Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Device for mounting a balancing weight on a vehicLe wheel.
SCOPE OF APPLICATION ~ :
The device can be employed wherever baLancing weights or
suchLike comprised o-f a body and a retaining spring are to
be mounted on a vehicle wheel compring rim and tire.
The present invention reLates to a device for mounting a
baLancing weight comprised of a body and a retaining spring
on a vehicle wheeL, in which case, when mounting the weight
body, the retaining spring is pushed between the tire and
the wheeL fLange, in which the device possesses a detachabLe
mounting means for accommodating the retaining spring of the
baLancing weight.
STATE OF THE ART
Until now the balancing weights for baLancing the ever-present
imbalance in tire and rim, which are comprised of a weight
body, preferably of Lead, and a metaLLic spring, are mounted
manually on the wheel to be balanced in that the free end
section of the bent rètaining spring are pushed or pressed or
knocked over the wheel flange. The free end section of the
retaining spring is in this case suddenly pushed over the rim
flange with the aid of a suitable tooL, such as e.g. a hammer.
The difficuLty connected with the imbaLances which today be-
come constantLy smaLLer on account of improved manufacturing
techniques consists in that, when handLing the correspondingLy -
smaLL balancing weights, the retaining spring has to be struck ~ -
very accurately with the hammer since otherwise a risk oflin-
jury exists because the balancing weight is normally held by
hand on the intended mounting point on the wheel. Moreover,
the danger exists that, by means of a somewhat oblique hammer
blow, the balancing weight is not always placed absoluteLy -
accurately at the designated point with a resulting poor ba- -
lancing.
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That is why, with the DE-AS 12 82 568, a toll has already
been proposed for the attachment of clamps that are used for
the mounting of balancing weights on the edge of vehicle
wheel rims. In detail the tool is constructed in such a way
that it practically possesses an accommodating head for the
spring of the balancing weight. The to~l is actuated by hand.
With the DE-OS 36 26 911, a device has been described for
conveying balancing weights and retaining springs from maga-
zines to the inserting heads of a wheel balancing means. Here `;`~
the automatic mounting of loose retaining springs by means of
magazines in robots is proposed in such a way that the springs
are pressed over weight bodies specially constructed for this `~
method and the wheel rim flange. ;~;
That is why it would be desirable to provide a device withwhich, mechanically and without the direct use of the hands,
a balancing weight possessing the conventional construction ~`~
of retaining spring and weight body can, with its retaining
spring section, be selectively put or shot onto the rim
flange.
TECHNICAL PROBLEM, SOLUTION, ADVANTAGES ;
That is why the technical problem of the invention is to pro- ~ ~`vide a device of the type stated in the beginning, with the
aid of which a balancing weight is mechanically mountable on ~;
a vehicle rim.
The technical problem is resolved by the teatures ch,aractleri-
zed in the Claim 1. -` p~
The essence of the invention consists in the provision of a
detachable mounting means, into which it is possible to insert
the baLancing weight with its retaining spring. With the aid
of the mounting device the balancing weight is then placed on
the planned point on the wheel and, by means of the thrusting
and striking device, is effortlessly urged out of the mounting '
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means and jammed with the retaining spring between the tire
wall and the rim flange.
According to a preferred embodiment, a punch operating with a
pneumatic percussive drive is employed as thrusting or stri-
king means. The detachable mounting means does in this case
comprise a conical or duckbill-shaped receiving or accomoda-
ting member having a constricted portion with a special con-
striction aperture.
As a holding or retaining means, by preference at least one
permanent magnet can be provided which is embedded in the re-
ceiving member or which itself constitutes the receiving mem-
ber.
It is also possible, however, for the detachable nounting means
to comprise a narrowed portion in the form of an accommodating
cone, in which case the accommodation cone comprises elastic
walls for a clamping mounting or inelastic, contoured walls,
which are supported by means of springs. According to another
embodiment provision is made for the detachable mounting
means to possess small movable mounting arms for seizing the
retaining spring. What is essential in this case is that the
retaining spring is held by means of the mounting device de-
tachably in such a way within the action range of the punch -~
that, when the device is actuated, the retaining spring is
inserted into the gap between the tire and thr rim flange and
is jammed there.
