MXPA06003893A - Method for mounting a wheel onto a rim and compensating element to be placed on a rim - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for mounting a wheel onto a rim, and a corresponding compensating element. The method comprises the following steps:a rim is provided with a specific rim balance error and a specially embodied point which is used to receive a functional element, for example, a valve;a wheel is provided with a specific wheel balance error and a compensating element is provided which is configured in such a manner that it is can be fixed to the point which is used to receive a functional element, such that after mounting on the rim onthe point which is used to receive the functional element of the rim, balance error occurs in the drivable state, said balance error lying within a predetermined tolerance range corresponding to the balance error of the wheel. The compensating element is applied to the point which is used to receive the functional element and the wheel is mounted in such a manner that the position of the balance error on the wheel is opposite the point which is used to receive the functional element such that after the wheel has been mounted on the rim, a balance error of the drivable wheel which is below a predetermined threshold value is produced.

Description

METHOD FOR MOUNTING A WHEEL ON A RIM AND COMPENSATION ELEMENT TO PLACE ON A RIM DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a method for mounting a tire to a wheel rim and an equilibrium weight to be attached to a wheel rim. The imbalance of a wheel comprising a tire that is ready for use and mounted on a vehicle should be as small as possible. In addition to the main components of the wheel rim and the tire, there are additional elements of a wheel comprising a tire that is ready for use, particular and normally a valve and, nowadays, for an increased amount a sensor of a system of tire pressure monitoring that serves to monitor tire pressure while the car is in operation. Without specific measures, the tire wheel assembly normally has an imbalance that can make the wheel unsuitable for use in a motor vehicle. Balance weights are used to displace such imbalance. For example, US 5,271,663 A discloses that the wheels are normally balanced only after a tire has been mounted to the wheel rim. In such cases, the unbalance of a tire assembly is determined and the balance weights are attached to the circumferential edges of the wheel rim in order to provide balance. In order to be able to reduce the required amount of balance weights or to be able to completely make the subsequent equilibrium process obsolete, this document suggests providing wheel rims having a predetermined degree of imbalance where the degree of imbalance corresponds to the average imbalance of a tire. The wheel rims are then marketed to indicate the position of their longest or lowest weight. In similar ways, the tires are marketed with respect to the position of their imbalance. With the mounting of the tires to the wheel rim, the position of the respective unbalances is taken into account and the assembly is carried out so that for a particular combination of a wheel rim and a tire, that is, for the assembly of Tire wheel ready, for your use there is a total imbalance as small as possible. The individual imbalances are therefore neutralized and the remaining total imbalance of the tire wheel assembly is the difference and not the sum of the individual imbalances. Therefore it is smaller and can be balanced by a smaller amount of balance weights. This procedure is called correlation. The correlation that completely avoids the need to join additional balance weights after mounting a tire to a wheel rim, however, is not practical in mass production and therefore has never been implemented on a production scale in the Automotive industry. Practical implementation is particularly not possible since it can be too expensive to contain tires and wheel rims having identical or nearly identical degrees of unbalance in storage, to be selected later and to be assembled in corresponding correlation order. WO 92/01918 A1 refers to this fact and suggests that each tire and wheel rim be subjected to measurement in order to determine the value of a parameter that indicates the tendency of the tire to cause vibration, to assign to the tire and rim of the tire. rolls a classification designation where the classification depends on the degree of the parameter, so that each wheel rim and each tire falls in a certain group, and in pairs of wheels and tires that belong to corresponding groups in such mutual orientation so that imbalances individual tires and wheels have the tendency to cancel each other. This method, too, has the disadvantage that it is very elaborate and expensive. Use in mass production as well as for smaller tire distributors, which, after the tire provided by the original equipment has been used, has to provide new tires, therefore it seems to be impractical. In order to solve this problem, DE 102 28 64 Cl suggests that with the production of a wheel the elimination of an unbalance or the provision of a predetermined degree of imbalance, respectively, for the wheel rim must be effected in a specific manner, particularly so that a subsequent balance of the total imbalance resulting from the combination of this wheel