SELF-ADHESIVE BALANCING WEIGHT FOR A VEHICLE WHEEL

Abstract

A balancing weight for balancing a wheel of a vehicle comprising a bottom surface to be attached to the rim of the wheel, opposed thereto a top surface, two long sides opposing each other, between the top surface and the bottom surface and two short sides opposing each other, between the long sides and between the top surface and the bottom surface. The balancing weight is an arch segment having a convex bottom surface extending between the short sides, and the short sides disposed at an angle of less than 90? with respect to the bottom surface, and at an angle of more than 90? with respect to the top surface. Furthermore, the short sides are convex-shaped from one long side to the other long side.

Claims

1. A self-adhesive balancing weight for balancing a wheel of a vehicle, the weight comprising: a bottom surface configured to be attached to a rim of the wheel, and a top surface opposing the bottom surface, two long sides opposing each other, and extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, two short sides opposing each other, and extending between the long sides and between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the balancing weight is an arch segment having said bottom surface extending between the short sides, said bottom surface being convex, wherein the short sides forming an angle of less than 90? with respect the bottom surface, and an angle of more than 90? with respect the top surface, and wherein the short sides are convex-shaped from one long side to the other long side.

2. The balancing weight according to claim 1, wherein the long sides form an angle of less than 90? with respect to the bottom surface and an angle of more than 90? with respect to the top surface.

3. The balancing weight according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface is convex shaped having a double-curvature extending between the short sides and the long sides.

4. A self-adhesive balancing weight for balancing a wheel of a vehicle, the weight comprising: a bottom surface configured to be attached to a rim of the wheel, and a top surface opposing the bottom surface, two long sides opposing each other, and extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, two short sides opposing each other, and between the long sides and arranged between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein the bottom surface is convex shaped and has a double-curvature extending between the short sides and the long sides.

5. The balancing weight according to claim 4, wherein the short sides form an angle of less than 90? with respect to the bottom surface, and an angle of more than 90? with respect to the top surface, and the short sides are convex-shaped from one long side to the other long side.

6. The balancing weight according to claim 4, wherein the long sides are at an angle of less than 90? with respect to the bottom surface and at an angle of more than 90? with respect to the top surface.

7. The balancing weight according to claim 1, wherein an adhesive tape is at the bottom surface of the balancing weight.

8. The balancing weight according to claim 4, wherein an adhesive tape is at the bottom surface of the balancing weight.

9. A chain of self-adhesive balancing weights comprising a plurality of balancing weights according to claim 1, the balancing weights being attached to an adhesive tape.

10. A chain of self-adhesive balancing weights comprising a plurality of balancing weights according to claim 4, the balancing weights being attached to an adhesive tape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] In the following, the invention will be described by way of examples of embodiment, without limitation of the general inventive concept, and with reference to the drawings.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a plurality of balancing weights attached to a rim.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows a side view of balancing weights attached to a rim.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a balancing weight.

[0023] FIG. 4 shows a top view of a balancing weight.

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a side view at a long side.

[0025] FIG. 6 shows a side view on a short side of a balancing weight.

[0026] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the balancing weight.

[0027] FIG. 8 shows details of the angles of the short side.

[0028] FIG. 9 shows details of the angles of the long side.

[0029] FIG. 10 shows a chain of balancing weights on a surface in radial direction.

[0030] FIG. 11 shows balancing weights in an axial plane.

[0031] FIG. 12 shows two balancing weights mounted under an angle.

[0032] FIG. 13 shows a sectional view of the adhesive tape of FIG. 12.

[0033] FIG. 14 shows two balancing weights of prior art mounted under an angle.

[0034] FIG. 15 shows a sectional view of the adhesive tape of FIG. 14.

[0035] While embodiments of the invention can be modified to assume alternative forms, specific embodiments are shown only as examples in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and related detailed portions of description are not intended to limit embodiments to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the scope of the intention is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] In FIG. 1, a plurality of balancing weights are shown, which are attached to a rim of a wheel. The rim 50 of the wheel has a rim flange 51 and an edge 52. Here, five balancing weights 10 are shown attached by means of an adhesive tape 40 to the rim 50.

[0037] In FIG. 2, a side view of a section of a rim is shown with balancing weights attached thereto. A balancing weight 10 is held via adhesive tape 40 to the rim 50 of a wheel. The plane 61 of the weight mounting surface is inclined at an angle 62 of less than 90? with respect to the wheel rotation axis 60.

[0038] In FIG. 3, a perspective view of a balancing weight 10 is shown. It has a top surface 11, two short sides 13 and a long side 14 at the front. The opposing long side 14 at the rear and the bottom surface 12 cannot be seen in this Figure.

[0039] In FIG. 4, a top view of a balancing weight 10 is shown. At the top is the top surface 11. At the left and the right, there are shown short sides 13, and between the short sides 13 there are the long sides 14. Preferably, the shape of the short sides 13 between the long sides 14 is convex, and characterized with a radius of curvature 15.

