Abstract:
A tool for marking an arc or annular line for facilitating the proper positioning of an adhesively attached arcuate weight to the brake well or tube well of a wheel or other rotating member is provided. The tool comprises a base member having a register surface for engaging the rim flange of the wheel, a bar extending from the base and spaced from the register surface of the base, and a marker removably attachable to the bar, the marker extending from the bar and adapted to mark the wheel when the register surface of the base engages the rim flange of the wheel.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application 60/632,411, filed Dec. 2, 2004, hereby incorporated by reference. This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 10/806,671, filed Mar. 23, 2004, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/488,634, filed Jul. 18, 2003, both applications hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates to a tool for marking a line on a wheel in order to properly position one or more weights and, more particularly, it relates to a tool for marking an arc or annular line for facilitating the proper positioning of an adhesively attached arcuate weight to the brake well or tube well of a wheel or other rotating member.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART  
       [0003]     Tire/wheel assemblies are typically balanced using lead balance weights that clip on to the flange of the wheel. These prior art lead balance weights are fixed in position by an operator as directed by a spin balance machine. A problem with this method is that the lead balance weights may be attached to the wheel slightly off position by the operator. This requires the operator to rebalance. Additionally, once the tire/wheel assembly is in operation on the vehicle, tire wear, pot holes, etc. will cause the tire/wheel assembly to go out of balance. Another problem with these standard balance weights is that they are unsightly and often cause wheel corrosion due to the effect of dissimilar metals.  
         [0004]     Tape on weights have also been used in an attempt to hide the weights in the brake well or other wheel locations that are not as visible as the wheel flange. Tape on weights typically come in a strip and the user breaks the strip depending on the amount of weight needed. The tape weights come with a covered adhesive backing. The covering is removed and the tape weights are typically positioned in an arc in the wheel brake well. The more weight that is needed, the longer the length of the tape weight to be attached to the wheel. It is often difficult for the operator to properly place the long tape weight along an arc in a radial plane of the wheel. The elongated tape on weights are therefore more easily mispositioned on the wheel than standard clip on weights and, once attached, are difficult to remove. Mispositioning of the weights can add to the imbalance of the tire/wheel assembly instead of reducing imbalance.  
         [0005]     A newer balancing product is Xact Balance™, an arcuate balance weight cartridge as known from the Applicant&#39;s co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/806,671, filed Mar. 23, 2004, entitled Balance Weight Cartridge with Enclosed Balance Media, hereby incorporated by reference. In contrast to standard rim attached balance weights, the cartridge style balance weight allows the weight of the enclosed flowable media to move circumferentially as well as laterally within the cartridge. The wheel balance machine operator attempts to center the cartridge style balance weight at the location specified by the spin balance machine. If the operator misses the exact balance location slightly, the flowable media is able to adjust the effective balance location of the tire/wheel assembly by moving within the cartridge to obtain a balance equilibrium. Accordingly, the balance weight operator need not be as accurate, and the tire/wheel assembly stays in balance even during operation of the tire/wheel assembly as the balance location moves along the wheel.  
         [0006]     However, arcuate weights, whether tape or cartridge style, should be positioned in a radial plane that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the wheel and preferably through the radial centerline of the wheel. This can be difficult as the amount of weight required increases making the weight longer.  
         [0007]     Therefore, it would be an advantage to provide a tool and method for properly locating arcuate weights on a wheel.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention overcomes at least one disadvantage identified in the prior art by providing a tool for marking a surface of a wheel having a rim flange, the tool comprising: a base member having a register surface for engaging the rim flange of the wheel; a bar extending from the base and spaced from the register surface of the base; a marker removably attachable to the bar, the marker extending from the bar and adapted to mark the wheel when the register surface of the base engages the rim flange of the wheel.  
         [0009]     At least one advantage is also provided by a method of attaching a weight to a tire/wheel assembly comprising the steps of: providing a tire/wheel assembly; providing a tool comprising a base member having a register surface for engaging the rim flange of the wheel, a bar extending from the base and spaced from the register surface of the base, and a marker removably attachable to the bar, the marker extending from the bar; positioning the register surface of the base of the tool against the rim flange of the wheel such that the marker contacts the non-pressurized side of the tubewell of the tire/wheel assembly; moving either the tool or the wheel to mark at least an arc on the non-pressurized side of the tubewell of the tire/wheel assembly; providing at least one weight, wherein the weight is longitudinally arcuate, at least when attached to the tire/wheel assembly; and attaching the at least one weight to the non-pressurized side of the tubewell of the tire/wheel assembly along the marked arc.  