rim with a tire can be made as simple as possible. In this regard, a wheel rim having a machined section of specific balance is provided and mounted on an equilibrium device in which the unbalance of the wheel rim is determined with respect to its position and its degree. Then, a depression of a predetermined shape is produced in this machined section of the wheel rim by mechanical machining, where the position, number and dimensions of the depression are selected so that the degree of unbalance of the rim The wheel after the production of at least one depression is within a predetermined tolerance range around a predetermined target value. The shape of the depression is always selected so that the depression, in a subsequent process to assemble a classified tire with respect to the position and degree of its imbalance to the wheel rim can accommodate an equilibrium weight that corresponds to the shape of the tire. the depression to be able to compensate for the imbalance of the already assembled wheel. This method takes into account the fact that during the production process of a tire that measures the degree of imbalance for quality control in some way is necessary in order to provide a mark indicating the position and degree of the imbalance does not lead to an unacceptably high operating expense while eliminating an imbalance of a tire, specifically in mass production, is not practicable. In addition, it is taken into account that during the production process of a wheel rim not only the measurement of the degree of imbalance but also the elimination of an imbalance is simply in a comparative form due to the fact that machining is necessary anyway. Accordingly, this known concept provides a method for assembling a wheel wherein a wheel rim is provided, the degree of imbalance of which lies within a predetermined tolerance range around a predetermined target value, where the wheel rim has a depression having a predetermined shape, particularly the machined area mentioned in the above which lies within the machined section of balance. A tire having a specific tire imbalance having a tire mark that allows determining the position and degree of tire imbalance is also provided for the assembly process. An equilibrium weight corresponding to the predetermined shape of the depression to eliminate the unbalance of the tire / wheel rim assembly is selected by taking this tire into account and is mounted in the depression. Subsequently, the tire is mounted on the wheel rim in such a position with respect to the wheel rim that after mounting the tire to the wheel rim the degree of unbalance of the already assembled wheel is below a threshold value default The object underlying the present invention is to further simplify the method for mounting a tire to a known wheel rim of DE 102 28 164 Cl and to provide a corresponding balancing weight element for joining a wheel rim. The solution to this object is given in claims 1 and 20. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the sub-claims. The method for mounting a tire to a wheel rim according to the present invention first comprises the step according to which a wheel rim having a predetermined wheel rim unbalance and having a specifically designed location, is provided to accommodate a fi nal element. Such a functional element is for example a valve or a sensor or any other element of a tire pressure monitoring system. The location specifically designed to accommodate a functional element may therefore be for example the hole in the wheel rim to accommodate a valve or a location specifically designed to mount a sensor or any other element of a tire pressure monitoring system to the wheel rim. The degree of unbalance of the wheel rim lies within a predetermined tolerance range around a predetermined target value at a point on the wheel rim that is positioned opposite the location specifically designed to receive a functional element, for example opposite to the diameter to accommodate a valve. As the next step of the method, there is provided a tire having a specific tire imbalance whose tire has a tire mark that serves to recognize the position and degree of tire imbalance. In addition, an equilibrium weight element is provided which is designed so that it can be mounted in the location specifically designed to receive a functional element, particularly for example in the diameter of the wheel rim to accommodate a valve. The balancing weight member is selected such that, after it has been attached to the wheel rim at the location, it provides the wheel rim in an already assembled condition with an unbalance of a degree which is within the predetermined range. of tolerance of the unbalance of the tire. This balancing weight element is attached to the location specifically designed to accommodate a functional element, particularly for example in the diameter of the wheel rim to accommodate a wheel, and the tire is mounted to the wheel rim in such a position with with respect to the wheel rim that the position of the unbalance of the tire lies opposite to the location specifically designed to accommodate a functional element, particularly for example opposite to the diameter of the valve of the wheel rim. This results in that after mounting the tire to the wheel rim, the degree of unbalance of the already assembled wheel is below a predetermined