Abstract:
A tire-wheel assembly adjuster is disclosed. The tire-wheel assembly comprises a working assembly adapted to be adjustable along an axis relative a workpiece and a sub-assembly coupled to the working assembly that is adapted to be radially adjustable relative the axis. A method for assembling a tire-wheel assembly is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a tire in an un-mounted state relative a wheel to a tire-wheel assembly adjuster; moving a sub-assembly connected to a working assembly in a radial direction relative an axis; moving the working assembly in a first direction about the axis toward the tire and wheel; and causing a wheel adjuster extending from the sub-assembly to circumferentially seat a bead of the tire into a bead seat of the wheel.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This disclosure claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 60/723,665, filed on Oct. 5, 2005. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The disclosure generally relates to devices for mounting, inflating, and balancing a tire relative a wheel and more particularly to a device that adaptably-adjusts a mounting configuration of the device to accommodate differently-sized tires and wheels delivered to the device 
     BACKGROUND 
     Tire/wheel assembly facilities may incorporate one or more automated tire/wheel assembly lines for assembling tire/wheel assemblies. This process typically involves, amongst other operations: (a) the mounting of a tire onto a wheel, (b) the inflating of the tire to the desired pressure, and (c) the balancing of the tire/wheel assembly. 
     Although conventional devices include the benefit of quickly assembling a tire/wheel assembly, such devices may be robust and costly while being limited to mounting a tire having a specified dimension to a wheel having a specified dimension. A need therefore exists for a device, system, and mounting technique that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIGS. 1A-1D  illustrate front views of a tire-wheel assembly adjuster according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates a docking mechanism of the tire-wheel assembly adjuster in a first position according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2B  illustrates a docking mechanism of the tire-wheel assembly adjuster in a second position according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates a partial front view of a shuttle assembly in a radially-extended position according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3B  illustrates a partial front view of a shuttle rail assembly in a radially-intermediate position according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 3C  illustrates a partial front view of a shuttle rail assembly in a radially-retracted position according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially through substantially through line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3A  according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially through line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 3B  according to an embodiment; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a cross-sectional view taken substantially through line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5  according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A tire-wheel assembly adjuster is shown generally at  100  in  FIGS. 1A-1D  according to an embodiment. The tire-wheel assembly adjuster  100  provides a simple, quick, and dependable technique for installing a tire  11  having any desirable dimension onto a wheel  13  having a corresponding dimension while reducing the potential for lodging entrapments, such as, for example, air bubbles, lubricant, or the like between a bead of the tire  11  and a bead seat of the wheel  13 . 
     First, referring to  FIG. 1A , the tire-wheel assembly adjuster  100  generally includes a base portion  15  that is adapted to receive a cart  17  carrying a workpiece (i.e. the tire  11  and wheel  13 ). The cart  17  is movable along a track  19 , which may constitute a portion of an assembly line for mounting, inflating, and balancing the tire  11  relative the wheel  13 . As illustrated, the cart  17  may securely interface and dock with the base portion  15  by way of a docking mechanism  10  extending from one of a plurality of vertical supports  21  attached to the base portion  15 . Attached to the vertical supports  21  is a horizontal support  23  for supporting a working assembly  150 . 
     Also included with the tire-wheel assembly adjuster  100  is a first motor  12 , a second motor  14 , a third motor  16 , a controller  18 , a first transmission  20 , a second transmission  22 , a first upper spindle  24 , a second lower spindle  26 , one or more kickers  28 , a first ram  30 , a platform  32 , a head  34 , a platen  36 , an installation wheel  38 , a radial arm  40 , and second and third rams  42 ,  44 . 
