Tyre balancing compositions
First Claim
1. A composition for balancing tires that comprises a visco-plastic gel and solid bodies made from a material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, and glass having an apparent specific gravity in the range of 700-1000 kg/m3, an average smallest dimension of 3 mm and an average ratio between their smallest and largest dimension of α
- ≦
2, wherein the visco-plastic gel has a storage modulus (G′
) between 1000 Pa and 25000 Pa at 22°
C., a loss modulus (G″
) smaller than the storage modulus, and a critical yield stress above 3 Pa at 22°
C. and the visco-elastic gel comprises;
(a) 80 to 95% by weight of a substance or mixture of substances that are selected from the group consisting of(i) polybutene oil having a maximum specific gravity of 900 kg/m3 and a pour point (ASTM D97) of less than +2°
C.,(ii) paraffinic or naphthenic oils having a maximum specific gravity of 900 kg/m3 and a pour point (ASTM D97) of less than +2°
C.,(iii) polypropylene glycol alkyl ethers having a pour point (ASTM D97) of less than +2°
C.,(iv) polypropylene oils having a pour point (ASTM D97) of less than +2°
C.,(v) liquid polyethylene glycol,(vi) liquid polypropylene glycol, and(vii) ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers; and
(b) 4 to 15% by weight of fumed silica having a BET surface in the range of 50 to 400 m2/g.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to tire balancing compositions having improved balancing properties comprise a visco-plastic gel and solid bodies having an average smallest dimension in the range of 0.5-5 mm; preferably 1-4 mm, more preferably around 3 mm. When applied in a layer to the inside of a motor vehicle tire, the compositions act by allowing the solid bodies move through the gel and to concentrate in areas to counteract imbalances. The solid bodies preferably have an average ratio α between their smallest and their largest dimension of α≦2, more preferably α≦1.5, especially around 1. The visco-plastic gel preferably has a storage modulus (G′) between 1000 Pa and 25000 Pa at 22° C., a loss modulus (G″) smaller than the storage modulus, and a critical yield stress above 3 Pa at 22° C. The bodies may be shaped as prolate or oblate ellipsoids, cylinders, rectangular paralleipipeds, or spheres, or mixtures of such bodies; they may have an apparent specific gravity in the range of 500-3000 kg/m3, preferably 600-2000 kg/m3, in particular 700-1000 kg/m3, especially 800-900 kg/m3; they may be made from polyolefins, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, rubber or glass. The weight ratio between the solid bodies and the gel is from 10:1 to 1:10, preferably from 5:1 to 1:5, in particular from 2:1 to 3:1, such as from 1:1 to 1:2. The invention further concerns a tire balancing kit and a method for balancing automobile wheel assemblies.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A composition for balancing tires that comprises a visco-plastic gel and solid bodies made from a material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, and glass having an apparent specific gravity in the range of 700-1000 kg/m3, an average smallest dimension of 3 mm and an average ratio between their smallest and largest dimension of α
- ≦
2, wherein the visco-plastic gel has a storage modulus (G′
) between 1000 Pa and 25000 Pa at 22°
C., a loss modulus (G″
) smaller than the storage modulus, and a critical yield stress above 3 Pa at 22°
C. and the visco-elastic gel comprises;(a) 80 to 95% by weight of a substance or mixture of substances that are selected from the group consisting of (i) polybutene oil having a maximum specific gravity of 900 kg/m3 and a pour point (ASTM D97) of less than +2°
C.,(ii) paraffinic or naphthenic oils having a maximum specific gravity of 900 kg/m3 and a pour point (ASTM D97) of less than +2°
C.,(iii) polypropylene glycol alkyl ethers having a pour point (ASTM D97) of less than +2°
C.,(iv) polypropylene oils having a pour point (ASTM D97) of less than +2°
C.,(v) liquid polyethylene glycol, (vi) liquid polypropylene glycol, and (vii) ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers; and (b) 4 to 15% by weight of fumed silica having a BET surface in the range of 50 to 400 m2/g. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- ≦
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17. A kit for balancing tires comprising
I) a first container containing a visco-plastic gel, wherein the visco-plastic gel has a storage modulus (G′ - ) between 1000 Pa and 25000 Pa at 22°
C., a loss modulus (G″
) smaller than the storage modulus, and a critical yield stress above 3 Pa at 22°
C., and the viscoelastic gel comprisesa) 80 to 95% by weight of a substance or mixture of substances that are selected from the group consisting of i) polybutene oil having a maximum specific gravity of 900 kg/m3 and a pour point (ASTM D97) of less than +2°
C.,ii) paraffinic or naphthenic oils having a maximum specific gravity of 900 kg/m3 and a pour point (ASTM D97) of less than +2°
C.,iii) polypropylene glycol alkyl ethers having a pour point (ASTM D97) of less than +2°
C.,iv) polypropylene oils having a pour point (ASTM D97) of less than +2°
C.,v) liquid polyethylene glycol, vi) liquid polypropylene glycol, and vii) ethylene oxide/propylene oxide copolymers; and b) 4 to 15% by weight of fumed silica having a BET surface in the range of 50 to 400 m2/g, and II) a second container containing solid bodies made from a material selected from the group consisting of polyolefins, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, and glass having an apparent specific gravity in the range of 700-1000 kg/m3, an average smallest dimension of 3 mm and an average ratio between their smallest and their largest dimension of α
≦
2. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
- ) between 1000 Pa and 25000 Pa at 22°
Specification