Abstract:
A tool for use in installing the bead seat band ( 44 ) and rim flange ( 42 ) of a multiple piece wheel as part of a tire changing or servicing operation that includes a tool body ( 10 ) having a corner with a first elongated surface ( 34 ) at the corner adapted to engage a rim flange ( 42 ) and a bead seat band ( 44 ) in an axial direction. The tool includes a second elongated surface ( 36 ) at the corner adjacent the first surface ( 34 ) at an acute angle to the first surface and adapted to engage the rim flange ( 42 ) in an axial direction at a location spaced from the intended point of engagement of the ring flange ( 42 ) by the first surface ( 34 ). The first and second surfaces ( 34 ), ( 36 ) define a notch ( 32 ) opening away from the body ( 10 ) and a tool mounting fixture ( 26 ) is connected to the body ( 10 ) generally opposite the notch ( 32 ).

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a tire servicing tool, and more specifically, to a tool usable in installing or removing the bead seat band and rim flange of a multiple piece wheel as part of a tire changing or servicing operation. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many vehicles in use today, as, for example, off the road vehicles and trucks, employ two or more wheels of the multiple piece variety as opposed to so-called “drop center” wheels commonly employed on passenger cars. While the actual construction of a multiple piece wheel may vary to some degree, they are characterized by a wheel rim that includes at least one removable rim flange which is placed upon the rim after a tire has been installed on the rim. A bead seat band is then located within the rim flange and includes a flange employed to retain the rim flange. The rim includes a first peripheral groove near one side thereof for receipt of an O-ring seal and a second groove axially outward of the O-ring groove which receives a resilient lock ring. The O-ring creates a seal between the bead seat band and the rim while the lock ring bears against a flange on the bead seat band to hold the same in place on the rim when the tire is inflated. 
     When a tire is installed on or removed from the rim, it is conventionally necessary to move the bead seat band axially inwardly on the rim so as to achieve access to both the O-ring groove and the lock ring groove so that an O-ring may be installed or removed and the lock ring installed or removed. 
     Typically, relatively high forces are required to move the bead seat band axially inwardly on the rim because of forces resisting such movement imposed upon the bead seat band via the rim flange from the side wall of the tire. Moreover, ready access to the grooves in the rim, particularly that receiving the lock ring, is required to allow easy access to an installed lock ring or to install a lock ring because of the resilient nature of the same. 
     Servicing large tires is particularly cumbersome because of the weight of the wheel and the weight of the tire. Moreover, such servicing may be performed at remote sites and the environment at the remote sites may make the job even more cumbersome. 
     Thus, there is a real need for an improved tool for use in installing or removing or otherwise servicing a tire mounted on a multiple piece wheel and which is of relatively simple and inexpensive construction but sufficiently sturdy so as to be long lived in spite of rough handling and use in hostile terrains. The present invention is directed to meeting that need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved tool for use in installing or removing the bead seat band and rim flange of a multiple piece wheel as part of a tire changing or servicing operation. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the invention achieves the foregoing object in a tool having a tool body with a corner. A first elongated surface is disposed at the corner and is adapted to engage both a rim flange and a bead seat band in an axial direction. A second elongated surface is also provided at the corner in a position adjacent the first surface and at an acute angle to the first surface and adapted to engage the rim flange in an axial direction at a location spaced from the intended point of engagement of the rim flange by the first surface. The first and second surfaces define a notch opening away from the body and a tool mounting fixture is connected to the body generally oppositely of the notch. 
     In a preferred embodiment, there is a tool set comprising two of the tools mentioned above and in spaced relation to each other and oriented with their respective tool mounting fixtures extending away from one another. 
     In one embodiment, the tool mounting fixture is a pivot. Preferably, the pivot is a shaft. 
     In one embodiment, the shaft is generally parallel to the first surface. 