     In an embodiment, the tire  11  and wheel  13  can be carried proximate to and located under the tire-wheel assembly adjuster  100  by way of the cart  17 . Other means of bringing wheel  13  and tire  11  to a working position with respect to tire-wheel assembly adjuster  100  are well known in the art and include, for example, conveyor belts and the like. When the tire  11  and wheel  13  are first brought into a working position with respect to the tire-wheel assembly adjuster  100 , the working assembly  150  is in a raised position (e.g.,  FIGS. 1A-1B ) such that tire  11  and wheel  13  are freely manipulatable below the working assembly  150 . Once the cart  17 , however, is properly positioned below the working assembly  150 , the docking mechanism  10  may be activated, thereby positively fixing the cart  17  in relation to the tire-wheel assembly adjuster  100 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the docking of the cart  17  with the base portion  15  of the tire-wheel assembly adjuster  100  is enabled by way of a pin  46  extending from an upper support surface  48  of the cart  17 . The pin  46  is adapted to interface with a gripping claw  50  extending from one of the vertical supports  21 . As such, the pin  46  and gripping claw  50  generally defines the docking mechanism  10 . Generally, the docking mechanism  10  prevents inadvertent lateral movement(s) of the cart  17  in a direction according to arrows, X, X′ ( FIGS. 1A-1D ) relative the base portion  15 , and, a traveling movement along the track  19  according to the direction of the arrows, Y, Y′ ( FIGS. 1A-1D ) during a tire mounting process ( FIG. 1C ). 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the gripping claw  50  includes a pair of fingers  52  that are manipulatable between an open position ( FIG. 2A ) and a closed position ( FIG. 2B ). When the fingers  52  are manipulated in an open position, the cart  17  is free to move about, into, and away from the base portion  15  along the direction of the arrows, X, X′, Y, Y′ without interference from fingers  52 ; however, when the fingers  52  are in the closed position, the fingers  52  engage the pin  46  such that cart  17  is not free to move in the direction according to the arrows, X, X′, Y, Y′. When the fingers  52 , however, are in the clamped position, the operation associated with the installation of the tire  11  onto wheel  13  can take place without any relative movement between the cart  17  and the base portion  15 . 
     It will be appreciated that the fixing of the cart  17  with respect to base portion  15  by way of the docking mechanism  10  may be conducted alone, or, in combination with a procedure including the steps of lowering and mating the upper spindle  24  with the lower spindle  26 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1C , the lower spindle  26  is attached to and extends through the wheel  13  from the upper support surface  48  of the cart  17 , thereby fixing the relationship of the cart  17  relative the base  15 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1A , once the cart  17  is secured to the base portion  15 , the second and third rams  42 ,  44  are activated to cause respective wedge portions  54  of the rams  42 ,  44  to slide toward a central axis, A-A, and underneath a rear side  56  of the support surface  48  such that a top surface  58  of the wedge portions  54  engages the rear side  56 , as shown in  FIG. 1B . As the wedge portions  54  engage the rear side  56 , the cart  17  is raised according to the direction of the arrow, Z, as the pin  46  is axially moved, according to the movement of the cart  17  in the direction of the arrow, Z, as the fingers  52  of the gripping claw  50  remain fixed in place and continue to engage the pin  46 . Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 1B , the combination of the positioning of the docking mechanism  10  along with the raising of wheels  25  of the cart  17  away from a support surface or ground, G, substantially isolates the cart  17  from undesirable movements when the tire  11  is being mounted to the wheel  13  as shown in  FIG. 1C . 
     Mounting of the tire  11  to the wheel  13  is accomplished by way of the working assembly  150  and is generally enabled by the motors  12 ,  14 , and  16 . According to an embodiment, the working assembly  150  is raised and lowered along the central axis, A-A, by way of the motor  12  and an associated drive linkage  60  that adjusts vertical displacement of the working assembly  150  according to the direction of the arrows, Z, Z′. The motor  14  may be referred to as a radial motor that adjusts horizontal displacement in reference to the central axis, A-A, of the working assembly  150  according to the direction of arrows, X, X′. The motor  16  may be referred to as a rotary motor that adjusts, circumferentially, the installation wheel  38  about the central axis, A-A. The motors  12 ,  14 , and  16  may be any type of motor including, but not limited to an electric motor, a hydraulic motor, a pneumatic motor, or the like. Motors  12 ,  14  and  16  are preferably controlled by the controller  18 . According to the above and following description, the horizontal displacement in reference to the axis, A-A, according to the direction of the arrows, X, X′, is substantially perpendicular to and traverses the central axis, A-A. 
     According to an embodiment, the tire  11  and wheel  13  may be delivered to tire-wheel assembly adjuster  100  and secured to the base portion  15  whereby the tire  11  is stored flatly on top of the wheel  13  in what is commonly referred to as a “mushroom position” (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B). The working assembly  150  may then be lowered according to the direction of the arrow, Z′, to place the working assembly  150  in a tire mounting position, as generally shown in  FIG. 1C . Then, the upper spindle  24  cooperatively engages the lower spindle  26  to secure the wheel  13  to cart  17 , and also, the wheel  13  with respect to tire-wheel assembly adjuster  100 . 