It is particularly advantageous with regard to the handling -~
to construct the device according to another embodiment in
the form of a pistol, whose barrel possesses a through bore
for accommodating the punch and within whose muzzle area the
detachable mounting device is secured. ~ -
In order to reduce or absorb the recoil effect, especially in
a device constructed in the form of an air pistol, provision
may be made to fit the device with a mounting means, with
::
which it can be detachably connected to the rim or to the ;~
tire. This nay be a simpLe, e.g. approximately U-shaped clamp
j which is placed upon the tire and which engages over the same
parallel to the cross-section. The device is detachably retai-
ned hereby and a springing back of the deivice when it is re-
leased is prevented. However, it is just as possible to pro-
vide a clamp or a mounting rod with an enaggement hook or such-
like which is hooked into a rim opening or which engages over
the rim flange into the gap between the rim and the tire and
thus secures the device against a recoil movement. In this ~
connection attention will have to be paid that the direction ~` -
of force of the recoil of the thrusting or striking means is ~-~
aligned in the direction of the manual force and/or;of the
mounting means in order to safely press the retaining spring ~-~
of the balancing weight over the rim flange.
In an assembly of the device with an independent, displaceable
frame possessing an adequate dead weight which, by way of -
example, can be blocked by means of brakes; anyway, on a ba-
lancing machine this problem does not arise. ~-`
Other advantageous embodiments of the invention result from
the subclaims and the following description.
~RIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the following the invention is explained in greater detail
in connection with the drawings with the aid ~f embodiment
examples. Thus ;~;
i~g. 1 shows the situation when the device accordingito
the invention is used on a vehicle wheel;
F i g. 2 shows in a cross-section a normal form of a balan- -`
cing weight which is suitable for employment with
the device according to the invention; -
Figs. 3-9 show various embodiments of the detachable mounting I -
means for the device according to the invention;
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Figs. 10A-C show in different views a first preferred embodi-
ment of the detachable mounting means which is
constructed in the form of a permanent magnet;
Figs 11A-C show in different views a secondO especially
preferred embodiment of the detachable mounting
means, which is constructed in the form of a
permanent magnet, and
F i 9. 12 shows in a cross-section the overall view of an
especially preferred embodiment of the device
according to the invention, whichiSdesigned in the
form of a pistol for compressed air operation
and which is compatible with other pneujmatic tools
used in the workshop.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND THE BEST WAY OF
PERFORMING THE INVENTION
In Fig. 1 the situation is illustrated when a balancing weight
113 is mounted on a vehicle wheel 110 with the aid of the de-
vice according to the invention 100. The balancing weight 113 ~ -~
is comprised, as is shown once more separately in Fig. 2 for
the sake of clar;ty, of a weight body 13 (normally of lead~
in which a bent retaining spring 14 (e.g. of steel plate) is
embedded or cast integralLy with one of its ends 14a in the ;
manner depicted.
With the other free~end 14b, the retaining spring 14 is jammed
between the rim flange 11 in a rim 12 and the side wall~of a
I ~ tire 10 resting thereagainst so that the retaining spring 14
engages around the rim flange 11 and the weight body 13 is
fixed in its position on the outside of the rim flange 110
For the mounting of the balancing weight 113, a device accor-
ding to the invention is now employed which, in principle, is
comprised of a detachable mounting means 16 for the retalning -~
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spring 14 and a thrusting or slriking means disposed there-
behind - in the case of the Fig. 1 an elongated punch 17.
The punch 17 is guided in a through bore 15a in a head 15.
It is d;splaceable in the longitudinal direction and, when
actuated, thrusts through a passage opening 15b of the de-
tachable mounting means 16 and then thrusts the retaining
spring 14 out of the mounting means 16.
When this device is now held in a suitable manner resting on
the tire wall within the area of the rim flange 11, the termi- n~
nal area 14b of the retaining spring 14 then points into the
wedge-shaped gap 10a between the rim flange 11 and the tire
10 and, when the device is actuated, is shot into this wedge-
shaped area by the punch 17. It then engages over the rim , -
flange 11 and the balancing weight 113 embraces the edge of
the rim flange in a clamping manner.
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The external configuration of the head 15 and the mounting ;
means 16 is by preference conical so as to achieve a good ac- ~;
cess;bility. Also provided should be a straight contact area i
18 for contact on the tire 10 in order to enable a specif;c
alignment of the device to be effected. - ``
Various possib;lities of embodiment versions come into consi-
deration for the detachable mounting means 16, which are dia-
grammatically represented in the Figs. 3 to 9. According to i ~
Fig. 3, the mounting means 16 may be constructed as a narrowed- - ~-
down portion in the form of a receiving or accommodating cone
having elastic walls 33a,b, which become deformed when accom-
modating the retaining spring 14 and grip the spring clamping-
l y .
According to Fig. 4, the mounting means 16 may also be con-
structed in the form of a receiving cone possessing inelastic,
contoured walls 33a,b. In such a case the walls 33a,b are then ;~
supported e~g. with the aid of springs 19a,b or elastic screws
so as to yield when receiving the retaining spring 14 and to
cLampingly mount the retaining spring.
