Clamp device
AssigneeKal Tire
InventorsClayton Wilford Russell MCMUNN, Jan Peter NILSSON
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure provides clamp devices that may be operated remotely to facilitate the installation, removal and other handling of wheels and tires for large vehicles. The clamp devices generally include an attachment mechanism, a gripping mechanism, an actuating link operable to move the gripping mechanism between an open and closed position, and an actuator to activate the actuating link.
Claims37
A clamp device for gripping a stud of a wheel mounting assembly for mounting a wheel, the clamp device comprising:
- a gripping mechanism movable between an open position to locate the gripping mechanism over the stud and a closed position to grip and hold the stud;
- an actuating link for moving the gripping mechanism between the open position and the closed position;
- an actuator assembly comprising:
- a frame defining a sliding axis;
- a slider for controlling the actuating link, the slider slidably engaging the frame and slidable along the sliding axis;
- and
- a first actuator and a second actuator supported by the frame, the first and second actuators moving the slider in response to operating commands inputted by a user;
- and
- an attachment mechanism operable to releasably attach the clamp device to the wheel.
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A clamp device for gripping a stud of a wheel mounting assembly for mounting a wheel, the clamp device comprising:
- a gripping mechanism movable between an open position to locate the gripping mechanism over the stud and a closed position to grip and hold the stud;
- an actuating link for moving the gripping mechanism between the open position and the closed position;
- an actuator for controlling the actuating link in response to operating commands inputted by a user;
- and
- an attachment mechanism operable to releasably attach the clamp device to an attachment surface of the wheel, the attachment surface substantially perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the wheel.
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A clamp device for gripping a stud of a wheel mounting assembly for mounting a wheel, the clamp device comprising:
- a gripping assembly comprising:
- a gripping mechanism movable between an open position to locate the gripping mechanism over the stud and a closed position to grip and hold the stud;
- an actuating link for moving the gripping mechanism between the open position and the closed position;
- and
- an actuator for controlling the actuating link in response to operating commands inputted by a user;
- an attachment mechanism operable to releasably attach the clamp device to the wheel;
- and
- a flexible linkage disposed between the gripping assembly and the attachment mechanism, the flexible linkage configured to accommodate movement between the gripping assembly and the attachment mechanism.
A clamp device for gripping a stud of a wheel mounting assembly for mounting a wheel, the clamp device comprising:
- a gripping mechanism movable between an open position to locate the gripping mechanism over the stud and a closed position to grip and hold the stud;
- an actuating link for moving the gripping mechanism between the open position and the closed position;
- an actuator for controlling the actuating in response to operating commands inputted by a user;
- an attachment mechanism operable to releasably attach the clamp device to the wheel;
- and
- an outer housing surrounding at least one of the gripping mechanism, the actuating link, and the actuator, the outer housing comprising a grasping point graspable by the user to position the clamp device.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.