System for Disassembling Tire-Wheel Assemblies and Related Methods

An assembly comprising:

• a base configured to detachably connect to an arm of a robot;
• a first plate connected to the base;
• a second plate connected to the base and spaced apart from the first plate;
• a first arm and a second arm connected to the first plate;
• a third arm and a fourth arm connected to the second plate;
• and
• a drawbar releasably connected to the base and disposed between the first plate and the second plate in an assembled configuration, wherein:
• the first arm, the second arm, the third arm, and the fourth arm are configured to engage an outer portion of a tire or an outer portion of a wheel, and
• the drawbar is configured to (i) separate from the base and (ii) detachably connect with the base to secure the wheel to the base.

An assembly comprising:

• a base configured to detachably connect to an arm of a robot;
• a first bead-breaker tool connected to the base;
• a second bead-breaker tool connected to the base;
• and
• a nozzle connected to the base and disposed between the first bead-breaker tool and the second bead-breaker tool,
• wherein the assembly is configured to disengage, via the first bead-breaker tool and the second bead-breaker tool, a bead of a tire from a wheel while simultaneously spraying, via the nozzle, a lubricant on portions of the tire and the wheel.

A method for operating a system for disassembling a tire-wheel assembly, the method comprising:

• receiving a tire-wheel assembly from a first staging system;
• moving, via a first assembly and a robot, the tire-wheel assembly from the first staging system to a dismount stand;
• securing, via the first assembly and the robot, a wheel of the tire-wheel assembly to the dismount stand;
• disengaging, via a second assembly and the robot, a bead of a tire of the tire-wheel assembly from the wheel while simultaneously spraying, via the second assembly, a lubricant on portions of the tire and the wheel;
• separating, via the dismount stand, the tire from the wheel;
• moving, via the first assembly and the robot, the tire from the dismount stand to a second staging system;
• and
• moving, via the first assembly and the robot, the wheel from the dismount stand to the second staging system or a third staging system.