Circumferentially Traveling Patents (Class 157/1.22)
  • Patent number: 11155129
    Abstract: A tire changer machine, and method of operation, configured with a tire-engaging wheel clamp assembly to secure a wheel assembly consisting of a wheel rim and tire mounted thereon to a drive assembly, and for demounting of the tire from the wheel rim. Upon dismounting of the tire from the wheel rim, a recessed surface and annular flange of the tire-engaging wheel clamp assembly is configured to catch and retain a rim or bead of the demounted tire, restricting movement of the tire upon dismounting from the wheel rim, until retrieved by an operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: HUNTER ENGINEERING COMPANY
    Inventor: Charles Polster
  • Patent number: 11021025
    Abstract: A tire assembling device includes a main body, a holding portion, an abutting surface, a guiding portion, a pressing portion and a protrusion. The main body has a top surface. The holding portion is connected to one side of the main body. The abutting surface connected to another side of the main body is for abutting against a rim surface of the rim. The guiding portion located between the abutting surface and the top surface is extended inclinedly corresponding to a radial direction of the rim. The pressing portion extended from the guiding portion toward a reference direction is protruded from the abutting surface and connected to the top surface. The protrusion protruded from the pressing portion forms a hook portion with an upper edge of the pressing portion and the abutting surface. The hook portion is for hooking a first edge of the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: GIANT MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Tsung Hsu, Che-Wei Hsu, Wei-Han Tseng
  • Patent number: 10562354
    Abstract: A motorcycle tire for running on rough terrain, the tire includes a tread portion including a central region, a pair of shoulder regions and a middle region. The tread portion is provided with at least one central block with a ground contact face whose centroid is located within the central region, at least one shoulder block with a ground contact face whose centroid is located within the shoulder region on each side of a tire equator, and at least one middle block with a ground contact face whose centroid is located within the middle region on each side of the tire equator. When the respective blocks are projected onto a tire meridian cross section along a circumferential direction of the tire, every pair of axially adjacent two blocks are arranged so as to overlap one another at least partially on the tire meridian cross section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: SUMITOMO RUBBER INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Kanako Ogo
  • Patent number: 9731565
    Abstract: A bead breaker tool includes an upper member and a lower member, where the upper member and the lower member are interleaved together to make a lever assembly. The upper member and lower member are detachable from each other, and the upper and lower members are configured as tire irons. Also, the handles of the tire irons may include crossguards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Motion Pro, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Richard Scott
  • Patent number: 9417157
    Abstract: A wheel balancing machine having a tire removing device includes a rotation shaft upon which a wheel is mounted and elements for fixing the wheel to the rotation shaft. The device further includes a plate fixed rigidly to the tire removing device, and a tubular element connected to the plate which rotatably accommodates the rotation shaft. The wheel balancing device further includes a plurality of sensors fixed to the plate. The sensors are connected to the tubular element and adapted to measure the forces that constrain the tubular element when the rotation shaft and the wheel are turning and provide a measurement of the forces generated by the dynamic imbalance of the wheel. The plate includes a plurality of slots. The tire removing device includes arms with ends that engage in the plurality of slots to rigidly fix the wheel balancing device to the tire removing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Inventor: Carlo Buzzi
  • Patent number: 9206738
    Abstract: Free piston engines having a free piston having a first piston diameter in a cylinder with a combustion chamber on a first side of the first piston and a piston rod having a second diameter fastened to a second side of the first piston and extending to a single second piston having a third diameter smaller than the first diameter, but larger that the second diameter, the single second piston extending into a hydraulic cylinder, the second piston having a first hydraulic area defined by the third diameter in a first hydraulic chamber, and a second hydraulic area defined by the area between the third diameter and the second diameter in a second hydraulic chamber, and valving to control the coupling of a high pressure, a low pressure and a reservoir to the first and second hydraulic chambers to control the free piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Sturman Digital Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Oded Eddie Sturman
  • Publication number: 20150101760
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tire support member including a first tire support member, a second tire support member and a third tire support member. Each of the first, second and third tire support members include an upper surface and a lower surface. The apparatus includes a plurality of tire engaging devices including a first tire tread engaging post and a second tire tread engaging post. A method for processing a tire and a wheel for forming a tire wheel assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Lawson, Robert Reece, Joshua J. Hicks, Barry A. Clark
  • Patent number: 8973640
    Abstract: A tire changer machine and tire demounting methodology includes a demount tool assembly having a demount tool selectively positionable relative to a support and configured to extract a bead of the tire from the wheel rim. A guide element is mounted to the support, and the guide element is operable to provide a limited degree of freedom of the distal end from a predetermined path of motion in a tire demount procedure, thereby allowing the distal end to reliably grip the tire bead while the support arm is maintained in a stationary position relative to the wheel rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hunter Engineering Company
    Inventor: Douglas S. Hanneken
  • Publication number: 20150053355
