Patent Application
20250162356
This invention relates in general to the field of tire handling and, in particular, to methods and apparatuses for fitting and removing a tire on a wheel rim.
Tire handling apparatuses are used for fitting and removing tires e.g. to replace a tire which is worn or damaged with a new tire, or to replace a tire with another tire which is better suited to certain conditions e.g. the weather or terrain.
It is beneficial for a tire handling apparatus to be portable. In particular, for mobile tire service providers, or in a competitive environment, e.g. car, UTV and buggy racing, it is important for a tire handling apparatus to be lightweight and compact.
Existing solutions for a portable tire handling apparatus include a fixed base to grasp and rotate the wheel rim. For these apparatuses, an external support structure is required to support a mount/demount tool, e.g. a duck head, in a suitable position to engage with the wheel rim. Such supporting structures are generally very large and heavy.
Patent documents EP0141164 and WO2019/089342 describe tire removers that require an external support structure.
Alternatively, existing solutions may include a base section for grasping a wheel rim in place, with the duck head coaxially mounted. For these apparatuses, the duck head is generally operated with a long arm or lever to rotate around a circumference of the wheel rim. Such a lever is not compact, and the force required to drive the duck head generally means that the tire handling apparatus must be fixed to the ground. Patent document U.S. Pat. No. 3,029,861 describes a tire remover that requires a long arm. Patent document GB844007 describes a tire remover requiring a solid base fixed to the ground. Patent document CN214295431 describes a tire remover where a mount/dismount head rotates around a wheel rim.
The present invention aims to address these problems in the state of the art.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tire handling apparatus.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of removing a tire from a wheel rim. According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of fitting a tire on a wheel rim.
Optional features are as set out herein.
For a better understanding of the present invention and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention relates to a tire handling apparatus, and a method of removing and/or fitting a tire on a wheel rim. In particular, the tire handling apparatus is configured to hold a wheel rim and engage a mount/demount tool with the wheel rim to fit or remove a tire.
By mounting the wheel rim A on a central axle 10 of the tire handling apparatus 1, the tire handling apparatus 1 can be made more compact. Furthermore, the apparatus can be well balanced around the central axle 10, reducing the amount of stabilisation required for the apparatus. This can reduce a weight required for a supporting structure of the apparatus, and avoid the need to secure the apparatus in place. In this way, implementations of the tire handling apparatus 1 can be made portable.
By rotating the wheel rim relative to the mount/demount unit 40 using a driving unit 30, the amount of torque required to overcome the frictional resistance between the tire and the duck head can be provided with a small motor or manual driving unit. In this way, the size and weight of the apparatus can be reduced. Furthermore, a smaller driving unit with a low torque can increase stability of the apparatus, and avoid the need to secure the apparatus in place. In this way, implementations of the tire handling apparatus 1 can be made portable.
In some embodiments, the mount/demount unit 40 may be slidably mounted on the central axle 10. In this way, the mount/demount unit 40 can be arranged at the correct position along the central axle 10 for a variety of differently sized wheel rims. Furthermore, the mount/demount can slide along the central axle 10 to disengage the mount/demount unit 40 from the wheel rim and allow demounting of a wheel rim.
In some embodiments, the mount/demount unit 40 may be configured to be demounted from an end of the central axle 10 distal from the coupling part 20. In this way, a wheel rim can be mounted on the central axle 10 between the coupling part 20 and the mount/demount unit 40. In some examples, the mount/demount unit 40 may be configured to slide off and onto one end of the central axle 10. For example, the mount/demount unit 40 or a bracket of the mount/demount unit 40 may include an opening to receive one end of the central axle 10. In some examples, the mount/demount unit 40 may be configured to clamp onto a mid-point of the central axle 10, or fix onto one of the central axle 10 with the screw and/or bolt attachment.
In some embodiments, the central axle 10 may include a first portion 11 with a circular cross-section for mounting the wheel rim and a second portion 12 with a polygonal cross-section for mounting the mount/demount unit 40. In this way, a wheel rim with a circular opening may freely rotate on the first portion 11, and the mount/demount portion may be engaged with the polygonal cross-section of the second portion 12 to fix an angular position of the mount/demount unit 40. For example, the mount/demount unit 40 may include a polygonal opening corresponding to the second portion 12, such that the second portion 12 is free to pass through the polygonal opening but restricted from rotating within the polygonal opening.
In some examples, an outer radius of the second portion 12 may be smaller than or the same as an outer radius of the first portion 11. In this way, the wheel rim may pass freely over both portions when mounted or unmounted from the central axle 10. Alternatively, in some examples, the cross-section of the central axle 10 may be polygonal along its full length, or may be generally circular with one or more flat portions to engage with the mount/demount unit 40.
As described above, implementations of the tire handling apparatus 1 can use a small motor or manual driving unit 30. In this way, the size and weight of the apparatus can be reduced. Furthermore, a smaller driving unit 30 with a lower torque can increase stability of the apparatus, and avoid the need to secure the apparatus in place. In this way, implementations of the tire handling apparatus 1 can be made portable.
