CN1856674A

CN1856674A - Balance weight cartridge with enclosed balance media

Info

Publication number: CN1856674A
Application number: CNA2004800262761A
Authority: CN
Inventors: R·D·老福加尔; R·D·小福加尔
Original assignee: International Marketing Inc
Current assignee: International Marketing Inc
Priority date: 2003-07-18
Filing date: 2004-07-15
Publication date: 2006-11-01
Also published as: ZA200601341B; ES2356530T3

Abstract

A balance weight comprising a cartridge having at least one interior chamber, the interior chamber at least partially filled with a flowable balance media, and wherein the cartridge is longitudinally arcuate, at least when attached to a wheel, about an angle of up to 180 degrees or less. The balance weight provides a balanced tire in the new or just balanced condition and helps retain the balance under changes in at least one operational characteristic of the tire/wheel assembly.

Description

The balance weight cartridge that has enclosed balance media

The sequence number that the application requires to submit on March 23rd, 2004 is 10/806, the sequence number that 671 U.S. Patent application and on July 18th, 2003 submit to is 60/488, the preference of 634 U.S. Provisional Patent Application, the two is all incorporated herein by reference.

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of counterweight of tire/wheel assembly of transient equiliblium Motor Vehicle, particularly a kind of inner cavity chamber the is partially filled at least balance weight cartridge of flowable media, this makes and can obtain good balance under the different speed and under the tire characteristics that change.

Background of invention

The standing procedure that reduces unfavorable jarring effect is to use balancing machine and folder formula lead counterweight or plumbous balance weight to come leveling wheel wheel rim and tyre assembly.This lead counterweight be placed on the rim of wheel and folder in place, under situation, be to stick on the wheel perhaps, and guide by balancing machine with balance weight.Put it briefly, balance promptly is that quality balancedly distributes around running shaft, and wherein center of gravity is positioned at the position identical with rotating center.The balance tire/wheel assembly promptly is installed in the quality of tire on the axle for vehicle and vehicle wheel component around this equiblibrium mass distribution.Two kinds of balances are generally arranged, single plane balance and biplane balance.The single plane balance is used independent weight plane and is only eliminated the disequilibrium of " upper and lower ".The biplane balance is used two weight plane, thereby can eliminate the disequilibrium of " upper and lower " and " side is to the side ".

Though the lead counterweigh is normally effective, still there are many problems in their use.At first, the wheel ballast weight of standard is to adopt to be identified to have dysgenic lead material to make to environment.Different countries and multinational controlling mechanism have passed through the following regulations of using the lead counterweight of restriction.The counterweight that is not completely fixed may in use come off, and causes tire unbanlence.Another shortcoming is that the folder formula counterweight of standard is difficult for being installed on the novel wheel that a lot of wheel rims can be reduced, and too not attractive in appearance and can not be used on the wheel rim of high-grade alloy wheel on aesthetic.In addition, counterweight is in case install, no matter be folder formula or tape weight, can't adjust along with the little or medium variation of inherent balance position, the reason that causes these variations can be the variation of the performance characteristic of tire/wheel assembly, as tire weight, friction speed, can cause the load variations etc. of variation of the load radius of tire.

The trial that overcomes some difficulties in these difficulties in truck tyre and the wheel causes the development of the autobalance ring that comprises the 360 degree ring pipes of having filled weight and damper fluid.These pipes are installed near wheel rim usually.Yet these install and cause unbalance problem before counterweight is positioned the appropriate location under low speed easily.In addition, these gimbals have hindered the installation of hub cap or have reduced the aesthetic property of novel alloy wheel.

There are a lot of shortcomings in above-mentioned standard wheel balance system.Therefore it will be very favourable being combined in a kind of unleaded block structure with a kind of simple and effective and efficient manner the feature of stable equilibrium counterweight, and this structure can be regulated according to the change of the working state of tire/wheel assembly, and does not cause the problem relevant with gimbal.