    Abstract: A mobile bead breaking device (for separating a tire bead from a rim) comprises a cylindrical body, a bead seat engaging base lock with a plurality of bead seat engaging surfaces, stepped at each surface for full paired connection with an abutting face of the bead seat band; a rim flange engaging foot, a base lock tightener and a power transmission source within the body to i) vertically slide the base lock into removable connection with the plurality of bead seat engaging surfaces and to slide the foot into engagement with the rim; ii) horizontally slide the foot to disengage the rim from the tire bead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventor: Lyle Seabrook
  • Patent number: 8910693
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for demounting a tire (T) from a rim (W) including at least one support element; an articulation pin element borne by the at least one support element; a spring shackle element having a first end and a second end articulated on the articulation pin; a demounting lever; an actuator borne by the at least one support element and set to act on the demounting lever in order to make the demounting lever angularly move during use; and friction or elastic loading means designed to slow the angular movement of the spring shackle element around the articulation pin with respect to its angular movement around the first axis (x-x).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Butler Engineering & Marketing S.p.A.
    Inventors: Tullio Gonzaga, Silvano Santi
  • Patent number: 8684060
    Abstract: A tire-changing machine comprising support means (4) for a wheel, a tool-bearing arm (50) at an end of which a bead-breaking tool (6) is hinged according to a hinge axis (E) which is perpendicular to an axis (A) of the wheel, and first motorised means (32, 33) for causing a relative movement, in a parallel direction to the axis (A) of the wheel, between the support means (4) and the tool-bearing arm (50), such as to press the bead-breaking tool (6) against a flank of a tire on the wheel, characterized in that it comprises second motorised means (64), activatable independently from the first motorised means (32, 33), which second motorised means (64) are destined to rotate the bead-breaking tool (6) about the hinge axis (E) with the tool-bearing arm (50), in order to vary an inclination of the bead-breaking tool (6) with respect to the axis (A) of the wheel which is mounted on the support means (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Corghi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giulio Corghi
  • Patent number: 8522851
    Abstract: Machine for fitting and removing a tire (1) from a rim (2) of a wheel (3). The machine comprises a frame (10), a rotating table (11) in order to attach the wheel thereto by its rim and to rotate the rim about its axis (Y), and a tool (12) for fitting and/or removing the tire from the rim. The tool (12) is connected to the frame (10) by means of a movable structure (20) capable of moving the tool (12) horizontally and vertically to its working position situated close to the proximal edge (4) of the rim (2) when the wheel (3) is mounted on the rotating table (11). The movable structure (20) comprises four arms (A, B, C, D) connected together in twos by means of four pivots (p, q, r, s) the axes (X1, X2, X3, X4) of which are parallel with one another. One of the arms (A) is secured to the frame (10) and the tool (12) is connected to one of the other arms (B, C, D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Bertrand Du Quesne
    Inventors: Bertrand du Quesne, Francis du Quesne
  • Patent number: 8522850
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a method and an apparatus for assembling a tire (1) onto the rim (2) of a vehicle wheel or for disassembling a tire (1) from the rim (2) of a vehicle wheel. There is provided an electric motor (3) for rotationally driving the rim (2) and the tire (1) during the assembling or disassembling operation, tools (4, 5) for assembling or disassembling the tire (1) onto the rim (2) or from the rim (2), measuring means (6, 15, 16, 18) for measuring the tire temperature and/or forces acting on the tire during the assembling or disassembling operation, and recording means (7) for recording on at least one data carrier the measured values of the tire temperature and/or of the forces acting on the tire during the assembling or disassembling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Snap-On Equipment SRL a Unico Socio
    Inventor: Herrn Klaus Kirstatter
  • Publication number: 20130192768
    Abstract: A tire changer is provided for mounting/dismounting a tire to/from a wheel rim. The tire changer includes a tire fixing device mounted to a support arm and including a transmission cylinder that is rotatably mounted to the support arm and driven by a power device, a first retention member, a second retention member, and a fastening member. The transmission cylinder receives therein a transmission shaft having an end projecting outside the cylinder and forming a fastening section. The first and second retention members are mounted to the transmission shaft and both form a slope that is set in abutting engagement with an inside surface of a fixing bore formed in the rim. The fastening member is coupled to the fastening section to be positioned against the second retention member to thereby secure the rim between the first and second retention members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventor: CHIH-LIANG PENG
  • Publication number: 20130192769
    Abstract: An apparatus for seating a bead of the a adjacent a bead seat of a wheel is disclosed. The apparatus is disposable adjacent one or more of a tread surface and an outer sidewall surface of the tire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Android Industries LLC
    Inventor: Android Industries LLC
  • Patent number: 8464775
    Abstract: A tool for tire uninstalling and installing machines includes an element for connection to a movable bearing member of the tire uninstalling and installing machine, which has a longitudinal axis, and a round contact element which is freely and rotatably supported by said connection member about a rotation axis and which has an external outline in contact with a contact portion of a side of a tire installed to a rim, the round element having a flared contacting and lifting surface suitable to contact and lift the tire from the rim, which has a base facing toward the rim and defining a first opposed vertex, touching means extending from the base toward the rim for touching a portion of the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Teco S.r.l.
