JP3609604B2 - Wheel cap for tire - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tire wheel cap, and more particularly to a tire wheel cap for correcting unbalance of a wheel with a tire in a rotating state.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in order to correct the unbalance of a wheel with a tire in a rotating state, the balance is mainly made of lead and using a metal fitting for attachment to the rim end surface of the wheel or a weight having an adhesive layer adhered to the rim surface. It is attached at a position that balances the unbalanced amount of the tire measured with the measuring device.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a conventional technique, in order to reuse the weight at the time of balance correction, it is necessary to remove and replace the mounting bracket or the fixing adhesive layer, which is difficult to reuse as it is. As a result, it is necessary to discard the used weight, but there is a problem in disposal because the material of the weight is lead.
[0004]
Further, the balance correction accuracy is required more than ever due to the demand for higher speed of the vehicle and the comfort of the user, and it is not possible to cope with the increment of 5 g which is a general weight supply unit. For this reason, the weight is cut and adjusted, but in this case, the fraction of the weight that has become a fraction is almost always a small piece that cannot be diverted and must be discarded. In some cases, the material is lead, which causes disposal problems.
[0005]
In addition, since the weight is fixed at an appropriate mounting location for correcting the unbalance of each wheel with tire, it is difficult to specify the mounting location, and it is both expensive and labor intensive to remove the wheel when it is discarded.
[0006]
In addition, it is known that when there is an imbalance in the rotating body, if an object that flows into the rotating body is put inside, it will gather at the place where the imbalance is corrected and has the effect of reducing vibrations. It is conceivable to place a diffuser made of powder or granules that can move freely inside the tire in the air chamber, but this is mixed with the diffuser in the air that mainly supports the tire load Means that. However, tire air pressure varies depending on the season and a minute leak from the air seal layer or valve of the tire necessitates replenishment of compressed air. Under general conditions, compressed air contains moisture. In many cases, the moisture impedes the fluidity of the diffuser inside the tire, or solidifies to reduce the effect of correcting the imbalance or to become a new cause of imbalance.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the amount of unbalance correction of a wheel with a tire can be reduced to reduce the amount of balance weight necessary for correction, and balance weight waste generated at the time of rim assembly and rim assembly can be reduced. It is an object to provide a wheel cap for a tire that can be reduced.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The wheel cap for a tire according to claim 1 is:
A ring-shaped filling portion formed in the wheel cap body and extending in the circumferential direction of the wheel cap body;
A balance fluid filled in the filling portion;
A diffuser mixed in a predetermined amount in the balance fluid and having a greater specific gravity than the balance fluid;
Agitating means provided on the inner peripheral surface of the filling portion for agitating the balance fluid;
It is characterized by having.
[0009]
Therefore, when the wheel with a tire is rotated, the balance fluid flows in the ring-shaped filling portion formed in the wheel cap body attached to the wheel and extending in the circumferential direction of the wheel cap body. A diffuser that is mixed in a fixed amount and has a specific gravity greater than that of the balance fluid, for example, particles, powder, and liquid are uniformly diffused in the balance fluid due to the flow of the balance fluid, and then the tired wheel is unbalanced In some cases, the diffuser collects at a place where the imbalance in the filling portion is corrected, and reduces the vibration of the tired wheel. As a result, the unbalance correction amount of the wheel with tire is reduced, the amount of balance weight required for the correction can be reduced, and the balance weight waste generated at the time of rim assembly and rim assembly can be reduced. Also, since the filling fluid formed in the wheel cap body is filled with the balance fluid, the diffuser is solidified compared to the conventional technology in which the diffuser is mixed in the air that mainly supports the tire load. There are no problems such as this. The tire wheel cap can be attached to a conventional wheel, and can be removed from the wheel and reused. Further, when the balance fluid flows in the ring-shaped filling portion, the balance fluid is effectively stirred by the stirring means provided on the inner peripheral surface of the filling portion. As a result, the diffuser in the balance fluid that has settled on the tire contact surface side in the filling portion before the wheel with the tire is rotated is mixed into the balance fluid by the agitation of the balance fluid performed simultaneously with the rotation of the wheel cap body. Spread quickly. Therefore, after that, since the diffuser gathers at a place where the unbalance in the filling portion is corrected, the unbalance correction during the rotation of the wheel with the tire is completed in a short time.
[0010]
As the balance fluid, a gas such as air, a liquid such as water or oil, and preferably a gel-like liquid with low flow resistance can be used.
[0013]
The stirring means may be provided on one, a plurality, or all of the outer inner peripheral surface, inner inner peripheral surface, and inner peripheral side surface of the filling portion, but the diffuser moves outside the filling portion by centrifugal force. Therefore, in order to effectively diffuse the diffuser, it is preferable to provide it on the outer peripheral surface of the filling portion.
[0014]
According to a second aspect of the invention, a tire wheel cap according to claim 1, wherein the filling unit is characterized in that it is formed near the outer circumference of the wheel cap body.