Summary of the invention

Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide a kind of counterweight, this counterweight can provide a kind of and be in new or the tire of the balance under the state of equilibrium just, and keeps this balance when at least a performance characteristic of tire/wheel assembly changes.These and other aspect of the present invention and purpose are realized by a kind of counterweight, but this counterweight comprises the box that inner cavity chamber is filled by the flow equilibrium medium to small part, wherein, box is being arc-shaped bend longitudinally at least on 180 degree or following angle when being installed to tire or wheel.

These and other aspect of the present invention and purpose also realize that by a kind of method of balance tire/wheel assembly the method comprising the steps of: tire and wheel are provided; Check the state of equilibrium of this tire and wheel; At least one counterweight is provided, this counterweight comprises box, but this box the has comprised partially filled at least inner cavity chamber of flow equilibrium medium, wherein, box is being arc-shaped bend along the longitudinal at least on 180 degree or following angle when being installed to wheel or tire; And described at least one counterweight is installed on tire or the wheel, when this tire was installed on the wheel, tire that assembles and wheel were balances like this.

The accompanying drawing simple declaration

For a more detailed description to the present invention below with reference to accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the decomposition side view of counterweight of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is the longitudinal sectional drawing of the counterweight that assembles of the present invention.

Fig. 3 A-3C is the various perspective view of box of the present invention, has shown the sectional drawing of tube end of the present invention and relevant connector;

Fig. 4 is the sectional drawing of another embodiment of the present invention, has shown the multi-cavity chamber structure that has the bottom section that connects adhesive;

Fig. 5 is the perspective view of a kind of embodiment on the brake side of the present invention's wheel rim groove (tube well) of being installed to tire/wheel assembly.

Fig. 6 is the sectional drawing that the present invention is installed to an embodiment on the wheel rim of tire/wheel assembly;

Fig. 7 is the sectional drawing that the present invention is connected to the folder formula embodiment on the wheel rim of tire/wheel assembly;

Fig. 8 is the sectional drawing of integral manufacturing one embodiment of the present of invention on wheel; And

Fig. 9 is the sectional drawing of integral manufacturing one embodiment of the present of invention on tire.

The explanation of preferred embodiment

Below will the present invention be explained in detail according to different embodiments.Referring now to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2,, they are respectively exploded view and assembling section, and the first embodiment of the present invention is shown as counterweight 10, and this counterweight comprises the empty capsid or the box 20 of the inner cavity chamber 30 that has flowable media 40 partially filled at least.

Box 20 forms containers, and usually by not making with react molded of the metal surface of wheel or rubber or the plastic materials of extruding making, but box 20 is not limited in these materials, and any suitable material such as aluminum boxes also can be considered to use.Box 20 comprises the pipe 22 that cuts into or be molded as Len req.Flowable media 40 is placed in the pipe 22 and is sealed by at least one connector 24 usually subsequently, also can use the thermal weld sealing.Box 20 can be made into its angle θ and 180 degree or the vertical arc-shaped bend parts of following suitable rigidity, maybe when being fixed to the following wheel that will describe in detail, can be made into flexible straight part and be positioned at 180 degree or following arc-shaped bend part in.The tube wall that constitutes the pipe 22 of inner cavity chamber 30 should be done the smooth surface processing to improve the flowability of flowable media 40.

Some possible modification of the pipe 22 that box 20 uses are presented among Fig. 3 A-3C, and wherein pipe 22 can have " D " section of shape and corresponding connector 24 as Fig. 3 A as shown in, or pipe 22 ' can be rectangle and the connector 24 ' of correspondence as shown in Fig. 3 B.Perhaps, pipe 22 " inner cavity chamber 30 oval-shaped section and corresponding connector 24 can be arranged " as shown in Fig. 3 C.These embodiments are only as example rather than limit the scope of the invention in the special case that illustrates here.The inner cavity chamber 30 of flowing that any suitable section shape all can be considered to be used for pipe 22 and not retrain flowable media 40.The external physical dimensions of pipe or highly also will consider not to disturb with the other system such as the braking system that are placed near the tire/wheel assembly.

