FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to novel adhesive type balance weight for Alloy wheel of
vehicle.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR ART
Weight balancing is carried out by means of wheel balance weight. It can be
made of steel, zinc, plastic, lead. Several wheel balance weights are known to
have been provided in the art, which are discussed herein below:-
EP 1967757 Bl;- To provide a wheel balance weight in which a release coated
paper is likely to be detached when assembling it with a wheel. A wheel balance
weight according to the present invention is such that, in a wheel balance
weight including: a substantially-strip-shaped weight; an adhesive-tape portion
whose tape front surface is fixed to a weight rear surface; and a release coated
paper covering a tape rear surface, it makes the release coated paper likely to
be pinched by adjusting the widths of the adhesive-tape portion and release
coated paper.; Since the wheel balance weight according to the present
invention is such that the release coated paper is less likely to be detached
before the assembly operation and the release coated paper is likely to be
pinched upon assemblage, the handling becomes easy and additionally the
workability when assembling the wheel balance weight with a wheel has
improved.
It is provided with a V-notch across entire width of the sticker weight both on
top and bottom surface for matching radius during fitment in the wheel rim.
Though the lower V slot is provided for easy bending, the top V groove warrants
more air/manual pressure to press the weights in the wheel rim.
EP 1327795B1;-
A wheel balance weight (1) includes a weight and a double-sided tape (2). The
weight is formed as a substantially strip shape (10), is made from a ferrous
alloy, and has opposite top and bottom surfaces and at least a groove (1). The
groove is formed in the bottom surface of the weight, and crosses in the widthwise
direction thereof being substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal
direction thereof. The double-sided tape has opposite adhesive surfaces being
disposed back to back with each other. One of the opposite adhesive surfaces is
to be bonded onto the bottom surface of the weight, and the other one of the
opposite adhesive surfaces to be bonded onto an inner peripheral surface of a
wheel.
In this patent, a slot is provided across whole width of the sticker weight.
However, the drawbacks associated with the above are as follows:-
Consumption of more time to attach with the wheel particularly in case of
lower grammage balancing. Further, it is difficult to bend while bending 10 to
30 grams weight.
This results in incomplete bonding of adhesive in the wheel rim, which
warrants more pressure (air or manual) while pressing in wheel rim.
Since the bottom portion where double sided tapes are pasted has v portion (5),
after sticking the double sided tape, air gap can be noticed, which may result
in lesser pull and tangential load strength. After fitting the product in the
vehicle, bottom v portion (5), may prone to attract higher amount of dirt and
dust from atmosphere.
J P 2001065639A;- This wheel balance weight involves a weight 1 formed out
of iron-base alloy into a roughly band shape and an adhesive seal part 2 which
is integrally jointed to the lower surface of the weight 1 and bonds the weight 1
to the inner periphery surface of a wheel. The weight 1 has at least one groove
part 11 extending in such a direction as matches the axial direction of the
wheel. The wheel balance weight is formed with a groove part on the front
surface side of a weight formed out of iron-base alloy.
In this Patent, notch (slot) is provided across the entire width of the sticker
weight. However, the drawback is that, it is difficult to bend while bending 10-
30 grams.
This results in incomplete bonding of adhesive portion in the wheel rim and
warrants more pressure (air or manual) while pressing in wheel rim.
EP 1477703A3;- The weight has a succession of flyweights connected with
each other along their breadth. The fl5rweights are realized in a composite nontoxic
material with a plastic base material of density between predetermined
ranges. An auto-sticking layer (6) is fixed on a rear face of the flyweights and is
provided with a protection tape (7) that is peeled to stick the layer against a
surface.
It is made of plastic, which should be sufficiently heat resistant. Therefore, it is
expensive. Again, it is applicable to lower grammage weight. The angle of notch
is maximum 30°, which may cause breakage while bending during fitment in
the wheel rim.
Further, it is manufactured by injection molding, which generates weld lines.
This reduces its strength.
-5-
Again, specific gravity of plastic is less, which leads to increase in the length of
balance weight by 7 to 8 times than steel.
EP 1128176A3;- Metallic balance weights (2) are coated in a flexible film or
metallic foil (9) forming links in the valleys (11) between them to form the
string. On the base of the weights an adhesive film (14) is provided. The links
are separated by cutting through the coating at the base of the valley. This
operation can be performed using a cutting machine.
In this Patent, links are formed by a flexible film coating or metallic foil forming
links.
One of the key elements in sticker weight is grammage accuracy. In this
balance weight, other than body and sticker's weight, film or metallic foil
coating also forms an element.
To maintain grammage accuracy, it is required to have control on coating films
also which leads to higher manufacturing costs.
Further disadvantage is that, it requires sensitive handling.
JP2002168295A;- After a metal strip containing no lead is provided with a
notch 3 by means of stamping and an effective width is reduced at equal
intervals, grooves 4, 5 are formed on both the front and back sides of the
portion reduced in the width, and then a both-face adhesive tape is pasted on
the back face of the processed metal strip.
