Patent ID: 8096328

Claim:
A tire inflation apparatus for inflating a tire mounted on a rim, said inflation apparatus comprising: a fixed frame member positioned above a tire and rim assembly inflation location at which a tire mounted on a rim is received to inflate the tire; an inflation head, said inflation head being movable between a retracted position and a tire engaging position, said inflation head defining a tire inflation cavity and adapted to form a seal with a tire when positioned against a tire in said tire engaging position with pressurized gas deliverable into said tire inflation cavity to inflate a tire when said inflation head is sealed against a tire in said tire engaging position; a head position cylinder including a fixed head position cylinder base and a moveable inflation shaft, said inflation head being mounted to said inflation shaft whereby movement of said inflation shaft selectively positions said inflation head between said retracted position and said tire engaging position; and a first assist cylinder mounted to said fixed frame member above said inflation location, said first assist cylinder including a fixed first assist cylinder base and a moveable first assist shaft; said moveable first assist shaft being operatively connected to said inflation shaft by a moveable cross member with said head position cylinder and said first assist cylinder cooperatively operating to selectively position said inflation head, said inflation head being positioned in said retracted position by vertical upward extension of said moveable first assist shaft from said fixed first assist cylinder base and positioned in said tire engaging position by vertical downward retraction of said moveable first assist shaft into said fixed first assist cylinder base, and wherein said cross member is positioned and moveable vertically above said fixed frame member and said fixed first assist cylinder base and said fixed head position cylinder base are mounted to said fixed frame member, and wherein said inflation shaft includes a lower portion extending and retracting vertically downward from said fixed head position cylinder base and an upper portion extending and retracting vertically upward from said fixed head position cylinder base, and wherein said upper portion of said inflation shaft is connected to said moveable cross member.