         [0010]     At least one advantage is also provided by a method of balancing a tire/wheel assembly comprising the steps of: providing a tire/wheel assembly; providing a tool comprising a base member having a register surface for engaging the rim flange of the wheel, a bar extending from the base and spaced from the register surface of the base, and a marker removably attachable to the bar, the marker extending from the bar; determining a weight amount of an imbalance of the tire/wheel assembly and a location to correct the imbalance of the tire/wheel assembly using a tire/wheel assembly balancing equipment; positioning the register surface of the base of the tool against the rim flange of the wheel such that the marker contacts the non-pressurized side of the tubewell of the tire/wheel assembly; moving either the tool or the wheel to create at least an arc marking on the non-pressurized side of the tubewell of the tire/wheel assembly; providing at least one weight comprising a cartridge comprising an interior chamber at least partially filled with a flowable media, wherein the cartridge is longitudinally arcuate, at least when attached to the tire/wheel assembly, about an angle of 180 degrees or less; and attaching the at least one weight to the non-pressurized side of the tubewell of the tire/wheel assembly along the arc marking at the location to correct the imbalance of the tire/wheel assembly.  
         [0011]     These and other advantages will be apparent upon a review of the detailed description of the present invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a side elevational view of the tool of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  shows an opposite side elevational view of the tool of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a top elevational view of the tool of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  shows an exploded view of the components of the tool of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a side elevational view of the extension bar used in the tool of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is an exploded side view of a cartridge-style balance weight;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an assembled cartridge-style balance weight;  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  shows a step of cleaning the non-pressurized side of the wheel well of a tire/wheel assembly;  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  shows a step of marking an arc on the non-pressurized side of the wheel well of a tire/wheel assembly;  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  shows a step of placing a balance weight adjacent the arc shown in  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  shows a step of balancing out a balance machine;  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention showing a step of placing a second balance weight adjacent an arc;  
         [0024]      FIG. 13  shows a step of marking a line 360 degrees about the non-pressurized side of the wheel well of a tire/wheel assembly; and  
         [0025]      FIG. 14  shows an alternate embodiment of the present invention showing a step of placing two 180 degree balance weights adjacent a balance weight. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0026]     The tool  10  of the present invention is shown in a side elevational view in  FIG. 1  and comprises a handle  20 , a tool body  30 , an extension bar  40 , and a marker  50 . The marker  50  is adjustably positioned in an aperture  42  in the extension bar  40  and secured in position by a threaded screw  60 . The extension bar  40  is slidably positioned through an aperture in the tool body  30  and secured in position by a threaded screw  62 . Base  30  includes a register surface  32  that registers against the rim flange of a wheel as discussed later. The marker  50  is typically a grease pen or the like, however, it is contemplated that the marker can be any object that can leave a visible mark on the surface of the wheel. A second surface  34  of the base  30  can be used to radially position tool  10  against the brake wheel well as also discussed below.  FIG. 2  shows an opposite side elevational view of the tool  10 .  
         [0027]     In the top view of  FIG. 3  there is shown a slot  44  in the extension bar  40  into which the end of threaded screw  62  engages to secure the extension bar  40  to the body  30 . The extension bar  40  also comprises a through slot  46  extending from an aperture  48  along the centerline of the bar  40  and through aperture  42  and to the end of the bar  40 . This creates two cantilever portions  49  of the bar  40 . A transverse aperture  47  best shown in  FIG. 7  extends through each cantilever portion  49  such that the threaded screw  60  clamps the cantilever portions  49  together to secure a marker  50  positioned within aperture  42 . In  FIG. 4 , the top view of the tool  1   0  is shown in an exploded view wherein the handle  20  is shown demountably attached to the body  30 .  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a detailed view of the extension bar  40  showing graduations  142  associated with different wheel rim sizes. The side of the bar  40  shown is for a double layer of arcuate weights wherein the weights will be positioned side by side on either side of a line marked on the wheel by the tool  10 . The opposite side of the bar  40  is for single layer of arcuate weights and is best shown in  FIG. 1 . This single layer side has graduations that are slightly offset (typically by an amount that is one half of the axial width of the arcuate weight) from the graduations on the double layer side such that the user placing the weights on a predetermined side of the line marked on the wheel will properly center the weights on the radial centerline of the wheel.  