    Inventors: Mauro Barbetti, Roberto Iotti, Gianfranco Pellacani
  • Patent number: 8464774
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bead breaker group for bead breaking a tire of a tired wheel equipped with rim with bead-engagement flanges, the bead breaker group comprising a support (2, 5) and at least one bead breaker tool (3) mounted for rotation around a pin (4) borne by the support (2, 5), the bead breaker tool being substantially flat and comprising: at least one portion configured as an abutment front (3b, 3d, 3f) against a flange of a rim of a tired wheel to be bead broken; and at least one portion having curved peripheral edge substantially coaxial with the pin (4) and intended to act as an engagement-penetration zone (3a, 3c, 3e) between the flange of a rim and the bead of a tire to be bead broken, the distance between the abutment front (3b, 3d, 3f) and the pin (4) being less than the distance between the pin (4) and the at least one engagement-penetration zone (3a, 3c, 3e).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Butler Engineering & Marketing S.p.A.
    Inventors: Tullio Gonzaga, Silvano Santi
  • Patent number: 8453702
    Abstract: The blocking device of a wheel rim on a tire-mounting machine is provided with a rotating support plate having a central hole, and includes a stem for engaging with the rotating support plate, and a cursor which is slidable on the stem and which includes a conical centring body and a device for activating for moving the cursor along the stem. The device for activating includes a mechanical transmission between a collar and a motor and the coupling between the cursor and the stem is such as to prevent rotation of the cursor about the stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Corghi S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giulio Corghi, Andrea Bacchi
  • Patent number: 8408272
    Abstract: A system for mounting a tire and a wheel is disclosed. The system includes a robotic arm pivotably-connected to an end effector. The system also includes a tire-supporting portion including a support surface and a pair of wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portions disposed upon the support surface. The pair of wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portions includes a first wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portion fixedly-disposed relative the support surface and a second wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portion movably-disposed relative the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Android Industries LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Lawson, Robert Reece, Joshua James Hicks
  • Publication number: 20120267054
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a method and an apparatus for assembling a tyre (1) onto the rim (2) of a vehicle wheel or for disassembling a tyre (1) from the rim (2) of a vehicle wheel. There is provided an electric motor (3) for rotationally driving the rim (2) and the tyre (1) during the assembling or disassembling operation, tools (4, 5) for assembling or disassembling the tyre (1) onto the rim (2) or from the rim (2), measuring means (6, 15, 16, 18) for measuring the tyre temperature and/or forces acting on the tyre during the assembling or disassembling operation, and recording means (7) for recording on at least one data carrier the measured values of the tyre temperature and/or of the forces acting on the tyre during the assembling or disassembling operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventor: Herrn Klaus KIRSTATTER
  • Publication number: 20120145333
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for demounting a tire (T) from a rim (W), comprising: at least one support element (3, 5); an articulation pin element (9; 29) borne by the at least one support element (5); a spring shackle element (7; 70) having a first end (7a) and a second end (7b) articulated on the articulation pin (9; 29); a demounting lever (2); an actuator (4) borne by the at least one support element (3) and set to act on the demounting lever (2) in order to make the demounting lever (2) angularly move during use; and friction or elastic loading means designed to slow the angular movement of the spring shackle element (7, 70) around the articulation pin (9, 29) with respect to its angular movement around the first axis (x-x).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Tullio GONZAGA, Silvano Santi
  • Patent number: 8196637
