Wheel balance weight

The present invention relates to a wheel balance weight attached to a tire wheel of an automobile.

In a wheel assembly state in which a tire of an automobile or the like is incorporated in a wheel, if the unbalance in the circumferential direction and the axial direction of the rotation shaft of the wheel assembly becomes large, problems such as vibration and noise are generated when the vehicle is running.

This vibration and noise are due to wheel imbalance. Therefore, a wheel balance weight that can cancel this imbalance is attached to the wheel. The position and weight of the wheel balance weight attached to the wheel are determined by measuring the imbalance of the wheel assembly with a dedicated measuring machine.

The conventional wheel balance weight has a structure having a weight body adjusted to a desired weight and a fixing means for fixing the weight body to the wheel. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1.) The wheel balance weight shown in Patent Document 1 is a locking member in which one end is fixed to the weight body and the other end opens so as to sandwich the peripheral edge of the rim portion of the wheel. The wheel balance weight to have is disclosed. The wheel balance weight is locked and fixed to the wheel by sandwiching the peripheral edge of the rim portion of the wheel with the other end of the locking member.

In the wheel balance weight shown in Patent Document 1, the locking member is formed by bending a strip-shaped metal plate so as to have irregularities in the length direction. At this time, the width direction of the locking member (the width direction of the strip-shaped metal plate) is not curved, and the cross section in the length direction has the same shape. When the wheel balance weight is attached to the wheel, stress is applied to the weight body toward the surface of the wheel. This stress suppresses the position of the center of gravity of the wheel balance weight from shifting. This stress is applied by the locking member. The locking member is required to have a certain rigidity or more in order to apply this stress, and the width and thickness of the locking member are required to have a certain size in order to secure this rigidity. That is, the locking member has a material cost.<patcit num="1"><text>Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 11-325188</text></patcit>

<p> The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wheel balance weight manufactured at low cost.</p>

<p> The wheel balance weight of the present invention that solves the above problems is a wheel composed of a weight body and a locking member in which one end is fixed to the weight body and the other end opens so as to sandwich the peripheral edge of the rim portion of the wheel. It is a balance weight, and the locking member is formed by bending a metal plate, and the locking member is characterized in that a ridge extending in the length direction of the locking member is formed at least at one end thereof. ..</p><p> The wheel balance weight of the present invention has a ridge at least at one end of the locking member, and the ridge increases the rigidity of the locking member in the extending direction.</p>

<p> The wheel balance weight of the present invention has a ridge at least at one end of the locking member, and the ridge increases the rigidity of one end of the locking member. By increasing the rigidity in the extending direction of the ridge at one end, it is possible to prevent the one end from shifting in the thickness direction. That is, the position of the weight body fixed to one end does not shift.</p><p> Further, since the wheel balance weight of the present invention has high rigidity at one end, its width can be shortened, whereby the cost required for the locking member can be reduced.</p>

The wheel balance weight of the present invention comprises a weight body and a locking member whose one end is fixed to the weight body and the other end opens so as to sandwich the peripheral edge of the rim portion of the wheel.

The weight body has a weight to counteract the imbalance of the wheel when assembled to the wheel. The material of the weight body is not limited as long as a predetermined weight can be obtained. The weight body can be made of steel or the like. This weight body can be easily manufactured by cutting a wire rod having a constant cross section into a predetermined length. The weight body is preferably an iron weight.

One end of the locking member is fixed to the weight body, and the other end is opened so as to sandwich the peripheral edge of the rim portion of the wheel. In the wheel balance weight of the present invention, the other end of the locking member sandwiches the peripheral edge of the rim portion of the wheel to lock the weight body to the wheel via the locking member.

The locking member is a curved metal plate. The material of the metal plate is not limited as long as it can form one end and the other end and can be formed so as not to come off when assembled to the wheel. The metal plate of the locking member is preferably a steel plate. Further, the metal plate preferably has a strip shape in which one end and the other end can be formed at both ends in the length direction.

The other end of the locking member has an arcuate cross section in the radial direction of the wheel. Since the cross section in the radial direction of the wheel is curved in an arc shape, the other end portion can sandwich the peripheral edge portion of the rim portion of the wheel.

The other end of the locking member has a proximal end and a tip facing the inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the peripheral surface when sandwiching the peripheral edge of the wheel rim. Here, the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral edge portion is a surface facing the axial center of the wheel, and the outer peripheral surface is a surface facing outward in the radial direction of the wheel. That is, the other end of the locking member has a base end abutting on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral edge and the tip abutting on the outer peripheral surface, and the curved shape of the other end reduces the distance between the base end and the tip. The peripheral part is sandwiched by the stress acting in the direction of shortening.

