Patent Publication Number: US-2023143117-A1

Title: Remotely operable clamp device

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable. 
     FIELD 
     The present invention is generally directed to clamp devices which may be operated remotely to facilitate the installation, removal and other handling of wheels and tires for large vehicles. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Large vehicles, such as wheel loaders, backhoes, tractors, graders, trenchers, semi-trucks and the like, are often equipped with wheels that have diameters larger than human height and with tire/wheel combinations that weigh several thousand pounds. Such wheels cannot be manually manipulated. Further, even with mechanical lifting assistance, it can be difficult and dangerous to maneuver very heavy wheels into proper alignment with hubs, lugs and other connections necessary for mounting and removal from a vehicle. These difficulties are often exacerbated by a lack of working room around the wheel and the need to work on a vehicle in the field rather than a shop. 
     For example, with current methods of removing off-the-road (OTR) wheels, it is necessary to utilize a tire manipulator to safely hold the wheel while a technician removes/installs the last two/first two lug nuts of the wheel. The manipulator prevents the wheel from potentially tipping over and injuring the technician. However, it is unsafe for the technician to remove/install the remaining lug nuts while the tire manipulator is in the work area since the tire manipulator is a large piece of heavy machinery with the potential to injure the technician as well. 
     Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a device which could be operated remotely by the technician to assist in the process of removing and installing the OTR wheels from the vehicle in order to improve the overall safety of such process. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one embodiment, the present disclosure provides a remotely operated clamp device for securely holding a wheel stud of a wheel. The clamp device generally includes: a gripping mechanism sized and adapted for gripping the wheel stud, the gripping mechanism being movable between an open position and a closed position; an actuating link engaging the gripping mechanism, the actuating link being selectively movable between a first position and a second position, where the gripping mechanism is in the open position when the actuating link is in the first position and the gripping mechanism is in the closed position when the actuating link is in the second position; an actuator engaging the actuating link and configured to selectively move the actuating link to the first position and the second position; an attachment mechanism for attaching the clamp device to the wheel; a transmitter for transmitting operating commands inputted by a user; and a receiver for controlling the actuator and causing the actuator to selectively move the actuating link to the first position and to the second position in response to the operating commands. According to some embodiments, the clamp device may further include a signal for indicating the position of the gripping mechanism and a height adjustable platform for raising and lowering the clamp device. 
     In another embodiment, there is provided a method of temporarily holding a wheel mounted onto a hub of a large vehicle, the hub having a plurality of studs onto which the wheel is mounted. The method includes the steps of: 
     (a) attaching the clamp device of the present disclosure by the attachment mechanism to the wheel over and in line with a stud selected from the plurality of wheel studs; 
     (b) transmitting a first operating command by the transmitter to the receiver to cause the actuator to move the actuating link to the second position thereby moving the gripping mechanism to the closed position to hold the wheel mounted onto the hub; 
     (c) transmitting a second operating command by the transmitter to the receiver to cause the actuator to move the actuating link to the first position thereby moving the gripping mechanism to the open position; and 
     (d) releasing the attachment mechanism from the wheel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The structure, operation, and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures. The figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Certain elements in some of the figures may be omitted, or illustrated not-to-scale, for illustrative clarity. The cross-sectional views may be in the form of “slices”, or “near-sighted” cross-sectional views, omitting certain background lines which would otherwise be visible in a “true” cross-sectional view, for illustrative clarity. 
         FIG.  1    is an exploded perspective view of a wheel mounting assembly. 
         FIG.  2    is a side perspective view of the clamp device according to a first embodiment in a closed position. 
         FIG.  3    is a side perspective view of the clamp device of  FIG.  2    in an open position. 
         FIG.  4    is a cross-sectional view of the clamp device of  FIG.  2    in a closed position. 
         FIG.  5    is a cross-sectional view of the clamp device of  FIG.  2    in an open position. 
         FIG.  6    is a side perspective view of the clamp device of  FIG.  2    attached to a wheel. 
         FIG.  7    is a side perspective view of the clamp device of  FIG.  2    attached to a wheel and gripping a stud of a hub with a section of the wheel and tire removed for clarity. 
         FIG.  8    is a side perspective view of a clamp device according to a second embodiment in a closed position. 
