Abstract:
A method and apparatus for reconditioning tires while on lift trucks where a cutting tool is mounted to the lift truck and brought in contact with the tire and the tire is rotated, thereby removing material to return the tire to a more circular shape.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09/947,014 filed on Sep. 5, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,621,042, for “APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING THE RIDE QUALITY OF LIFT TRUCKS” by the same inventor, which application itself was a divisional of application Ser. No. 09/329,525 filed on Jun. 10, 1999, by the same inventor, and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,308,762. 

   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   In the past, lift trucks have been used extensively for material handling, including indoors. Many of these lift trucks use solid rubber tires, often referred to as cushion tires. These cushion tires come in several varieties, including those designed not to leave skid marks on the floor. While these tires have many advantages, they also have several drawbacks. These tires are relatively expensive and they often become worn or damaged. Uneven wear of the tires can result in vibration during operation of the lift truck. Moreover, excessive vibration can be dangerous. Since these cushion tires typically serve as the suspension for the lift truck, any vibration caused by the tires may be transmitted to the load or to the operator. Lower back problems are not uncommon among lift truck drivers who operate with worn tires. Often, operators compensate for the worn tires by operating the lift trucks at lower speed, thereby reducing productivity. 
   Consequently, there exists a need for improvement in lift truck tires and the quality of ride they provide. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide enhanced ride quality for lift trucks. 
   It is a feature of the present invention to recondition the worn and damaged tires. 
   It is an advantage of the present invention to reduce the frequency of tire replacement and its associated cost. 
   It is another advantage of the present invention to decrease the lift truck downtime required for uneven tire wear remediation. 
   It is yet another advantage of the present invention to enhance the environment by reducing the frequency of discarding tires. 
   It is another feature of the present invention to use a lift truck mounted tire reconditioning device. 
   It is another advantage of the present invention to provide for tire wear remediation without requiring removal of the tire. 
   The present invention is an apparatus and method for improving the quality of ride for lift trucks, which is designed to satisfy the aforementioned needs, provide the previously stated objects, include the above-listed features and achieve the already articulated advantages. The present invention is carried out in a “tire removal-less manner” in a sense vibration caused by excessive tire wear can often be greatly reduced without a requirement to remove and replace the tire. 
   Accordingly, the present invention is a system and method for reconditioning lift truck tires, using a carriage-mounted device for removing portions of the tire. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     The invention may be more fully understood by reading the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified diagram of the apparatus of the present invention mounted on a carriage of a lift truck. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is a back side view of an apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Now referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like matter throughout, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a system of the present invention, generally designated  100 , which includes a lift truck  102 , having a front wheel  101 , front tire  103 . The lift truck  102  also has a fork  104  coupled to a carriage  106  coupled to a mast  108 , in a well-known manner. Coupled to carriage  106  is the apparatus of the present invention, generally designated  110 , having a front side  112  and a material removal adjustment screw  114 . Also shown is material removing apparatus  122  disposed in a position near front tire  103 . 
   Now referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention  110 . In general, the apparatus  110  is shown as a three-sided assembly of rigid panels, including front side  112 , back side  118  and top side  116 . However, it should be understood that any mechanism for coupling material removing apparatus  122  to a lift truck  102  could be substituted. The side panel may be of aluminum or any material which is suitable for providing the necessary structural support for the material removing apparatus  122 . The apparatus  110  fits over a portion of the lift truck carriage  106  of  FIG. 1 . The apparatus is coupled to the carriage by several attachment screws  128 , which may be threaded to accommodate various carriage designs. Top side  116  and back side  118  are coupled through a hinge  120 , for allowing pivotal motion of the back side  118 . Top side  116  is rigidly coupled to front side  112 , which is detachably rigidly coupled through attachment screws  128  to the carriage  106 . The material removing apparatus  122  can be moved to a desired position with respect to front tire  103 , by material removal adjustment screw  114 . Material removing apparatus  122  may be a set of carbide tips, a single knife edge, a laser or any other devices which are capable of removing rubber or other material from the surface of a rotating lift truck tire. Material removing apparatus  122  may be fixed to the back side  118 , or it may be adjustable with lateral adjustment mechanism  124 . Other adjustments, including vertical and angular adjustments, could be provided as well. Lateral adjustment mechanism  124  may be manipulated with manual crank  126 . Alignment of the material removing apparatus  122  with respect to the tire  103  may be further improved by alignment screws  129 . Since the apparatus  110  can be used on various lift trucks, it may include a handle  130  for easy installation and removal. Manual crank  126  and material removal adjustment screw  114  may be substituted with various other mechanical, electro-mechanical and computer devices for controlling the removal of material from the tire. Well-known techniques of lathe operation and control techniques can be readily implemented, depending upon the precise design requirements for any particular apparatus. 
   Now referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a front view of the apparatus  110  of the present invention which shows the various attachment screws  128  used to couple the front side firmly with the carriage  106 . 
   Now referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a back side view, which more clearly shows the placement of material removing apparatus  122 , shown having a plurality of sharp tips for cutting surfaces. 
   In operation, the present invention accomplishes the goal of improving the ride of lift trucks by providing a readily deployable method and apparatus to recondition the surface of a lift truck tire. The method of the present invention is as follows: 
   first, provide some adjustable material removing apparatus; 
   second, cause the lift truck tire to spin; and 
   third, engage the material removal apparatus so as to remove material from the spinning tire in a controlled adjustable fashion. 
   In a preferred method, a plurality of carbon tips is caused to engage the rotating tire. The tips are adjusted so that they cause additional material to be removed from the tire surface. 
   While throughout this description, the invention has been characterized as a means for improving the ride of a lift truck, it is contemplated that other uses and other vehicle types could be serviced as well. Additionally, while the apparatus may be best used when attached to a lift truck, it can be used as well as a separate apparatus which is detached from the lift truck, such as, but not limited to, an assembly up to which a lift truck could drive, or an assembly which is placed next to the lift truck. 
   It is thought that the method and apparatus of the present invention will be understood from the foregoing description and that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construct steps and arrangement of the parts and steps thereof, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of their material advantages. The form herein described is merely a preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.