</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My tire 14.9-26 holds about 47 gallons at
75% fill.)</font>
Interestingly enough, in looking at the patent, it is for both the
ballast itself and the method of filling the tire with it ("
Wheel with molasses ballast and method"). Actually there are a couple of methods described, including the mechanisms to accomplish them. One method utilizes two oppositely mounted installed valve stems, the other a duplexing arrangement via a single valve stem. The important thing is that the methods of filling the tire results in a tire with a near 100% fill.
The paragraph;
"
Hicks '949 shows the use of a mineral composition with a cushioning agent as ballast for a vehicle tire. The cushioning agent is usually a lightweight particle having occluded air therein. The cushioning agent could be expanded minerals, expanded plastics, or expanded rubbers (natural or synthetic). Solid materials break down and are difficult to insert into the tire."
appears to explain the reasoning here. (BTW, it appears that there is an error in the patent itself- it refers to "Hicks '949" which apparently should be "Hicks '999") I suspect that the solids in the beet molassas act as the cushioning agent, preserving the pnematic action of an entirely filled tire. The referenced Hicks patent refers to a dry filled tire, but makes specific description of this action. This also explains the the choice of beet derived maolassas; "
Unlike desugared cane molasses, which has only salt water as its final by-product, desugared sugar beet molasses has betaine, carbohydrates, cell wall amino acids, and contains 35-89% by weight solids from the beet fiber."
If it's weight you're looking for, it appears that Rim Guard is not only heavier than some other liquids, it allows a greater fill. My question to those who have spoken with Glen Daly,- In addition to the Rim Guard liquid itself, is he marketing the fill valve (Figures 3-5 of the patent) that allows (nearly) 100% fill through a single valve stem? That alone will give about a third again as much weight.
Now I have to figure out how I can explain it to the CFO that I need it...