threshold value. Similarly, as in accordance with the known method of DE 102 28 164 Cl, a wheel rim is therefore prepared in such a way that later, particularly before mounting a tire to the wheel rim, an element of Balance weight can be selected and attached to the wheel rim whose balancing weight element has the effect that the ready-to-use tire / wheel assembly is balanced as perfectly as possible, that is, the degree of imbalance of the already assembled wheel is almost zero. It is understood by a person skilled in the art that in this connection all the components of the already assembled wheel including the valve and the sensors and other elements of a tire pressure monitoring system have to be taken into account. Therefore, according to the present invention, a specific type of valve and, as the case may be, elements of a tire pressure monitoring system which may have a specific standard mass are already taken into account with the production of a wheel rim. This means that the wheel rim taken alone has an imbalance that, after assembling all the components such as the valve and sensors or other elements of a tire pressure monitoring system, the wheel rim is balanced practical and completely. Before the tire assembly, the only thing left to do for the wheel in another form already assembled is therefore only to join an element of equilibrium weight that corresponds to the unbalance of the tire to the wheel rim, or instead of one of the mentioned functional elements having a standard mass, such functional element having a mass increased by the required mass of the equilibrium weight element. Different than in the case of the known method of DE 102 28 164 Cl, when using the method according to the present invention no additional depression has to be prepared in the machined section of the wheel rim in order to be able to join a weight element of equilibrium because the union of the balancing weight element is effected in the location specifically designed to accommodate a functional element, particularly for example the diameter to accommodate the valve. In other words, the union of the balance weight is made in a location that has to be machined in any way to accommodate a functional element. In addition, the machining of the wheel rim in the area in which the balance weights are normally attached can be effected without additional requirement with respect to the provision of an equilibrium machining section. This decreases the work required in general. According to one embodiment of the invention, the balancing weight element can be screwed to the valve by the use of a hollow core screw. Accordingly, the valve has to comprise a corresponding threaded hole. In the event that instead of metal valves that can be provided with a threaded hole without any problem, rubber valves should be used, it is suggested that a threaded bushing is preferably provided.

It is also possible for an equilibrium weight element to be attached to either the valve or a sensor of a tire pressure monitoring system. Alternatively, it is possible that the aforementioned functional elements are provided in varying sizes so that the balancing weight element does not need to be joined separately but can be formed as an integral part of the valve or sensor, respectively. According to a further embodiment of the invention, a clamp or clamp, preferably formed of metal, can be attached to the valve. This clamp can be used as a fastening element for the balancing weight element. If for example, if a wheel rim having all the functional elements including the aforementioned clamp is provided so that it is practically and completely balanced, it may only be necessary to join an element of equilibrium weight corresponding to the degree of imbalance of the wheel. pneumatic for the jaw before the assembly of the tire to be able to ensure that after the assembly of the tire, the entire degree of unbalance of the already mounted wheel is below a predetermined threshold value. Such an embodiment provides the advantage that with the replacement of the tire, only the balancing weight element has to be removed, ie, separated from the jaw, and a new balancing weight element corresponding to the degree of imbalance of the newly assembled tire. you have to join A person skilled in the art has several options for joining the balancing weight element in a location to accommodate a functional element. The connection can be made directly at the aforesaid location of the wheel rim or by suitable connecting means such as screws, for example a hollow core screw, or a jaw connection for the respective functional element. In addition, the equilibrium weight element can be an integral part of the respective functional element, for example by providing valves or sensors in different weight classes or as non-function sensors, so-called fictitious, in various weight classes. At the beginning, equilibrium weight elements can be formed from any material. Preferably, a metal, particularly steel is used. Based on the joining method and particularly due to the placement of the joint, particularly on the inner side of the wheel rim, there is no need to use heavy metals to provide as high a mass as possible in as small a volume as possible. possible, for example lead, since such heavy metals are unfavorable to the environment or are not favorable to the environment at all. