Abstract: This disclosure describes apparatuses and methods for measuring and/or comparing measurements of tires. Particular embodiments provide a tire measurement apparatus, comprising: at least one tire contact member configured to engage an outer diameter of a tire along a tread of the tire, at least one of the contact members being movable; and, a tire measurement or size indicator configured to indicate a size or graduation measured by the at least two tire contact members. Another embodiment provides a method of measuring the outer diameter of a tire, the method comprising: providing a tire measurement apparatus; placing the tire measurement apparatus in contact with a tire, where the two or more tire contacting members are arranged along an outer diameter of the tire along a tread of the tire; and, measuring the tire to indicate a measurement or size of the tire, where a measurement or size is generated.

Abstract: The present application includes methods, apparatuses, and systems for cleaning an aluminum wheel. In particular instances, a method of treating an exterior surface of an aluminum vehicle wheel comprising: blasting the exterior surface a first occurrence for a first duration at a first velocity using blasting media; blasting the exterior surface a second occurrence for a second duration at a second velocity using blasting media after blasting the exterior surface for a first duration, the second velocity being substantially lower than the first velocity; and, arranging the vehicle wheel in contact with vibratory finishing media and vibrating the vehicle wheel with the vibratory finishing media for a duration after blasting the exterior surface in each of the first and second occurrences.

Abstract: A tire sealant composition for use in pneumatic tires is provided. The tire sealant composition primarily serves to seal the tire around the wheel rim and particularly in the tread area of the tire against punctures. The composition includes a naturally derived viscous carrier fluid and at least one fibrous material, polymeric material or combination of both, wherein the composition remains fluid in use. The naturally derived viscous carrier fluid is preferably desugared molasses (less than 30% by weight sucrose) and is able to sustain a temperature of ?30° F. (?34.4° C. and below) without freezing. The tire sealant composition is fire-retardant, non-toxic, non-corrosive and non-abrasive and is environmentally friendly.

Abstract: Particular embodiments of the present invention include a wheel having a uniformity and stabilizing system. The wheel generally includes a tube well extending axially along a rotational axis of the wheel between axial ends of the wheel, a flange extending from each axial end of the wheel, and a spider portion extending radially inward from an inner side of the tube well. Particular embodiments of the wheel include an annular stabilizing ring formed within the wheel and being generally substantially filled with a flowable weight material to form an approximately constant mass around the stabilizing ring. In other embodiments, the invention comprises a tire having an integrated uniformity and stabilizing system. The tire generally includes a central portion having a tread extending laterally between axial ends and a pair of sidewalls each extending radially inward from one of the axial ends of the central portion.

Abstract: Particular embodiments of the present invention include methods and compositions for improved correction of force imbalances, force variations, and/or dampening of vibrations in a tire-wheel assembly. In particular embodiments, the composition includes a plurality of particles for positioning within a pressurization chamber of the tire-wheel assembly, wherein said particles include a void. Further embodiments provide a void containing a tire balancing material or a viscoelastic material. The particle may also be formed of viscoelastic material. Methods of the present invention include the steps of: providing a tire-wheel assembly; providing a plurality of particles having a void; and placing said plurality of particles into a pressurization chamber within said tire-wheel assembly.

Abstract: A uniformity and stabilizing system comprising a stabilizing ring used in conjunction with a balanced tire wheel assembly wherein the stabilizing ring destroys, absorbs, and dampens vibrations including those caused by non-uniformities in the tire. The stabilizing ring comprises either a solid ring or a cartridge having at least one interior chamber, the interior chamber filled with a flowable media. The stabilizing ring may be used in combination with balance weights.

Abstract: The present invention comprises apparatus and methods for improved correction of force variations and/or frequencies of a tire-wheel assembly. In particular embodiments, the invention comprises a system for improved correction of force variations and/or dampening of vibrations in a pneumatic tire-wheel assembly, which includes: a pneumatic tire-wheel assembly; and a plurality of dampening particles positioned within the tire-wheel assembly, wherein said particles are formed of at least one energy dampening viscoelastic material.

Abstract: A weight comprising a cartridge having at least one interior chamber, the interior chamber at least partially filled with a flowable balance media, and wherein the cartridge is longitudinally arcuate, at least when attached to a wheel, about an angle of up to 180 degrees or less. The weight provides a balanced tire in the new or just balanced condition and helps retain the balance under changes in at least one operational characteristic of the tire/wheel assembly.

Abstract: A tire sealant composition for use in pneumatic tires is provided. The tire sealant composition primarily serves to seal the tire around the wheel rim and particularly in the tread area of the tire against punctures. The composition includes a naturally derived viscous carrier fluid and at least one fibrous material, polymeric material or combination of both, wherein the composition remains fluid in use. The naturally derived viscous carrier fluid is preferably desugared molasses (less than 30% by weight sucrose) and is able to sustain a temperature of ?30° F. (?34.4° C. and below) without freezing. The tire sealant composition is fire-retardant, non-toxic, non-corrosive and non-abrasive and is environmentally friendly.

Abstract: A weight comprising a cartridge having at least one interior chamber, the interior chamber at least partially filled with a flowable balance media, and wherein the cartridge is attached to the wheel in a position oblique to the radial centerline of a tire/wheel assembly. The weights provide a balanced tire in the new or just balanced condition and helps retain the balance under changes in at least one operational characteristic of the tire/wheel assembly.

