Method and apparatus for wheel maintenance
AssigneeGulfstream Aerospace Corporation
InventorsPerry Abitz, Dan Cuff, Kyle Pihlstrom
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for wheel maintenance includes a base configured to rotate about a vertical rotational axis and a frame mounted to the base that has a pair of opposing longitudinal members and a pair of opposing transverse members. First and second rollers are spaced apart from one another and coupled to the pair of opposing transverse members. Both the first and second rollers rotate about a longitudinal rotational axis orthogonal to the vertical rotational axis. In this way, when a wheel is positioned on the first and second rollers, the wheel may be rotated about the vertical rotational axis and a wheel rotational axis during a maintenance procedure.
Claims20
An apparatus for wheel maintenance, comprising:
- a frame having a first pair of opposing rails and a second pair of opposing rails orthogonal to the first pair of opposing rails;
- a first roller coupled at each end to the second pair of opposing rails and having a first rotational axis orthogonal to the second pair of opposing rails;
- a second roller spaced apart from the first roller and coupled at each end to the second pair of opposing rails and having a second rotational axis coplanar with the first rotational axis;
- and
- a rotating base coupled to the frame for rotating the frame and first and second rollers about a third rotational axis orthogonal to the first and second rotational axes;
- wherein, a wheel positioned on the first and second rollers may be rotated about a wheel rotational axis and the third rotational axis by the rollers and the rotating base during a maintenance procedure.
An apparatus for wheel maintenance, comprising:
- a base configured to rotate about a vertical rotational axis;
- a frame, coupled to the base, the frame having a pair of opposing longitudinal members and a pair of opposing transverse members;
- and
- first and second rollers, spaced apart and coupled to the pair of opposing transverse members and each configured to rotate about a longitudinal rotational axis orthogonal to the vertical rotational axis;
- wherein, when a wheel is positioned on the first and second rollers, the wheel may be rotated about the vertical rotational axis and a wheel rotational axes during a maintenance procedure.
A method for performing maintenance on a wheel, comprising:
- positioning the wheel on a wheel maintenance apparatus comprising:
- a base configured to rotate about a vertical rotational axis;
- a frame, coupled to the base, the frame having a pair of opposing longitudinal members and a pair of opposing transverse members;
- and
- first and second rollers, spaced apart and coupled to the pair of opposing transverse members and each configured to receive the wheel and rotate about a longitudinal rotational axis orthogonal to the vertical rotational axis;
- and
- rotating the wheel on the wheel maintenance apparatus about the vertical rotational axis and a wheel rotational axes while performing a maintenance procedure on the wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.