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is further explained in the following with reference to preferred embodiments together with the drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section illustrating a wheel; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the wheel according to Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectional view of a portion of a wheel rim in the area of the valve and associated components; and Figure 4 shows one embodiment of a valve. Figure 1 shows schematically a segment of a wheel rim 1 on which a tire 2 is mounted. A valve 10 is provided in a diameter 3 of the valve shown in greater detail in Figure 2. An element 20 of equilibrium weight it is attached to the valve 10 and screwed thereto by means of a hollow core screw 30. In addition, a machined surface 5 is shown in the curved area of the wheel rim in Figure 1. The valve 10 represents a functional element in the meaning of the invention. The diameter 3 of the valve represents a location for accommodating a functional element in the meaning of the invention. A further functional element in the meaning of the invention may be for example the sensor of a tire pressure monitoring system (not shown). Wheel rim 1 as such, that is, without any additional elements such as the valve, the tire, etc. it is produced so as to have an imbalance which is opposite to the diameter 3 of the valve and which has a degree which is within a predetermined tolerance range around a predetermined target value. This target value corresponds to the weight of the valve 10 and the screw 30. If necessary, the machining can be carried out in a corresponding amount and at a suitable position of the wheel rim 1, for example at the location indicated at 5 in order to provide an objective imbalance. The aforementioned target imbalance is determined such that the wheel rim 1 when provided with the valve 10 and, therefore, is ready to be used except for the mounting of the tire 2, comprises an imbalance having a degree within a predetermined range of tolerance around the zero value. In other words, the wheel rim is manufactured so that it is virtually unbalanced when all the functional elements are assembled. The tire 2 is classified with respect to the position and degree of its imbalance. It has a mark or indication from which the position and the degree of unbalance of the tire can be recognized. For example, if the tire 2 has an unbalance of 30 grams, related to the radius of the wheel rim curve in the area of the valve diameter 3, an equilibrium weight element 20 is selected which also has a weight of 30 grams. This balancing weight element 20 is screwed to the valve 10 by the hollow core screw 30. Subsequently, the tire 2 is mounted to the wheel rim 1 so that its unbalance of 30 grams is located opposite the diameter of the valve. Accordingly, the unbalance of the tire 2 and the imbalance of the wheel 1 caused by the balance weight element 20 cancel each other out, so that a rim ready to be used is provided which perfectly balances within predetermined threshold values. of tolerance. Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment of an equilibrium weight element 21 which is attached to a correspondingly designed valve 11 which is inserted into the diameter 3 of the valve of the wheel rim 1 by means of a jaw 31. The Figure 4 shows a valve 12 in which the balancing weight element 22 is joined so as to form an integral part formed of the same material. As shown by the thick line II and the possible alternative of the exterior lines I and III indicated as broken lines, it can be seen that an upper part of the valve 12 only provided for weight reasons can be made in several dimensions to be able to provide compensation of imbalance in the meaning of the invention.

Claims (32)

1. CLAIMS 1. A method for mounting a tire to a wheel rim characterized in that it comprises the following steps: a) providing a wheel rim having a predetermined wheel rim unbalance and having a location specifically designed to accommodate a functional element, wherein the degree of unbalance of the wheel rim is within a predetermined tolerance range around a predetermined target value at a position of the wheel rim that lies opposite the location to accommodate a functional element, - b) providing a tire having a predetermined tire imbalance, the tire has a tire mark so that the position and degree of the tire imbalance can be recognized therefrom; c) providing an equilibrium weight element which is designed so that it can be attached to the location to accommodate a functional element and which is designed so that, after being attached to the wheel rim at the location to accommodate a Functional element provides the wheel rim in a condition ready to be used with an unbalance of one degree, within a predetermined tolerance margin, which corresponds to the unbalance of the tire, - d) joining the balancing weight element in the location to accommodating the functional element and mounting the tire to the wheel rim in such a position with respect to the wheel rim so that the position of the unbalance of the tire lies opposite the location to accommodate a functional element so that after assembly from the tire to the wheel rim, the degree of unbalance of the wheel ready to be driven is below a Default threshold value.