The another kind of modification of pipe is shown among Fig. 4.Pipe 22  have adopted a kind of structure of low height, make pipe 22  can be placed on the inboard of wheel and do not contact with brake member.Pipe 22  also provide relatively large chamber sectional area, make to use more balance media, and medium can along the circumferential direction and laterally move so that in two planes leveling wheel better.Adhesive 70 is placed in the outside of pipe 22  so that the device that pipe is fixed to wheel to be provided.Pipe 22  also can have more than one as shown in Figure 4 and be designated as the chamber of 30a and 30b.

Multi-cavity chamber

30a, 30b can come support tube 22  relatively long sectional width or span to come to provide structural rigidity for

chamber

30a, 30b by inwall is set.A plurality of chambers are set also can limit laterally moving of medium between

chamber

30a, 30b, this can prevent that in some cases medium from all transferring to the side of pipe 22  at an angle the time on rim gutter and ground, helps leveling wheel better.

Flowable materials 40 can be a Metal Ball, shown in Fig. 1,2,5 and 6 the bests, Stainless Steel Ball preferably, but any suitable flowable materials all can consider to be used for the present invention comprises pearl that iron or nonferrous metal, pottery, plastics, glass bead, aluminium etc. make, bullet, particle, powder etc.Flowable materials also can be considered all or part of liquid of using.These suitable materials comprise any stable and keep free-pouring material under all working condition of tire/wheel assembly.The size of the single material of flowable materials 40 must be enough little, so that can flow in less highly relatively inner cavity chamber 30.Though do not show, flowable materials also can consider to add a kind of optional oiling agent such as talcum or graphite etc., but to improve and/or to keep the flow characteristic of material.

The amount of flowable materials 40 must enough make the counterweight 10 can the balance tire/wheel assembly in the counterweight 10.In actual the use, counterweight 10 is preferably used with the same way as of the standard lead counterweight of using the spin balancing machine.Tire/wheel assembly is installed on the spin balancing device, thereby nonequilibrium state can detect.This spin balancing device indicates a certain amount of weight placement on specific circumferential position and the specific intended distance place of the axle of distance in one or more predetermined planes.When using counterweight 10 of the present invention, the gross weight of counterweight 10 should be equivalent to (comprising box 20 and flowable materials 40) weight of balancing machine requirement.Therefore the amount of the arc length of box 20 and flowable materials 40 will be proportional to this weight of determining, and box arc length that bigger imbalance need be bigger and more flowable media 40, and vice versa.The amount of roughly estimating in the box 20 flowable materials 40 that uses will be in 5% to 95% variation of the volume of inner cavity chamber 30.In one embodiment of the invention, the amount of shown flowable materials 40 approximately be inner cavity chamber 30 volume 2/3, this can be proved to be best dynamical balance feature is provided in present test.Yet any amount that enough makes flowable materials can fully move and make the tire/wheel assembly balance all can be considered to use.In some application that only the lead counterweight is replaced, whole volumes of inner cavity chamber can be filled by material 40, make counterweight 10 as fixing counterweight.

The lead counterweight of using in the prior art is fixed on the appropriate location by operator according to the indication of spin balancing machine.This lead counterweight may be operated personnel and depart from its fixed-site slightly to wheel.This needs operator to make balance again.In addition, in case tire/wheel assembly turns round on wheel, tire wear, hole, hole etc. will make the tire/wheel assembly disequilibrium.On the contrary, the weight of counterweight 10 permission flowable medias 40 of the present invention can be along circumferencial direction and transverse movement in box 20.Operator need be positioned at counterweight 10 of the present invention the position of spin balancing machine indication.If operator have departed from accurate position slightly, flowable media 40 can move the active balance position of adjusting tire/wheel assembly to obtain balance in box 20.Therefore, balance weight operator does not need very accurate, even move along wheel the equilibrium position, tire/wheel assembly still can keep balance in the running.As the lead counterweight of using in the prior art, also can consider to use in the present invention more than one counterweight 10.