         FIG.  9    is a side perspective view of the clamp device of  FIG.  8    in an open position. 
         FIG.  10    is side view of the clamp device of  FIG.  8    attached to a wheel and in a closed position securely holding a stud. 
         FIG.  11    is a side perspective view of a clamp device according to a third embodiment in a closed position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present disclosure is directed to a clamp device configured to be remotely opened and closed and which may be used as a substitute to lug nuts during the installation and removal of wheels of large vehicles. The clamp device is characterized by an actuating link attached to a gripping mechanism that is selectively movable between a first position, opening the gripping mechanism, and a second position, closing the gripping mechanism. The clamp device further includes an actuator, a transmitter, a receiver and an attachment mechanism. The actuator engages the actuating link and selectively moves the actuating link between the first position and the second position. The transmitter transmits operating commands, inputted by a user, to the receiver. The receiver controls the actuator and causes the actuator to selectively move the actuating link between the first position and the second position in response to operating commands from the transmitter. The attachment mechanism allows for selective attachment of the clamp device to a wheel. 
     The clamp device of the present disclosure offers numerous advantages over the prior art. For example, as the clamp device can be securely attached to and released from wheel studs remotely by a user, the possibility of the wheel tipping over and injuring the user during installation and removal of the wheel is eliminated. Also, the present clamp device allows the technicians to be situated away from the tire manipulator during the installation and removal process to further improve the safety of the work environment. 
     With reference to  FIG.  1   , there is shown a typical wheel mounting assembly, such as those used on a tractor or other large vehicle, for which the clamp device of the present disclosure may be attached thereto. The wheel mounting assembly may generally include a brake drum  2  mounted to a hub  3 . Mounted to the hub  3  and extending therefrom is a plurality of externally threaded bolts or studs  6 . The studs  6  may be configured in a generally circular arrangement with each being circumferentially spaced apart from the other. In the embodiment shown, there are ten studs. The number of studs however may vary more or less. Stud holes  8  are formed on in the wheel  4  and receive studs  6  when the wheel  4  is mounted to the hub  3  and drum  2 . Internally threaded lug nuts  9  are provided for each stud  6  to secure the wheel to the hub  3  and drum  2 . 
     With reference now to  FIGS.  2  to  7   , according to one embodiment a clamp device  10  is shown that is capable of replacing a lug nut during the installation/removal of the wheel from the large vehicle and which is operable to be opened and closed remotely to improve the overall safety of such installation/removal. The clamp device  10  includes a gripping mechanism  25 , shown as a pair of pivotally attached jaws  25   a  and  25   b , movable between an open position in which the jaws are separated from one another to accommodate the stud, and a closed position in which the jaws are brought close to another and define a housing  12  for the stud so as to grip the stud and hold it securely. The housing  12  that is defined by the pair of jaws in the closed position is adapted to the contour of the zone for grabbing the stud. In this particular instance, this contour is circular, and is therefore by a circle that the housing  12  is shown. For this purpose, each jaw has, on the side of the front end, a recess in the shape of an arc whose radius corresponds to that of the stud. The clamp device  10  is designed such that the pair of jaws  25   a ,  25   b  may be interchanged with other pairs of jaws which define other sizes and shapes of housings  12  to accommodate different stud sizes, shapes and pitch. In this embodiment, the inner surfaces  25   c  of the jaws are shown as threaded although in other embodiments such surfaces may be non-threaded or relatively smooth. Each jaw  25   a ,  25   b  is advantageously made from a metal or aluminum alloy. 