         [0029]     The tool  10  can be used with metallic tape weights, however, the tool  10  is particularly useful with the Xact Balance™ balance weights previously mentioned as Applicant&#39;s co-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/806,671. Referring now to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an exploded view and an assembled cross-sectional view, respectively, the balance weight  210  comprising a hollow body or cartridge  220  having a interior chamber  230  at least partially filled with a flowable media  240 . The cartridge  220  forms a container and is typically made of a molded or extruded rubber or plastic material that will not react with the metallic surface of a wheel. The cartridge  220  comprises a tube  222  that may be cut or molded to the desired length. The flowable media  240  is inserted in the tube  222  which is then sealed, most commonly with at least one plug  224  or a heat weld seal may also be used. The cartridge  220  may be formed in a rigid longitudinally arcuate section of an angle θ equivalent to an angle of one hundred eighty degrees or less, or it may be formed in a flexible straight section and positioned into an arcuate section of one hundred eighty degrees or less when attached to a wheel as described in greater detail below. The walls of the tube  222  which make up the interior chamber  230  should be of a smooth surface finish that will promote flow of the flowable media  240 . The tube  222  may be any suitable cross-sectional shape, however, the physical exterior dimension or height of the tube  222  should be chosen such that it does not interfere with other systems positioned near the tire/wheel assembly such as the braking system, etc. Adhesive strip  270  is provided on the exterior of tube  220  to provide means for attaching the tube  222  to the wheel. The flowable material  240  may be metallic balls, preferably stainless-steel, however any suitable flowable material is contemplated by the present invention including beads, shot, particles, powders, etc. made of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, ceramics, plastics, glass beads, alumina, etc. It is also contemplated that the flowable material may be a liquid, in whole or in part. Such suitable materials include any material that is stable and remains free flowing over all operating conditions of the tire/wheel assembly. The size of the individual material of the flowable material  240  must be small enough that it can flow in an interior chamber  230  having a relatively small height. The amount of flowable material  240  within the balance weight  210  should be sufficient to enable the balance weight  210  to balance the tire/wheel assembly. It is generally contemplated that the amount of flowable material  240  used in a cartridge  220  will vary between 5 to 95 percent of the volume of the internal chamber  230 . In one embodiment, the amount of flowable material  240  as shown is approximately two-thirds of the volume of the internal chamber  230 , which has been shown to provide optimized dynamic balancing during current testing, however any amount sufficient to allow the flowable material to sufficiently move and balance the tire/wheel assembly is contemplated. In some applications where the lead balance weight is merely replaced, the entire volume of the interior chamber can be filled with material  240  such that the balance weight  210  acts as a fixed weight.  
         [0030]     Referring now to  FIGS. 8-12  at least one method of the present invention is shown. In  FIG. 8 , the area of attachment of the balance weight, in this case the brake well  114  of the tire wheel assembly  110 , is prepared using a suitable wheel cleaner  112 . This step, although in some cases may not be required, is recommended when the wheel brake well  114  (also referred to as the non-pressurized side of the tubewell) is not clean so that the adhesive  270  of the wheel weight  210  will properly adhere to the surface of the wheel brake well  114 .  
         [0031]     In  FIG. 9 , the step of marking the tire is shown. The tool  10  is adjusted to the size of the wheel by extending the bar  40  from the base  30  at a graduation  142  corresponding to the width of the wheel rim and fixing the bar  40  to the tool base  30  using the screw  62 . The register face  32  of the base  30  is placed against the base of the rim flange such that the extension bar  40  extends into the wheel brake well  114 . The base  30  also has a surface  34  that engages the surface of the brake well  114  (or the top of the flange if the tool  10  was used to mark the pressurized side of the tube-well) that helps position the tool  10  during marking. The marker  50  should be positioned such that marking end is in contact with the wheel brake well  114 . Either the tool  1   0  or the wheel is then rotated about an arc of up to 360 degrees, keeping the register surface against the base of the wheel flange and keeping the marker  50  in contact with the wheel brake well  114  such that an annular line is made on the wheel brake well  114 .  