[0015]
Therefore, in addition to the contents of the first aspect , the balance fluid and the diffuser can be arranged as far as possible in the radial direction of the wheel cap body, so that the balance correction effect is improved.
[0016]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the tire wheel cap according to any one of the first and second aspects, a filling port and air vent for filling the filling portion with the balance fluid and the diffuser. It has a mouth.
[0017]
Therefore, in addition to the contents of any one of claims 1 and 2 , the balance fluid and the diffuser are supplied to the filling portion through the filling port while air is extracted from the filling portion through the air removal port at the time of manufacture. Can be filled smoothly.
[0018]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the wheel cap for a tire according to any one of the first to third aspects, the balance fluid is a gas.
[0019]
Therefore, in addition to the content described in any one of claims 1 to 3, since the filling portion is formed in the wheel cap body, even if a gas is used as a balance fluid, the filling portion is a tire. The air is not compressed by the pressure of the air filled therein. As a result, the weight can be reduced by using gas as the balance fluid.
[0022]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A tire wheel cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, the wheel cap body 12 of the tire wheel cap 10 is attached to the inner peripheral portion of the outer rim portion 16 that constitutes the outer end portion of the outer peripheral portion of the wheel 14. The wheel cap body 12 has a disk shape, and is detachably supported on the wheel 14 by an engaging portion 12C formed on the back surface side 12B of the outer peripheral portion 12A.
[0024]
Further, in the tire wheel cap 10 of the present embodiment, a thick portion 12D is formed in the vicinity of the outer periphery on the back surface 12B side of the wheel cap body 12, and a cavity 26 as a filling portion is formed in the thick portion 12D. Is arranged. The cross-sectional shape of the cavity 26 along the tire axial direction is an ellipse extending in the tire radial direction.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 2, the cavity 26 has a ring shape along the circumferential direction of the wheel cap body, and the cavity 26 is filled with water 28 as a balance fluid. The water 28 is mixed with a predetermined amount of iron powder 30 as a diffuser having a specific gravity greater than that of the water 28.
[0026]
In addition, a filling port 36 and an air vent port 38 communicating with the cavity 26 are formed at a position of approximately 180 degrees on the back surface side of the wheel cap body 12, and water 28 and iron powder 30 are passed through the filling port 36. The inside of the cavity 26 is filled, and at this time, the air in the cavity 26 is extracted through the air vent 38. In addition, after the filling of the water 28 and the iron powder 30 into the cavity 26 is completed, the filling port 36 and the air vent port 38 are closed.
[0027]
The filling port 36 and the air vent port 38 use an outlet for taking out sand or the like used as a core when the wheel cap body 12 is cast with aluminum, duralumin, or the like. A tire wheel cap before filling water 28 and iron powder 30 therein can also be used as a product.
[0028]
Therefore, when the wheel cap 10 starts rotating together with the tire-equipped wheel, the iron powder 30 in the cavity 26 is dispersed substantially uniformly in the water 28 by the flow of the water 28 from the portion where the wheel cap 10 has been precipitated due to gravity. Thereafter, when the wheel with tire is unbalanced, as shown in FIG. 4, the iron powder 30 gathers at a place where the unbalance in the cavity 26 is corrected, thereby reducing the vibration of the tire. .
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 3, hemispherical convex portions 32 as stirring means are formed on the outer inner peripheral surface 26 </ b> A of the cavity 26, and these convex portions are formed when the water 28 flows in the cavity 26. 32, the water 28 is agitated, and the iron powder 30 that has precipitated on the ground contact surface side of the tire before the tire rotation is rapidly diffused simultaneously with the tire rotation.
[0030]
Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.
In the present embodiment, when the wheel cap 10 is rotated together with the tire-equipped wheel, the water 28 flows in the rotation direction of the wheel cap 10 (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2) in the cavity 26, and in the water 28. The mixed iron powder 30 having a specific gravity greater than that of the water 28 is uniformly diffused into the water 28 from the portion where the gravity of the water 28 is precipitated due to the flow of the water 28. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. Gather in the cavity 26 where the imbalance is corrected, reducing the vibration of the tired wheel. As a result, the unbalance correction amount of the wheel with tire is reduced, the amount of balance weight required for the correction can be reduced, and the balance weight waste generated at the time of rim assembly and rim assembly can be reduced.
[0031]
Further, in the present embodiment, since the iron powder 30 is mixed in the water 28 filled in the cavity 26, the diffuser is mixed in the air mainly supporting the tire load. In comparison with this, problems such as solidification of the iron powder 30 do not occur.
[0032]
Further, in the present embodiment, when the water 28 flows in the ring-shaped cavity 26, the water 28 is agitated by the convex portions 32 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cavity 26. As a result, the iron powder 30 in the water 28 that has settled on the ground contact surface side of the wheel cap 10 before the wheel rotation is caused by the stirring of the water 28 by the convex portion 32 performed simultaneously with the rotation of the wheel cap 10. Spreads quickly inside. Therefore, since the iron powder 30 gathers in the place where the unbalance in the cavity 26 is corrected thereafter, the unbalance correction during the rotation of the wheel with the tire is completed in a short time.