     The clamp device  10  also includes an attachment mechanism  22  by which the clamp device  10  may be attached to the wheel  4 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS.  2  to  7   , the attachment mechanism  22  comprises a magnet. The magnet may be any type of magnet known to those skilled in the art which is operable to provide a strong external magnetic field for attachment to an external ferromagnetic material. For example, the magnet may be a switchable magnetic device. Such switchable magnetic devices generally include a magnet housing  22   a , a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet (not shown), the first and second permanent magnets being diametrically polarized. The first and second permanent magnets are mounted within the magnet housing  22   a  such that the first and second permanent magnets are rotatable relative to each other. A lever  22   b  may be used for causing relative rotation of the first and second permanent magnets. For instance, when the first and second permanent magnets are positioned relative to each other such that a north pole and a south pole of the first magnet are in substantial alignment with respective north and south poles of the second magnet, the magnetic device presents a relatively strong external magnetic field and can be secured to the wheel  4 . The lever  22   b  may be turned to cause relative rotation of the first and second magnets such that the north pole of the first magnet is in substantial alignment with the south pole of the second magnet and vice versa and therefore the magnetic device will present a relatively weak external magnetic field allowing the magnetic device to be released from the wheel  4 . The lever  22   b  may be positioned and configured on the housing  22   a  to allow it to be accessible from the rear of the clamp device  10 . 
     The clamp device  10  further includes an actuating link  24 , an actuator  26 , a transmitter  28  and a receiver  29 . The actuating link  24  is in engagement with the gripping mechanism  24 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS.  2  to  7   , the actuating link  24  is in the form of a collar that is in engagement with and configured to be movably disposed over the pair of jaws  25   a ,  25   b . As noted above, the actuating link  24  is selectably movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the actuating link  24  moves the gripping mechanism  25  into the open position as shown in  FIG.  3   . In the second position, the actuating link  24  moves the gripping mechanism  25  into the closed position as shown in  FIG.  2   . The actuator  26  engages the actuating link  24  at a rear portion  31  and moves the actuating link  24  between the first and second positions along a linear axis. 
     The actuator  26  may be any well-known electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, or pneumatic device capable of moving or controlling something. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS.  2  to  7   , the actuator  26  is an electromagnetic actuator. The electromagnetic actuator generally includes an electromagnet  26   a , a battery  26   b , a magnetic movable member  26   c  and a spring  26   d . The electromagnet  26   a  will generally include an electric coil wound around a magnetic stationary member (not shown). The battery  26   b  may be any type of battery well-known to those skilled in the art, such as a rechargeable or non-rechargeable lithium ion (e.g., lithium iron phosphate, lithium cobalt oxide, other lithium metal oxides, etc.), lithium ion polymer, nickel metal hydride, nickel cadmium, nickel hydrogen, nickel zinc or silver zinc battery. In general, the battery  26   b  may be positioned near the rear of the clamp device  10  for ease of accessibility. The movable member  26   c , shown in the form of a rod, is in direct engagement with the rear portion  31  of actuating link  24 .  FIG.  2    depicts one condition in which the electric coil is not energized. Under this condition, the movable member  26   c  is maintained in a first state with the actuating link  24  in the second position by means of the bias force caused by spring  26   d . Under this condition, if the electric coil is supplied with a current of predetermined value by the battery  26   b , an electromagnetic attractive force greater than the bias force generated by the spring  26   d  is generated between the magnetic stationary member and the movable member  26   c . The movable member  26   c  is changed into a second state as shown in  FIG.  3    in which the movable member  26   c  is attracted to the magnetic stationary member. According to this movement, the actuating link  24  is mechanically actuated and moves from the second position to the first position. The actuator  26  will return to the first state shown in  FIG.  2    when the electric coil is free from the energizing current supplied by the battery  26   b.    
     The transmitter  28  produces an operating command, in the form of a signal, when activated by the user. Preferably, a wireless transmitter is used such that the signal produced by the transmitter  28  is in the form of wireless energy, such as laser, infrared, or microwave energy or radio waves. The receiver  29  controls the actuator  26  and causes the actuator  26  to selectively move the actuating link  24  to the first position and to the second position in response to the operating commands from the transmitter  28 . Such transmitters and receivers are well known in the art and will not be described herein in detail. 
     The various internal components of the clamp device  10  may be held together by a frame  20 . One or more of the internal components of the clamp device may also be housed together in an outer housing (not shown). In some embodiments the frame and outer housing may be constructed of a rigid and durable material such that moisture and potential impacts to the frame and outer housing will not damage the internal components of the clamp device  10 . Such materials may include plastics, rubber, silicone, metals, alloys, treated nylons, cloth, canvas, leather and combinations thereof. 