The locking member is formed with a ridge extending in the length direction of the locking member at least at one end. The ridges are formed by bending a metal plate. Here, the length direction of the locking member indicates a direction in which one end and the other end of the locking member are connected to each other, and when the locking member is formed by bending a strip-shaped metal plate, the strip-shaped metal plate is formed. Corresponds to the length direction of. That is, one end is curved so that the cross-sectional shape in the width direction perpendicular to the length direction has a substantially corrugated plate shape. Since the ridges are provided at at least one end of the locking member, the rigidity of at least one end where the ridges are formed is improved. Since the rigidity of one end is increased, it is possible to prevent the weight body having one end from being fixed from being displaced relative to the locking member. Further, since the rigidity of at least one end portion is improved, the width direction of the locking member can be shortened, and the material cost can be reduced.

The ridges formed at at least one end of the locking member are preferably long in length, and the ridges are preferably formed up to the base end of the other end. By forming the ridges up to the base end of the other end, it is possible to prevent the locking member from twisting between one end and the other end. Ridge is more preferred which is formed over the entire lengthwise direction of the locking member arbitrariness. By forming the ridges over the entire locking member, the rigidity of the entire locking member is improved.

The direction in which the ridges protrude is not particularly limited. That is, it may project on either side of both sides of the metal plate. It is preferable that the ridges project in a direction in which the contact surface in contact with the weight body and the surface facing the back become convex when one end thereof is fixed to the weight body.

It is preferable that a plurality of ridges are provided. By forming a plurality of ridges, the rigidity of one end becomes higher.

The wheel balance weight of the present invention can have the same configuration as the conventional wheel balance weight except that a ridge is formed at at least one end of the locking member as described above.

One end of the weight body and the locking member is fixed by inserting and fixing one end in the locking hole provided in the weight body. An engaging groove is formed in the weight body and the locking member is formed in the engaging groove. Known means such as a method of caulking and fixing the weight body in a state where one end of the weight is engaged, a method of welding, and the like can be adopted.

The wheel balance weight of the present invention preferably has a coating film layer on its surface. By having the coating film layer, it is possible to prevent the weight body and the locking member from being deteriorated such as rusting. Specific examples of the coating film layer include a zinc chromate-treated coating film, a baking-type zinc chromic acid composite coating film-treated coating film, and a silver powder coating film.

The wheel balance weight of the present invention preferably has an indication of its center of gravity position, weight, etc. on the surface of the weight body. When assembling the wheel balance weight, it is possible to assemble with high accuracy by adjusting the position of the center of gravity to a predetermined assembling position. Further, when the weight is displayed on the weight body, the wheel balance weight having a desired weight can be easily selected.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to examples.

(Example) As an example of the present invention, a wheel balance weight was manufactured. The manufacturing of the wheel balance weight of this embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.

First, a 1 mm thick steel plate (SK7, 6, 5, S60CM, S65CM and their equivalents) was cut into strips with a width of 15 to 25 mm and a length of 25 to 35 mm. After that, one end 30 and the other end 35 were formed by press molding, and heat treatment (quenching treatment) was performed to form a locking member 3 to which springiness was imparted.

The other end 35 is curved in a substantially U shape so as to match the cross-sectional shape of the peripheral edge of the rim of the wheel. The other end portion 35 is formed with a base end portion 36 which is located on the one end side and faces the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral edge portion, and a tip end portion 37 which faces the outer peripheral surface of the peripheral edge portion. The tip 37 has a small hole 38 for inserting a tool when removing the wheel balance weight from the wheel.

In the vicinity of the end portion of the tip end portion 37 of the other end portion 35 of the locking member 3, a curved outer peripheral surface is formed in a tapered shape so that the thickness increases from the end portion toward the base end portion 36. There is. The width of the end of the tip 37 is 12 mm. The other end portion 35 of the locking member 3 is formed so that the width thereof increases from the end portion of the tip end portion 37 toward the base end portion 36 (or one end portion 30).

