Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for fitting motor vehicle tires onto rims of disk wheels having a tire fitting tool (17) which can rotate about an axis and is mounted at a distance from the axis, an electric motor (2) as a drive motor for a rotational drive of the tire fitting tool (17) about the axis and a power supply device for the drive motor, the power supply device being connected to a gradient-limiting device which, when a predefined gradient of the torque transmitted from the drive motor (2) to the tire fitting tool (17) is exceeded, causes a braking current for stopping the rotational drive to be supplied to the drive motor (2). With the gradient as switch-off criterion, switching off takes place significantly before the limiting value of the torque or of the motor current is reached, so that the tire is handled more gently and it is ensured that the tire is not damaged by the interrupted fitting procedure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detaching a bead of a tire, has a tire bead separation shoe (1), which has a wedge portion (12) which engages a rim edge (WR) of a wheel (W) having a tire (T). The rim is mounted on a turntable (R). The wedge portion (12) is between the rim edge and the tire bead (TB) and the tire bead fold-back portion (11), and is arranged above the turntable such that it moves up and down. A thrusting rod (4) having a claw (41) provided at its tip end portion is operated when the said wedge portion (12) is shoved between the tire bead (TB) and the rim edge (WR) of the wheel. The claw (41) is shoved between the tire bead and the rim edge. A part of the tire bead is squeezed out of the wheel by the claw onto the bead fold back portion (11). The turntable is revolved so as to smoothly detach the whole circumference of the tire bead (TB) from the rim edge of the tire (W).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for seating the bead of a tubeless tire onto a rim of a wheel. Also included is a cartridge and a bead seater kit. The bead seater apparatus includes a barrel with a nozzle. The apparatus is further provided with a tab which is associated with the barrel. The tab forms part of a rim safety mechanism, which places the apparatus in a ready to fire position when the tab is pressed against the rim of a tire thus placing the nozzle in the proper orientation between the rim of the wheel and the bead of the tire. With the safety released, the trigger is free to be pulled, which causes a firing pin to hit the primer of the cartridge chambered in the firing chamber of the apparatus. The propellant is then ignited wherein the resulting gas is substantially instantaneously released through the barrel and out of the nozzle between the rim and the tire.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a tire chuck apparatus for holding a tire having a tire bead. The apparatus comprises: a gripping mechanism with at least two gripping members movable in tire radial direction from a retracted position to an extended position for pressing against the inner side of the bead portion of the tire, thereby holding the tire; gripping rollers as the gripping members adapted to be rotatable around an axis substantially parallel to a central axis of the tire; and a rotation drive mechanism for rotating the tire around the central axis of the tire. According to this apparatus, even if the center of the tire and the center of the chuck are out of alignment with each other, by rotating the gripping rollers so as to rotate the tire, the tire is shifted so that the center thereof is aligned with the center of the chuck apparatus, thus reducing mispositioning.

Abstract: A tool for demounting a first and a second bead of a tire mounted on a rim, the tool comprising a handle having a first end for disengaging a first tire bead from a rim and a second opposite end for disengaging a second tire bead from the rim. The first handle end includes a heel extending radially outward from the handle; an elongate arm portion extending radially outward from the heel and forming a forward opening crook; a raised arm portion disposed adjacent the crook; and a tip extending radially outward from the body portion. The opposite second end of the tool handle is configured to disengage a second bead of the tire from the rim and includes a heel extending radially outward from the handle; an elongate lever arm portion extending radially outward from the heel and defining an open crook adjacent the heel; and an elongate raised arm portion adjacent the crook extending outward to a tip portion.

Abstract: The machine comprises a working station (P) and a fixed bed (10) disposed to the rear side of the working station (P). For rotating a wheel (20) there is provided a unit which is carried by a support bracket (30) connected to the fixed bed (10) in such a manner as to be able to swivel about a horizontal axis (A) passing through the working station (P), and comprises, for rigidly locking the wheel rim, a motorized mandrel (32) disposed with its axis (B) perpendicular to and cutting or nearly cutting the swivel axis (A), so that the tire of the wheel (20) carried by the mandrel (32) is traversed, in a virtually central position, by the swivel axis (A) of the support bracket (30). The machine also comprises means (12) for swivelling the support bracket (30) between two operative positions, in the first of which the axis of rotation (B) of the wheel is disposed in a horizontal position, and in the second of which the axis of rotation (B) of the wheel is disposed in a vertical position.

Abstract: A tire balancing and changing device (10) has a pair of support surfaces (12, 14) and rotatable drums (42, 44) for contacting a vehicle's tires and wheels (50, 52) to balance and/or change the tires and wheels while on the vehicle (17). The device includes pairs of dowels (32, 34) for mounting and dismounting tires. The drums and pairs of dowels are operated by drive motors (31, 46, 48) that translate the dowels and rotate the tires and wheels. The drums include sensors (49) for balancing tires and wheels. With a vehicle positioned on the support surfaces and the weight of the vehicle removed from the tires by jacks (58, 60), the tires on the vehicle are deflated, removed, replaced and reinflated. The drums are moved into contact with the inflated tires to rotate the tires and wheels to balance them on the vehicle.

