Wheel soaping apparatus
AssigneeFori Automation, Inc.
InventorPaul George Doan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Wheel lubricating apparatus includes a conveyor for transporting wheels on their side in succession into position to be lifted by a lower unit into clamp engagement with an upper stationary unit to support the wheel to be lubricated against rotation. A pair of lubricant brushes are supported by a rotary carriage on opposite sides of the wheel and are rotated in alternating half rotations during each successive soaping cycle to apply soap to the bead seats of the wheels.
Claims17
Apparatus for lubricating the bead seats of a wheel dismounted from a tire to condition the wheel for mounting a tire thereon, comprising:
- a base;
- a wheel support assembly mounted on said base and engageable with a wheel dismounted from a tire for supporting the wheel against rotation about an axis of the support assembly, said support assembly being movable relative to the base;
- and
- an applicator assembly supported for rotation about said axis to apply a lubricant to the bead seats of the wheel.
Wheel lubricating apparatus for applying a lubricant to the bead seats of wheels to facilitate the mounting of tires upon the wheels, said apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a wheel fixture for supporting a wheel to be lubricated against rotation about an axis of the fixture, said fixture including a stationary spindle mounted on said frame along said axis, an upper wheel-engaging clamping member mounted on a lower free end of said spindle, a lower clamping member disposed along said axis below said upper clamping member, and a lift device mounted on said frame and supporting said lower clamping member for movement along said axis toward and away from said upper clamping member for clamping and releasing the wheel, respectively;
- and
- an applicator assembly rotatable relative to said wheel fixture about said axis for applying lubricant to the bead seats of the wheel, said applicator assembly comprising a rotary carriage journaled by said spindle for rotation about said axis, a pair of applicator brushes mounted on said carriage in opposed relation to one another for rotation with said carriage about said axis to engage and apply a lubricant to the bead seats, said brushes being adjustable radially of said axis, and a rotary drive coupled to said carriage for imparting rotation to said carriage.
Apparatus for lubricating the bead seats of a wheel to condition the wheel for mounting a tire thereon, comprising:
- a base;
- a wheel support assembly mounted on said base for supporting a wheel to be lubricated against rotation about an axis of the support assembly;
- and
- an applicator assembly supported for rotation about said axis to apply a lubricant to the bead seats of the wheel, said applicator assembly including a rotary carriage and a pair of lubricant-applying applicators mounted on said carriage in opposed radially outwardly spaced relation to said axis and wherein at least one of said applicators is adjustable on said carriage radially of said axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.