JP2002098194A - Wheel balancing weight - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wheel balancing weight capable of contributing to protection of the natural environment, and having a superior corrosion-resistant property, and also preventing corrosion of a tire wheel when the weights are used for the tire wheel. SOLUTION: The tire wheel is provided with a fitting portion fitting into a rim portion of the tire wheel of an automobile, and a body of a weight fitted in the fitting portion. A natural electric potential of metal forming the body of the weight is lower than natural potentials of both metals forming the fitting portion and the tire wheel.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wheel balance weight mounted on a tire wheel of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, lead and lead alloys have been used as wheel balance weights to be mounted on tire wheels of automobiles. This is because the specific gravity was relatively high, which was favorable for the material, and the metal was relatively inexpensive.

In this method of manufacturing a wheel balance weight, a fitting portion is fixed at a predetermined position in a mold prepared in advance, molten lead is poured, cooled, solidified, and integrally connected.

Further, a plate-shaped balance weight is also used, and in the manufacturing method, molten lead or solidified lead is extruded with a hydraulic cylinder and drawn out from a mold having a predetermined shape. In recent years, iron balance weights have also emerged.

[0005] Since these wheel balance weights are rusted as they are, rust prevention treatment such as plating and painting is performed.

[0006]

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for restricting the use of lead due to concerns about the protection of the natural environment, and there has been a demand for wheel balance weights using metals other than lead and lead alloys.

[0007] Further, the conventional wheel balance weight is manufactured by melting lead, so that a part thereof is vaporized.
Therefore, the air conditioning equipment is very important, and the capital investment cost is enormous.

[0008] Further, there is a problem that the rust preventive treatment such as plating or painting is peeled off for some reason and rusts from that portion.

Further, the conventional wheel balance weight is only for maintaining the balance of the tire wheel, and there is no wheel balance weight having any other function such as assisting the rust prevention of the tire wheel.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a wheel balance weight according to the present invention comprises a fitting portion fitted to a rim portion of a tire wheel, and a weight fixed to the fitting portion. And a natural potential of a metal forming the weight main body is lower than a natural potential of a metal forming the fitting portion and a metal forming a tire wheel.

The weight body is formed of zinc or a zinc alloy.

[0012] The zinc alloy forming the weight main body contains 0 to 5% of Al, 0 to 3% of Cu, and 0 to 5% of Mg.
0.1%, with the balance being Zn.

[0013] A part or all of the wheel balance weight is coated with a resin.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plate-shaped weight, comprising: a weight body formed of zinc or a zinc alloy in a plate shape; and an adhesive member provided on one surface of the weight body. And the adhesive member is attached to a tire wheel for use.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A wheel balance weight according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a reference perspective view of a wheel balance weight according to the present invention,
2 is a front view of the wheel balance weight according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the wheel balance weight according to the present invention, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel balance weight according to the present invention, and FIG. Fig. 6 shows the balance weight attached to the rim of the tire wheel.
7 is a partially enlarged sectional view of FIG.

The wheel balance weight 2 according to the present invention
Consists of a weight body 4 and a fitting portion 6.

The weight body 4 according to the present invention is formed so as to have a weight and a shape to be used.

Here, the side surface of the weight body 4 is curved so as to be in close contact with the side surface of the tire wheel 10 when the wheel balance weight 2 is attached to the rim of the tire wheel.

The upper end of the weight body 4 is formed to have the same diameter as the inner periphery of the rim of the tire wheel 10, and is formed so as to be in close contact with the wheel balance weight 2 when attached to the rim of the tire wheel 10. I have.

The fitting portion 6 according to the present invention is formed by punching a strip-shaped spring steel plate of a predetermined size by press working, and then bending one end of the spring steel plate into a U-shape. The other end is fixed inside the weight body 4.

The fitting portion 6 is set to such a size that it can be easily attached to the rim portion of the tire wheel 10 and does not easily come off. Also, this setting can be changed according to the rim portion of various tire wheels 10.

The fitting portion 6 has a hole for a special tool used when the wheel balance weight 2 is removed from the rim portion of the tire wheel 10. The shape and size of the hole may be appropriately set according to the dedicated tool.

The shapes of the weight main body 4 and the fitting portion 6 can be changed according to various tire wheels 10, and the weight can be changed according to the purpose of use.

Here, in the wheel balance weight according to the present invention, the natural potential of the metal forming the weight body 4 is changed to the natural potential of the metal forming the fitting portion 6 and the tire wheel 10. Characterized by being lower than the natural potential of the metal present.

Here, the corrosion of the potential difference between different metals by the local battery will be briefly described. When a metal with a different potential is attached, a local battery is formed from the potential difference between the two, and a current flows from the low-potential metal (anode) to the high-potential metal (cathode). Corrosion of high potential metal (cathode) can be prevented. However, corrosion of a low-potential metal (anode) that keeps flowing current is promoted.

Table 1 shows the natural potential of various metals in seawater. The lower metal in the table is a low potential metal (anode) and the upper metal is a high potential metal (cathode).

