Abstract:
Methods and apparatus for mounting a tire onto a wheel rim are provided. The wheel rim has an inside bead seat and an outside bead seat for receipt of an inside bead and an outside bead of the tire respectively. The wheel rim may also have a seat for receipt of a support ring. Seating of the bead rings of the tire into the bead seats is provided. When a support ring is desired and the wheel rim has a seat for receipt of the support ring, seating of the support ring as well as the tire onto the wheel rim is also provided. In certain embodiments, substantially simultaneous mounting of the inside and outside beads of the tire is provided by rollers that press these beads towards one another and onto the respective bead seats of the wheel rim.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to method and apparatus for mounting a tire onto a wheel rim. The wheel rim has an inside bead seat and an outside bead seat for receipt of an inside bead and an outside bead of the tire respectively. The wheel rim may also have a seat for receipt of the support ring. The present invention allows for seating of the bead rings of the tire into the bead seats. When a support ring is desired and a wheel rim having a seat for receipt of the support ring is provided, the present invention also provides for seating of the support ring as well as the tire onto the wheel rim. In certain embodiments, substantially simultaneous mounting of the inside and outside beads of the tire is provided by rollers that press these beads towards one another and onto the respective bead seats of the wheel rim. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The use of a support ring within a tire to provide for extended mobility during periods of low or zero inflation pressure has been previously described. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,891,279, which is incorporated herein by reference, describes such a support for tires that is constructed from a flexible material. As described therein, the support ring is mounted on the wheel rim within the tire. 
         [0003]    For the purposes of discussion,  FIG. 6  illustrates a rim  10  onto which a tire  12  and support ring  14  are mounted. Rim  10  includes inside rim well  13 , support ring seat  15 , inside bead seat  17  and outside bead seat  19 . When mounted into the proper position, support ring  14  rests within support ring seat  15 . Similarly, when tire  12  is properly seated, inside or bottom bead  16  rests upon inside bead seat  17  while outside or top bead  18  rests upon outside bead seat  19 . As shown, the circumference of inside bead seat  17  is larger than the circumference of outside bead seat  19 , and the circumference of inside bead  16  is larger than outside bead  18 . Accordingly, inside bead  16  of tire  12  can be readily placed onto rim  10  by first inserting that side of rim  10  forming outside bead seat  19  into tire  12 . However, the subsequent placement of beads  16  and  18  as well as support ring  14  into their proper respective positions requires a certain degree of lateral or axially directed force. The present invention provides for a method and apparatus of properly seating ring  14  and tire  12  onto rim  10 . As may be desirable for some applications, the present inventions also provides for a method and apparatus of properly seating only tire  12  onto rim  10  and without mounting a support ring  14 . 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Various features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description. The present invention provides method and apparatus for mounting a tire onto a wheel rim. As desired, method and apparatus of the present invention may also be used to mount a tire and a support ring onto the wheel rim. Exemplary steps and embodiments of the present invention will now be summarized with a detailed, enabling description and claims to follow. 
         [0005]    In one exemplary method of the present invention, a procedure for mounting a tire onto a wheel rim is provided. The tire has an inside bead and an outside bead, and the wheel rim defines axial and radial directions. The method includes the following steps, it being understood that using the teaching disclosed herein the order of the steps may be modified depending upon the application. The tire is placed over the rim such that the inside bead is located at an intermediate position around the rim and the outside bead is located axially outside of the rim. As the rim is then caused to rotate, the inside bead is moved to a position axially outside of the rim. The inside bead and the outside bead of the tire are the pressed axially towards each other while moving the rim radially so as to urge the inside and outside bead into respective mounted positions on the rim. 
         [0006]    Steps may also be added to this exemplary method in order to mount a support ring onto the wheel rim. Accordingly, a support ring is inserted into the tire prior to placing the tire onto the wheel rim. As the tire is placed onto the rim, the support ring is positioned onto the rim during so that the support ring is located at least partially around the rim. An axially directed force is applied to the support ring while rotating the rim so as to urge the support ring into its mounted position on the wheel rim. Where desirable, an additional step may be provided of moving the outside bead generally in a radial direction so as to at least partially expose the support ring prior to the step of applying an axially directed force to the support ring. 