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It is possible furthermore, according to Fig. 5, to provide
small mounting arms 20a,b on the mounting means 16 which, by
way of example, are acted upon by a tension spring 21. How-
ever, in this connection it is also conceivable (not shown in
Fig. 5) to drive the small mounting arms 20a,b by means of a -~
suitable mechanism having an electric, hydraulic or pneumatic
drive in such a way that they grip the retaining spring 14 and,
when the punch 17 thrusts forward, release the same once more.
According to the Figs. 6 to 9, the mounting means 16 may also
be constructed in the form of a constricted portion in a recei-
ving or accommodating member 34, which, in its interior, con-
tains means for retaining the spring. The means may comprise
a permanent magnet, while the receiving member 34 either con-
sists of a permanent magnet itself (Fig. 6), or in that at
least one permanent magnet 22 is embedded in the receiving mem-
ber 34 (Fig. 7). The means may comprise an embedded magnetic
coil 23, which generates a magnetic field electrically for
the mount;ng and which is possibly switched off again when the
punch thrusts forward (Fig. 8). But it is also conceivable
to provide a suction device as retaining means, in which, e.g.
by pertinent suction ducts 24a,b, air is drawn off from the
constriction aperture 32 and the spring is thus retained by
vacuum (Fig. 9).
The solutions according to the Figs. 6 ~and ~ are the preferred
ones since no further outs;de energy is required for the moun-
ting with the permanent magnets 22. Two embodiments of this
solu~t~ion are reproduced in different views in the Figs; ~A-C
and ~A-C. The external configuration of the receiving member
34 ;s in this case either conical or oF the shape of a duck's
bill in order to achieve a good accessibility. On the recei-
ving member 34, preferably a straight contactl ~ is pro-
vided for making a selected or specific contact possible. The
shape of the constriction aperture 32 is preferably conical
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in order to make an accurately aligned mounting of the retai- ~
ning spring 14 possible. The permanent magnet 22 is e.g. scre- ~ -
wed onto the head 15 and possesses a through bore in the centre,
through which the punch 17 is able to act upon the held retai-
ning spring 14.
The thrusting or striking means, more particularly the punch '
17, can be driven pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically ;
te.g. by means of an electric motor and cam) or also by other
means. The preferred embodiment consists of a pneumatic per- `
cussive drive which is known per se and is widely used in au- ;~
tomobile workshops for ôther purposes and which will be explai~
ned in greater detail with the aid of Fig. 12. ~
The basic construction of the entire device 100 corresponds ~;
to that of a normal insertion pistol. This basic construction -
comprising a housing 30 and a handle 31 is distinguished in
that, centrally in the pistol, a through bore 15a is provided -
like a barrel, in which the punch 17 is guided. The punch 17
is activated at 17a by means of a pneumatic plunger with a -~
plunger disc 25. In this case compression springs 26a,b are
disposed in such a way that, with one of their ends the same
are supported on the housing 30 of the pistol and, with their
other end, on the plunger disc 25 and, when the plunger is
released and, together with the punch 17, executes a striking ;~`:
movement, they are compressed. After the balancing weight is
mounted, the plunger and, with it, also the punch 17, is once
again brought into its initial position by the compression
springs 26a,ba For actuating the plunger, compre~sed air is
supplied to the pistol by means of a hose liner ~ fixed to
the handle 31 and by a valve actuated by a hand release 27
in a known manner.
Within the muzzle area of the insertion pistol, a conically ;~
tapering head 15 is inserted and fixed by means of a screw
cap 29. The head 15 likewise possesses a through bore, through ~ ;
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which the punch 17 with its end 17b is able to act upon the
retaining spring of a balancing weight which is retained
within the area of the exit of the through bore in a constric-
ted portion having a conical constriction aperture 32. For
mounting the retaining spring the means already described are
provided which are by preference comprised of a permanent mag-
net 22 embedded in the head 15.
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LIST OF DESIGNATIONS `
tire ...
1Oa gap
11 rim flange
12 wheel rim
13 weight body
14 retaining spring
14a cast-in end
14b free end
head :-
15a through bore ~:.
15b passage aperture
16 mounting means (detachable)
17 punch
17a,b ends :
18 contact area ~ ~
19a,b spring/screw . .~-
20a,b . small mounting arms
21 tension spring ~ -
22 permanent magnet
23 magnetic coil
24a,b suction duct
25 plunger disc ~-
26a,b compression spring
27 hand release
28 hose liner
29 screw cap
housing
- 31 handle ~:~
32 constriction aperture
33 receiving cone ~:
33a,b wall (of receiving cone)
34 accommodation member
100 dev;ce
110 vehicle wheel :-~
113 balancing weight.
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