In some embodiments, the driving unit 30 may include a control unit 31 to activate and/or deactivate the driving unit 30. For example, the driving unit 30 may include an electronic switch implemented in, e.g., a floor pedal (as shown in
In some embodiments, the driving unit 30 may include a motor 32 and a gearbox 33. In some embodiments, the gearbox 33 may include a worm gear reducer. In this way, a low-torque, high-speed output of the motor 32 may be converted to a low-speed, high-torque rotation of the coupling part 20. In some examples, the driving unit 30 may include a chain or belt drive 34 to account for different angles of input and output of the gearbox 33. In this way, the driving unit 30 can be positioned directly below the gearbox 33, lowering a center of mass of the tire handling apparatus 1 and reducing the overall dimensions.
In some embodiments, the gearbox 33 may include a direct reducer. In this way, the number of components and the overall dimensions of the tire handling apparatus 1 can be reduced.
As shown in
In some embodiments, the coupling part 20 may include a cylindrical sleeve 23 configured to fit around the central axle 10. The engaging plate 21 may be fixed at one end of the sleeve, and a drive wheel 24 may be fixed at the other end. The driving unit 30 may be configured to rotate the drive wheel 24. In this way, the driving unit 30 may be arranged at a point on the central axle 10 distal from the coupling part 20. The drive wheel 24, cylindrical sleeve 23 and engaging plate 21 may be fixed as a single piece to rotate together around the central axle 10. Alternatively, in some examples, the driving unit 30 may be configured to rotate the engaging plate 21 directly.
In some embodiments, a conical spacer 50 may be arranged between the mounted wheel rim and the mount/demount unit 40. The conical spacer 50 may be mounted on the central axle 10 between the mounted wheel rim and the mount/demount unit 40. The conical spacer 50 may be configured to keep the mounted wheel rim in position, by urging the wheel rim against the coupling part 20. In some examples, the conical spacer 50 may be formed with a circular cross section and a conical profile, wherein a radius of the conical spacer 50 decreases in the direction of the central axle 10. The conical spacer 50 may be arranged to have an end with the smallest radius directed to towards the wheel rim. In this way, the conical spacer 50 can be made to fit into a central opening of any size on a variety of wheel rims. In some examples, the conical spacer 50 is configured to be demounted from the central axle 10 to allow a wheel rim to be mounted onto the central axle 10.
By arranging the mount/demount unit 40 on the central axle 10, the tire handling apparatus 1 can be made more compact, as there are no elements required to be outside an outer circumference of a mounted tire. The mount/demount unit 40 and a mounted wheel rim share a common axis provided by the central axle 10, so the mount/demount tool 41 can be arranged at a fixed position to engage with the mounted wheel rim. By rotating the wheel rim relative to the mount/demount unit 40, the mount/demount unit 40 can be mounted using a simple attachment with a fixed angular position, reducing the complexity of the device and allowing the mount/demount device to be easily demounted while a wheel rim is mounted onto the central axle 10.
In some embodiments, the mount/demount unit 40 may comprise a bracket 42 mounted on the central axle 10 with a fixed angular position, and a support arm 43 slidably attached to the bracket 41 and arranged to extend radially out from the central axle 10. The mount/demount tool 41 is fixed at an end of the support arm distal from the central axle 10. In this way, the mount/demount tool 41 can be arranged to engage with a variety of differently sized wheel rims. Alternatively, in some examples, the mount/demount tool 41 may be arranged at a fixed radius adapted for a specific size of wheel rim.
As shown, the mount/demount unit 40 may include one or more control levers 44. Each of the control levers 44 may be configured to engage a braking mechanism to fix a position of the mount/demount unit 40. For example, a first control lever 44a may lock a position of the support arm 43 and thus fix the radial position of the mount/demount tool 41. A second control level 44b may lock a position of the bracket on the central axle 10 and thus fix a longitudinal position of the mount/demount unit 40. In this way, the arrangement of the mount/demount unit 40 can be adjusted, and fixed in position before use. In some examples, the control levers 44 may be replaced with dials, wheels or electronic switches. In some examples, the braking mechanisms may be replaced with motorized actuators. Alternatively, one or both of the bracket 42 and support arm 43 may be fixed in position without the control levers 44.
In some embodiments, the mount/demount tool 41 may be a duck head. A duck head tool is a tool which can be used to fit the bead of a tire onto a wheel rim, and also used to remove the tire bead from the wheel rim. In some examples, an alternative mount/demount tool 41 may be used such as a tire lever or similar arrangement. In this way, a single tool can be used to fit or remove a tire. In this way the tire handling apparatus 1 can be used to remove one tire and fit another, e.g. a new tire, immediately after.
In some embodiments, the tire handling apparatus 1 may also include a plurality of supporting legs 60. In some examples, the legs 60 are attached to the driving unit 30. Alternatively, the legs 60 may be attached to the central axle 10. The tire handling apparatus 1 may include three or four legs.
As shown in
Alternatively, in some examples, the tire handling apparatus 1 may be formed with a fixed base e.g. a flat plate or box shaped base to support the apparatus.