     In some circumstances, however, as shown in  FIG. 1D , the tire  11  may be delivered to tire-wheel assembly adjuster  100  in a canted position relative the wheel  13 . This canted positioning of the tire  11  relative the wheel  13  is compared to the so-called “mushroom position,” which is shown according to a phantom outline, M, of the tire  11 . If the tire  11  is delivered to the working assembly  150  in the canted position, the one or more movable kickers  28 , which are also called “kicker arms,” can be activated, thereby tipping tire  11  onto the wheel  13  to re-position the tire  11  substantially in the mushroom position, M, relative the wheel  13 . 
     One or more catcher stops  62  may also be positioned generally opposite of the one or more kickers  28 . One or more catcher stops  62  are manipulatable along a linear axis by way of a movement mechanism  64 . One or more catcher stops  62  are used to move the tire  11  so that the bead portion of tire  11  is properly positioned into the drop center wheel  13 . According, these features at  28  and  62  may prepare the tire  11  for mounting to wheel  13  should the tire  11  not be initially positioned in a mushroom position, M. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1C , as illustrated, the ram  30  is mounted to the base platform  32 . The ram  30  includes the head  34  which is vertically adjustable according to the direction of the arrows, Z, Z′ by the motor  12 , drive linkage  60 , platform  32 , and ram  30 . Functionally, the head  34  is used to exert pressure in the direction of arrow, Z′, on the carcass of the tire  11  at appropriate times in order to properly position the lower and upper bead of the tire  11  in the drop zone of wheel  13  at the appropriate time during the installation process. 
     The platen  36  is carried by, and rotated by, the rotary motor  16 . The installation wheel  38  is carried by the radial arm  40 , which is rotatable 360° about the central axis, A-A. The installation wheel  38  is rotated 360° during installation of the tire  11  onto wheel  13 , and, during this 360° rotation, the installation wheel  38  is responsible for exerting the downward force according to the direction of arrow, Z′, on the bead seat portion of tire  11 , thereby forcing the tire bead to ride over the edge of wheel  13  and into the drop zone portion  66  of the wheel  13 . 
     In addition to being rotatable about the central axis, A-A, the installation wheel  38  is also radially adjustable according to the direction of arrows, X, X′. This radial adjustability according to arrows, X, X′, is powered by the radial motor  14 . Radial adjustability of the installation wheel  38  according to the arrows, X, X′, is used in two ways: firstly, it allows for differently sized wheels  13 /tires  11 , such as, for example, 14-, 15-, or 16-inch wheels  13 /tires  11 , to be accommodated by the tire-wheel assembly adjuster  100  simply by radially adjusting the position of installation wheel  38 . Secondly, during the 360° installation rotation of the installation wheel  38 , it is often desirable to deviate the rotary path of the installation wheel  38  from that of a true, perfect-circle movement to that of a non-circular path (e.g. elliptical). Accordingly, the present invention allows the installation wheel  38  to be radially adjustable while permitting the installation wheel  38  to trace out circular as well as non-circular rotation paths as it rotates about axis, A-A, which will be discussed hereinafter in conjunction with  FIGS. 3A-6 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3A-6 , the sub-assembly  152  of the working assembly  150  is shown according to an embodiment. The sub-assembly  152  generally includes the platen  36  that is connected to the rotary motor  16  either directly or by way of the intermediate transmission mechanism  20 . The sub-assembly  152  also includes a shaft  68  that extends from the transmission mechanism  20 . The shaft  68  may include a hollow portion  70  whereby an inner shaft  72  may transverse through the hollow portion  70  of shaft  68 . As illustrated, the shaft  68 , may be attached directly to the platen  36 , and, the platen  36  is responsible for translating 360° rotational movement to the installation wheel  38 , which is used to install the tire  11  to the wheel  13  as shown in  FIG. 1C . The inner shaft  72 , however, may be directly driven by the radial motor  14 , or, the inner shaft  72  may be indirectly coupled to the radial motor  14  by way of the transmission  22 . Unlike the rotary movement imparted by the shaft  68 , the inner shaft  72  imparts a linear movement according to the direction of arrows, Z, Z′, which is effective for adjusting the radial position according to the direction of arrows, X, X′, of the installation wheel  38 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the platen  36  includes a T-shaped rail  74 , which is adapted to support a shuttle assembly  76 . Shuttle assembly  76  includes, in part, one or more rail engagement members  78 , which are supported upon the rail  74  by way of ball bearings  80 . The interface of the ball bearings  80  between the one or more rail engagement members  78  and the rail  74  permits the shuttle assembly  76  to slide freely, within limits, in a horizontal orientation according to the direction of arrows, X, X′. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3A-3C , although the inner shaft  72  is freely movable, within limits, in a vertical linear direction according to arrows, Z, Z′, it is restricted from any horizontal movement according to arrows, X, X′. At an end portion  82  of inner shaft  72 , one or more wheels  84  are positioned on an axle  86 . Axle  86  is captured within a slotted opening  88  formed within the inner shaft  72 . As illustrated, the shuttle assembly  76  is fashioned with an angled trough member  90 . The angled trough member  90  is firmly secured to shuttle assembly  76  and can be angled at any desired angle, θ, such as, for example, 45°, or the like. The angled trough member  90  forms a U-shaped cross-section which is sized to snuggly capture the wheel  84  while still allowing sufficient clearance between the wheel  84  and the U-shaped cross-section to permit the wheel  84  to freely roll within angled trough member  90 . 