In this, groove is provided on both front and back side.
It involves high manufacturing cost since the top and bottom groove formation
warrants additional processing stage. Further, it involves very high possibility
of punch breakage.
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Now, considering the individual button of the balance weight, operator requires
to cut the weight according to the requirement of the balancing machine as
shown in fig. 1 followed by peeling off the sticker as shown in fig. 2 using both
hands.
However, in case of mass production adhesive type sticker pasting fixture
would be hanging above the assembly area. It is pulled down near the alloy rim
for balancing. Sticker Weights are placed over the fixture and pneumatic piston
presses the adhesive weights to the wheel rim. In this mass production
arrangement using segment type balance weights following operations
sequence is required to be followed
- Bringing down the Sticker Pasting fixture by one hand and placing the
adhesive weights over the fixture by other hand.
- Since one hand is used to fix the adhesive weights over the fixture, the
segmented balance weights may tend to roll and stick with the other side
of the adhesive weight strip (figure 3).
In order to avoid this, it is required to position the fixture (by locking
arrangement) and use two hands to place the segmented adhesive weights over
the fixture.
Typical Time Study in Mass Production Assy area using segmented balance
weights is as follows:-
a. Picking up adhesive balance weight - 1 sec
b. Cutting the adhesive balance weight to the requirement - 3 sec
c. Sticker peel off- 3 sec
d. Pulling the sticker pasting fixture - 2 sec
e. Positioning sticker pasting fixture in appropriate location and lock - 4
sec
f. Placing the sticker weights over the sticker pasting fixture using two
hands - 2 sec
g. Unlocking the sticker pasting fixture - 2 sec
h. Pasting the sticker weight to the wheel - 3 sec
Total time taken per balance weights - 20 sec
Again, it is difficult to bend in case of lesser grammage like 15, 20, 25, 30
grams. Higher grammage may bend, but lesser grammage series have more
consumption in car segment. Therefore, the prior art can't serve the purpose.
Hence, the present invention proposes novel balance weight for wheel of vehicle
to obviate the aforesaid shortcomings.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to provide novel adhesive type
balance weight for alloy wheel of vehicle which overcomes disadvantages
associated with the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide novel adhesive type
balance weight for alloy wheel of vehicle which is efficient and reliable.
Further object of the present invention is to provide novel balance weight for
wheel of vehicle which is simple in construction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to this invention, there is provided novel adhesive type balance
weight for alloy wheel of vehicle comprising of a plurality of buttons connected
to each other by means of a bridge wherein side surface of each button is
tapered, which together form recession slot between the button provided on a
double sided tape for pasting in alloy wheel rim.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from
the ensuing description when read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings and wherein:
Fig. 1 shows: cutting of the weights according to prior art.
Fig. 2 shows: peeling off the sticker according to prior art.
Fig. 3 shows: rolling and sticking of the balance weights with other side of the
weight strip.
Fig. 4 shows: top view of wheel balance weight of the present invention.
Fig. 5 shows: wheel balance weight according to the present invention.
Fig. 6 shows: side view of the present invention.
Fig. 7 shows: marking of even grammage on the weight according to the
present invention.
Fig. 8 shows: marking of odd grammage on the weight according to the present
invention.
Fig. 9 shows: bridge width and thickness.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE
ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The present invention discloses novel adhesive type balance weight for alloy
wheel of vehicle. Now, reference may be made to fig. 4, 5 and 6, wherein the
wheel balance weight comprising of a plurality of buttons (1) connected to each
other by means of a curved bridge (2) for maintaining gap (3) between said
buttons. Side surface (4) of each button is provided at an inclination. The
inclined surface of two adjacent buttons in conjunction with the bridge there
between forms an angle of 50±5° between the buttons. Thus, the buttons are
provided with tapered surface (4) at both ends maintaining a constant gap (3)
there between, which form a notch/recession slot.
The above provision of recession slot (Notch) helps the lesser grammage like 10,
15, 20, 25, 30 grams to bend easily. Absence of the slot will tend to roll the
weights and stick with the other side of the adhesive weight strip which results
in wastage of balance weight.
The angle of notch is designed such that, it avoids increase in the length of the
weight, thereby preventing accumulation of more dust.
Button taper and gap are designed considering the following:-
a. Various radi of wheel rims, which is required to be accommodated.
ii. During fixing of the sticker weight on the wheel, it should accommodate
the radius of the wheel rim without elongating the tape and should not
override with other buttons. In case, the buttons are pasted without gap in
between, it results in difficulty in bending and elongation of tape while
pasting in the rim.
Bridge width ("b") and thickness ("d") as shown in fig. 9 are provided
considering ease of component handling during further operations like surface
finishing, auto pasting, packing and logistics.