Now referring to Fig. 5, the embodiment of counterweight 10 is fixed on the wheel 50 of tire/wheel assembly 60 by adhesive 70.As previously mentioned, the trend of tending to aluminum-alloy wheel more attractive in appearance makes this counterweight invisible very important.Therefore, a kind of possible arrangement is that counterweight 10 can be fixed on the inboard of spoke dish 52 along the brake side of the wheel rim groove 54 of wheel 50.Counterweight 10 can use the adhesive 70 that is similar to the balance weight use to be fixed on the pipe well 54.That herewith uses among the embodiment is the same, and different length or arc length and different gross weights are preferably made in counterweight 10 in advance.Balance weight is used according to the indication of particular balance counter weight device (not shown), and counterweight 10 is also used according to identical mode.When counterweight is installed to the brake side of wheel rim groove 54, certain operations personnel usually use the single plane balance, utilize the center line of tire wheel/assembly " enough good ", use the biplane balance but most novel balancing machine still can be provided with biplane along the surface of the brake side of wheel rim groove 54.The display capabilities of the direct tolerance of balance weight placement and 360 degree weight placement makes counterweight 10 simply and accurately to locate, with balance tire/wheel assembly 60.

Referring now to Fig. 6, the embodiment of the counterweight 10 shown in the figure is fixed to by adhesive 70 on the inboard wheel rim 56 of wheel 50 of tire/wheel assembly (not shown).The physical size of box 20 is corresponding to the size of the matching surface of wheel rim 56.In this manner, the arrangement of counterweight 10 is similar to gimbal of the prior art, thus different be the limited balance more quickly of arc length of counterweight 10, and when preventing low speed such as the intrinsic serious unbalance state of gimbal of the prior art.

Referring now to Fig. 7, shown in the embodiment of counterweight 10 be fixed on the inboard wheel rim 56 of wheel 50 by clip 80.Clip 80 is made with standard lead balance weight clips of the prior art similar, and counterweight 10 is fixed on the wheel rim 56 of wheel 50.

Though counterweight 10 is used on the wheel of the tire that assembles and wheel usually, counterweight also can be used before the assembling of tire and wheel.In this method, tire and wheel are used each self balancing of bubble balance (bubble balancer) usually, and both make the balance coupling so that imbalance reduces to minimum.Counterweight is fixed on wheel or the tire subsequently.The method is particularly useful on the backing layer that counterweight is fixed to tire or during on the pressure side the going up of rim for automobile wheel groove.

The another kind of modification of this balance method relates to uses a plurality of adjacent to each other and end-to-end counterweights 10 around wheel or tire placement, and the whole 360 degree circumference of wheel or tire are covered by a plurality of counterweights 10 like this.For example, two counterweights that are roughly 180 degree can be placed in along the circumference of tire or wheel in the radial plane, and two counterweight 10 collaborative works are to offset any disequilibrium.

Another advantage of the present invention is the little vibration that the flowable media 40 in the counterweight 10 helps suppressing the tire/wheel assembly that a variety of causes such as tyre evenness problem cause.The steady sense that this passenger who helps improving vehicle takes.

Counterweight 10 also can consider to be installed in the inboard or the tyre side of wheel rim groove.Yet such arrangement need be known the central position of wheel 50 and tire 60, makes counterweight 10 can be accurately positioned in the imbalance of the tire/wheel assembly that assembles and inflate with compensation on the position.

Other application of boxlike counterweight comprise and directly being manufactured in as the tire 60 of best image among Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 or the version in the wheel 50.In this example, cavity and flowable materials that box 10 can be made in the wheel 50 are sealed in this cavity, or are fixed in manufacture process on the wheel 50.Box 10 also can be made into the part of the backing layer of tire 60, is placed under the backing layer, or directly is attached on the backing layer in the manufacture process of tire 60.Can consider fully among the present invention and use counterweight 10 during fabrication, and claim is interpreted as comprising without restriction these embodiments.

Though here can the invention has been described with reference to most preferred embodiment, it must be understood that these explanations are only as example rather than any restriction.Therefore, scope of the present invention and content are only limited by appended patent claims.