Abstract: A tire tool for facilitating the removal of a tire from a wheel rim having multiple radially spaced stud holes. The tire tool comprises a main body portion with two threaded bores at opposite ends of the main body portion. Secured to a first threaded bore of the main body portion is a means for driving the first end of the main body portion in a downward direction. The driving means is adapted to rest on the inner edge of a tire. Secured to the second threaded bore of the main body portion is a means for releasably securing the main body portion to the plurality of stud holes of the rim. The tire removal is accomplished by the downward driving force which causes the bead of the tire to break from the rim of the wheel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for seating a tire bead in the bead seat of a wheel includes the basic steps of: engaging the wheel and generating reciprocating movement of the wheel along the axis of rotation to fully seat the tire bead on the wheel. The method and apparatus further involves the step of rotating the tire and wheel about the wheel's axis of rotation while generating the reciprocating movement, as well as the step of applying pressure to the side walls of the tire while generating the reciprocating movement.

Abstract: A a tire bead breaking tool is disclosed comprising a handle and a wedge head. The shaft is configured having a gripping portion, a shield portion, and a working portion at a forward end. The working portion is configured having an oblong cross-section comprising protruding opposite end surfaces and substantially less protruding opposite lateral surfaces disposed between the end surfaces. The working portion of the handle is press fit into a circular bore of a tool head and contacts sidewalls defining the bore along the handle protruding end surfaces. The wedge head is configured having an elongate wedge arm extending forward to a rounded terminal edge. A protrusion extends outward from the wedge arm and is offset rearward from the forward wedge arm edge. The protrusion includes a beveled leading surface terminating at an outer edge.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire filling station includes a support and seal arrangement on which one side wall of the tire is supported and sealed, and a tire filling bell that presses and seals against the opposite side wall of the tire and then supplies pressurized air into the tire. The filling bell includes outer and inner rings that are concentrically slidable relative to each other. One of the rings is selected for the filling operation depending on the size of the tire. The support and seal arrangement includes plural plate members that are joined and sealed together to form a continuous support and seal surface, or moved laterally apart to allow a transport apparatus to carry and support the mounted tire from underneath. The tire filling station is adaptable to different models and sizes of mounted tires even in a mixed process flow, in an automated manner.

Abstract: A telescoping tire inflation apparatus for inflating wheel-mounted tires having a variety of different diameters and widths without requiring a hardware change. The apparatus includes a bell assembly that moves from a retracted position to an extended position where either an outer bell housing or an inner bell housing engages a larger-sized or smaller-sized wheel-mounted tire, respectively. A controller presets the inner bell housing to either a retracted position wherein the inner bell housing is disposed within the outer bell housing or an extended position where the inner bell housing telescopes downwardly from the outer bell housing. The inner bell housing can be moved to its extended position to push downward upon the sidewall of a relatively smaller-sized wheel-mounted tire, thereby creating a gap between the tire bead and the rim of the wheel through which compressed air supplied to the inner bell housing enters the tire at a high rate.

Abstract: A device that is used to seal a tire and to inflate the seated tire. An outer chamber serves to both direct exhaust air from an inner chamber with the tire and to protect the operator. The inner chamber is connected through valves to the outer chamber which valves control to the exhaust air to the outer chamber. There also are controls to inflate the tire.

Abstract: A tool for use in installing the bead seat band (44) and rim flange (42) of a multiple piece wheel as part of a tire changing or servicing operation that includes a tool body (10) having a corner with a first elongated surface (34) at the corner adapted to engage a rim flange (42) and a bead seat band (44) in an axial direction. The tool includes a second elongated surface (36) at the corner adjacent the first surface (34) at an acute angle to the first surface and adapted to engage the rim flange (42) in an axial direction at a location spaced from the intended point of engagement of the ring flange (42) by the first surface (34). The first and second surfaces (34), (36) define a notch (32) opening away from the body (10) and a tool mounting fixture (26) is connected to the body (10) generally opposite the notch (32).

Abstract: An apparatus for pressing a pneumatic tire off a rim of a motor vehicle wheel comprises a pressing blade for removing the tire by pressing it off the rim. The pressing blade is mounted pivotably on a support structure of the machine in a substantially horizontal plane of pivotal movement. The apparatus includes a lift means for lifting the motor vehicle wheel in a standing position with its wheel axis into the horizontal plane of pivotal movement of the pressing blade.

