Method of and apparatus for introducing pulverulent material into a tire

摘要

Method of and apparatus for introducing pulverulent material into a tire for the purpose of balancing a tire and an associated wheel assembly. A quantity of polymeric pulverulent material sufficient to balance a tire and an associated wheel assembly is charged to a cylindrical chamber and confined therein. Pressurized air is passed through the chamber in such manner as to form cyclonic air currents in the chamber. The cyclonic air currents can be obtained by configuring the air inlet and the air outlet for the chamber so that their respective axes are not aligned. A mixture of air and pulverulent material is withdrawn from the chamber and passed to a tire which is being balanced. An apparatus for practicing this method comprises a container having a transparent cylindrical side wall and a pair of end caps which together enclose a chamber for pulverulent material; an in-line filter, a pressure regulator and a first on-off valve which together form an air supply flow path for supplying air under pressure to the chamber, and a second on-off valve and a flexible hose having a quick disconnect coupling at its discharge end for conveying a mixture of pressurized air and pulverulent material from the chamber to a tire.