Method for balancing a wheel

Abstract

A method for balancing a wheel comprises at least the steps of extruding a profile of an uncured and/or non-vulcanized viscoelastic polymer comprising at least one filler having a total density of more than 0.9 kg/dm.sup.3, cutting a section from an extruded profile of said polymer, wherein the length of the section correlates with the required mass for balancing, applying the balancing weight to the rim of the wheel, and curing of the balancing weight at the wheel.

Claims

1. Method for balancing a wheel, comprising the steps of: extruding a profile of a mixture of viscoelastic polymer and at least one filler, the mixture having a total density of more than 0.9 kg/dm.sup.3, the viscoelastic polymer being uncured and non-vulcanized; cutting a section from the extruded profile of said mixture, wherein the length of the section correlates with a desired mass for balancing; applying the section as a balancing weight to a rim of a wheel, and curing the section on the wheel.

2. Method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing a self-adhesive tape at a surface of the profile before applying the section to the rim of the wheel.

3. Method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing a layer of viscoelastic polymer at a surface of the profile of the section, and providing an adhesive surface on the layer, before applying the section to the rim of the wheel, where the layer of viscoelastic polymer is uncured and non-vulcanized.

4. Method according claim 1, wherein the polymer comprises a copolymer of ethylene and at least one component selected from the group consisting of: acrylate, methylacrylate, a curing agent, a vulcanization agent, and a curing and vulcanization agent.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein the high-density material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of: steel, stainless steel, tungsten, zinc, and zinc oxide.

6. Method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of: inserting a core of weight material into the mixture.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, the invention will be described by way of example, without limitation of the general inventive concept, on examples of embodiment and with reference to the drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment.

(3) FIG. 2 shows the balancing weight in detail.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a sectional view.

(5) FIG. 4 shows a sectional view with enclosed weight material core.

(6) FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a self-adhesive balancing weight.

(7) FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of an improved self-adhesive balancing weight.

(8) While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(9) In FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment is shown. A balancing weight body is made of a polymer composition providing mass, and therefore taking the function of the weight. For fixing the balancing weight to a rim, an adhesive tape 43 is provided. For protection, the adhesive tape is covered by a liner 42 which must be peeled off before applying the balancing weight to a rim. The weight material is preferably provided as a strand having a width between 5 mm and 5 cm, preferably between 2 cm and 3 cm and a height between 2 mm and 2 cm, most preferably in the range between 3 mm and 8 mm.

(10) FIG. 2 shows the balancing weight in detail.

(11) In FIG. 3, a sectional view (front view) of a weight material strand is shown.

(12) In FIG. 4, a sectional view of weight strand or plate with an enclosed weight material core 44 is shown. This weight material core may also be an elastomer with enclosed high-density material, preferably having higher specific weight than the surrounding elastomer 41. Furthermore, the weight material core may be a solid high-density material like steel, stainless steel, tungsten or zinc or any other suitable material. This weight material core may be combined with all other embodiments disclosed herein.

(13) In FIG. 5, a self-adhesive balancing weight strand or plate is shown. Herein the balancing weight is fixed by the self-adhesive properties of the elastomer material. There may be provided a liner 42 to protect the adhesive surface. This balancing weight may also have an enclosed weight material as explained above.

(14) In FIG. 6, an improved self-adhesive balancing weight strand or plate is shown. As the adhesive force of the elastomer be a material decreases with an increased volume of filler and/or high density material, an additional layer of elastomer without or with a lower degree of filler is added at one surface to improve the adhesive force to a rim. It is furthermore referred to provide a liner to protect the adhesive surface.

(15) It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this invention is believed to provide balancing weights. Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. Changes may be made in the elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(16) 40 balancing weight 41 balancing weight body 42 liner 43 adhesive tape 44 weight material core 45 additional layer of elastomer