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: 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 wheel restraining means having an upper rigid plate and a compressible air bag or similar flexible medium where a generally annular configuration is provided. This structure is mounted on a shaft and a conical member secures the structure to the shaft. The lower compressible surface engages a wheel rim which is mounted on the shaft. The pressurable engagement between the undersurface of the wheel restraining means and the adjacent surfaces of the wheel rim serve to secure the wheel on the shaft.This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 871,891 filed Jan. 23, 1978, and now abandoned.