US 12,285,977 B1
Wheel partition assembly configured to modify tire cavity resonance
Murali K. Konga, Karnataka (IN)
Assigned to GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC, Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Oct. 6, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/377,554.
Int. Cl. B60C 19/00 (2006.01); B60B 21/12 (2006.01)
CPC B60C 19/002 (2013.01) [B60B 21/12 (2013.01); B60B 2900/133 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A partition assembly configured to be mounted in a tire cavity defined between a wheel and a tire to divide the tire cavity into a plurality of segments, the partition assembly comprising:
at least one air line; and
a plurality of baffles, each one of the plurality of baffles including:
a base configured to be mounted to the wheel, the base defining an air passageway in fluid communication with the at least one air line;
an expandable body connected to the base and in fluid communication with the air passageway of the base, the expandable body configured to be filled with air from the at least one air line; and
a seal extending about an outer perimeter of the expandable body,
wherein each one of the plurality of baffles is configured to receive air from the at least one air line to expand the plurality of baffles from a deflated configuration to an inflated configuration in which the plurality of baffles are configured to contact an inner wall of the tire coupled to the wheel to divide the tire cavity into the plurality of segments.