[0027]

[Table 1]

The conventional wheel balance weight 2 uses lead for the weight body 4, but the fitting portion 6 uses spring steel, and the tire wheel 10 uses metal such as iron or aluminum. Referring to Table 1, the natural potential of lead is lower than that of iron or aluminum. Therefore, when the conventional wheel balance weight 2 is attached to the tire wheel 10, a local battery is formed, current flows from the tire wheel 10 and the fitting portion 6 to the wheel balance weight 2, and the fitting portion 6 and the tire wheel 10 are corroded. Had been done.

Therefore, the wheel balance weight 2 according to the present invention uses the metal forming the weight body 4 as a metal having a lower natural potential than the metal forming the fitting portion 6 and the tire wheel 10. , To prevent corrosion of the fitting portion 6 and the tire wheel 10 due to a natural potential difference.

Next, the wheel balance weight 2 according to the present invention is characterized in that the weight body 4 is formed of zinc or a zinc alloy.

It is known that zinc generally has good corrosion resistance in the atmosphere. Table 2 compares the corrosion resistance of zinc and iron in the atmosphere.

[0032]

[Table 2]

From Table 2, it can be seen that excellent corrosion resistance is exhibited in all of the countryside, city, and factory. Table 2
Although not shown, zinc has been found to be more resistant to corrosion in the air near the coast than iron.

Furthermore, it has been found that zinc exhibits excellent corrosion resistance even in water, and exhibits the best corrosion resistance in a solution having a pH in the range of 7 to 12.5. In addition, it is known that, in contact with hard water, natural fresh water forms a protective basic zinc carbonate film on the zinc surface to prevent corrosion.

As described above, when a zinc and another metal are brought into contact to form a local battery, aluminum and zinc serve as a cathode in a neutral or acidic solution, and zinc serves as a cathode in an alkaline solution. . It is known that the potential of zinc and iron is reversed at 70 ° C. or higher.

From the above, it can be seen that the wheel balance weight 2 according to the present invention shows excellent corrosion resistance even in the environment where it is used in daily life without anticorrosion treatment. Therefore, even if the natural potential flows from the tire wheel 10 into the wheel balance weight 2 and the corrosion is promoted, the corrosion does not rapidly progress from the surface of the wheel balance weight 2 and is about the same as a general wheel balance weight. Periods can be used.

In recent years, while the use of lead has been restricted in protecting the natural environment, the wheel balance weight 2 can also sufficiently contribute to these requirements.

Further, the wheel balance weight 2 according to the present invention is harmless to the human body because it uses zinc or a zinc alloy, does not require a large-scale air conditioner or the like as compared with lead, and therefore requires a large capital investment. Can be reduced.

Further, while the conventional wheel balance weight 2 using lead and a lead alloy requires some means such as plating or painting for rust prevention, zinc or a zinc alloy requires rust prevention. No means required.

This is because zinc or a zinc alloy combines with oxygen in the air and oxygen in water due to its metallic properties to form a dense basic zinc carbonate which prevents corrosion inside the metal.

Therefore, since the wheel balance weight 2 according to the present invention does not require any means for preventing rust, the manufacturing process can be omitted and the manufacturing cost can be reduced as compared with the conventional wheel balance weight 2. be able to.

In the wheel balance weight 2 according to the present invention, since the weight main body 4 uses zinc whose natural potential is higher than iron and the fitting portion 6 uses spring steel whose natural potential is lower than zinc, As described above, the corrosion of the fitting portion 6 can be prevented by the natural potential difference.

Also, since a large number of commercially available tire wheels 10 are made of the same material as the fitting portion 6, when the wheel balance weight 2 according to the present invention is attached to the tire wheel 10, as described above, In addition, a natural potential flows from the rim portion of the tire wheel 10 to the weight body 4 through the fitting portion 6, so that the corrosion of the tire wheel 10 can be prevented.

Next, the zinc alloy forming the weight body 4 is characterized by using a mixture of each metal in the following range. Al 0-5% Cu 0-3% Mg 0-0.1%

When Al is added in the above range, the strength is improved and the flow of the molten metal is improved. However, when the ratio exceeds the above range, the specific gravity becomes light, and it becomes difficult to use the wheel balance weight 2. Furthermore, since the melting point of the zinc alloy increases, the flow of the molten metal deteriorates.

When Cu is added in the above range, the strength is improved and the corrosion resistance is improved. However, if it exceeds the above range, the dimensional accuracy will be lost.

When Mg is added in the above range, the corrosion resistance to intergranular corrosion is improved. However, if it exceeds the above range, the flow of hot water will be poor.

Therefore, by using a zinc alloy in which the respective metals are blended within the above ranges for the weight main body 4, it is possible to manufacture the high-quality wheel balance weight 2 which has good corrosion resistance, is easy to manufacture, and has high corrosion resistance. .

In addition to the lower metal, other metals may be added according to the purpose of use of the wheel balance weight 2.

