Abstract: A tire/wheel bead entrapment remover is disclosed. The tire/wheel bead entrapment remover includes one or more working assemblies having a circumferential perimeter that substantially engages a tire. The one ore more working assemblies axially-moves one of a wheel of the tire mounted to the wheel while axially-fixing the other of the tire or the wheel to remove one or more entrapments between a bead of the tire and a beat seat of the wheel. According to an embodiment, a tire/wheel bead entrapment remover includes one or more wheels that engages an outboard surface or an inboard surface of a tire mounted to a wheel. The radial axis extends through the one or more wheels. The radial axis traverses a radial line that radially extends from a common axis of rotation of the tire and the wheel. A method for removing an entrapment from a tire/wheel assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: An inflator device is disclosed. The inflator device includes a seal assembly that maintains, while sealing from ambient pressure, an open air passageway between a tire bead and wheel bead seat during an inflation procedure. A seal for the inflator device is also disclosed. The seal includes a ring-shape having a flexible inner periphery that is adapted to maintain, while sealing from ambient pressure, an open air passageway between a tire bead and wheel bead seat during an inflation procedure.

Abstract: A tire-wheel assembly adjuster is disclosed. The tire-wheel assembly comprises a working assembly adapted to be adjustable along an axis relative a workpiece and a sub-assembly coupled to the working assembly that is adapted to be radially adjustable relative the axis. A method for assembling a tire-wheel assembly is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a tire in an un-mounted state relative a wheel to a tire-wheel assembly adjuster; moving a sub-assembly connected to a working assembly in a radial direction relative an axis; moving the working assembly in a first direction about the axis toward the tire and wheel; and causing a wheel adjuster extending from the sub-assembly to circumferentially seat a bead of the tire into a bead seat of the wheel.

Abstract: A factory layout including a track circuit, one or more wheeled carts for traversing the track circuit and a tire/wheel assembly carried by the wheeled cart. One or more work stations can be positioned at locations along the track circuit. Various wheeled cart embodiments are disclosed and various work station configurations are disclosed.