Wheel balancing device for vehicular wheels

• US 6,719,374 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PEBCO, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dwight David Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Dwight David
• Primary Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D.
• Application Number:
  US10/206,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20030025382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 301/5.21, 301/5.22, 301/53.5, 734/60, 745/73.R, 745/73.F, 152/154.1, 152/381.5, 152/381.6
• US Class Current: 301/5.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 15/28 Wheel-ballasting weights; Their attachment
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/363 using rolling bodies, e.g. balls free to move in a circumferential direction
• 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

Abstract

A wheel balancing device including at least two ballast chambers, each of which defines an interior cavity therein. A movable medium or ballast is contained within each of the interior cavities and is freely movable within the respective ballast chamber. An annular attachment device is provided to secure the ballast chambers to the wheel.

Claims

1. A combination vehicle wheel and balancing device, said combination comprising:

a vehicle wheel defining an axis of rotation and a tire holding outer rim member defining therein a longitudinal groove which opens outwardly and extends circumferentially about said wheel about the axis thereof; and

a balancing arrangement including a plurality of balancing members each defined by a chamber structure secured within said groove of said wheel, each said chamber structure defining an interior cavity which is closed such that said chamber structures do not communicate with one another, each said cavity containing a mass which is freely movable within the respective cavity, said balancing members being the sole members for balancing the wheel, said balancing arrangement further including an elongate and continuous strap which is constricted about and circumferentially surrounds said chamber structures to secure same to said wheel.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said chamber structures surround substantially the entire circumference of said outer rim member.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said chamber structures are provided about said circumference of said wheel in end-to-end relation with one another so as to together define an annular configuration which surrounds said outer rim member.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said outer rim member includes a pair of flanges which are disposed in opposed and spaced-apart relation with one another, and an inner portion which extends transversely between said flanges, wherein inwardly facing surfaces of said flanges and an outwardly facing surface of said inner portion together define said groove.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said vehicle wheel further includes a tire which circumferentially surrounds and is fixed to said outer rim member, said chamber structures being disposed within an interior portion of said tire.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein each said chamber structure defines therein a longitudinally extending and outwardly opening channel, said channels of said chamber structures being aligned in end-to-end relation with one another about the circumference of said wheel, said strap being disposed within the respective channels and being constricted about said chamber structures.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein a rigid plate-like member extends along and is secured to an outer surface of each said chamber structure, said channels being defined in the respective plate-like members.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said chamber structures are molded from a thermoplastic elastomer.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein said balancing members are separate and distinct components positioned circumferentially about said wheel.

10. A wheel-balancing kit for installation on a vehicle wheel having an outer tire-engaging rim defining therein a circumferentially extending and outwardly opening groove, said kit comprising:

a plurality of elongate chamber structures each defining therein a closed cavity containing a freely movable mass, each said chamber structure having an outer wall which defines therein a longitudinally extending channel; and

an elongate and annular strap for securing said chamber structures within the groove of the wheel in an end-to-end manner with one another such that said chamber structures extend circumferentially about the wheel and said strap is engaged within said channels of each of said chamber structures.

11. The wheel-balancing kit of claim 10 wherein said strap is tensioned about said chamber structures to secure same to the wheel.

12. The wheel-balancing kit of claim 11 wherein each said chamber structure is constructed of an elastomeric material and is generally frusto-conical in shape in transverse cross-section for conforming engagement within the groove of the tire-engaging rim.

13. The wheel-balancing kit of claim 12 wherein each said chamber structure mounts thereon a rigid plate-shaped member on said outer wall thereof which defines the respective channel therein.

14. A vehicle wheel comprising:

a rim having an outer peripherally extending surface for mounting a tire thereon, said surface defining therein an inwardly projecting and outwardly opening groove which faces towards an interior portion of the tire when mounted on said rim; and

a balancing assembly including a plurality of separate and elongate chamber structures constructed of an elastomeric material and each defining therein a hollow interior partially filled with a balancing medium, said chamber structures being disposed in an end-to-end manner with one another within said groove so as to substantially peripherally surround said rim, and an annular and continuous strap disposed along outer surfaces of the respective chamber structures in surrounding relation therewith, said strap being tensioned about said chamber structures to secure same to said wheel.

15. The vehicle wheel of claim 14 wherein said hollow interiors of said chamber structures are closed and do not communicate with one another.

16. The vehicle wheel of claim 14 further including a tire engaged with said outer surface of said rim, said balancing assembly being disposed within an interior of said tire.

17. The vehicle wheel of claim 14 wherein each said chamber structure defines therein an outwardly opening recess, said recesses of the respective chamber structures being longitudinally aligned with one another to define a substantially continuous annular recess in which said strap is disposed.

18. A wheel-balancing kit for use on a wheel including a rim defining a circumferentially extending tire-engaging portion, said kit comprising a plurality of chambers for positioning circumferentially about the tire-engaging portion of the wheel, each said chamber defining therein a closed cavity containing a freely movable mass, and a tensioned strap disposed peripherally about said chambers to secure said chambers to the wheel.

19. The wheel-balancing kit of claim 18 wherein said chambers are elongate in shape and are disposed in end-to-end relation with one another about the tire-engaging rim.

20. The wheel-balancing kit of claim 18 wherein said kit includes three of said chambers for positioning circumferentially about the tire-engaging rim and inside a tire mounted thereon.

21. The wheel-balancing kit of claim 18 wherein said chambers are constructed of elastomeric material, and a rigid plate defining an elongate and outwardly opening channel therein is disposed along an outer wall of each said chamber, said channels being longitudinally aligned with one another about the circumference of the wheel and said strap being engaged within the respective channels.