Abstract: A roof rack for use with vehicles. The roof rack includes a frame attachable to the roof of a car and an arm movable relative to the frame between a first position wherein a portion of the arm is positioned below the roof along the side of the car and a second position wherein a portion of the arm is positioned above the roof of the car. The device also comprises a lock for locking the arm in its second position. The roof rack includes a stop mechanism for stopping the movement of the arm at its first position and selecting the first position such that the arm, or the object mounted thereto, does not touch the side of the car. The device is well suited to mounting bicycles onto the roofs of cars.

Abstract: An improved multi-function loading and recovery apparatus for pallets, containers and the like having simple, effective design which enables efficient operation in a wide variety of recovery and loading operations.

Abstract: An expandable annular envelope sealing device for manually sealing a curing envelope between an outer annular portion and the bead of a tire to be retreaded in an autoclave. This envelope sealing device includes two opposed, expandable semicircular half-rings and either a toggle-actuated sealing lever or, preferably, a turnbuckle sealing lever for fine tuning adjustment of the expansion of the half-rings.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-destructive ultrasonic testing of tires is disclosed wherein an ultrasonic transmitter is positioned outside of the tire and applies pulses of ultrasound to the tire at a plurality of locations around the tire's circumference for transmission through the tire wall and receipt by an ultrasonic receiver located within the tire. The ultrasonic receiver generates signals in response to the received ultrasonic transmissions and a computer processes these signals to generate characterizing data from which defects in the tire may be determined. Signals representative of the defects are then processed to generate a graphic display illustrating the location of the defects with the tire.

Abstract: A wheel lift towing apparatus includes a crossbar with opposing end portions; two collars, one being mounted to each crossbar end portion; two wheel retainer locating struts, one being connected to each crossbar end portion via one of the collars; and two wheel retainers, one being mounted to a free end of each of the locating struts. The wheel retainers each have a central arm with first and second wheel engaging elements disposed at the opposing ends of the central arm. The wheel retainer support structure associated with each strut is configured to position each wheel retainer so that the retainers' respective first wheel engaging elements are located below a center axis of the wheels of the vehicle to be towed and so that the retainers' respective second wheel engaging elements are located above the center axis of the wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle lifting and towing device and particularly to an improved low profile lifting and towing device capable of efficient placement of the lower lifting boom while providing added ballast against the tipping moment of the towing vehicle, as well as a column configuration permitting the upper boom to be generally horizontal providing improved driver vision from the cab of the towing vehicle.

Abstract: A towing apparatus of the wheel lift variety is provided with wheel support members that move horizontally of vertically relative to a fixed-position support beam. The support members are mounted to the beam by pivotable, tapered collars and include a depending retainer that has both an extended height and depth to contact a substantial portion of the wheel circumference. The apparatus also provides means for rotating the support beam both above and below the horizontal. All of these features facilitate use of the towing apparatus.

Abstract: A vehicle transporting apparatus of the car carrier variety is provided with a platform that is pivotally mounted to the chassis of the transporting vehicle at a location forward of the centerline of the vehicle's rear wheels and above the chassis. A powered actuator is employed for pivotally moving the platform to either forwardly inclined or rearwardly inclined positions. A rearwardly projecting wheel lift boom is also pivotally mounted to the chassis below the platform and is capable of supporting a vehicle to be transported at least partially beneath the platform.

Abstract: A towing apparatus of the wheel lift variety is provided with wheel support members and stop means to enhance the resistance of the apparatus to roll-out by operator misuse.

Abstract: A towing apparatus of the wheel lift variety is provided with wheel support members that move horizontally or vertically relative to a fixed-position support beam. The support members are mounted to the beam by pivotable, tapered collars and include a depending retainer that has both an extended height and depth to contact a substantial portion of the wheel circumference. The apparatus also provides means for rotating the support beam both above the below the horizontal. All of these features facilitate use of the towing apparatus.

Abstract: A towing vehicle in the form of a tow truck is disclosed in combination with a novel boom, winching and lifting apparatus. The boom is pivotally mounted on a rear body of the tow truck and comprises an angled construction so that the free end of the boom is pivotable through an arcuate path from an upper position sufficient to permit conventional towing to a lower position sufficient to permit front-end winching. A winching cable is operatively associated with the free end of the boom and when the boom is positioned in its lowermost orientation the cable may extend forwardly beneath the truck for engaging a vehicle to be towed or winched in front of the truck. A belt sling assembly is mounted at the rear of the truck body and is releasably connected to the boom. A wheel lift sling assembly is connected to the boom and includes flexible sling straps depending from opposite ends of a sling support on opposite sides of the belt sling assembly.

Abstract: A repair construction and method are disclosed for repairing a damaged portion in the wall of a tire. A patch is installed over the damaged portion on the inside of the tire, and the inside of the tire is pressurized to force the patch into the damaged portion, preferably in a concave shape. The remainder of the plug area then is filled on the outside of the patch with a suitable plug material, and the plug material and patch are then cured while the patch is maintained in position at least partially within the damaged portion. This construction and repair method eliminates bulging on the exterior of the tire after the repair is completed.

Abstract: A tire changing apparatus is provided in which a lower bead-breaking shoe is pivotally mounted on a lever arm at one distance from the lever fulcrum and in which power is transmitted to the lever arm at a greater distance from the lever arm fulcrum. The bead-breaking shoe is of such a form that the leading edge of the shoe meets the wheel rim with its centerline spaced therefrom and engages the tire bead at substantially the leading edge centerline, thereafter engagement expanding progressively about the tire bead perimeter.

Abstract: A tire changing machine for breaking tire beads on a wheel rim having a drop center is disclosed. The machine includes a bead breaker mechanism including upper and lower bead breaking shoes, driving levers for each of the bead breaking shoes, and horizontally and vertically adjustable mechanism for positioning the upper bead breaker, which mechanism is frictionally locked where manually adjusted. The tire changing machine also includes a rack and pinion drive arrangement for centrally located rotating tire tool driving post. The rack is driven by the upper bead breaking drive lever. Dual power cylinders are provided, one to drive the lower bead breaker drive lever and one to drive the upper bead breaker drive lever. The drive levers are driven bi-directionally by their respective cylinders. The center post is also driven bi-directionally by the upper bead breaker power cylinder.

Abstract: A wheel restraining means is provided for use on tire-changing machines and the like which comprises a rigid plate to the underside of which, flexible ring is secured. The ring is urged into pressurable engagement with wheel to be secured on the machine and to be restrained from vertical movement.The wheel is secured from lateral movement by a self-locking conical member which engages the lower edge of the wheel hub hole.

Abstract: A vehicle hoist is provided with improved access to the vehicle in which a ramp section is raised on two vertical posts. The ramp section constitutes a first lifting mechanism and a second lifting mechanism is provided in the ramp section deck to raise the vehicle wheels clear to permit work to be done without removing the vehicle. The relative attitude between the ramp section and the vertical posts, i.e., vertical to horizontal, is maintained by a guide means which travels through a limited arc relative to a horizontal axis to react with the vertical columns and maintain the ramp section horizontal. The vertical posts are also restrained from inward movement by spacer rollers on the ramp section which engage the adjacent faces of the vertical columns.