Wheel balance weight 2 according to the present invention
Is the same as the conventional manufacturing method, put into a graphite crucible, heat and melt from the outside, set the previously prepared fitting portion 6 in a previously prepared mold, and set the zinc in the mold. Then, a zinc alloy is poured and the fitting portion 6 and the weight body 4 are fixed. Thereafter, the mold is opened, the cast weight body 4 is taken out, and the casting port is cut to obtain a product.

In the wheel balance weight 2 according to the present invention, since the weight main body 4 is formed of zinc, when it comes into contact with oxygen in the air, basic zinc carbonate is formed, and the color is changed from a gray metallic color. Turns white.

For the purpose of preventing the discoloration, a part or all of the surface of the wheel balance weight 2 may be coated with a paint such as a resin. The paint and the coating method are not particularly limited.

Next, the plate-shaped weight 14 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 8 is a side view of the plate-shaped weight 14 according to the present invention.

In the method of manufacturing the plate-shaped weight 14 according to the present invention, molten lead or solidified lead is extruded by a hydraulic cylinder and drawn out from a mold having a predetermined shape, as in the related art.

The plate-shaped weight 14 according to the present invention has an adhesive member 16 on one surface of the weight main body 4, and the adhesive member 16 is used by being attached to the tire wheel 10.

The pressure-sensitive adhesive member 16 is not particularly limited, and any material such as a double-sided tape or an adhesive can be used.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a use state of the plate-shaped weight 14 according to the present invention.

The plate-shaped weight 14 according to the present invention is used by attaching an adhesive member to a predetermined position of the tire wheel 10.

Here, the plate-shaped weight 14 according to the present invention is used.
Need to be attached so that a part thereof contacts the tire wheel 10. The plate-shaped weight 14 according to the present invention prevents corrosion of the tire wheel 10 by utilizing a natural potential difference between the tire wheel 10 and the weight main body 4. Therefore, by electrically connecting the tire wheel 10 and the plate-shaped weight 14, corrosion of the tire wheel 10 can be prevented.

When it is difficult to make contact between the tire wheel 10 and the plate-shaped weight 14, some means for electrically connecting the tire wheel 10 and the plate-shaped weight 14 is used, for example, by drawing a conductive wire. May be.

In the wheel balance weight according to the present invention, the natural potential of the metal forming the weight body is the natural potential of the metal forming the fitting portion and the natural potential of the metal forming the tire wheel. Since the potential is lower than the potential, the natural potential difference of the metal causes a natural potential to flow from the tire wheel and the fitting portion to the weight body, thereby preventing corrosion of the tire wheel and the fitting portion. There is an effect that is not in the balance weight.

Since the wheel balance weight according to the present invention uses zinc or a zinc alloy for the weight body, it can greatly contribute to the protection of the natural environment as compared with the conventional wheel balance weight using lead.

Further, as compared with the conventional wheel balance weight using lead, it is harmless to the human body, the sanitary environment at the manufacturing site can be remarkably improved, and the capital investment cost can be significantly reduced.

The weight body is made of zinc or a zinc alloy. Since zinc or a zinc alloy combines with oxygen in the air to form rust-resistant basic zinc carbonate, rust-preventive treatment is required. And the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, since the wheel balance weight according to the present invention is partially or entirely coated with resin, discoloration of the weight body can be prevented.

Since the plate-shaped weight according to the present invention includes a weight body formed of zinc or a zinc alloy in a plate shape and an adhesive member, it is very easy to form the weight body and reduce the manufacturing cost. can do.

When the weight main body and the tire wheel are electrically connected, a natural potential flows from the tire wheel to the weight main body due to a natural potential difference of the metal, so that corrosion of the tire wheel can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a reference perspective view of a wheel balance weight according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a wheel balance weight according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a wheel balance weight according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a wheel balance weight according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a use state of the wheel balance weight according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view showing a use state of the wheel balance weight according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing a use state of the wheel balance weight according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the plate-shaped weight according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a use state of the plate-shaped weight according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Wheel balance weight 4 Weight body 6 Fitting part 8 Tire 10 Tire wheel 12 Rim part 14 Plate weight 16 Adhesive member

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle comprising: a fitting portion fitted to a rim portion of a tire wheel of an automobile; and a weight main body fixed to the fitting portion, and a natural potential of a metal forming the weight main body is: A wheel balance weight which is lower than a natural potential of a metal forming the fitting portion and a metal forming a tire wheel. 2. The wheel balance weight according to claim 1, wherein the weight main body is formed of zinc or a zinc alloy. 3. A zinc alloy forming the weight body, wherein Al is 0 to 5%, Cu is 0 to 3%, and Mg is 0 to 0.
3. The wheel balance weight according to claim 2, wherein 1% of the balance is Zn. 4. 4. The wheel balance weight according to claim 1, wherein a part or all of the wheel balance weight is coated with a resin. 5. A weight body comprising zinc or a zinc alloy formed in a plate shape, and an adhesive member provided on one surface of the weight body, wherein the adhesive member is attached to a tire wheel for use. Characteristic plate-shaped weight.