Wheel clamp assembly for semi-autonomous tire changer machine
AssigneeHunter Engineering Company
InventorCharles Polster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims11
A tire changer machine comprising:
- a drive assembly configured to receive a wheel rim for rotation about an axis;
- a clamping assembly having a spindle assembly configured to releasably engage the drive assembly to secure the wheel rim to the drive assembly;
- a plurality of tools selectively positionable to mount a tire on the wheel rim and demount a tire from the wheel rim;
- a control system configured to coordinate operation of the plurality of tools and said clamping assembly;
- a control input element configured to be selectively operable by a human operator to direct said control system to complete a tire service procedure for a wheel assembly secured by said clamping assembly;
- wherein said clamping assembly includes a knob disposed at an upper axial end of said spindle assembly, said knob including a reduced diameter annular rim-receiving region extending longitudinally between said upper axial end of said spindle assembly and an upper rim-retaining annular flange;
- and
- wherein a transition surface between said reduced diameter annular rim-receiving region and said upper rim-retaining annular flange is configured as a spherical sector.
A method for demounting a tire from a wheel assembly, implemented with a tire changer machine including a drive assembly configured to receive a wheel rim for rotation about an axis, a clamping assembly configured to engage the drive assembly to secure the wheel rim to the drive assembly, a plurality of tools selectively positionable to mount a tire on a wheel rim and demount a tire from a wheel rim, a control system configured to coordinate the tools and clamping assembly to complete a tire change procedure, and a control input element configured to be operable by said single human operator, the method comprising:
- positioning a first face of said wheel rim on said drive assembly;
- securing said wheel rim to said drive assembly with said clamping assembly;
- in response to an operator instruction, coordinating with said control system, actuation of said plurality of tools to carry out a demount procedure to demount a tire from said wheel rim, said demount procedure disposing said demounted tire adjacent said second face of said wheel rim;
- retaining said demounted tire at least partially adjacent a second face of said wheel rim axially opposite said first face by engaging a a circumferential bead lip of said demounted tire with a spherical sector transition surface between an annular recessed surface and an axially adjacent annular flange of a knob disposed at an upper axial end of said clamping assembly to await complete removal of said demounted tire from said tire changer machine by an operator.
A method for operating a tire changer machine comprising:
- receiving a wheel rim on a drive assembly for rotation about an axis;
- engaging said drive assembly with an axial clamping assembly to secure said wheel rim to said drive assembly;
- positioning at least one tool to demount a tire from said wheel rim;
- coordinating operation of said at least one tool and said drive assembly to demount said tire from said wheel rim;
- and
- automatically retaining said demounted tire at said axis in proximity to an upper surface of said wheel rim by engagement of an inner bead edge of said demounted tire with an annular flange of said axial clamping assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.