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US 8,307,874 B1Granted
Tire changing method and machine with angularly positionable drive axis
AssigneeHunter Engineering Company
InventorsDouglas S. Hanneken, Michael D. Gerdes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and machines for changing tires on a wheel rim are disclosed. The machine includes a drive shaft having a drive axis that can positioned at different angles for convenience of the machine operator to mount a variety of differently-sized wheel rims to the drive shaft without undue lifting and handling of the wheel rims.
Claims21
A machine for changing a tire on a wheel rim, the machine comprising:
- a base;
- a drive shaft assembly having a proximal end proximate the base, a distal end extending outwardly from the base, and a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end;
- a motor coupled to the distal end of the drive shaft assembly for rotating the distal end of the drive shaft assembly about the longitudinal axis;
- and
- at least one pivot element directly coupled to the proximal end of the drive shaft assembly, and a rotary actuator element coupled to the at least one pivot element and operable to cause the proximal end of the drive shaft assembly to tilt relative to the base.
2 more elements
A machine for changing a tire on a wheel rim, the machine comprising:
- a base;
- a drive shaft assembly having a proximal end proximate the base, a distal end extending outwardly from the base, and a longitudinal axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, the proximal end including a pair of pivot shafts extending opposite one another;
- and
- a single actuator configured to cause the proximal end of the drive shaft assembly to tilt relative to the base upon the pair of pivot shafts and selectively position the drive shaft in a wheel rim mounting position and a tire changing position at respectively different angles relative to the base.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.