    Abstract: A wheel servicing machine provides a rotatable shaft having a retractable rod slidably disposed in a center bore of the rotatable shaft, wherein the retractable rod is longitudinally moveable relative to the shaft. A rotatable locking member is disposed on the distal end of the retractable rod. The locking member includes one or more mounting studs protruding radially therefrom for engaging a centering cone or a wheel clamp. A tool support arm including a stage protrudes from the base. A tool adapted for engaging a sidewall of a tire is attached to support arm. A second stage including a second tool configured for engaging the opposite sidewall of the tire may also extend from the base. A platform assembly having one or more spring-loaded rollers is attached to the base in some embodiments. A longitudinally moveable travel arm includes a jointed auxiliary arm. The auxiliary arm in some embodiments includes a wheel support extending from one of the auxiliary arm members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Hennessy Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John Story
  • Patent number: 8191600
    Abstract: A system for mounting a tire and a wheel is disclosed. The system includes a robotic arm pivotably-connected to an end effector. The system also includes a tire-supporting portion including a support surface and a pair of wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portions disposed upon the support surface. The pair of wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portions includes a first wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portion fixedly-disposed relative the support surface and a second wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portion movably-disposed relative the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Android Industries LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Lawson, Robert Reece, Joshua James Hicks
  • Publication number: 20110290428
    Abstract: A tire changing apparatus to remove a tire from a wheel may include a substantially vertical stand for supporting a wheel balancing assembly and the vertical stand supporting a rim locker assembly which is operated by a arm. The rim locker assembly may include an adjustable arm extending device to adjust to different size rims, and the arm extending device may include a base member. The base member may include a spiral slot, and the base member may be driven by a drive gear. The drive gear may be driven by a opposing drive gear, and the opposing drive gear may be connected to a rotating arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventor: Philippe Pierre Roussel
  • Publication number: 20110036507
    Abstract: A tyre-changing machine comprising support means (4) for a wheel, a tool- bearing arm (50) at an end of which a bead-breaking tool (6) is hinged according to a hinge axis (E) which is perpendicular to an axis (A) of the wheel, and first motohsed means (32, 33) for causing a relative movement, in a parallel direction to the axis (A) of the wheel, between the support means (4) and the tool-bearing arm (50), such as to press the bead-breaking tool (6) against a flank of a tyre on the wheel, characterised in that it comprises second motorised means (64), activatable independently from the first motorised means (32, 33), which second motorised means (64) are destined to rotate the bead-breaking tool (6) about the hinge axis (E) with the too- bearing arm (50), in order to vary an inclination of the bead-breaking tool (6) with respect to the axis (A) of the wheel which is mounted on the support means (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: CORGHI S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giulio Corghi
  • Patent number: 7882882
    Abstract: A tire changing machine for changing difficult to mount tires is provided. The machine utilizes various implements configured about the machine's chassis in such a way that they do not interfere with each other's operation. In this way, the machine enables an operator to effectively change various tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hennessy Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles L. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 7798196
    Abstract: A tire mounting-demounting machine having a bead breaking arm with a work head having a head-holder support (10), bracket member (6) pivoted at one end thereof to the head-holder support (10), a bead breaker tool (2) supported at the other end of the at least one bracket member (6) and configured to engage a bead of a tire (P), a lever element (7) pivoted to the head-holder support (10) and bearing a feeler pin arm portion (9) configured to control the lever element (7) and a biasing member configured to yieldably keep the lever element (7) in the work position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Butler Engineering & Marketing S.p.A.