2. 2. The method of compliance with the claim 1, characterized in that the location to accommodate a functional element is the diameter to accommodate a valve.
3. 3. The method of compliance with the claim 2, characterized in that the balancing weight element is attached to the diameter of the valve by means of a threaded fastener.
4. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that a hollow core screw is used to join the equilibrium weight element to the diameter of the valve.
5. 5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the equilibrium weight element is screwed to the valve. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the equilibrium weight element integrally joins the valve. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the balancing weight member is connected to the diameter of the valve by a jaw connection. 8. The method of compliance with the claim 7, characterized in that the jaw connection for attaching the balancing weight element to the diameter of the valve also serves to fix the valve to the diameter of the valve. The method according to any of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the fastening of the balancing weight element to the diameter of the valve is carried out in a functional unit with the fastening of a sensor element of a pressure monitoring system of tire. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the location for accommodating a functional element is the location where a sensor element of a tire pressure monitoring system is attached. 11. The method according to the claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the balancing weight element is attached to the sensor element of the tire pressure monitoring system. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the balancing weight element is formed integrally with the sensor element of the tire pressure monitoring system. 13. The method according to claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the sensor element of the tire pressure monitoring system has no function and is designated as a dummy. The method according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the predetermined target value is selected such that the degree of total imbalance of the wheel rim is zero if the valve is mounted in a condition ready for use. The method according to any of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the predetermined target value is selected such that the degree of total imbalance of the wheel rim is zero if the valve and the pressure monitoring system sensor of tire are assembled in a condition ready for use. 1
6. 6. The method according to claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the predetermined tolerance margin around the target value is _ <; ± 10 g, preferably < + 5 g and more preferred < ± 2g. 1
7. 7. The method according to any of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the predetermined threshold value is < + 10 g. 1
8. 8. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the predetermined threshold value is 5 g. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the diameter to accommodate a valve is provided in the curve of the wheel rim. 20. An element of equilibrium weight to be attached to a wheel rim having a location to accommodate a functional element, wherein due to the weight balancing element after mounting a tire to the wheel rim, the imbalance of a wheel ready to be used has a degree below a predetermined threshold value, characterized in that the balancing weight element is adapted to be mounted at the location to accommodate a functional element. 21. The balance weight element according to claim 20, characterized in that the location to accommodate a functional element is the diameter to accommodate a valve. 22. The balancing weight element according to claim 21, characterized in that it is adapted to be joined to the valve diameter by means of a threaded fastener. 23. The balancing weight member according to claim 22, characterized in that it is adapted to be joined to the diameter of the valve by means of a hollow core screw. 24. The balancing weight element according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that it is adapted to be screwed to a valve inserted in the valve diameter. 25. The balance weight element according to claim 21, characterized in that it is integrally formed in a valve that is adapted to be inserted in the valve diameter. 26. The balancing weight member according to claim 21, characterized in that it is adapted to be clamped to the diameter of the valve by a jaw connection. 27. The balancing weight element according to claim 26, characterized in that the jaw connection for holding the balancing weight member to the diameter of the valve also serves to fix the valve in the diameter of the valve. The balance weight element according to any of claims 21 to 27, characterized in that it is adapted to be attached to the valve diameter in functional unit with the fastening of a sensor element of a tire pressure monitoring system . 2
9. 9. The balance weight element according to claim 20, characterized in that the location for accommodating a functional element is the area where a sensor element of a tire pressure monitoring system is attached. 30. The balancing weight element according to claim 28 or 29, characterized in that it is adapted to be attached to the sensor element of a tire pressure monitoring system. 31. The balance weight element according to claim 30, characterized in that it is formed integrally with the sensor element of a tire pressure monitoring system. 32. The balance weight element according to any of claims 28 to 31, characterized in that the sensor element of the tire pressure monitoring system has no function and is designated as a dummy.