         [0007]    Various modifications to the above exemplary procedures may be provided. By way of example only, the pressing step may include applying axially-directed forces initially at a position located substantially at the center of the wheel rim. Additionally, the pressing step may include simultaneously applying axially directed forces to the inside bead and the outside bead. During the pressing steps, the rim may be moved first in one radial direction and then in an opposite radial direction. Additional, the rim may be rotated during the pressing step. 
         [0008]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for mounting a tire onto a wheel rim is provided in which the tire has an inside bead and an outside bead and the rim has an inside bead seat and an outside bead seat. The apparatus includes a slide that is selectively movable between a first and second position. A pedestal is attached to the slide. The pedestal includes a hub for the receipt of the rim. The hub defines axial and radial directions and is capable of being rotated about the axial direction. An actuator is attached to the slide. The actuator includes an inside bead receiving element configured for receipt of the inside bead and is configured with a cam that defines the radial position of the inside bead receiving element when the actuator is caused to move in the axial direction. Preferably, the cam is configured so as to cause the inside bead receiving element to pull the inside bead down and outside of the rim as the actuator is moved vertically downward. 
         [0009]    A rim press is attached to the slide and includes a shaft configured for rotation about the axial direction. The shaft is movable in the axial direction so as to selectively secure the rim between the shaft and the hub. Preferably, the shaft includes a wheel cone positioned at an end of the shaft and configured for complementary receipt by the wheel rim. A plurality of upper and lower bead rollers are located proximate to the second position. The bead rollers are movable along the axial direction towards or away from the tire when in position on the hub. The bead rollers are configured for pressing the inside and outside bead rings into the inside and the bead seats respectively. 
         [0010]    Where mounting of a support ring is desired, additional features can be provided for this exemplary embodiment. For example, a support ring roller can be located proximate to the first position. Such support ring roller includes an outside bead receiving element configured for receipt of the outside bead of the tire, and the support ring roller is movable along the axial direction towards or away from the slide. 
         [0011]    Additional features may be provided. By way of example only, a first power source can be connected to the slide by a screw drive for selectively moving the between the first and the second positions. A second power source can be connected to the hub for selectively causing the hub to rotate about the axial direction. A third power source can be connected to the actuator for selectively causing the actuator to move in the axial direction. A linear transducer cylinder can be provided that is in mechanical communication with the support ring roller and is configured to provide for selective movement of the support ring roller along the axial direction. 
         [0012]    The plurality of upper and lower bead rollers can be constructed to define an opening through which the pedestal may be carried by the slide towards the second position. A plurality of wheel support rollers can be located proximate to the first position and configured for supporting the tire as it is rotated by the hub. 
         [0013]    For removing the mounted tire, at least one exit conveyor can be provided. The exit conveyor is movable along the axial direction and is located proximate to the second position. The exit conveyor is configured for lifting the tire from the hub and transporting the tire away from the pedestal. Alternatively, at least one pair of exit conveyors can be provided that include a plurality of guides supporting the exit conveyors. As such, the exit conveyors are configured for sliding along the guides, which extend at an angle so that the exit conveyors overlap upon being moved towards one another along the guides. At least two cylinders attached to the pair of exit conveyors and are configured for selectively moving the exit conveyors along the guides. 
         [0014]    In certain applications, a frame may be provided, to which at least the slide, the rim press, and the plurality of upper and lower bead rollers are attached. 
         [0015]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    A full and enabling disclosure of the present subject matter, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates the lines along which  FIG. 1  is sectioned in order to provide for the perspective views of  FIGS. 2A through 2D . 
           [0019]      FIG. 3A  provides another perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIGS. 3B through 3O  provide a perspective view of a portion of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 3A . 
