Composition for equalizing radial and lateral force variations at the tire/road footprint of a pneumatic tire

• US 20040224153A1
• Filed: 04/12/2002
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert D. Fogal Sr
• Original Assignee: Robert D. Fogal Sr
• Inventors: Fogal, Robert D. Sr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,022,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 428/402
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/00 Tyre parts or constructions not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 19/003 Balancing means attached to the tyre
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2982 Particulate matter [e.g., sphere, flake, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2993 Silicic or refractory material containing [e.g., tungsten oxide, glass, cement, etc.]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2998 including synthetic resin or polymer

Abstract

A composition or particle mixture (20) for equalizing radial and lateral forces at the tire/road footprint of a pneumatic tire (11) due to tire/wheel assembly imbalance, non-uniformity of the tire, temporary disturbances in the road surface, or other vibrational effects of the unsprung mass of a vehicle whereby the particle mixture (20) is inserted into the interior of the tire (11). The composition is a dry solid particle mixture (20) wherein the particles are freely flowable and non-tacky at elevated tire temperatures, the particle mixture (20) is essentially devoid of liquid material, and the particle mixture (20) comprises two or more sets of particles wherein each set consists essentially of particles of a predetermined size or size range. The particle mixture (20) exhibits a multimodal particle size distribution.

Claims

1. A dry solid particle mixture for equalizing radial and lateral force variations at the tire/road footprint of a pneumatic tire, wherein

(a) the particles forming said particle mixture are freely flowable and non-tacky at elevated temperatures;

(b) said particle mixture is essentially devoid of liquid material;

(c) said particle mixture comprises a plurality of sets of particles, wherein each set consists essentially of particles of a predetermined size or size range; and

(d) said particle mixture exhibits a multimodal particle size distribution.

2. A particle mixture according to claim 1, wherein said particle mixture comprises spheres of a first diameter and spheres of a second diameter.

3. A particle mixture according to claim 1, wherein said particle mixture comprises a first set of particles having a first size range and a second set of particles having a second size range, the particle size distribution of said particle mixture being characterized by at least two peaks.

4. A particle mixture according to claim 1, wherein said particle mixture comprises a first set of particles having a first size range, a second set of particles having a second size range, a third set of particles having a third size range, wherein the particle sizes ranges do not overlap.

5. A particle mixture according to claim 1, wherein said particles forming said particle mixture have a specific gravity greater than 1.

6. A particle mixture according to claim 1, wherein said particles forming said particle mixture have sufficient hardness to prevent them from degrading while tumbling in said tire.

7. The particle mixture according to claim 1, wherein said mixture comprises polymeric resin particles.

8. The particle mixture according to claim 7, wherein said particle mixture includes substantially 70% by weight of said polymeric resin and 28% by weight of a cellulose material.

9. The particle mixture according to claim 7, wherein said polymeric resin is a thermoset material.

10. The particle mixture according to claim 7, wherein said polymeric resin is a thermoplastic material.

11. The particle mixture according to claim 1, wherein one set of particles is made of fiberglass.

12. A particle mixture according to claim 11, wherein said fiberglass particles are in a size range substantially between 130-200 U.S. screen size.

13. A particle mixture according to claim 1, further comprising a lubricant material.

14. A particle mixture according to claim 13, wherein said lubricant particles are in a size range substantially between 200-325 U.S. screen size.

15. A particle mixture according to claim 13, wherein said particle mixture comprises 15-30% lubricant material by weight.

16. A particle mixture according to claim 13, wherein said lubricant is talc.

17. A particle mixture according to claim 13, wherein said lubricant is corn starch.

18. A particle mixture according to claim 13, wherein said lubricant is an anti-agglomeration agent.

19. A particle mixture according to claim 1, wherein the mixture exhibits a multimodal particle size characteristic when plotted on a particle weight percentage versus particle size diameter basis.

20. A particle mixture according to claim 1, wherein said particles are in a size range substantially between 60-270 U.S. screen size.