    Inventors: Tullio Gonzaga, Silvano Santi
  • Publication number: 20100163189
    Abstract: A system for mounting a tire and a wheel is disclosed. The system includes a robotic arm pivotably-connected to an end effector. The system also includes a tire-supporting portion including a support surface and a pair of wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portions disposed upon the support surface. The pair of wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portions includes a first wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portion fixedly-disposed relative the support surface and a second wheel-engaging and tire-manipulating portion movably-disposed relative the support surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Android Industries LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Lawson, Robert Reece, Joshua J. Hicks
  • Publication number: 20100089538
    Abstract: An operating head for removing and fitting wheel tires for vehicles includes a support arrangement associable with an arm of a tire-changing machine, a removal tool having a substantially hook-shaped free extremity, associated with the support arrangement and moving between a fastening-on position of a section of the bead of a tire of a wheel fixed on the tire-changing machine and a position of extraction of the bead section from the rim of the wheel, and at least an actuator device supported by the support arrangement and associated with the tool, in which the actuator device is suitable for moving the tool between the fastening-on position and the extraction position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Maurizio Bonacini
  • Patent number: 7604035
    Abstract: A tire mounting apparatus includes a mounting head that is rotated by a drive shaft and slidably carries two adjusting plates. A push rod extends coaxially through the drive shaft, and a deflecting rod slopes laterally from the push rod through openings in the plates. The deflecting rod has two sloping actuating surfaces with different slope angles that engage in the openings of the plates to cause different sliding displacement of each plate by an axial actuation of the push rod. A bead deflector and a pressing roller are respectively mounted on the plates so they can be adjusted to different wheel rim diameters. A toggle lever and/or a pivot joint adjust a pivot angle of at least one of the tire mounting tools to remain tangential to the wheel rim circumference while it is slidingly adjusted to a different wheel diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Schenck RoTec GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Lehr, Andreas Peinelt
  • Patent number: 7584775
    Abstract: The invention provides a tire mounter capable of preventing a tire from being damaged by minimizing a contact of a bead part of the tire relative to a wheel. The tire mounter, for receiving the wheel on which the tire is temporarily fixed aslant and mounting the tire on the wheel from a temporarily fixed state when mounting the tire, comprises a bead guide plate having an arc-shaped plate piece, the arc-shaped plate piece having a bottom surface side positioned on an upper surface side of the wheel, and an outer peripheral arc-shaped part positioned on an outer peripheral surface of the wheel. The bead guide plate is turned toward a bead part of the tire at a non-mounting side of the tire while being interlocked with a turning of a tire bead press roller, and thereby the bead guide plate turns ahead of the tire bead press roller so that the bead part of the tire at the non-mounting side of the tire slides on a surface side of the bead guide plate to be mounted on the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Altia Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruji Nomura
  • Publication number: 20090178768
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mounting device for mounting or demounting a tyre of a vehicle onto or from a rim, with at least a rotating body which rotates about an axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: SOCIETA' ITALIANA COSTRUZIONI ELETTROMECCANICHE - S.I.C.E. - S.P.A.
    Inventor: Michael IMMLER
  • Patent number: 7556078
    Abstract: A tool for completing the mounting of a bicycle tire onto its rim that is superior to those provided by the tools of the prior tire irons. The use of a tool is usually required to complete the job of mounting a bicycle tire to its rim due to the high tension developed in the bead of the tire at that stage. The present invention does not rely on a levering arrangement at all, but instead employs a traveling inclined plane to progressively lift the tire bead to a height above the rim's edge, and a downwardly sloped incline to allow the so lifted bead to then slide down into the rim's interior. The invention utilizes the flange, or rim sidewall, of the wheel rim for both support and guidance as it is impelled forward on the rim by impacts on its trailing surface from an object suitable for the function, such as a hammer. A slot is incorporated into the invention to receive the wheel's flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Inventor: David Robert Bassett
  • Patent number: 7481258
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved device for tire disassembling machines in general, designed to simplify tire assembling on rim without excessive stretching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Societa' Italiana Construzioni Elettromeccaniche- S.I.C.E.-S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giuliano Vignoli
  • Patent number: 7455097
    Abstract: A machine for fitting and removing vehicle wheels includes a base frame, a clamping and rotating device for clamping and rotating the rim of a vehicle wheel around a horizontal rotation axis, which are fitted on the base frame by interposing straight first guide means along a vertical sliding direction and at least one operating arm which is associated with the base frame along an oblique direction with respect to the position plane of the rotation axis and of the sliding direction and which has a work tool for fitting and removing a tire onto and from the rim. The operating arm is positionable in an operating position in which it is arranged at right angles and incidental to the rotation axis and the work tool is positioned near the circumferential edge of the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Giuliano S.p.A.