           [0021]      FIGS. 4 and 5  each provide perspective views of a portion of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 3A . 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a cross-section of an exemplary support ring, tire, and rim that can be mounted using the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a portion of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 3A . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not meant as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield still a third embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  provides a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 3A through 3O  provide an overall side view of this exemplary embodiment of the present invention and also include various depictions of a rim  10 , tire  12 , support ring  14  being mounted as will be later described. For purposes of clarity, a cage, various operator presence sensors, controls, and control panels that might be employed are not shown in any of the figures but the use and presence of such will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art using the teaching disclosed herein.  FIGS. 2A through 2D  illustrate perspective views of the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , but magnified and separated in four sections along the lines shown in  FIG. 2  for the purposes of discussion. 
         [0026]    Focusing primarily now on  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2A  though  2 D, a pedestal  20  is provided for receipt and support of the rim  10 , tire  12 , and support ring  14  (which are shown in  FIG. 3B  for example) during the mounting procedure. Pedestal  20  supports a hub  22  onto which the wheel rim  10  will be placed. Hub  22  is provided with pins  24  for mating receipt with rim  10  to prevent slippage during rotation. However, pins  24  are not necessary for all applications and can even be dispensed with in applications where slippage is not an issue or pins  24  are otherwise not needed. Hub  22  is attached to a shaft  26  that connected by belt  28  to motor  30 . Upon being powered by motor  30 , hub  22  is caused to rotate within pedestal  20  and thereby rotate rim  10  when in position on hub  22 . As will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, motor  30  is connected to a controller (not shown) so as to allow for the selective rotation of hub  22  and the determination of the speed of rotation as well. 
         [0027]    Pedestal  20  is carried upon a slide  32  that can be selectively moved in the horizontal direction by sliding along a pair of cylindrical guide shafts  34 . The position and movement of slide  32  is selectively determined by ball screw  36  powered by motor  38  ( FIG. 3A ), which is also connected to a controller. Slide  32  can be horizontally moved between a first position near support  40  and second position near support  42  ( FIG. 3A ). Movement of slide  32  will be further described herein. 
         [0028]    Actuator  44  is also carried by slide  32  and is located adjacent to pedestal  20 . Actuator  44  includes a bead spoon  46  that is shaped to receive and hold the inside or bottom bead  16  of tire  12 . Referring now to a close-up view of actuator  44  provided in  FIG. 7 , cam  48  is defined by actuator  44  and rides upon cam wheel  50  as actuator  44  is caused to move vertically. Spring  45  urges cam  48  against cam wheel  50 . The vertical movement of actuator  44  and the resulting horizontal movement caused by cam  48  are illustrated by the phantom lines in  FIG. 7 . Accordingly, the precise distance between bead spoon  46  and hub  22  is varied by the action of cam  48  upon cam wheel  50  as actuator  44  moves vertically. Referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , linear transducer  52 , which is also connected to a controller, provides for the movement and precise vertical location of actuator  44  relative to slide  32 . Guide  54  maintains the direction of this movement and guide stop  56  limits the vertical height to which actuator  44  may be raised. 
         [0029]    Rim press  58  is also carried by slide  32 . Press  58  includes a mandrel  60  that extends from cylinder  62 . Wheel cone  64  is attached to mandrel  60  and is configured for complementary receipt by rim  10  as will be described below. Cone  64  freely rotates about mandrel  60 . Cylinder  62 , which is connected to a controller, can be used to selectively move mandrel  60  vertically and thereby secure rim  10  between cone  64  and hub  22  by forcing cone  64  downward. Pin  66  is received into a hole  68  defined by hub  22  to provide for alignment and to secure the position of rim  10 . 