[0040] In FIG. 5, a side view on a long side 14 of the balancing weight 10 is shown. The bottom surface 12 preferably is convex, with an arcuate shape extending between the short sides 13 and a radius of curvature 16. A preferred value for such radius 16 is between 200 and 400 mm, preferably around 300 mm. The short sides 13 preferably are at an angle 18 with respect to one another, which angle is further preferred to be in a range of 5? to 25?, and more preferably between 13? and 17?.

[0041] In FIG. 6, a side view on a short side 13 of a balancing weight 10 is shown. In this view, the bottom surface 12 extends straight between the long sides 14, while the curvature of the bottom surface 12 extends between the short sides 13. It is preferred, if the long sides 14 form an angle 19 with respect to one another, which angle if further preferred to be in a range of 5? to 25?, and more preferably between 13? and 17?.

[0042] In FIG. 7, another embodiment of the balancing weight 30 is shown. Here, the bottom surface is double-curved (curved in two planes) and has a second curve having a second radius of curvature 17 and extending between the long sides 14. A preferred value for such a radius 17 is between 200 and 400 mm, more preferably around 300 mm.

[0043] In FIG. 8, details of the angles formed by the short sides of a balancing weight 30 are shown. The short sides 13 are arranged at an angle 21 of less than 90? with respect to the bottom surface 12, and at an angle 22 of more than 90? with respect to the top surface 11. Basically the same orientation and/or configuration may apply to all embodiments of balancing weights mentioned herein.

[0044] In FIG. 9, details of the angles formed by the long sides of the balancing weight 30 are shown. The long sides 14 are arranged at an angle 23 of less than 90? with respect to the bottom surface 12, and at an angle 24 of more than 90? with respect to the top surface 11. Basically the same orientation and/or configuration may apply to all embodiments of balancing weights mentioned herein.

[0045] In FIG. 10, a chain of balancing weights 10 is shown on a surface extending radially from the axis of rotation of the wheel, in a radial direction. Due to the convex-curved short sides 13, the balancing weights can easily be tilted against each other. This way of tilting reduces the tension stress to the adhesive tape in the gap between the balancing weights. If the balancing weights would not have the convex short sides, the extension of the adhesive tape in the gap would be significantly higher. This would lead to a decrease in thickness and elasticity of the balancing weight, which would further lead to a reduced adhesive force in the region where the gap between the balancing weights opens. Therefore, due to the convex-curved short sides, the distribution of adhesive force and the long-time stability of the adhesive force and be increased.

[0046] In FIG. 11, a chain of balancing weights 10 is mounted on an axially oriented (i.e., parallel to the axis) plane. Due to the angles 18 formed by the short sides of a single weight, the multiplicity of balancing weights can be mounted without forming a gap close to the adhesive tape and, therefore, allow to avoid stretching the adhesive tape. Therefore, the disadvantages of a stretched adhesive tape, typical for embodiments of related art, as mentioned above, can be avoided. In this Figure, the arch-segmented shape and the arrangement of the plurality of the arch-segmented shape balancing weights is clearly shown.

[0047] FIG. 12 shows two balancing weights configured according to any of the previous embodiments and mounted at an angle adapted to the radius of a rim as shown in FIG. 10. Here, the adhesive tape is slightly compressed in a region 42 oriented inwards with respect to the radius and slightly extended or stretched in a region 41 oriented outwards with respect to the radius.

[0048] FIG. 13 shows a sectional view through the adhesive tape between the balancing weights, which has a slightly smaller thickness in the stretched region 41 as compared to the normal thickness region at the center 45. In the compression region 42, the thickness is slightly larger than at the center 45, As can be seen, the deviations to standard thickness are comparatively small.

[0049] FIG. 14 shows two balancing weights known from related art, that are mounted at an angle adapted to the radius of a rim as shown in FIG. 10. Here, the adhesive tape is extremely extended or stretched in a region 43 oriented outwards to the radius.

[0050] FIG. 15 shows a sectional view through the adhesive tape between the balancing weights of FIG. 14, which has a significantly lower thickness in the extreme stretching region 43 as compared to the normal thickness region. As can be seen, the deviations from the standard thickness are comparatively large, which may lead to a loss of adhesion in the extreme stretching region 43 of the arrangement of related art. Furthermore, with time debris may penetrate between the rim and the tape, which may lead to a loss of the weight.

[0051] 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 for vehicle wheels. 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

[0052] 10 balancing weight

[0053] 11 top surface

[0054] 12 bottom surface

[0055] 13 short side

[0056] 14 long side

[0057] 15 short side radius

[0058] 16 bottom side radius in long side direction

[0059] 17 bottom side radius in short side direction

[0060] 18 angle between short sides

[0061] 19 angle between long sides

[0062] 21 angle between short side and bottom surface

[0063] 22 angle between short side and top surface

[0064] 23 angle between long side and bottom surface

[0065] 24 angle between long side and top surface

[0066] 30 balancing weight

[0067] 40 adhesive tape

[0068] 41 stretching region

[0069] 42 compression region

[0070] 43 extreme stretching region

[0071] 45 normal thickness region

[0072] 50 wheel rim

[0073] 51 wheel horn

[0074] 52 edge

[0075] 60 wheel rotation axis

[0076] 61 plane of weight mounting surface

[0077] 62 angle between weight mounting surface and rotation axis