     When it is desired to radially shorten the positioning of the installation wheel  38  relative the central axis, A-A, the controller  18  receives a command signal from, for example, an operator, sensor, or the like and activates the motor  14  such that shaft  72  is lowered. The lowering of shaft  72  causes the wheel  84  to exert a downward force according to the direction of the arrow, Z′, on a bottom member  92  of angled trough member  90 . In reaction to this downward force, the angled trough member  90  moves horizontally according to the direction of the arrow, X′, from a radially extended position ( FIG. 3A ) to a radially intermediate position ( FIG. 3B ). The radially extended position may accommodate, for example, the mounting of a tire  11  onto a 16-inch wheel  13  and the radially intermediate position may accommodate, for example, the mounting of a tire  11  onto a 15-inch wheel  13 . 
     When positioned as shown in  FIG. 3B , if another downward force is applied according to the direction of the arrow, Z′, on the bottom member  92  by the wheel  84 , the angled trough member  90  is moved horizontally according to the direction of the arrow, X′, from the radially intermediate position of  FIG. 3B  to a radially retracted position ( FIG. 3C ). The radially retracted position may accommodate, for example, the mounting of a tire  11  onto a 14-inch wheel  13 . Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the radially extended positioning of the installation wheel  38  may accommodate the mounting of a tire  11  to a wheel  13  that is greater, in diameter, than that of a wheel  13  corroborating to the radially intermediate position, which is greater than that of a wheel&#39;s diameter when the installation wheel  38  is situated in a radially retracted positioning. 
     Thus, the angled trough member  90  is effective for translating the vertical movement of the inner shaft  72  into a horizontal movement according to the direction of arrows, X, X′. Because the radial arm  40  is attached to the shuttle  76 , movement of the shuttle  76  in the direction according to the arrow, X′, in effect, decreases a radial positioning of the installation wheel  38  from a first distance, D 1  ( FIG. 3A ), to one or more second distances, D 2 , D 3  ( FIGS. 3B ,  3 C), in reference to the central axis, A-A. Conversely, when the shuttle  76  is moved from the one or more second distances, D 2 , D 3 , to the first distance, D 1 , according to the direction of the arrow, X, the radial positioning of the installation wheel  38 , relative the central axis, A-A, is increased. It is also easily understood from the above description that, in addition to circular patterns, the installation wheel  38  can be made to trace out non-circular rotational patterns during its 360° traversal by simply oscillating the movement of the inner shaft  72  according to the direction of the arrows, Z, Z′, during the 360° of rotation of the platen  36 . 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the angled trough  90  is securely fastened to shuttle  76  using any conventional means of fastening, such as, for example, welding, threaded fasteners  95 , rivets, or the like. The angled trough  90  is preferably fabricated from members  92 ,  94 ,  96  such that there is very little clearance between wheel  84  and the bottom and top members  92 ,  96  (i.e., after members  92 ,  94 , and  96  have been joined together). By eliminating any extraneous clearance between wheel  84  and the trough members  92 ,  96 , a slide mechanism is created having very little, or no perceivable, backlash during operation. In order to obtain the proper clearance between the members  92 ,  96 , one or more members  92 ,  94 ,  96  may be precision ground to size or one or more shim members  98  ( FIG. 6 ) may be placed between at least one of the ends of the intermediate trough member  94  and at least one of the bottom trough member  92  or top trough member  96 . 
     The present invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof. However, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that it is possible to embody the invention in specific forms other than those of the exemplary embodiments described above. This may be done without departing from the spirit of the invention. The exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be considered restrictive in any way. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents, rather than by the preceding description.