Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for mounting tires on divided or split wheels. Tension members are guided by a guide body through holes of the wheels to pull the two halves of the wheel together after a tire has been put in place between the halves. Lug bolts to hold the wheel segments together are placed in cavities in the guide body and protrude to hold the bolts in position for affixing nuts and to prevent paint damage on the surface of wheels.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a tire support and safety cage for mounting on a vehicle lift gate or the like. The invention has a base frame for mounting the tire support and safety cage to a lift gate, inner and outer pairs of support members, each support member having top and bottom end portions, the bottom end portions being pivotally mounted to the base frame such that the support members are pivotally movable between raised working positions and lowered storage positions. A securement bar is connected to and extended between the top end portions of one of the pairs of support members. A closure frame is pivotally connected to the top end portions of the other of the pairs of support members for movement between a generally horizontal lowered locking position and a generally vertical raised open position. A means is included for releasably securing the closure frame, in the lowered locking position, relative to the securement bar and the one pair of support members.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting and inflating an automobile tire on a rim assembly, the apparatus comprising a tire changing machine (11) having foot valve (32) and control means (12, 51) for limiting the air pressure developed within the tire during a step of sealing the annular beads of the tire to the flanges of the rim assembly. The control means delivers source air pressure, typically 120-200 PSI at most shops, to the fill line (34) of the tire changing machine during sealing and inflating without substantially diminishing the source air pressure delivered thereto. The control means rapidly and frequently compares the pressure attained within the tire with a selected pressure, and once the selected pressure has been attained, the control means cuts off further delivery of source air pressure. An audible alarm (72) is provided to indicate that pressurized air is flowing and to indicate that the desired pressure level has been achieved within the tire.

Abstract: Herein disclosed in a method for coupling a tubed tire with a wheel assuring a dynamically balanced coupling therebetween. The tube has an inflation valve and the wheel has a valve aperture. The method comprises in steps finding and marking a first portion of the wheel where the radial run-out value (RR) is the minimum and a second portion of the tire proper where the radial force variation value (RFV) is the maximum, disposing the tube in the tire proper, sliding the tube within the tire proper to a position where an angular position of the second portion relative to the inflation valve is equal to that of the first portion relative to the valve aperture, and coupling the tubed tire with the wheel having the inflation valve passed through the valve aperture.

Abstract: Safety apparatus for a tire changer having a support table for tire/rim assemblies and a tire inflation system includes a post having a quick disconnect mechanism for engagement with and release from the support table. The post has high pitch threads which receive a restraining cone with mating threads. The post is engaged with the table through a central rim opening and the restraining cone is moved on the threads to engage the edges of the rim opening. The post-table engagement actuates an air interlock which enables the tire inflation system. The cone is trapped on the post by structure on either end of the post.

Abstract: Safety apparatus for tire inflation operations on a tire changing machine having a tire inflation system. The machine has a support table for receiving a tire/rim assembly, and has a tower at one side of the machine which supports a tire mount-demount head on a vertical adjust arm in position over the support table. A foot is provided for mounting on the mount-demount head, in one embodiment, so that the foot may be placed above a tire/rim assembly being inflated to absorb explosive forces if the tire explodes from the rim due to over inflation or a faulty tire bead. In another embodiment the mount-demount head has an impact absorbing member adjustable in vertical position on the vertical adjust arm. The impact absorbing member extends therefrom to overlie a tire/rim assembly for the aforementioned purpose.