         [0030]    Support ring positioner  70  ( FIG. 2C ) is attached overhead to frame  72 . Positioner  70  includes a slide  74  that rides vertically along a pair of cylindrically shaped guides  76 . Linear transducer  78 , which is connected to a controller, provides for vertical movement and control of the precise vertical location of positioner  70 . Outside bead element  80  is attached to slide  74  and includes a positioning wheel  82  that is located adjacent to hook-shaped tip  84 . As will be described below, tip  84  is shaped for the receipt of outside or top bead  18  of tire  12  while positioning wheel  82  is configured for urging support ring  14  into its properly seated position along rim  10 . Preferably, wheel  82  is provided with a beveled surface as shown for example in  FIG. 2C  so as provide for a margin of error in the placement of support ring  14  on rim  10  and to improve the ability to grab top bead  18  before positioning wheel  82  pushes down on support ring  14 . 
         [0031]    Continuing with  FIGS. 1 and 2 , upper and lower bead rollers  86  and  88  are also supported upon frame  72 . Upper bead rollers  86  are carried by a pair of slides  90  that each ride upon a pair of cylindrically-shaped guides  92 . The movement and position of upper bead rollers  86  is provided by a pair of cylinders  94  with a single cylinder  94  being attached to each slide  90  (only one cylinder  94  is visible in the figures). Similarly, lower bead rollers  88  are carried by a pair of slides  96  that each ride upon a pair of cylindrically-shaped guides  98 . The movement and position of the lower bead rollers  88  is provided by a pair of cylinders  100  with a single cylinder  100  being attached to each slide  96  (only one cylinder  100  is visible in the figures). 
         [0032]    As already described, slide  32  can be moved horizontally to a second position near support  42 . Pedestal  20  is provided with a tapered shape so as to allow slide  32  to be carried into an opening between rollers  86  and  88 . In this second position, slide  32  is positioned between a pair of exit conveyors  102  by which rim  10 , tire  12 , and support ring  14  can be lifted from hub  22  and conveyed away from pedestal  20  as will be later described. 
         [0033]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , each exit conveyor  102  includes a pair of conveyor tracks  104  that can be operated by motor  106 . Each conveyor track  104  is carried by a vertical slide  108 . Each slide  108  is movable in the vertical direction by sliding along a pair of cylindrically-shaped guides  110 . Power for this movement is provided by a pair of cylinders  112 —one each connected to center plate  114  that in turn connects each pair of conveyor tracks  104 . Vertical slides  108  and guides  110  are angled slightly so that as each pair of conveyor tracks  104  is hoisted by cylinders  112 , tracks  104  overlap to provide a continuous path for the removal of a mounted tire  12  and support ring  14  from the pedestal  20 . The overlap is illustrated in  FIG. 4  for example. 
         [0034]    An exemplary method of using the above exemplary embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention for mounting tire  12  and support ring  14  onto rim  10  will now be described. Referring to  FIG. 3A , with pedestal  20  located at an intermediate position between supports  40  and  42 , rim  10  is placed onto hub  22 . As shown in  FIG. 3B , using linear transducer  52 , actuator  44  is moved vertically upward so that bead spoon  46  is moved into inside rim well  13  ( FIG. 6 ). For the purposes of illustration,  FIG. 3B  shows a gap between bead spoon  46  and rim  10 . However, spoon  46  actually makes contact with, and rests within, inside rim well  13  of rim  10 . With support ring  14  positioned within the cavity of tire  12 , both ring  14  and tire  12  are placed onto rim  10 . As shown in  FIG. 3B , the lower or inside bead  16  is placed over and into bead spoon  46 . Note the support ring  14  is placed onto rim  10  but still rests at a position vertically higher than rim  10  at this point. 
         [0035]    Referring now to  FIG. 3C , rim press  58  now lowers wheel cone  64  (illustrated by arrow A) towards pedestal  20  until rim  10  is secured firmly in-between. Slide  32  then carries pedestal  20  towards support  40  by the rotation of ball screw  36 , which is illustrated by arrows B and C respectively. The amount of this movement of pedestal  20  is such that the hook-shaped tip  84  of outside bead element  80  can be lowered into the cavity of tire  12  in a position to catch the outside or top bead  18  of tire  12 . Once pedestal  20  is moved the appropriate distance towards support  40 , support ring positioner  70  moves outside bead element  80  vertically down towards rim  10  as illustrated by arrow D. 