The weights are suitably softened to improve the bending and ease of sticking
during assembly. The width of the end buttons is lesser than that of the
remaining buttons in between i.e. intermediate buttons. So that, the remaining
weight of the end buttons can be distributed among the bridges i.e. the weight
saved by reducing the width of the end buttons can be used for the bridges.
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This helps in achieving very close grammage tolerances (accuracy).
Further, sides of the end buttons facing outward are flat, which gives good
aesthetic.
The whole balance weight thus obtained is fixed on a double sided tape. The
tape is preferably siliconised liner with easy peel off arrangement without
restricting scope of the invention to the same.
The alloy wheel balance weight can be made of any material such as plastic,
lead, zinc and steel. However, lead is not eco-friendly and therefore can't
qualify for ELV. Zinc and plastic is expensive with lesser specific gravity, which
makes the weight lengthy. Further, zinc made wheel weight is brittle.
Therefore, steel is preferred over other materials because it is associated with
the following advantageous features:-
Helps in mass production.
- Environmentally friendly.
- Cost effective.
- Easy in manufacturing.
- Sturdy
However, for lower grammage, plastic and zinc can also be used.
The wheel balance weight of instant invention can be made by a progressive
tool (single tool).
It is advantageous to use steel in place of zinc for higher grammages like 65 to
100 grams. Since the specific gravity of steel is more than zinc, it gives a
compact length for adhesive weight series viz., 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45,
50, 55, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 100 grams.
-11-
Adhesive weights for individual grammage viz 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45,
50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95 and 100 grams are provided for making it
easier for the operator to choose.
Grammage determination in the weight is done at the centre. Even grammage
like 10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80,90 and 100 grams are engraved at the centre (fig.
7). Odd grammages like 15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, 95 grams are provided
in the centre of two buttons (fig. 8). This helps the operator to locate the weight
exactly at the centre of wheel rim.
Time study
a. Picking up the adhesive balance weights from its dedicated pigeon
hole -1 sec
b. Sticker peel off using easy peel off with Siliconised liner - 1 sec
c. Pulling the sticker pasting fixture - 1 sec
d. Positioning the adhesive weight in one hand (Figure 4) - 1 sec
e. Placing the sticker weights over the sticker pasting fixture using one
hand - 1 sec
f. Pasting the sticker weight to the wheel - 3 sec
Total time taken per balance weights - 8 sec
Saving in time during mass production - 12 seconds/sticker weight.
The balance weight strip is having required stiffness and flexibility to make it
secure and easy to paste on the rim of the wheel. Thus, the present invention
provides a balance weight for a tire wheel which can be easily assembled
without complicating a configuration and capable of improving workability
when attaching to the tire wheel. Further, desired flexural rigidity can be
achieved by means of said bridge. In the present invention angle between the
buttons and width of the bridge plays a vital role.
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Advantageous features
- Eco friendly steel adhesive weights for mass production.
- Easily bent like lead adhesive weights.
- Adhesive weights for individual grammage.
- Grammage determination at the centre making it easier for the operator
to locate the weight appropriately at the centre of wheel rim.
- Suitably softened for easy bending.
- Wing flat buttons improves the aesthetic of the product and helps in
achieving close grammage tolerance.
- Compact.
- Complete bonding of adhesive in the wheel rim.
- Requirement of lesser pressure (air or manual) while pressing in the
wheel rim.
- Cost effective.
It is to be noted that the present invention is susceptible to modifications,
adaptations and changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments
employing the concepts and features of this invention are intended to be within
the scope of the present invention, which is further set forth under the
following claims:

WE CLAIM:-
1. Novel adhesive type balance weight for alloy wheel of vehicle comprising
of a plurality of buttons connected to each other by means of a bridgewherein
side surface of each button is tapered, which together form
recession slot between the buttons provided on a double sided tape for
pasting in wheel rim.
2. Novel adhesive type balance weight as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
bridge is curved and the recession slot (Notch) between the buttons is
provided at an angle of 50±5°.
3. Novel adhesive type balance weight as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein
width of the end buttons is narrower than that of the intermediate
buttons.
4. Novel adhesive type balance weight as claimed in claim 3, wherein side
surface of each intermediate button is tapered at both ends.
5. Novel adhesive type balance weight as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, wherein side surface of end buttons is tapered at one end and flat
at other end facing outward to achieve accuracy in weight and for
aestheticness.
6. Novel adhesive type balance weight as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, wherein the balance weight is made of material such as zinc,
steel, plastic, lead.
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7. Novel adhesive type balance weight as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
material is preferably plastic and zinc for lower grammage weight and
preferably steel for higher grammage weight.
8. Novel adhesive type balance weight as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, wherein grammage in numeral is provided at the centre of gravity
of the weight to locate the same exactly at the centre of wheel rim.
9. Novel adhesive type balance weight as claimed in any of the preceding
claims, wherein the weight is suitably softened to improve the bending
and ease of sticking during assembly on the wheel rim.
10. Novel adhesive type balance weight as claimed in any of the
preceding claims, is associated with the advantageous features such as
herein described.