[0033]
Further, in the present embodiment, at the time of manufacture, the air 26 can be filled into the cavity 26 through the filling port 36 while the air is extracted from the cavity 26 through the air vent 38, so that the filling operation is smoothly performed. Yes.
[0034]
In the present embodiment, since the cavity 26 is formed in the wheel cap 10, even if a gas such as air is used as the balance fluid, the cavity 26 is compressed by the pressure of the air filled in the tire. There is no. As a result, the weight can be reduced by using gas as the balance fluid.
[0035]
The tire wheel cap 10 of the present embodiment can be attached to a conventional wheel, and can be removed from the wheel and reused.
[0036]
Although the present invention has been described in detail with respect to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the cross-sectional shape of the cavity 26 is not limited to the oval shape shown in FIG. 1, and as shown in FIG. 5, the cross-section of the thick portion 12 </ b> E formed on the back surface 12 </ b> B of the outer peripheral portion 12 </ b> A of the wheel cap body 12. It is good also as a shape corresponding to a shape.
[0037]
In each embodiment, the water 28 is used as the balance fluid. However, the balance fluid is not limited to the water 28, and a gas such as air, a liquid such as water or oil, preferably a gel-like liquid with low flow resistance. May be used.
[0038]
Moreover, in each embodiment, although the iron powder 30 as a diffuser with larger specific gravity than a balance fluid was used, the diffuser with larger specific gravity than a balance fluid is not limited to the iron powder 30, and sand iron, stainless steel powder, sand, etc. Natural materials or other materials that oxidatively decompose in air may be used. Furthermore, it is not limited to a granular material and powder, You may use a gel-like body and a liquid.
[0039]
Moreover, in each embodiment, although the hemispherical convex part 32 as a stirring means was formed, a stirring means is not limited to the hemispherical convex part 32, A recessed part, a stirring plate, etc. may be sufficient. Further, the stirring means may be provided on one, a plurality, or all of the outer inner peripheral surface 26A, the inner inner peripheral surface 26B, and the inner peripheral side surface 26C of the cavity 26 as a filling portion. However, since the iron powder 30 is effectively diffused, the outer peripheral surface 26A of the cavity 26 is preferably provided on the outer peripheral surface 26A.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
A wheel cap for a tire according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a ring-shaped filling portion formed in the wheel cap body and extending in the circumferential direction of the wheel cap body, a balance fluid filled in the filling portion, and a predetermined amount in the balance fluid. Because it has a diffuser that is mixed and has a specific gravity greater than that of the balance fluid, and a stirring means that is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the filling portion and stirs the balance fluid, the amount of unbalance correction of the wheel with tire is reduced and required for correction The amount of balance weight can be reduced, and the balance weight waste generated at the time of rim assembly and rim assembly can be reduced. Moreover, it has the outstanding effect that troubles, such as solidification of a diffuser, do not generate | occur | produce. The tire wheel cap has an excellent effect that it can be attached to a conventional wheel and can be removed from the wheel and reused. Moreover, it has the outstanding effect that unbalance correction at the time of rotation of a wheel with a tire is completed in a short time.
[0042]
According to a second aspect of the invention, a tire wheel cap according to claim 1, wherein the filling part is formed near the outer circumference of the wheel cap body, in addition to the effect of claim 1, wherein, balanced correcting effect It has an excellent effect of improving.
[0043]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the tire wheel cap according to any one of the first and second aspects, a filling port and an air vent for filling the filling portion with a balance fluid and a diffuser are provided. Therefore, in addition to the effect of any one of Claim 1 and Claim 2, it has the outstanding effect that a filling operation can be performed smoothly.
[0044]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the wheel cap for a tire according to any one of the first to third aspects, the balance fluid is a gas, and therefore any one of the first to third aspects. In addition to the effect described in the item , it has an excellent effect that weight can be reduced by using gas.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view along a wheel axis showing a tire wheel cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged sectional view of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 showing a filling portion at the time of wheel rotation of the tire wheel cap according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the wheel axis showing a tire wheel cap according to another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Wheel cap for tire 12 Wheel cap body 26 Cavity (filling part)
28 Water (Balance fluid)
30 Iron powder (diffuser)
32 Convex (stirring means)

Claims (4)

A ring-shaped filling portion formed in the wheel cap body and extending in the circumferential direction of the wheel cap body;
A balance fluid filled in the filling portion;
A diffuser mixed in a predetermined amount in the balance fluid and having a greater specific gravity than the balance fluid;
Agitating means provided on the inner peripheral surface of the filling portion for agitating the balance fluid;
A wheel cap for tires, comprising: The tire wheel cap according to claim 1, wherein the filling portion is formed in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the wheel cap body . 3. The tire wheel cap according to claim 1, further comprising a filling port and an air vent port for filling the filling portion with the balance fluid and a diffuser . The wheel cap for a tire according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the balance fluid is a gas .

Images