Rack and apparatus for supporting wheels
AssigneeWorkplace Maintenance Solutions Pty Ltd (ACN 626 363 095)
InventorAllan Martin James
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In the context of service and maintenance of heavy road vehicles, apparatus is provided that is configured to engage and support a rack and manoeuvre it into position relative to the vehicle to facilitate removal and installation of the wheels. The rack has a frame with a base and a pair of arms, each arm being pivotally attached to opposite sides of the base to pivot between an open configuration and a folded configuration. The apparatus may be expanded and contracted between an expanded configuration, where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the open configuration, and a contracted configuration where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the folded configuration.
Claims19
An apparatus for supporting a wheel received on a rack for holding a wheel in an upright position, the apparatus comprising:
- a rack engagement assembly configured to:
- engage a portion of the rack;
- and
- to support the rack when so engaged;
- and
- a lifting assembly for raising and lowering the rack engagement assembly and/or the rack, when engaged to the rack engagement assembly, wherein the apparatus is configured to be positionable relative to the vehicle and movable away from the vehicle to facilitate removal and installation of the wheels, and wherein, when the apparatus and engaged rack is removed from the vehicle, the apparatus is configured to lower the rack to the ground and disengage from the rack so as to store the upright wheel within the rack.
A system for removing, storing and installing wheels on a vehicle, the system comprising
- a rack for holding a wheel in an upright position;
- and
- an apparatus, engageable with the rack with the upright wheel received thereon, the apparatus comprising:
- a rack engagement assembly configured to engage an accessible portion of the rack and to support the rack holding the wheel when so engaged;
- and
- a lifting assembly for raising and lowering the rack engagement assembly and the rack, when so engaged by the rack engagement assembly, and wherein, when the rack is so engaged, the apparatus is positionable relative to the heavy vehicle and movable away from the vehicle for facilitating removal and installation of the wheel and wherein, when the apparatus and engaged rack is removed from the vehicle, the lifting apparatus configured to lower the rack to the ground and disengage from the rack so as to store the upright wheel within the rack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.