    Inventor: Maurizio Bonacini
  • Publication number: 20080277072
    Abstract: A tire and a core body with rubber legs are properly mounted to a rim with no plastic deformation of the core body. After the bottom side of a pneumatic tire 14 in which a support body 16 is arranged in the interior is mounted to a rim wheel 11, a portion of the upper side bead 18 in the circumferential direction is pressed downwards with a bead presser 192 of an immobilizing part 180 in order to drop in the bead 18 of the upper side. Since a portion of the outer surface of the bead in the circumferential direction is pressed such that the bead presser 192 exerts force on only the rubber legs 28 of the support body 16 via the bead 18, great stress is not made to act upon the support body 16 and plastic deformation can be prevented. After that, the portion of the upper side bead 18 dropped in is designated as the starting point and pressing rollers are made to rotate around the rotational axis, whereby the entire upper side bead can be dropped in.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Publication date: November 13, 2008
    Applicant: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventor: Tadashi Hagiwara
  • Publication number: 20080257501
    Abstract: Tyre changer apparatus having a horizontally extended frame (13); a wheel holder device (1) provided on said frame (13) and designed to support a tyred wheel (14) with horizontally positioned wheel axis (15); a carriage (5) supported movably along the frame (13); a tool holder (4) provided on the carriage (5); at least one tyre changing tool (2) for mounting the tyre onto the wheel and/or for demounting the tyre from the wheel; and actuator means to move the tool holder (4) on the carriage (5) to operating positions in which the tyre changing tool (2) is able to act on the tyre for mounting or demounting on both sides of the tyre, wherein during the mounting operation or demounting operation the carriage (5) is driven by an actuator device along the frame (13); the tool holder (4) is movably supported on a tool holder carriage (3) which is movably supported on said carriage (5) and driven by an additional actuator device (16) provided on said carriage (5), and said actuator device (16) is in drive connection
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: SNAP-EQUIPMENT SRL A UNICO SOCIO
    Inventors: Paolo Sotgiu, Antonio Fragale
  • Patent number: 7438110
    Abstract: An adjustable tire mounting apparatus can be universally used to assemble various types of wheels and tires to each other. The apparatus includes a cone restricting movement of a wheel, a housing rotatable about the cone, a horizontal distance adjusting unit that adjusts a position of a horizontal movable body with respect to the housing in the radial direction, a vertical distance adjusting unit that adjusts a position of a vertical movable body with respect to the horizontal movable body in the vertical direction, a pressure roller disposed on the vertical movable body that presses a sidewall of a tire, expansion rollers that are disposed on the horizontal movable body and guide the bead of the tire to enter a rim of the wheel, and a control unit that controls operation of the horizontal and vertical distance adjusting units, depending on the types of the tire and wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Il-Gon Kim
  • Publication number: 20080196838
    Abstract: A tire mounting tool, used with a tire mounting/dismounting machine, includes a mounting arm configured at one end to be firmly received into a tool receiving portion of the machine. A roller member is mounted for rotation in the vicinity of the other end of the mounting arm, wherein the mounting arm is configured such that the roller member rotates in operation about an axis which is at right angles to the axis of the wheel on which the tire is to be mounted by the machine. The mounting arm is further configured and arranged such that when received into the machine, the roller member extends slightly between the rim edges of the wheel and slightly outboard radially of the cuter, i.e. proximal, rim edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 21, 2008
    Applicant: Bargain Tool Developers, LLC
    Inventor: Randeil L. Theinert
  • Publication number: 20080128092
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a tire on a wheel rim includes a mounting head that is rotated by a drive shaft and slidably carries two adjusting plates. A push rod extends coaxially through the drive shaft, and a deflecting rod slopes laterally from the push rod through respective openings in the plates. The deflecting rod has two sloping actuating surfaces with different slope angles that respectively engage in the openings of the plates to cause different sliding displacement of each plate by an axial actuation of the push rod. A bead deflector and a pressing roller are respectively mounted on the plates so they can be adjusted to different wheel rim diameters. A toggle lever and/or a pivot joint adjust a pivot angle of at least one of the tire mounting tools to remain tangential to the wheel rim circumference while it is slidingly adjusted to a different wheel diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Schenck RoTec GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Lehr, Andreas Peinelt
  • Patent number: 7343955
    Abstract: A tire changing machine for changing difficult to mount tires is provided. The machine utilizes various implements configured about the machine's chassis in such a way that they do not interfere with each other's operation. In this way, the machine enables an operator to effectively change various tires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Hennessy Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles L. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 7264032