     A highly preferred embodiment contemplates that the body be generally triangular and have three corners including the first named corner mentioned above and three sides extending between two of the corners, and the tool mounting fixture is located on one of the sides opposite the first named corner. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the triangular frame includes two generally congruent, triangular plates and webs interconnect the plates in spaced relation. In a highly preferred embodiment, one web is located generally oppositely of the notch and the tool mounting fixture includes a shaft affixed to that particular web. 
     In a highly preferred embodiment, the first and second surfaces are defined by V-shaped strips, one affixed to each of the plates at the corner whereat the notch is located. 
     Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a set of two tools made according to the invention and shown in relation to a rim flange and a bead seat band as well as components of a tire handling apparatus to which the tool may be mounted; 
     FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the tool as applied to a wheel assembly, including a tire, during a tire servicing operation; and 
     FIG. 3 illustrates part of the tool engaging a bead seat band and rim flange during a tire servicing operation. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     An exemplary embodiment of a tire servicing tool made according to the invention is illustrated in FIG.  1  and will be described herein in a form that is particularly adapted to be employed with a tire manipulating apparatus sold under the registered trademark “Tirehand” and illustrated in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 4,051,966 issued Oct. 4, 1977 to Larry G. Cotton, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. However, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to use with the particular apparatus described in the above-identified patent but may be used with other tire manipulating apparatus of different design as well. That is to say, virtually any tire manipulating apparatus that would include the provision for relatively moving two tools made according to the invention relative to one another and relative to a wheel assembly requiring servicing can benefit through the use of the tool of the invention. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, the invention contemplates the use of two, identical tools, generally designated  10  and  12  in FIG.  1 . Since the construction of the tool  10  is identical to the construction of the tool  12 , only the former will be described in detail. 
     The tool  10  is made up of two spaced, parallel plates  14  and  16 . The plates  14  and  16  are formed as congruent triangles with three sides and three corners and may have material at their center  18  removed so as to lighten the weight of the assembly. 
     Webs  20 ,  22  and  24  interconnect the plates  14  and  16 . One of the webs, specifically the web  24 , has a tool mounting fixture  26  secured thereto. In the form of the invention illustrated, the tool mounting fixture  26  is a pivot, and more specifically a shaft. The same is receivable in the opening  28  of the pad rotation claw  30  of a tire manipulating apparatus such as mentioned previously. Thus, where the pad rotation claw  30  is typically employed to grip a tire and is rotatable to facilitate positioning the tire during various tire servicing operations, by mounting the tool to the claw  30 , the tool may be suitably rotated by the rotation device of the tire manipulating apparatus as well. A detent (not shown) such as a hairpin cotter key, a bolt or pin may be utilized to removably secure the two together. It is important to note, however, that any such cotter key, bolt or pin be located such that it will not be subject to appreciable force when the tool is being utilized. 
     At a corner of the triangular plates  14 ,  16  oppositely of the shaft  26 , the tool  10  includes a V-shaped notch  32 . The notch  32  is defined by first surfaces  34  and second surfaces  36 . The first surfaces  34  are parallel to one another as are the surfaces  36  parallel to one another. The surfaces  34  are also parallel to the rotational axis of the shaft  26 . The second surfaces  36  merge with the surfaces  34  at the apex  38  of the V-shaped notch  32 , typically at an acute angle for purposes to be seen. In a preferred embodiment, each of the plates  14  and  16  is provided with a V-shaped strip  40  of hardened metal to provide the surfaces  34 ,  36 . 
     FIG. 1 also shows a rim flange  42  and associated bead seat band  44 . As can be appreciated, the bead seat band  44  includes a peripheral, radially outward directed flange  46  which nests against a radially inwardly directed flange  48  on the rim flange  42 . In use, the first surfaces  32  are intended to engage both the bead seat band  44  and its flange  46  and the rim flange  42  at its side  50  opposite the flange  48 . The surfaces  36  will typically be slightly spaced from contact with either of the wheel components during part of the operation but located so as to engage the rim flange  42  at the location on its outer side between the end  50  and the flange  48 . 
     Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the use of the tool will be described in greater detail. A multiple piece wheel having a rim  52  is fitted with an inner rim flange  54  against which the lower bead  56  of a tire  58  rests. As seen in FIG. 3, the upper bead  60  of the tire underlies the outer rim flange  42  and the flange  48  of the rim flange  42  underlies the flange  46  on the bead seat band  44 . At the end of the rim  52  adjacent the outer rim flange  42 , an axially inner groove  62  is provided to receive an O-ring seal  64  that will normally seal the interface of the bead seat band  44  and the rim  52 . Axially outward of the groove  62  is a further groove  66  in the rim  52  which receives a conventional, resilient lock ring  68 . 
     In the normal configuration of the wheel assembly, the bead seat band  44  will be moved upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 3 to abut the lock ring  68  and establish sealing contact with the O-ring  66 . Internal pressure within the tire  58  will cause the upper bead  60  to push the rim flange  42  into abutment with the flange  46  on the bead seat band  44 . 
     As a consequence, the O-ring  66  will be wholly inaccessible and substantial force will hold the flange  46  to the bead seat band  44  in abutment with the lock ring  68 . 
     To service the wheel, as, for example, by removing the tire  58  from the rim  52 , the tire  58  is deflated and the tools  10 ,  12 , applied to the wheel assembly at diametrically opposite locations. The tools  10  and  12  will be positioned so that the radially inner ends  70  of the first surfaces  34  will be located radially outward of the lock ring  68  and the O-ring  66 . The first surfaces  34  will first be brought into abutment with the side  50  of the upper rim flange  44  and the same depressed until the surfaces  34  engage the flange  46  on the bead seat band  44 . Further depressing movement will move the components to the position illustrated in FIG. 3 whereat both the O-ring  66  and the resilient lock ring  68  are readily accessible for removal of both. When that has been done, the tools  10  and  12  may be raised to remove the upper rim flange  42  and the bead seat band  44  from the rim  52 . In this connection, it will be observed from FIG. 3 that because of the fact that the second surfaces  36  are at an acute angle to the first surfaces, they may extend under the rim flange  42 . Upward movement of the tools  10 ,  12 , will then cause the second surfaces  36  to engage rim flange  42  at a location between the flange  48  and the end  50  and lift both the rim flange  42  and the bead seat band  44  off of the rim. This is a particularly advantageous feature of the invention because in many instances, particularly where large, off the road vehicles are encountered, the bead seat band and the upper rim flange  42  alone may weigh several hundred pounds. 
     To replace the upper rim flange  42  and bead seat band  44 , it is only necessary to locate the same on the rim  52  and move the same downwardly to approximately the position shown in FIG.  3 . At this point, the O-ring  66  may be installed along with a lock ring  68 . Inflation of the tire or use of the tools  10 ,  12  for lifting the upper rim flange  42  will then bring the bead seat band  44  into overlying relation to the O-ring seal  66  to establish a seal and into abutment with the lock ring  68 . Inflation of the tire  58  will maintain the components in that relation. 
     It should be noted that while the foregoing description and the drawings illustrate servicing of the tire while the latter is in a horizontal position, the aforementioned installation or removal of the bead seat band and the rim flange can occur in virtually any orientation of the tire and no restriction is intended for use of the tool in any particular orientation. 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a set of tire servicing tools made according to the invention is simple in construction and yet extremely rugged so as to be long lived. Their use provides an excellent means of exposing the O-rings  66  and the lock rings  68  of a multiple piece wheel for installation or removal as well as a means for installing or removing both the upper rim flange  42  and the bead seat band  44 . Consequently, it is not necessary to change tools during the tire servicing operation to use one set for achieving access to the lock ring  68  and the O-ring  66  and then switch to another for manipulating the heavy rim flange  42  and the bead seat ring  44 .