Abstract: A composition or particle mixture (20) for equalizing radial and lateral forces at the tire/road footprint of a pneumatic tire (11) due to tire/wheel assembly imbalance, non-uniformity of the tire, temporary disturbances in the road surface, or other vibrational effects of the unsprung mass of a vehicle whereby the particle mixture (20) is inserted into the interior of the tire (11). The composition is a dry solid particle mixture (20) wherein the particles are freely flowable and non-tacky at elevated tire temperatures, the particle mixture (20) is essentially devoid of liquid material, and the particle mixture (20) comprises two or more sets of particles wherein each set consists essentially of particles of a predetermined size or size range. The particle mixture (20) exhibits a multimodal particle size distribution.

Abstract: A balance weight comprising a cartridge having at least one interior chamber, the interior chamber at least partially filled with a flowable balance media, and wherein the cartridge is longitudinally arcuate, at least when attached to a wheel, about an angle of up to 180 degrees or less. The balance weight provides a balanced tire in the new or just balanced condition and helps retain the balance under changes in at least one operational characteristic of the tire/wheel assembly.

Abstract: A composition or particle mixture (20) for equalizing radial and lateral forces at the tire/road footprint of a pneumatic tire (11) due to tire/wheel assembly imbalance, non-uniformity of the tire, temporary disturbances in the road surface, or other vibrational effects of the unsprung mass of a vehicle whereby the particle mixture (20) is inserted into the interior of the tire (11). The composition is a dry solid particle mixture (20) wherein the particles are freely flowable and non-tacky at elevated tire temperatures, the particle mixture (20) is essentially devoid of liquid material, and the particle mixture (20) comprises two or more sets of particles wherein each set consists essentially of particles of a predetermined size or size range. The particle mixture (20) exhibits a multimodal particle size distribution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for allowing visual access to the interior of a tire wheel assembly under dynamic conditions. More particularly, the present invention relates to a wheel rim having a window or access area such that the interior of a tire mounted on the wheel rim may be viewed under dynamic conditions such as those provided by a dynamometer test machine. A method is also presented in which a camera and strobe light are used with the wheel rim having at least one window to record the reaction of flowable materials inserted into the pressure chamber of a tire wheel assembly at the tire footprint under loaded dynamic conditions. An alternate embodiment includes the camera and the light attached to the wheel.

Abstract: A method of balancing a wheel assembly is achieved by providing a wheel assembly which includes a tire in a range substantially between 13″ and 24.5″ size, providing pulverulent polymeric/copolymeric synthetic plastic material in a range substantially between 8-12 screen size and 40-200 screen size, and placing a selected screen size range of the pulverulent material in free movable relationship to the tire in a weight range substantially between ½ ounce to 24 ounces for the tire size ranges of substantially between 13″ to 24.5″ size.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire inflation valve having a filter positioned at an outlet end thereof capable of filtering the air released from within the tire through the valve core to prevent foreign matter contained within the tire from entering the valve core seat assembly and the atmosphere. The present invention also prevents foreign matter, which may be contained within a tire from being forced into the valve core over time through use of the tire and due to routine checking of tire air pressure.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for allowing visual access to the interior of a tire wheel assembly under dynamic conditions. More particularly, the present invention relates to a wheel rim having a window or access area such that the interior of a tire mounted on the wheel rim may be viewed under dynamic conditions such as those provided by a dynamometer test machine. A method is also presented in which a camera and strobe light are used with the wheel rim having at least one window to record the reaction of flowable materials inserted into the pressure chamber of a tire wheel assembly at the tire footprint under loaded dynamic conditions. An alternate embodiment includes the camera and the light attached to the wheel.

Abstract: An improved injector apparatus for introducing flowable force compensating material into a tire/wheel assembly for the purpose of equalizing radial and lateral force variations of the tire/wheel assembly when in use on a vehicle. The injector apparatus generally comprises a container having a cylindrical side wall, an inlet end cap and an outlet end cap, which together enclose a chamber for flowable force compensating material, and a flexible hose having a quick disconnect coupling at its discharge end for conveying a mixture of pressurized air and flowable force compensating material from the chamber to the interior of a tire/wheel assembly. The outlet end cap comprises at least one channel groove, which helps direct the flowable force compensating material toward an outlet fitting in a manner preventing the flowable force compensating material from getting trapped in the cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a wheel rim having at least one window such that the interior of a tire mounted on the wheel rim may be viewed under dynamic conditions such as those provided by a dynamometer test machine. A method is also presented in which a camera and strobe light are used with the wheel rim having at least one window to record the reaction of flowable materials inserted into the pressure chamber of a tire wheel assembly at the tire footprint under loaded dynamic conditions.

Abstract: A method and composition for equalizing radial and lateral forces at the tire/road footprint of a pneumatic tire due to tire/wheel assembly imbalance, non-uniformity of the tire, temporary disturbances in the road surface, or other vibrational effects of the unsprung mass of a vehicle by balancing the tire and inserting a particle mixture into the interior of the tire. The composition used therefor is a dry solid particle mixture wherein the particles are freely flowable and non-tacky at temperatures up to 150° C. The particle mixture is essentially devoid of liquid material, stable and remains free flowing over all conditions of tire usage, has a specific gravity greater than 1, and is available in the particle sizes of 20-200 mesh size, and has sufficient hardness to withstand the repeating tumbling which will occur in a vehicle tire without substantial abrasion.