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a tire on a wheel rim includes a mounting head with a tire bead deflector and a tire press-in roller, and a drive that moves the mounting head toward, and rotates the bead deflector and the press-in roller around, the wheel rim. To avoid a damage-causing contact between the bead deflector and the wheel rim, an arrangement for monitoring a minimum spacing distance between the wheel rim and the mounting head is arranged preferably on the bead deflector. If an improper working position closer than the minimum spacing distance is detected, the arrangement produces a signal that influences, e.g. stops, the motion of the mounting head. The arrangement preferably includes a contact member of a comparatively soft low-friction material at a working end of the bead deflector. If the contact member contacts the wheel rim, this actuates a piezoelectric element to generate the required electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Schenck RoTec GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Peinelt, Werner Lehr
  • Patent number: 7128119
    Abstract: An automatic device (1) for mounting and dismounting a tire (100) onto/from the rim (201) of a wheel (120) associated with a tire-dismounting machine (100) comprising a lower base (101) on which are associated rotating support and locking means (102) of the rim (201) of a wheel, a pole (103) extending vertically associated with said base (101), a horizontal support arm (104) associated with said pole (103), said device comprising a mobile shaft (2b) that can slide vertically inside a pipe (2) supported so that it can slide horizontally on said arm (104), an articulated quadrilateral made up of a tire-dismounting tool (4), a pair of opposite connecting rods (13, 14) and a body (6) fixed to the lower end of the mobile shaft (2b), and a manoeuvring lever (7) articulated with said quadrilateral and suitable for deforming it to transmit the roto-translating motion to the tool (4) that goes from a seeking configuration to an extraction configuration of the bead (202?) from the rim (201).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Corghi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Remo Corghi
  • Patent number: 6453971
    Abstract: A tool for mounting and removing tires onto and from respective wheel rims comprises a profiled body mounted on a cylindrical shank provided at the end of a tool holder bar associated with a tire removal machine. The body has two active portions: the blade and the head. The blade and the head extend from two parts comprising coaxial hubs, both of which are mounted on the cylindrical shank of the tool holder bar and removably coupled together such that their mutual orientations can be adjusted. At least one of the hubs is provided with means for torsionally locking the hub to the shank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Societa Italiana Costruzioni Elettromeccaniche - S.I.C.E.-S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giuliano Vignoli
  • Publication number: 20010052396
    Abstract: Tool for mounting and removing tires onto and from respective wheel rims comprises a profiled body to be mounted on a cylindrical shank (2) provided at the end of a tool holder bar (1) associated with a tire removal machine, the body having two active portions, known as the blade (5) and head (6) respectively, extending from two parts (20, 22) comprising coaxial hubs (200, 220) both mounted on said cylindrical shank (2) of said tool holder bar and removably coupled together such that their mutual orientation can be adjusted, at least one of said hubs (200, 220) being provided with means for torsionally locking it to said shank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: December 20, 2001
    Inventor: Giuliano Vignoli
  • Patent number: 6273171
    Abstract: A bead breaking device (10) to break a bead (71) from a rim (81) of a wheel (80), comprising an assembly (20, 90) for mounting the device upon a wheel; a first arm (40) pivotally connected to the assembly; means for rotating (50) the first arm; and a breaking tool (60), carried at one end of the first arm and rotatable therewith relative to the assembly. A method for breaking a tire bead from a rim of a wheel, comprises the steps of mounting a wheel and a tire on a bead breaking machine; locating a bead breaking device on the machine, the device providing a bead breaking tool and at least a first arm carrying the tool at one end; forcing the bead breaking tool between the bead of the tire and the rim at one point on the circumference of the rim; and rotating the first arm and bead breaking tool sufficiently to cause the tool to separate the seal between the bead and the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Summit Tool Company
    Inventor: Roger Kliskey
  • Patent number: 6240995
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting tires on a wheel rim and removing tires from a wheel rim which comprises a shaft member mounted for rotation on a base member, a hub member operatively associated with said shaft member for rotation therewith, said hub member containing a cavity therein, means for rigidly securing the wheel rim to a centrally disposed rod, said rod extending as free ends from opposite sides of said wheel rim for selectively mounting the wheel rim within the hub cavity from either of said opposite sides thereof, engaging means mounted for substantially vertical and horizontal movement relative to said shaft members for bringing said engaging means into contact with a tire to be mounted on the wheel rim, and actuator means for moving said engaging means in said substantially vertical and horizontal direction to achieve said contact with said tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Corghi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Remo Corghi
  • Patent number: 6227277
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Corghi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Remo Corghi