     In operation, the frame  20 , including the gripping mechanism  25 , the actuating link  24 , the actuator  26  and the receiver  29 , are mounted on wheel  4  adjacent to a stud by means of the attachment mechanism  22 . The rear portion  31  of the actuating link  24  is engaged with the actuator  26  and the gripping mechanism  25  is in the open position. A push of the button  34  on the transmitter  28  sends a first command signal to the receiver  29 . In response to the first command signal, the receiver  29  causes the actuator  26  to move the actuating link  24  to the second position, thereby moving the gripping mechanism  25  to the closed position to securely hold the wheel stud. The gripping mechanism  25  is held closed by the actuating link  24  and actuator  26  until the button  34  on the transmitter  28  is pushed again, after which the actuator  26  moves the actuating link  24  to the first position, thereby moving the gripping mechanism  25  to the open position. Alternatively, more than one push, such as two pushes of the transmitter button  34 , sends a second command signal to the receiver  29 . In response to the second command signal, the receiver  29  causes the actuator  26  to move the actuating link  24  to the first position, thereby moving the gripping mechanism  25  to the open position. To further insure that the gripping mechanism  25  remains in the closed position, the transmitter  28  and receiver  29  may be programmed such that the actuator  26  moves the actuating link  24  to the second position every second outside of a programmed time (for e.g. 15 second cycle). In some embodiments, there may be two buttons  34  requiring each to be pushed to send command signals to the receiver  29  to prevent accidental operation. Also, the gripping mechanism  25  may be manually moved between the open and closed positions anytime by the user, for example, using a toggle switch connected to the actuator  26  (not shown). 
     With reference now to  FIGS.  8  to  10   , a clamp device  80  is shown according to a second embodiment. The clamp device  80  in  FIGS.  8  to  10    may be substantially similar to the design and operation of the clamp device  10  shown in  FIGS.  2  to  7    and described above for securely holding a wheel stud  6  of a wheel  4  and includes an attachment mechanism  82  (shown as a pair of switchable magnets), an actuating link  84  (shown as a collar), a gripping mechanism  85  (shown as a pair of jaws  85   a ,  85   b ), an actuator  86 , a transmitter  88  (with push button  94 ) and a receiver  89 . In this embodiment, the clamp device  80  further includes one or more springs  95 , a lower base  96 , an upper base  98  and a signal means  90 . 
     The springs  95  may be extension springs and are configured and adapted to suspend the gripping mechanism  85  such that the gripping mechanism  85  is operable to self-align onto the stud as it moves to the closed position. The lower base  96  and upper base  98 , like the frame and housing described above for the clamp device  10 , may be constructed of a rigid and durable material such that moisture and potential impacts to them will not damage the internal components of the clamp device  80 . Such materials may include plastics, rubber, silicone, metals, alloys, treated nylons, cloth, canvas, leather and combinations thereof. 
     The signal means  90  may be used to indicate the position of at least one of the jaws  85   a ,  85   b  at a predetermined position (for e.g. at the open position or closed position) or the position of the actuating link  84  (for e.g. at the first or second position). For example, the signal means  90  may include a metal strip mounted on one of the jaws  85   a ,  85   b  or actuating link  84  to move therewith, a circuit having a normally open switch in the path of movement of the metal strip and an indicator light. This arrangement is such that the indicator light will be energized and lit in response to the metal strip closing the switch at a position corresponding to the closed position of the jaws  85   a ,  85   b  or at a position corresponding to the second position of the actuating link  84  (as shown in  FIG.  8   ). Similarly, the indicator light is not energized and is unlit when the switch is open corresponding to the open position of the jaws  85   a ,  85   b  or the first position of the actuating link  84  (as shown in  FIG.  9   ). 
     With reference now to  FIG.  11   , a clamp device  110  is shown according to a third embodiment. The clamp device  110  in  FIG.  11    may be substantially similar to the design and operation of the clamp devices  10  and  80  shown in  FIGS.  2  to  10    and described above and can further include an adjustable height platform  111  that can be manipulated to raise and lower the clamp device to a height that facilitates attachment of the clamp device  110  to a stud of a wheel. 