Claims

(according to the modification of the 19th of treaty)

1. counterweight that is used for tire/wheel assembly comprises:

But the box of the inner cavity chamber that comprises the flow equilibrium medium partially filled at least; And

Box is fixed to adhesive means on the tire/wheel assembly; It when wherein, described box is at least on being installed to wheel or tire vertical arc-shaped bend;

Wherein, described box is fixed on the not subjected to pressure side of wheel rim groove of tire/wheel assembly or on the rim of tire/wheel assembly.

2. according to the counterweight of claim 1, wherein, described flowable media occupies 5% to 95% of inner cavity chamber's volume.

3. according to the counterweight of claim 1, wherein, described flowable media occupies whole volumes of inner cavity chamber.

4. according to the counterweight of claim 1, wherein, described flowable media to small part comprises a kind of material of selecting from the set of being made up of iron metal, non-iron metal, pottery, plastics, glass, aluminium and polymer.

5. according to the counterweight of claim 1, it is characterized in that described flowable media to small part comprises a kind of shape of selecting from the set of being made of particulate, spheroid, powder, bullet and pearl.

6. according to the counterweight of claim 1, it is characterized in that described flowable media to small part comprises liquid.

7. according to the counterweight of claim 1, it is characterized in that described box is made by polymer material or metallic material.

8. according to the counterweight of claim 1, it is characterized in that described box is made the part of extruding of molded or assembling.

9. according to the counterweight of claim 1, it is characterized in that the profile geometric shape of described box is roughly " D " shape, ellipse, square or rectangular.

10. according to the counterweight of claim 1, it is characterized in that described box is vertical arc-shaped bend on about 90 degree or following angle.

11. the counterweight according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described box is vertical arc-shaped bend at about 15 degree to the angles of 45 degree.

12. the counterweight according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described flowable media can suppress the vibration of tire/wheel assembly.

13. the method for a balance tire/wheel assembly may further comprise the steps:

Tire/wheel assembly is provided;

Use the tire/wheel assembly Balancing equipment to determine unbalanced weight size of tire/wheel assembly and the unbalanced position of tire balance/vehicle wheel component;

At least one counterweight is provided, and it comprises box, but this box the has comprised partially filled at least inner cavity chamber of flow equilibrium medium, and wherein, described box is vertical arc-shaped bend on 180 degree or following angle at least on being installed to wheel or tire the time; And

On the not subjected to pressure side of the wheel rim groove that on the unbalanced position of described tire balance/vehicle wheel component described at least one counterweight is fixed to tire/wheel assembly or on the rim of tire/wheel assembly.

14. method according to claim 13, it is characterized in that described use tire/wheel assembly Balancing equipment determines that the step of unbalanced weight size of tire/wheel assembly and the unbalanced position of tire balance/vehicle wheel component is to use spin balancing machine or bubble balance to finish.

15., also comprise by using the tire/wheel assembly Balancing equipment to examine the step of tire/wheel assembly balance according to the method for claim 13.

16. method according to claim 13, it is characterized in that the step that at least one counterweight is provided partly makes the size of uneven weight of the weight of the counterweight selected and tire/wheel assembly be complementary to finish by select a counterweight from the counterweight of a plurality of Different Weight.

17. the method for a balance tire/wheel assembly may further comprise the steps:

Tire/wheel assembly is provided;

Use tire/wheel tire assembly Balancing equipment to determine unbalanced weight size of tire/wheel assembly and the unbalanced position of tire balance/vehicle wheel component;

At least one counterweight corresponding to the unbalanced weight size of tire/wheel assembly is provided, this at least one counterweight comprises box, but this box the has comprised partially filled at least inner cavity chamber of flow equilibrium medium, it when wherein, described box is at least on being installed to wheel or tire vertical arc-shaped bend; And

Be fixed on the not subjected to pressure side of wheel rim groove of tire/wheel assembly so that the tire/wheel assembly balance on the unbalanced position of the described tire balance/vehicle wheel component that is determined described at least one counterweight being sticked with glue agent.