Further, the locking member 3 is provided with two ridges 31, 31 extending over the entire length in the length direction of the strip-shaped steel plate. At one end 30, the ridge 31 has a width of 3 mm and a height of protrusion from the surface of the one end 30 of 1 mm. The ridges 31, 31 provided on the locking member 3 extend from one end 30 to the other end 35, and are formed so as to be substantially U-shaped and convex in the inner peripheral direction. The cross section of one end 30 in the width direction has a substantially M shape. A through hole 32 having a diameter of 3 mm that penetrates the one end portion 30 is opened in the central portion of the two protrusions 31, 31 of the one end portion 30. The width of one end 30 of the locking member 3 after molding was 12 to 20 mm. A cross-sectional view of one end 30 in the width direction is shown in FIG.

Next, the weight body 2 is manufactured by cutting a steel bar of φ7 to 10.5 mm (low carbon iron material such as SS400, S10C, S20C) to a length of 15 to 80 mm and forming it into a predetermined shape by press molding. Was done.

The weight body 2 manufactured by molding has a substantially oval cross section. Further, the weight body 2 has its shaft formed in a curved shape along the curved shape of the peripheral edge portion of the rim portion of the wheel. Further, when the weight body 2 is assembled to the wheel as a wheel balance weight, an engaging groove 20 extending in the radial direction of the wheel is formed at the center of one side surface facing the wheel, and the bottom surface 20a of the engaging groove 20 is formed. The boss 21 protrudes from the center of the wheel. Further, protrusions 23 and 23 are formed at both open end portions 22 and 22 for partitioning the engagement groove 20, respectively.

Further, the weight body 2 has a center of gravity position 24 and a weight 25 stamped on the other side surface. A cross-sectional view of the weight body 2 is shown in FIG.

After that, one end of the locking member 3 was engaged with the engaging groove 20 of the weight body 2. At this time, the boss 21 of the weight body 2 penetrates the through hole 32 of the one end portion 30, and the tip portion thereof is exposed on the surface of the one end portion of the locking member 3.

Then, the tip portion of the boss 21 was crushed, and the central portion of the one end portion 30 was crimped to the bottom surface 20a of the engaging groove 20. Further, the protrusions 22 and 22 provided on both open ends 21 and 21 of the engaging groove 20 are crushed in the internal direction of the engaging groove 20, and both ends in the width direction of one end are crushed on the bottom surface of the engaging groove 20. It was crimped to 20a.

Then, a baking type zinc chromic acid composite coating treatment was applied to impart rust prevention.

By the above means, the wheel balance weight 1 of this embodiment was manufactured. The front view of the wheel balance weight of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 3, the cross-sectional view is shown in FIG. 4, and the back view is shown in FIG.

In the wheel balance weight 1 of this embodiment, a ridge 31 is formed at one end portion 30, and the rigidity of the one end portion 30 is enhanced by the ridge 31. Therefore, the width of one end 30 can be made shorter than that of the conventional wheel balance weight. As a result, the steel plate for manufacturing the locking member 3 can be made smaller, and the material cost can be reduced.

Further, the wheel balance weight 1 of the present embodiment has ridges 31 and 31 protruding in the inner peripheral direction at the other end 35, and when assembled to the wheel, the tip of the ridges 31 and 31 Will come into contact with the wheel. When the wheel balance weight 1 is assembled to the peripheral edge of the rim of the wheel, the ridges 31 and 31 sandwich the peripheral edge and are firmly locked. Further, in the wheel balance weight 1 of the present embodiment, the rigidity of the locking member 3 is improved by forming the ridges 31 and 31 up to the other end 35, and the weight body 2 is not displaced.

Further, in the wheel balance weight 1 of the present embodiment, the protrusions 31 and 31 come into contact with the wheel, so that the end portion of the other end 35 in the width direction does not come into contact with the wheel. As a result, the widthwise end of the other end 35 is prevented from hitting the wheel and damaging the wheel.

<figref num="1">It is sectional drawing of one end part of the locking member of an Example.</figref><figref num="2">It is sectional drawing in the length direction of the weight body of an Example.</figref><figref num="3">It is a front view of the wheel balance weight of an Example.</figref><figref num="4">It is sectional drawing of the wheel balance weight of an Example.</figref><figref num="5">It is a back view of the wheel balance weight of an embodiment.</figref>

Code description

1 ... Wheel balance weight 2 ... Weight body 20 ... Engagement groove 20a ... Bottom of engagement groove 21 ... Boss 22 ... Open end 23 ... Protrusion 24 .. .Center of gravity position 25 ... Weight 3 ... Locking member 30 ... One end 31 ... Protrusion 32 ... Through hole 35 ... The other end 36 ... Base end 37 .. .Tip 38 ... Small hole