Apparatus and method of introducing a free-flowing balancing material within a tire

A method of introducing a free-flowing balancing material into a tire through a tire valve stem comprising the steps of:

• (a) confining a predetermined amount of free-flowing balancing material within a container having an opening at one end thereof;
• (b) creating a flow path for directing pressurized air through a filter and drying element and then by the opening of the container and having a venturi located upstream of the opening for creating a region of lower pressure within the flow path in the region of said opening for drawing said free-flowing balancing material out of said container and into said air flow path;
• and
• (c) directing said free-flowing balancing material in said air flow path into a tire through an associated tire valve stem.

An apparatus for introducing a free-flowing balancing material into a tire through a tire valve stem comprising:

• (a) a container for confining a predefined amount of free-flowing balancing material;
• said container having means for introducing the free-flowing balancing material into the container, and an opening through which the free-flowing balancing material is drawn when subjected to pressurized air currents;
• (b) a source of pressurized air;
• (c) a flow path for pressurized air extending from said source of pressurized air to an air inlet, from said air inlet to a mixing chamber in communication with said container through said opening, and from the mixing chamber to an air outlet;
• said flow path having a pressure regulator therein;
• (d) a venturi nozzle within said mixing chamber to accelerate the air flow and lower the air pressure within the mixing chamber to draw the free-flowing balancing material from the container into the mixing chamber;
• and
• (e) an air filter and drying element between the air inlet and the venturi of the mixing chamber, and forming a part of the flow path therebetween,
• (f) means for introducing the mixture of free-flowing balancing material and pressurized air from said air outlet and introducing same into a tire through the associated tire valve stem;
• the volume of said container sufficient to contain an amount of free-flowing balancing material sufficient to effect dynamic balancing of a tire and associated wheel assembly.