is a vehicle wheel and said wheel is formed having a flange section defining said recess.

4. A balancing member for balancing a generally circular rotatable member having a recess therein concentric about the axis of rotation, said member comprising:

(a) a flexible tubing section having ends formed into a continuous ring defining an internal passageway and configured to seat in said recess the ends of said tubing abutting and secured by a shrink fitted sleeve and reinforced by a substantially rigid tubular member in said passageway at said abutting ends;

(b) a fluid mass in said passageway shiftable in response to motion to counter imbalance and vibration; and

(c) a protective material overlying said tube in said recess.

5. The balancing member of claim 4 wherein said fluid mass is mercury.

6. The balancing member of claim 4 wherein said fluid includes small metal beads.

7. The balancing member of claim 4 wherein said tubing section is formed from a section of tubing having opposite ends connected by a sleeve.

8. The balancing member of claim 4 wherein said rotatable member is a flywheel and said recess is a groove machined therein.

9. The balancing member of claim 4 wherein said rotatable member is a vehicle wheel formed of metal having a flange defining said recess and wherein said protective material is a sealant injected into said recess.

10. A balancing member for rotating a shaft comprising:

(a) a coupling having a body engageable about said shaft;

(b) a generally circular flange extending from said body defining an annular recess;

(c) a flexible tubing section having opposite ends formed into a continuous ring defining an internal passageway seated in said annular recess the ends of said section abutting and joined by a shrink fitted sleeve;

(d) a fluid mass in said passageway shiftable in response to motor to counter imbalance and vibration.

11. A balancing member for a vehicle wheel having a bolt circle, said member comprising:

(a) a generally circular plate having a bolt circle matching the bolt circle of said wheel and having an annular channel adjacent the periphery thereof;

(b) a flexible tubing section having opposite ends and formed into a continuous ring defining an internal passageway and seated in said channel the ends of said section abutting and joined by a shrink fitted sleeve; and

(c) a fluid mass in said passageway shiftable in reasons to motion to counter imbalance and vibration.