Method and apparatus for handling components of a vehicle wheel assembly
AssigneeJustoy Pty Ltd
InventorsRobert Ian Hedley, Andrew Keith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus (10) for the installation/removal of a vehicular component (112), such as a wheel adaptor/spacer. The apparatus (10) includes a support structure (20) and a mounting head (40). The support structure (20) is height adjustable. The mounting head (40) includes an arm assembly (41) which is longitudinally extendable, and, which is rotatably connected to the support structure (20). Mounting brackets (48, 49) are attached to each end of the arm assembly (41) which are adapted to releasably engage the vehicular component (112).
Claims18
A vehicular component handling apparatus, the vehicular component comprising a wheel adaptor which can be installed or removed from a vehicle wheel mounting assembly, the wheel adaptor comprising two separate component parts which together form a ring or collar, when in an installed position, on the vehicle wheel mounting assembly, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a height adjustable support structure;
- (b) a mounting head which includes:
- (i) an arm assembly having opposed ends with a longitudinal axis extending in a longitudinal direction between the ends;
- (ii) the arm assembly being rotatably connected to the support structure in a position intermediate its ends;
- (iii) the arm assembly being extendable in the longitudinal direction so that the ends can be moved away from one another;
- and,
- (iv) a mounting bracket attached to each end of the arm assembly, each mounting bracket being configured to hold a respective one of the component parts during movement of the ends of the arm assembly away from one another.
A method of handling a wheel adaptor that is installable on or removable from a vehicle wheel mounting assembly, the wheel adaptor comprising two separate component parts that together form a ring or collar when installed on the vehicle wheel mounting assembly, the method comprising:
- providing a vehicular component handling apparatus comprising:
- a height adjustable support structure;
- and
- a mounting head including a longitudinally extendable arm assembly rotatably connected intermediate its ends to the support structure, the arm assembly having opposed ends with a mounting bracket attached to each end;
- operatively connecting each mounting bracket to a respective one of the component parts of the wheel adaptor;
- releasing attachment of the wheel adaptor from the vehicle wheel mounting assembly;
- and
- extending the arm assembly in a longitudinal direction to move the mounting brackets away from one another, thereby causing the component parts of the wheel adaptor to move away from one another to remove the adaptor from the vehicle wheel mounting assembly.
A method of handling a wheel adaptor that is removable from or installable onto a storage pallet, the wheel adaptor comprising two separate component parts that together form a ring or collar, the method comprising:
- providing a vehicular component handling apparatus comprising:
- a height adjustable support structure;
- and
- a mounting head including a longitudinally extendable arm assembly rotatably connected intermediate its ends to the support structure, the arm assembly having opposed ends with a mounting bracket attached to each end;
- operatively connecting each mounting bracket to a respective one of the component parts of the wheel adaptor extending or retracting the arm assembly in a longitudinal direction to move the component parts away from or toward one another;
- and
- positioning the wheel adaptor on the storage pallet or removing the wheel adaptor from the storage pallet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.