         [0036]    As shown in  FIG. 3D , pedestal  20  is now moved in a direction away from support  40  as illustrated by arrow E. This movement causes hook-shaped tip  84  to catch outside bead  18  and pull tire  12  to one side so as to expose support ring  14 . Referring to  FIG. 3E , using hub  22  and motor  30 , rim  10  and tire  12  are rotated (arrow F) as linear transducer  78  moves positioning wheel  82  onto support ring  14 . As positioning wheel  82  moves downward (arrow G), support ring  14  is urged into its properly seated position on rim  10  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). Rollers  114  provide support to the rim during this operation (identified in  FIG. 2A ) 
         [0037]    Looking now to  FIG. 3F , once support ring  14  has been properly mounted on rim  10 , positioning wheel  82  is moved away from support ring  14  (arrow H) as rotation of rim  10  ceases. Pedestal  20  is again moved towards support  40 , as shown by arrow I in  FIG. 3G , in order to release outside bead  18  from hook-shaped tip  84 . Positioning wheel  82  and hook-shaped tip  84  are now removed from the cavity of tire  12  as shown by arrow J in  FIG. 3H . 
         [0038]    As illustrated by arrow I in  FIG. 3I , pedestal  20  is now moved back towards an intermediate position between supports  40  and  42 . Actuator  44  now causes bead spoon  46  to move radially outward from rim  10  and down so as to a position a portion of inside bead  16  to a position outside of rim  10  as illustrated by arrow U. As rim  10  is then rotated as shown by arrow K in  FIG. 3J , all of inside bead  16  is pulled outside of rim  10 . As shown, at this point, both inside bead  16  and outside bead  18  are outside of rim  10 . Arrow L of  FIG. 3K  illustrates the downward movement of actuator  44 , which cause lower bead spoon  46  to move radially inward from inside bead  16  and then down and out of tire  12 . 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 3L , pedestal  20  is now moved towards support  42  (arrow M) until rim  10  is centered between upper bead rollers  86  and lower bead rollers  88 . As shown in  FIG. 3M , cylinders  94  and  100  moves towards each other (arrows N and O) urging the inside and outside beads  16  and  18  towards rim  10 . As upper and lower bead rollers  86  and  88  each include two pairs of rollers (as shown in  FIG. 1  for example), the initial contact between the rollers  86  and  88  and beads  16  and  18  occurs at two different places on each side of rim  10 . More specifically, upper bead roller  86  will initially contact outside bead  18  at two different positions—such position being diametrically opposite from each other but both on outside bead  18 . Similarly, lower bead rollers  88  will initially contact inside bead  16  at two different positions—such positions being diametrically opposite from each other but both on inside bead  16 . While bead rollers  86  and  88  apply pressure to beads  16  and  18  as described, pedestal  20  is moved towards support  40  (arrow P in  FIG. 3N  and then towards support  42  (arrow Q in  FIG. 3O ). The pressure provided by bead rollers  86  and  88  during these movements of pedestal  20  operates to urge beads  16  and  18  into their respective seats  17  and  19  of rim  10  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0040]    Focusing now on  FIG. 4 , the completed assembly of tire  12  and supporting ring  14 , each properly mounted onto rim  10 , is ready for removal from hub  22  of pedestal  20 . Accordingly, after raising wheel cone  64  from rim  10 , vertical slides  108  are each raised towards one another by cylinders  112  as shown by arrows R and S. This action in turn lifts rim  10 , tire  12 , and support ring  14  away from hub  22 . Conveyors tracks  104  are then rotated to move the rim  10 , tire  12 , and support ring  14  assembly away from the machine as illustrated by arrow T. 
         [0041]    It should be understood that the present invention includes various other modifications that can be made to the exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method described herein that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. By way of example only, various changes to the method of operation including changes in the order of the steps may be made. Such differences in operation may be provided as alternatives in the programming options for the exemplary embodiment of the invention described above. 