         [0032]     In the next step, the tire/wheel assembly  110  is mounted on the spin balancer and the out of balance condition is detected as is well known in the art. The spin balancer recommends an amount of weight to be positioned at a particular circumferential position and at a particular predetermined distance from the axis in one or more predetermined planes. When attaching weights to the brake side of the tube well, some operators will often use single plane balancing using the tire/wheel assembly centerline as “good enough”, however most newer balancing machines can still utilize dual plane balancing by providing dual planes along the surface of the brake side of the tube well. Direct measure balance weight placement and 360 degree weight placement display capabilities make positioning balance weight  210  both simple and accurate to balance the tire/wheel assembly  110 . The method of the present invention can be utilized with both procedures.  
         [0033]     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , the radial location of imbalance  118  is marked by the operator near the marked arc  116 . The balance weight  210  is then attached to the wheel adjacent the marked arc  116  and centered on the radial location of imbalance  118 . The balance weight  210  is preferably positioned on the side of the line such that the longitudinal centerline of the arcuate weight  210  coincides with the radial centerline of the wheel. The tire/wheel assembly  110  is again mounted on the spin balancer and the balanced condition is verified by a zero reading  132  on the spin balancer operator screen  130  as shown in  FIG. 11 .  
         [0034]     In some situations, it may be advantageous to position two balance weights adjacent each other at the same radial location such as when a larger amount of weight may be needed to balance the tire/wheel assembly  110 . Referring now to  FIG. 12 , a second balance weight  210  is shown attached adjacent to the first balance weight  210  on the opposite side of the marked arc  116 . When using double weights as shown, it is preferable that the marked arc  116  is marked coincident with the radial centerline of the wheel using the appropriate graduations  142  on tool  10 .  
         [0035]     The marked arc  116  should be sufficient to properly align the weight  210 . If the balancing procedure is completed first. A shorter arc  116  can be marked extending on either side of the marked imbalance location  118 . If the marked arc  116  is made prior to balancing, the marked arc  116  is typically marked 360 degrees making an annular mark  116  completely around the wheel brake well  114  as best shown in  FIG. 13 . This provides a reference line for placement regardless of where the location of imbalance is determined by the balance machine.  
         [0036]     In another embodiment, an annular ring of cartridges  210 ′ is added to the tire/wheel assembly  110 . The tire wheel assembly  110  is first balanced with weight  210  along annular mark  116  as in the previous method described above. A plurality of cartridges  210 ′ are then positioned adjacent the annular mark  116 , the cartridges  210 ′ are generally positioned end-to-end about the non-pressurized side of the wheel brake well  114  to form an annular ring of cartridges  210 ′, each cartridge  210 ′ comprising an interior chamber at least partially filled with a flowable media, wherein the cartridge is longitudinally arcuate, at least when attached to the tire/wheel assembly. As shown, the cartridges  210 ′ are 180 degree segments such that two cartridges  210 ′ make up the annular ring of cartridges  210 ′. It is contemplated that any number of cartridges  210 ′ could be used and that there could be a set spacing interval between the ends of the cartridges  210 ′ forming the annular ring. It is also contemplated that the cartridges  210 ′ forming the annular ring have interior chambers that are completely filled with media. The annular ring of cartridges  210 ′ provide additional stability to the tire/wheel assembly  110  by reducing the effects of vibration caused by both external (e.g. road bumps, etc.) and internal (e.g. tire non-uniformities, etc.) factors as well as reducing the noise transmitted through the tire/wheel assembly. The annular mark  116  made with tool  10  aids in proper placement of cartridges  210 ′ about the wheel brake well  114  (or the pressurized side of the tubewell if desired).  
         [0037]     The tool  10  of the present invention can be designed to mark either the radial centerline of the wheel at either the brake well or the radial centerline of the tube well. It can also be used to mark a line parallel to the radial centerline when possible clearance problems with the brake caliper force the balance weights to be positioned nearer the inboard flange of the wheel.  
         [0038]     Although the present invention has been described above in detail, the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken as a limitation on the present invention. Accordingly, the scope and content of the present invention are to be defined only by the terms of the appended claims.