Wheel and tire balancing system

Claim 2

In combination with a wheel having a rim upon which a tire is mounted, means to balance such wheel comprising at least one weight having a main body portion that is elongated, clip means cooperating with said main body portion to mount the weight to the rim so that the elongated main body portion extends predominantly radially of the wheel and tire, a mounting strap having the main body portion connected to the radially outer end thereof and the clip means to an intermediate portion thereof, and a counterbalancing body on the radially inner end of the mounting strap to increase the effective radial length of the weight.

Claim 3

In combination with a wheel having a rim upon which a tire is mounted, means to balance such wheel comprising at least one weight having a main body portion that is elongated, clip means cooperating with said main body to mount the weight to the rim so that the elongated main body portion extends predominantly radially of the wheel and tire, and a mounting strap having the main body portion connected to the radially outer end thereof and the clip means to an intermediate portion thereof, said main body portion being releasably and radially adjustably mounted to said strap to permit the main body portion to be replaced and adjusted as required.

Claim 4

In combination with a wheel having a rim upon which a tire is mounted, means to balance such wheel comprising at least one weight having a main body portion that is elongated, clip means cooperating with said main body to mount the weight to the rim so that the elongated main body portion extends predominantly radially of the wheel and tire, and a mounting strap having the main body portion connected to the radially outer end thereof and the clip means to an intermediate portion thereof, said main body portion being releasably and radially adjustably mounted to said strap to permit the main body portion to be replaced and adjusted as required.

Claim 5

In combination with a wheel having a rim upon which a pneumatic tire is mounted, wheel balancing means comprising at least one annular flexible tube, means for positioning said tube in the radially outer portion of the air cavity of said pneumatic tire and radially outwardly of said wheel rim and for connecting the tube to the inner surface of the tire to effect common rotation of said tube and tire, and circumferentially adjustable mass means partially filling said tube for continuously migrating to a radial position of imbalance under influence of centrifugal force during rotation of the wheel and tire.

Claim 6

In combination with a wheel having a rim upon which a pneumatic tire is mounted, wheel balancing means comprising at least one annular flexible tube, means for positioning said tube in the radially outer portion of the air cavity of said pneumatic tire and radially outwardly of said wheel rim and for connecting the tube to the inner surface of the tire to effect common rotation of said tube and tire, and circumferentially adjustable mass means partially filling said tube for continuously migrating to a radial position of imbalance under influence of centrifugal force during rotation of the wheel and tire.

Claim 7

The wheel balancing means of claim 3 wherein said tube is dimensioned to fit snugly against the interior surface of the tire.

Claim 8

The wheel balancing means of claim 4 wherein said circumferentially adjustable mass means is a liquid.

Claim 9

The wheel balancing means of claim 5 wherein the tube is of varying diameter along its circumferential extent.

Claim 10

The wheel balancing means of claim 6 wherein said tube has at least one restriction therein to control the migratory flow of the liquid.

Claim 11

The wheel balancing means of claim 5 wherein said tube is formed into annular shape by placing a male extension at one closed end of the tube into the other open end of such tube.

Claim 12

The wheel balancing means of claim 5 wherein a plurality of balls having a diameter less than the inside diameter of the tube are placed in the liquid for circumferential movement therein, the cumulative weight of said balls being equal to or greater than the weight of the liquid.

Claim 13

The wheel balancing means of claim 9 wherein two balls of equal weight and a third ball of a weight equal to or greater than the cumulative weight of said other two balls are positioned in said liquid in said tube.

Claim 14

The wheel balancing means of claim 9 wherein restriction means are placed between some of said balls to control the liquid flow and to limit the movement of said balls.

Claim 15

The wheel balancing means of claim 9 wherein said balls have a steel core and a rubber covering to provide the necessary weight while limiting the noise of operation.

Claim 16

In combination with a wheel having a rim upon which a pneumatic tire is mounted, means to balance such wheel comprising at least one weight having a main body portion that is elongated, clip means cooperating with said main body portion to mount the weight to the rim so that the elongated main body portion extends predominantly radially of the wheel and tire, and a mounting member having the main body portion connected to the radially outer end thereof and the clip means to a radially inner portion thereof, said main body portion being generally of arrowhead configuration with the point thereof being at the radially outer end relative to the wheel and tire, and said clip means including an attachment clamp adapted to be press fit onto the rim; and circumferentially adjustable mass means positioned during operation within the pneumatic tire cavity radially outwardly of the wheel rim, said mass means including at least one annular tube partially filled with liquid that is circumferentially adjusted by centrifugal force during rotation of said wheel and tire, and means for connecting said tube to the inner surface of the tire to effect common rotation of said tube and tire.

Claim 17

In combination with a wheel having a rim upon which a pneumatic tire is mounted, means to balance such wheel comprising at least one weight having a main body portion that is elongated, clip means cooperating with said main body portion to mount the weight to the rim so that the elongated main body portion extends predominantly radially of the wheel and tire, and a mounting member having the main body portion connected to the radially outer end thereof and the clip means to a radially inner portion thereof, said main body portion being generally of arrowhead configuration with the point thereof being at the radially outer end relative to the wheel and tire, and said clip means including an attachment clamp adapted to be press fit onto the rim; and circumferentially adjustable mass means positioned during operation within the pneumatic tire cavity radially outwardly of the wheel rim, said mass means including at least one annular tube partially filled with liquid that is circumferentially adjusted by centrifugal force during rotation of said wheel and tire, and means for connecting said tube to the inner surface of the tire to effect common rotation of said tube and tire.

Claim 18

The wheel balancing means of claim 13 wherein said wheel is mounted on a brake drum and resilient means is interposed between said wheel and said brake drum, with the axially inner and outer faces thereof respectively conforming to the facing surfaces of the brake drum and wheel.

Claim 19

In combination with a wheel having a rim upon which a tire is mounted, means to balance such wheel comprising at least one weight having a main body portion that is elongated, clip means cooperating with said main body portion to mount the weight to the rim so that the elongated main body portion extends predominantly radially of the wheel and tire, and a mounting member having the main body portion connected to the radially outer end thereof and the clip means to a radially inner portion thereof, said main body portion being generally of arrowhead configuration with the point thereof being at the radially outer end relative to the wheel and tire, said clip means including an attachment clamp adapted to be press fit onto the rim, and said mounting member including a support plate with fasteners releasably to retain said main body portion and a rebent radially inner portion to form said clip means, said fasteners being a plurality of deformable attachment tabs that may be bent inwardly to engage and retain said main body portion to said support plate.

Claim 20

In combination with a wheel having a rim upon which a tire is mounted, means to balance such wheel comprising at least one weight having a main body portion that is elongated, clip means cooperating with said main body portion to mount the weight to the rim so that the elongated main body portion extends predominantly radially of the wheel and tire, and a mounting member having the main body portion connected to the radially outer end thereof and the clip means to a radially inner portion thereof, said main body portion being generally of arrowhead configuration with the point thereof being at the radially outer end relative to the wheel and tire, said clip means including an attachment clamp adapted to be press fit onto the rim, and said mounting member including a support plate with fasteners releasably to retain said main body portion and a rebent radially inner portion to form said clip means, said fasteners being a plurality of deformable attachment tabs that may be bent inwardly to engage and retain said main body portion to said support plate.