     The adjustable height platform  111  includes an upper platform  112  upon which the clamp device  110  is secured, a lower platform  114  (similar to base  96  shown in  FIGS.  8  and  9   ) and a scissors linkage  116  coupled between the lower platform  114  and upper platform  112 . The scissors linkage  116  may include left and right scissors legs  117 ,  118  which are pivotally connected together at their middle sections to create an X centered on a pivot access and an unlocking mechanism  119 . The left scissor leg  117  may include an aperture positioned above its middle section. The right scissor leg  118  may include a curved piece  118   a  attached to its upper surface and positioned below its middle section which includes a plurality of apertures. The aperture of the left scissor leg  117  is sized and shaped similarly to the apertures of the right scissor leg  118 . The unlocking mechanism  119 , shown as a pin, is sized and configured to be slidably disposed within the aperture of the left scissor leg  117  and apertures of the right scissor leg  118  when such apertures are aligned. 
     Thus, in operation, the adjustable height platform  111  may be in a locked position when the pin is disposed within the apertures of the left and right scissor legs  117 ,  118 . When it is desired to raise or lower the upper platform  112  with respect to the lower platform  114 , the pin is first removed from the apertures of the left and right scissor legs  117 ,  118 . The upper platform  112  is then raised or lowered by lining up the aperture of the left scissor leg  117  with one of the apertures of the right scissor leg  119  and the pin is reinserted into the apertures. Other types of scissor lift mechanisms known to those skilled in the art may be used in place of the mechanism described herein and will not be further described in detail. 
     According to another embodiment, the present disclosure provides a method of using the clamp device in place of lug nuts to remotely and temporarily secure and release the gripping mechanism of the clamp device from a stud of a wheel during the removal and installation of the wheel. The wheel may be any wheel known and used in connection with large vehicles (for e.g. wheel loaders, backhoes, tractors, graders, trenchers, semi-trucks and the like) such as off-the-road (“OTR”) wheels, agricultural or commercial wheels. 
     In a first step during the removal of the wheel from the large vehicle, at least one lug nut, preferably two lug nuts are removed from their corresponding studs, such as the studs positioned at the  3 : 00  and  9 : 00  positions on the hub. The clamp devices of the present disclosure are then attached to the wheel by their attachment mechanisms such that their gripping mechanisms, in open positions, are placed over the exposed studs. The user may then transmit a wireless signal to the receivers of each clamp device via the transmitter to cause the actuators of each clamp device to move their actuating links from the first position to second position, thus moving the gripping mechanisms from the open position to closed position. The user may confirm that the studs are securely attached to and engaged with the gripping mechanisms by checking the position of the actuating links of each clamp device and/or if their indicator lights are illuminated. The user may then remove the remaining lug nuts from the studs and then subsequently move away from the work area. A tire manipulator may then be used to grab the wheel. The user may then transmit a second signal via the transmitter to the receivers of the clamp devices to cause their actuators to move the actuating links from the second position to the first position, thus opening the gripping mechanisms. The tire manipulator may then remove the wheel from the large vehicle and position it horizontally on the floor. Each clamp device may be removed from the wheel by disengaging the attachment mechanisms from the wheel. 
     When it&#39;s desired to install the wheel onto the large vehicle, two clamp devices can be secured to the wheel in line with, for example, the  3 : 00  and  9 : 00  stud holes on the wheel. The positioning does not have to be exact as the gripping mechanism is configured to self-align to the stud upon engagement. The user may then leave the work area to allow a tire manipulator to grab and position the wheel onto the large vehicle. The user may then remotely transmit a signal to the receivers of each clamp device via the transmitter to cause the actuator to move the actuating links from the first position to second position, thus closing the gripping mechanisms of each clamp device onto the corresponding studs. The user may then confirm that each clamp device is securely attached to each stud by confirming that the actuating link has moved to the second position and that the indicator lights on each clamp device are illuminated. The tire manipulator may then be released from the wheel and moved away from the work area. The user may then install lug nuts on each stud, except for the two studs that accommodate the two clamp devices. The user can then transmit a second signal to the receivers of each clamp device to cause the actuator to move the actuating links from the second position to the first position, thus opening the gripping mechanisms of each clamp device. The user may then remove each clamp device from the wheel by disengaging the attachment mechanism of each clamp device. The final lug nuts may then be installed on the two remaining exposed studs. 
     While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.