The method starts at step S11.
At step S12, the method includes demounting the mount/demount unit 40 from the central axle 10.
In some embodiments, the mount/demount unit 40 may be slidably mounted on the central axle 10. In this way, the mount/demount unit 40 can slide along the central axle 10 to disengage the mount/demount tool 41 from a wheel rim and allow demounting of a wheel rim.
As shown, the central axle 10 may include a first portion 11 with a circular cross-section for mounting the wheel rim and a second portion 12 with a polygonal cross-section for mounting the mount/demount unit 41. In this way, a wheel rim with a circular opening may freely rotate on the first portion 11, and the mount/demount portion 41 may be engaged with the polygonal cross-section of the second portion 12 to fix an angular position of the mount/demount unit 41.
As shown, the coupling part 20 may include an engaging plate 21 arranged perpendicular to the central axle, with a pattern of stud holes. A plurality of wheel studs 22 may be attached to the stud holes to engage with a plurality of bolt holes in a variety of configurations suitable for a variety of different wheel rims.
At step S13, the method includes mounting the wheel rim A onto the central axle 10, and coupling the coupling part 20 to the mounted wheel rim A.
As shown, an outer radius of the second portion 12 may be smaller than or the same as an outer radius of the first portion 11. In this way, the wheel rim A may pass freely over both portions when mounted or unmounted from the central axle 10.
In some examples, as shown, the wheel rim A may be mounted with a tire, e.g. for removal of the tire and/or fitting a new tire. Alternatively, in some examples, the wheel rim A may be mounted without a tire, e.g. for fitting a tire to the wheel rim A.
In some embodiments, a conical spacer 50 may be arranged between the mounted wheel rim A and the mount/demount unit 40. The conical spacer 50 may be mounted on the central axle 10 between the mounted wheel rim A and the mount/demount unit 40. The conical spacer 50 may be configured to keep the mounted wheel rim A in position, by urging the wheel rim A against the coupling part 20. In some examples, the conical spacer 50 may be formed with a circular cross section and a conical profile, wherein a radius of the conical spacer decreases in the direction of the central axle. The conical spacer 50 may be arranged to have an end with the smallest radius directed to towards the wheel rim A. In this way, the conical spacer 50 can be made to fit into a central opening of any size on a variety of wheel rims. In some examples, the conical spacer 50 is configured to be demounted from the central axle 10 to allow a wheel rim A to be mounted onto the central axle 10.
At step S14, the method includes mounting the mount/demount unit 40 onto the central axle 10.
In some embodiments, the mount/demount unit 40 may be slidably mounted on the central axle 10. In this way, the mount/demount tool 41 can be arranged at the correct position along the central axle 10 for a variety of differently sized wheel rims. In some examples, the mount/demount unit 40 may be configured to clamp onto a mid-point of the central axle 10, or fix onto one of the central axle 10 with a screw and/or bolt attachment.
As shown, the mount/demount unit 40 may comprise a bracket 42 mounted on the central axle 10 with a fixed angular position, and a support arm 43 slidably attached to the bracket 42 and arranged to extend radially out from the central axle 10. The mount/demount tool 41 is fixed at an end of the support arm 43 distal from the central axle 10. In this way, the mount/demount tool 41 can be arranged to engage with a variety of differently sized wheel rims.
As shown, the mount/demount unit 40 may include one or more control levers 44. Each of the control levers 44 may be configured to engage a braking mechanism to fix a position of the mount/demount unit 40. For example, a first control lever 44a may lock a position of the support arm 43 and thus fix the radial position of the mount/demount tool 41. A second control level 44b may lock a position of the bracket 42 on the central axle 10 and thus fix a longitudinal position of the mount/demount unit 40. In this way, the arrangement of the mount/demount unit 40 can be adjusted, and fixed in position before use.
As shown, the mount/demount tool 41 may be a duck head. A duck head tool is a tool which can be used to fit the bead of a tire onto a wheel rim A, and also used to remove the tire bead from the wheel rim A. In this way the tire handling apparatus 1 can be used to remove one tire and fit another, e.g. a new tire, immediately after.
At step S15, the method includes engaging the mount/demount tool 41 with the mounted wheel rim A to remove a tire from the wheel rim A and/or fit a tire to the wheel rim A.
At step S16, the method includes activating the driving unit 30 to rotate the coupling part 20.
As shown, the driving unit 30 may include a control unit 31 to activate and/or deactivate the driving unit 30. For example, the driving unit 30 may include an electronic switch implemented in, e.g., a floor pedal.
In some examples, the method includes repeating the steps S15 and S16 for a second bead of the tire. As shown, a tire lever or other tool can be used to engage the mount/demount tool 41 with the other side of the mounted wheel rim A. Once engaged, the driving unit 30 may be activated for a second time.
In some examples, the method may include repeating the steps S15 and S16 to fit a tire, e.g. to fit a new tire onto the wheel rim A.
The method finishes at step S17.
Although aspects of the invention herein have been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2117328.1 | Dec 2021 | GB | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2022/061569 | 11/30/2022 | WO |
