Wheelwright machines – Rubber tire mounting and/or demounting apparatus – With carrier
Patent
1981-04-13
1983-04-05
Smith, James G.
Wheelwright machines
Rubber tire mounting and/or demounting apparatus
With carrier
B60C 2506
Patent
active
043788343
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
DESCRIPTION
1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for assembling tires and more specifically to methods and apparatus for assembling rims and belts on closed torus tires.
2. Background Art
The assembly of certain types of tires is an awkward and time consuming procedure. This is especially true for closed torus (that is, beadless) tires having a split rim.
Wheels incorporating beadless tires are generally assembled as follows. A vacuum is drawn on the carcass forcing it into a state of partial collapse. The belt of the beadless tire is then manually positioned around the outer diameter of the carcass and the vacuum is withdrawn permitting the carcass to engage the belt with a firm interference fit. The two rim halves are then positioned on either side of the inner diameter and pulled into abutting relationship with hydraulic jacks. The rims are then joined together with bolts, the valve stem is inserted and the tire is inflated. Apparatus for accomplishing this is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,920 issued to Barnes et al. on May 13, 1975.
This procedure has several disadvantages. Although drawing a vacuum on the carcass forces it to collapse to an extent permitting the belt to be positioned about it without significant difficulty, this procedure is detrimental in that collapse of the carcass results in significant distortion of the outer diameter of the carcass. As the carcass returns from its collapsed condition, contact between the belt and the outer diameter often prevents the outer diameter from returning to a fully undistorted condition. As a consequence, the mating elements of the belt and the tire often do not align correctly. This misalignment is rectified in assembly by such measures as beating on the belt and tire with a sledge hammer until the alignment is improved.
A second disadvantageous feature of existing assembly techniques for beadless and certain other tires is a consequence of the rim halves being pulled toward one another as they are simultaneously mounted. As the rims are forced into position in this manner, the carcass has a tendency to buckle inward or otherwise distort at a position intermediate the two rim halves. This distortion sometimes imposes detrimental stresses on the carcass and occasionally results in a portion of the carcass material being pinched between the rim halves. This pinching makes proper seating of the rim halves more difficult and can be injurious to the tire carcass.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
A method is disclosed for mounting a two-piece rim on a beadless tire. The two-piece rim has first and second halves, the beadless tire has a rim abutting portion and the rim abutting portion has a first portion abuttable with the first rim half and a second portion abuttable with the second rim half. This method comprises the steps of: supporting a portion of the diameter of the first portion; positioning the second rim half into proper abutment with the second portion; releasing the first portion; and, positioning the first rim half into abutment with the first portion.
A machine is disclosed for assembling a wheel, said wheel having a two-piece rim with first and second rim halves, a tire carcass and a belt. The wheel has a tire having a rim abutting portion and the rim abutting portion has a first portion abuttable with the first half and a second portion abuttable with the second half. The machine comprises means for supporting said tire, means for drawing said second rim half into abutting relationship with the second portion, and means for expanding the diameter of a portion of the first portion.
In mounting a two-piece rim on a closed torus tire, it is important to avoid buckling of the carcass inside diameter. This buckling, if allowed to occur, can result in improper positioning of the roll restraining hoops of the tire on the rim. Additionally, this buckling can cause pinching which can result in damage to the tire. The
REFERENCES:
patent: 2635682 (1953-04-01), Rerick et al.
patent: 3077224 (1963-02-01), Kacalieff et al.
patent: 3266548 (1966-08-01), Kolosowsky
patent: 3882920 (1975-05-01), Barnes et al.
patent: 4108233 (1978-08-01), Baer et al.
Caterpillar Tractor Co.
Phillips Richard F.
Smith James G.
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