# US 4,400,037 A · Wheel stabilizing device

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- Number: US 4,400,037 A
- Document ID: US4400037A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/281,570
- Filed: 1981-07-09
- Granted: 1983-08-23
- Earliest claimed: 1981-07-09
- Inventors: Herbert H. Gentry
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4400037A

## CPC

- F16F 15/36: operating automatically {, i.e. where, for a given amount of imbalance, there is movement of masses until balance is achieved (damping vibrations of washing machines by displacing, supplying or ejecting a material, e.g. liquid, into or from counterbalancing pockets D06F37/245)}
- F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION

## Abstract

A wheel-stabilizing device in combination with a vehicle wheel, wherein the stabilizing device provides a dynamic spring-loaded elastic mass, the mass being attached to the wheel. This device produces an elastic gyroscopic force that is increased as the rotational speed of the wheel increases, thereby progressively augmenting the stabilization of the inherent gyroscopic forces in the wheel, as the wheel rotates about its horizontal axis.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A wheel-stabilizing device in combination with a vehicle wheel, comprising:
a vehicle wheel having an annular rim;
a plurality of stabilizing means attached to said rim in spaced relationship to each other, wherein together said stabilizing means define an elastic mass that traverses inwardly and outwardly from the spinning axis of the wheel relative to the inertia imparted by the rotating wheel;
each of said stabilizing means comprising:
a resilient member secured to said rim and adapted to flex outwardly from the fixed point thereof; and
a mass attached to at least one end of said resilient member;
wherein said resilient member comprises an elongated, flat, leaf-spring member having oppositely disposed free ends, said leaf spring being secured intermediate said free ends; and wherein said mass comprises:
a first weight member attached to one free end; and
a second weight member attached to the opposite free end, whereby the free ends will bend outwardly together as said wheel rotates about the spinning axis thereof;
means for attaching said stabilizing means to said wheel; and
means for limiting the outward movement of said elastic mass.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein said limiting means comprises a cap member centrally attached over said leaf-spring member, thereby limiting the upward bend of said free ends of said leaf spring.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The combination as recited in claim 2, wherein said cap member includes oppositely disposed and angularly inclined flanges adapted to be engaged by said free ends of said leaf spring.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein said resilient member is adapted to twist about its longitudinal axis in an opposite direction from the rotation of said wheel about its vertical axis.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The combination as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for attaching said stabilizing means comprises:
an annular band, wherein said resilient members of each stabilizing means are attached to said annular band, said annular band being removably secured to said rim of said wheel.