18., also comprise by using the tire/wheel assembly Balancing equipment to examine the step of tire/wheel assembly balance according to the method for claim 17.

Claims

1. counterweight that is used for tire/wheel assembly comprises:

Be vertical arc-shaped bend when wherein, described box is at least on being installed to wheel or tire on 180 degree or following angle.

2. according to the counterweight of claim 1, also comprise described box is fixed to device on wheel or the tire.

3. according to the counterweight of claim 2, it is characterized in that the device that box is fixed on wheel or the tire is an adhesive.

4. according to the counterweight of claim 2, it is characterized in that described box is fixed on the backing layer of tire.

5. according to the counterweight of claim 2, it is characterized in that described box is fixed on the position of selecting on the wheel from the set of being made of the not subjected to pressure side of the compression-side of rim, spoke disc portion, wheel rim groove and wheel rim groove.

6. according to the counterweight of claim 2, it is characterized in that the device that box is fixed on the wheel is a clip.

7. according to the counterweight of claim 1, it is characterized in that described flowable media occupies 5% to 95% of inner cavity chamber's volume.

8. according to the counterweight of claim 1, it is characterized in that described flowable media occupies whole volumes of inner cavity chamber.

9. according to the counterweight of claim 1, it is characterized in that described flowable media to small part comprises a kind of material of selecting from the set of being made of iron metal, non-iron metal, pottery, plastics, glass, aluminium and polymer.

10. according to the counterweight of claim 1, it is characterized in that described flowable media to small part comprises a kind of shape of selecting from the set of being made of particulate, spheroid, powder, bullet and pearl.

11. the counterweight according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described flowable media to small part comprises liquid.

12. the counterweight according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described box is made by polymer material or metallic material.

13. the counterweight according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described box is made the part of extruding of molded or assembling.

14. the counterweight according to claim 1 is characterized in that, the profile geometric shape of described box is roughly " D " shape, ellipse, square or rectangular.

15. the counterweight according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described box is vertical arc-shaped bend on about 90 degree or following angle.

16. the counterweight according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described box is vertical arc-shaped bend at about 15 degree to the angles of 45 degree.

17. the counterweight according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described box comprises a plurality of inner cavity chamber.

18. the counterweight according to claim 1 is characterized in that, described flowable media can suppress the vibration of tire/wheel assembly.

19. a tire comprises:

The tire body that has the whole machine balancing counterweight that comprises inner cavity chamber, but described inner cavity chamber partially filled at least the flow equilibrium medium; And

Wherein, described inner cavity chamber is vertical arc-shaped bend on 180 degree or following angle.

20. a wheel comprises:

The wheel body that has the whole machine balancing counterweight that comprises inner cavity chamber, but described inner cavity chamber partially filled at least the flow equilibrium medium; And

21. the method for a balance tire/wheel assembly may further comprise the steps:

Tire and wheel are provided;

At least one counterweight is provided, it comprises box, but this box the has comprised partially filled at least inner cavity chamber of flow equilibrium medium, wherein, described box is being vertical arc-shaped bend at least on being installed to wheel or tire the time on 180 degree or following angle; And

Described at least one counterweight is fixed on tire or the wheel, makes that the tire and the wheel that assemble are in balance when tire is installed on the wheel.

22. method according to claim 21, it is characterized in that, provide the step of at least one counterweight to provide two counterweights, the size of each counterweight roughly covers 180 degree of wheel or tire, is provided with end-to-end and is fixed on the opposite side of wheel or tire.

23. method according to claim 22, also comprise the step that two additional counterweights are provided, the size of each counterweight roughly covers 180 degree of wheel or tire, is provided with and is fixed on the opposite side of wheel or tire end-to-end and roughly near preceding two counterweights.

24. method according to claim 21, it is characterized in that, provide the step of at least one counterweight provide a plurality of roughly end-to-end location and around wheel or the circumferentially fixing counterweight of tire, wherein, each counterweight occupies tire or the wheel circumference less than 180 degree on fixing position.