Appeal 2007-0388
Application 10/337,459
insure good contact providing adequate transfer of heat between the rim 22
and the stem 30" (Stanton, col. 2, ll. 44-50).
According to Stanton, the 4 degree taper of passage 40 prevents
creeping of the fuse material 42 through the passage so it will not dislocate
under prolonged exposure to pneumatic pressure (Stanton, col. 2, l. 72 to col.
3, l. 3).
Stanton is concerned about localized heating of the upper part of the
wheel, caused by the so-called "chimney" effect once the wheel has come to
a rolling stop, possibly exposing the tire to dangerous overheating while the
lower part of the wheel is relatively cool and within a safe temperature range
(Stanton, col. 3, ll. 7-15). To address this concern, Stanton provides a
number of safety devices 38 spaced around the circumference of the tire
(Stanton, col. 3, ll. 16-18).
The packing 42 of fuse material in Stanton's safety device 38, as
depicted in Figs. 1 and 2, extends beyond the wheel structure toward brake
15. As illustrated in Fig. 2, however, the entire packing 42 of fuse material
does not extend beyond the wheel structure. Rather, a portion of the length
of the packing 42 extends within passage 29 of wheel rim 22.
Harvey discloses a thermal fuse device for venting a pressurized fluid
to a passage when a plug or billet of a fusible composition incorporated in
the device reaches a predetermined temperature (Harvey, col. 1, ll. 6-10).
The device is suitable for incorporation in the rim of a pneumatic tire and
wheel rim assembly to relieve tire pressure in the event that the temperature
of the assembly rises to a potentially dangerous level (Harvey, col. 1, ll. 10-
14).
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