Automatic adjustable width chuck apparatus for tire testing systems

A tire testing machine comprising:

• a frame comprising a lower section and an upper section;
• a lower chuck fixed to the lower section of the frame, the lower chuck including a rotatable spindle;
• an upper chuck mounted to the upper section of the frame and movable vertically with respect to the frame, the upper chuck including a rotatable chuck member, said chuck member being axially movable with respect to the upper chuck;
• means for determining the uniformity of a tire held by the upper and lower chucks;
• a sensor for detecting the vertical position of the upper chuck;
• and
• a hydraulic actuator attached to the upper chuck for raising and lowering the upper chuck with respect to the frame to securely clamp a tire between the upper and lower chucks;
• wherein force exerted by the hydraulic actuator clamps a tire between the upper and lower chucks during testing;
• said sensor forming part of a hydraulic control circuit for controlling the position of said hydraulic actuator in order to move the upper chuck to any of various selected locations with respect to the lower chuck to clamp tires having different widths.

An adjustable width chuck apparatus comprising:

• a first chuck adapted to receive a half-rim for contacting the bead of a tire, the first chuck including a rotatable spindle including a tapered male portion;
• a second chuck adapted to receive a half-rim for contacting the bead of a tire and movable toward and away from the first chuck, the second chuck including an extensible, rotatable chuck member including a tapered female portion configured to receive the tapered male portion of the rotatable spindle;
• means for moving said first and second chucks towards and away from each other to establish a predetermined spacing between said half-rims;
• and
• at least one fluid pressure operated actuator operable to extend the chuck member with respect to the second chuck to move the tapered female portion into engagement with the tapered male portion of the spindle.

An adjustable width chuck apparatus comprising:

• a first chuck adapted to receive a half-rim for contacting the bead of a tire, the first chuck including rotatable spindle including a tapered male portion;
• a second chuck adapted to receive a half-rim for contacting the bead of a tire and movable toward and away from the first chuck, the second chuck including an extensible, rotatable chuck member including a tapered female portion configured to receive the tapered male portion of the rotatable spindle;
• and
• at least one fluid pressure operated actuator operable to extend the chuck member with respect to the second chuck to move the tapered female portion into engagement with the tapered male portion of the spindle;
• the actuator being disposed on an external portion of the chuck and providing a visual indication of the position of the extensible, tapered female portion of the chuck member with respect to the second chuck.

An adjustable width chuck apparatus comprising:

• a first chuck adapted to receive a half-rim for contacting the bead of a tire, the first chuck including a rotatable spindle including a tapered male portion;
• a second chunk adapted to receive a half-rim for contacting the bead of a tire and movable toward and away from the first chuck, the second chuck including an extensible, rotatable chuck member including a tapered female portion configured to receive the tapered male portion of the rotatable spindle;
• at least one fluid pressure operated actuator operable to extend the chuck member with respect to the second chuck to move the tapered female portion into engagement with the taped male portion of the spindle;
• and,
• a pair of pneumatic actuators secured to a housing of said second chuck that drive a bracket secured to the chuck member.

An adjustable width chuck apparatus comprising:

• a first chuck adapted to receive a half-rim for contacting the bead of a tire, the first chuck including rotatable spindle including a tapered male portion;
• a second chuck adapted to receiving a half-rim for contacting the bead of a tire and movable toward and away from the first chuck, the second chuck including an extensible, rotatable chuck member including a tapered female portion configured to receive the tapered male portion of the rotatable spindle;
• at least one fluid pressure operated actuator operable to extend the chuck member with respect to the second chuck to move the tapered female portion into engagement with the tapered male portion of the spindle;
• and, means for stripping a tire from the second chuck.

A tire testing machine comprising:

• a frame including a lower section and an upper section, the lower section defining a base;
• a lower chuck fixed to the base of the frame, the lower chuck including a rotatable spindle;
• an upper chuck mounted to the upper section of the frame so as to be movable vertically with respect to the frame, the upper chuck including a rotatable chuck member;
• means for testing a tire held by the upper and lower chucks;
• a sensor for detecting the vertical position of the upper chuck with respect to the frame;
• and
• an actuator for raising and lowering the upper chuck with respect to the frame between fully raised and fully lowered positions, wherein the actuator is operable to stop the upper chuck at any desired location between said fully raised and fully lowered positions;
• said upper chuck including an inner housing rotatably mounted within an outer housing, the rotatable chuck member being slidable relative to the inner housing, wherein the actuator raises and lowers the inner and outer housings and the chuck member.

A tire testing machine comprising:

• a frame including a lower section and an upper section, the lower section defining a base;
• a lower chuck fixed to the base of the frame, the lower chuck including a rotatable spindle;
• an upper chuck mounted to the upper section of the frame so as to be movable vertically with respect to the frame, the upper chuck including a rotatable chuck member;
• means for testing a tire held by the upper and lower chucks;
• a sensor for detecting the vertical position of the upper chuck with respect to the frame;
• an actuator for raising and lowering the upper chuck with respect to the frame between fully raised and fully lowered positions, wherein the actuator is operable to stop the upper chuck at any desired location between said fully raised and fully lowered positions;
• a first rim attached to the upper chuck and a second rim attached to the lower chuck, said rims being configured to engage the upper and lower beads of a tire tested by the machine;
• and
• a stripper mechanism carried by the upper chuck for forcing a tire off of one of the rims.