Abstract: A portable tire bead breaker includes a base over which a tire and rim may be placed, a beam attached to the base and extending upwardly therefrom, an arm assembly pivotally attached to the beam so as to extend over the base, and a driver attached to the arm and extending downwardly towards the base. The arm assembly includes an arm attached to the beam at a first pivot point and a cam connected to the beam at a second pivot point. The arm includes opposing arcuate slots and the cam includes a pin slidingly disposed within the slots. The driver has foot at a lower end thereof, and the length of the driver is adjustable. To break a tire bead, a handle is connected to the cam which is pivoted to cause the arm to pivot and the driver to be increasingly extended downwardly until the foot engages the tire and breaks a seal between the tire and the rim. The tire bead breaker can be folded into a compact unit for storage and transportation.

Abstract: The device is used for facilitating a tire fitting and is usable in combination with a self-centering platform, rotatable about an axis, and with a fitting tool. The device is constituted by an auxiliary tool provided with a frame and having a lower free end which is removably constrainable to the self-centering platform. The frame comprises a support which, when the free end is constrained to the platform, is vertical, lateral and external of the wheel. A pusher element is connected to the support and can move in a parallel direction to a longitudinal axis of the support. The pusher element interacts contactingly with a tire wall situated facing upwards and forces an upper bead to remain below an upper edge of the rim during rotation of the self-centering platform in order to achieve tire fitting.

Abstract: A pneumatic tire filling station includes a support and seal arrangement on which one side wall of the tire is supported and sealed, and a tire filling bell that presses and seals against the opposite side wall of the tire and then supplies pressurized air into the tire. The filling bell includes outer and inner rings that are concentrically slidable relative to each other. One of the rings is selected for the filling operation depending on the size of the tire. The support and seal arrangement includes plural plate members that are joined and sealed together to form a continuous support and seal surface, or moved laterally apart to allow a transport apparatus to carry and support the mounted tire from underneath. The tire filling station is adaptable to different models and sizes of mounted tires even in a mixed process flow, in an automated manner.

Abstract: Tire removal machine with manually or automatically positionable turret comprising a casing supporting a rotatable plate provided with self-centering jaws; a vertical column rising to the side of the plate; a shaft slidable horizontally relative to the column and lockable in position; a sleeve rigid with said shaft and within which the tool holder turret slides vertically, said turret being associated with a spring which maintains the turret spaced from said plate; pneumatic means for locking said shaft and said turret in position; and turret operating and locking means controlled independently by two three-way slide valves which can be switched between an active position in which the compressed air feed line communicates with the delivery lines of said turret operating and locking means, and an inactive position in which said delivery lines are connected to a discharge line respectively, said two slide valves being both associated with a single trigger the operation of which switches them into their inactive

Abstract: A tire removal machine comprising a rotary platform for supporting the wheel, means for acting on the tire bead and platform operating means, wherein the operating means are a single-phase electric motor with series excitation, connected to a single-phase feed line at 110V a.c. via a voltage rectifier, means being provided for limiting current absorption to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A helper arm for use in conjunction with a rim-holding tire changer for assisting with the mounting/demounting of a tire. The helper arm comprises an arm having one end attached to a support device and an opposite end operably attached to an adjustable vertical member. The arm is preferably jointed and pivotally attached to the support device. Controls are provided to enable vertical adjustment of the vertical member. The vertical member may comprise a cylinder assembly having a cylinder shaft that may be moved up or down into operable engagement with the tire and wheel rim. A contact block is attached to the lower end of the cylinder. The contact block includes an attachment head configured to enable attachment of the block to the vertical member. Further, the contact block includes a shoulder having a rim-stop surface, a hook member opposite the shoulder, a heel extending downwardly from the body of the block and an instep along the underside of the block.

Abstract: A device for fitting and removing a tire to or from a wheel, that works in conjunction with an instrument having a turntable provided with elements for tightening a rim of the wheel, and with a tool which can be positioned at the height of the top edge of the wheel rim that is mounted on the turntable. The device includes a lever with at least one pressure element that can exert pressure on either an upper or lower bead and/or at least one side of the tire. The lever is fixed in a mobile and revolving manner to a support which is fixed in relation to the instrument. The support is connected to the lever by a single coupling system which allows full movement of the lever between a first position in which the pressure element can exert pressure on one of the upper or lower beads or the sides of the tire surrounding a wheel rim mounted on the turntable of the instrument, and a second position in which the pressure element can exert pressure on the other side and/or the sides of said tire.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for bead seating a tubeless tire onto a rim. Air stored in a portable tank is released as a single pneumatic pulse having an extremely fast rise time. This is accomplished using a charging reservoir having a fill/quick-release port, an inlet and an outlet. A piston divides the charging reservoir into two sections, a control section containing the fill/quick-release port and an outlet section containing the inlet and the outlet. The portable tank is connected to the inlet of the outlet section. Air that is introduced into the fill/quick-release port fills the control section of the charging reservoir. Since the piston is a loose fit, air is able to slowly leak past the piston and fill the outlet section of the charging reservoir and the portable tank that is connected to the inlet. The pressure differential across the piston keeps the piston tightly against the outlet, holding the pressurized air in the outlet section and the portable tank.