         [0042]    For example, in another exemplary method of operation, bead spoon  46  does not engage rim  10  until after support ring  14  is fully seated. More specifically, as previously described, pedestal  20  is initially located at an intermediate position between supports  40  and  42 , and rim  10  is placed onto hub  22 . Support ring  14  is placed onto rim  10  but still rests at a position vertically higher than rim  10  at this point. Rim press  58  now lowers wheel cone  64  towards pedestal  20  until rim  10  is secured firmly in-between. Slide  32  then carries pedestal  20  towards support  40  by the rotation of ball screw  36 . The amount of this movement of pedestal  20  is such that the hook-shaped tip  84  of outside bead element  80  can be lowered into the cavity of tire  12  in a position to catch the outside or top bead  18  of tire  12 . Once pedestal  20  is moved the appropriate distance towards support  40 , support ring positioner  70  moves outside bead element  80  vertically down towards rim  10 . Pedestal  20  is now moved a predetermined distance in a direction away from support  40  and towards support. This movement causes hook-shaped tip  84  to catch outside bead  18  and pull tire  12  to one side so as to expose support ring  14 . Using hub  22  and motor  30 , rim  10  and tire  12  are rotated (preferably three revolutions) as linear transducer  78  moves positioning wheel  82  onto support ring  14 . As positioning wheel  82  moves downward, support ring  14  is urged into its properly seated position on rim  10 . 
         [0043]    Once support ring  14  has been properly mounted on rim  10 , linear transducer  78  is moved upwards so as to cause hook-shaped tip  84  to pull tire  12  upwards by outside bead  18 . This leaves a gap between rim  10  and inside bead  16 . This gap is maintained while bead spoon  36  is raised upwardly into tire  12  and then seated against rim  10  in the same position as shown in  FIG. 3B . Hook-shaped tip  84  then lowers outside bead  18  causing inside bead  16  to rest in bead spoon  36 . Pedestal  20  is again moved towards support  40  in order to release outside bead  18  from hook-shaped tip  84 . Pedestal  20  is now moved back towards an intermediate position between supports  40  and  42 . Actuator  44  now causes bead spoon  46  to move radially outward from rim  10  and down so as to a position a portion of inside bead  16  to a position outside of rim  10 . As rim  10  is then rotated, all of inside bead  16  is pulled outside of rim  10 . As shown, at this point, both inside bead  16  and outside bead  18  are outside of rim  10 . 
         [0044]    Pedestal  20  is now moved towards support  40  until rim  10  is centered between upper bead rollers  86  and lower bead rollers  88 . Upper bead rollers  86  are now urged towards rim  10  until full air pressure is obtained in cylinders  94 . Then, as pedestal  20  is moved for a predetermined distance towards support  40 , lower bead rollers  88  are urged into contact with rim  10  until full air pressure is obtained in cylinders  100 . Pedestal  20  will now move a predetermined distance towards support  42  and beads  16  and  18  are urged into their respective seats  17  and  19  of rim  10  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ). The completed assembly of tire  12  and support ring  14  are now removed from pedestal  20  as exited as previously described. 
         [0045]    It should be understood that the present invention includes various other modifications that can be made to the exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method described herein that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. By way of examples only, the relative orientation of the machine may be changed—it being understood herein that references to vertical, horizontal, down, or up as used herein are relative only and can change with different orientations of the machine or its components. Also, the order of steps described with regard to the method described herein may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims that follow. Additionally, it should be understood that the method described herein is not limited to any embodiment of the apparatus—it being understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments of the apparatus may be used to perform these steps. Finally, and by way of further example only, in certain embodiments the present invention may be used solely for mounting a tire onto the rim rather than mounting both the tire and support ring. One of ordinary skill in the art, using the teaching described herein will understand how the operation of the exemplary apparatus described herein and its method of use may be modified to mount only a tire onto a rim. These and other embodiments of the method and apparatus of the present invention are with the spirit and scope of the claims that now follow.