AU2010207755B2

AU2010207755B2 - Apparatus and Method for Fitting a Tyre Chain

Info

Publication number: AU2010207755B2
Application number: AU2010207755A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Michael George Ledger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-04-13
Filing date: 2010-08-05
Publication date: 2012-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 2029-04-13
Also published as: AU2010207755A1; AU2009201429A1

Abstract

Abstract An apparatus for fitting a tyre chain (C) onto an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel (W) consisting of two spindle devices (10). Each spindle device (10) has a mounting unit (12), a support unit (14) and engagement members (28). The mounting unit (12) is removably attachable to a tyre manipulator arm (B) of a tyre manipulator vehicle (V). The engagement members (28) are able to engage with the rim (R) of an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel (W). The support unit (14) supports the engagement members (28). The support unit (14) and the engagement members (280 are rotatable relative to the mounting unit (12) The two spindle devices (10) can be removably attached to respective tyre manipulator arms (B) of a tyre manipulator vehicle (V) and engage with the rim (R) of the tyre-bearing wheel (W) on a respective side thereof so that the tyre bearing wheel (W) is freely rotatable between the two spindle devices (10.

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Name of Applicant: Michael George Ledger Actual Inventor: Michael George Ledger Address for service is: Goija Haines & Friend 35 Wickham Street East Perth Western Australia 6004 Invention Title: Apparatus and Method for Fitting a Tyre Chain The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 1 Title Apparatus and Method for Fitting a Tyre Chain. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for fitting a tyre chain to an off 5 vehicle tyre-bearing wheel and a method of fitting a tyre chain to an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel. As used in this specification, a reference to an "off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel" is a reference to a wheel, of a vehicle, on which a tyre is mounted, i.e. a "tyre 10 bearing wheel", and the tyre-bearing wheel is not mounted on the vehicle, i.e. the tyre-bearing wheel is off the vehicle ("off-vehicle"). The tyre on the wheel contacts the ground when the wheel is mounted on the vehicle such that the vehicle can be driven over the ground. 15 Throughout the specification unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. 20 Throughout the specification unless the context requires otherwise, the word "include" or variations such as "includes" or "including", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers. Background Art 25 The discussion of the background art, any reference to a document and any reference to information that is known, which is contained in this specification, is provided only for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the background art to the present invention, and is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of that material forms part of the common general 2 knowledge as at the priority date of the application in relation to which this specification was filed. In some situations, a large industrial vehicle requires tyre chains to be fitted 5 over the tyres on the wheels of the vehicle. The tyre chains are fitted over the tyres so as to cover the treads of the tyres of such a vehicle. An example of a vehicle to which such tyre chains may be fitted is an earthmover. Such chains may be required, for example, to provide increased traction when the vehicle is operating on loose surfaces and/or to extend the tread life of the tyres when 10 the vehicle is operating on rough terrain. When it is required to fit a tyre chain over a tyre of a wheel of such a vehicle, a current practice is to fit the tyre chain to the tyre-bearing wheel whilst the tyre bearing wheel is mounted on the vehicle. The vehicle is raised at the location 15 of the wheel, using a suitable jacking device. This raises the wheel off the ground. Personnel then manoeuvre the tyre chain around and over the tyre so that it covers the tread of the tyre and then they secure it in position by locking links. However, this practice presents significant risks of injury and even fatalities to the personnel carrying out the operation. These risks arise due to 20 the bulk and weight of the wheels and tyres of such vehicles and because the tyre-bearing wheel is raised above the ground during the tyre chain fitting procedure. Such vehicles have large size wheels and tyres. The diameters of the tyres may be 3 metres or more. The weight of a wheel having a tyre mounted on it can range from 2 tonnes to 20 tonnes. In addition, the tyre chain 25 itself is of considerable size and weight. Having personnel in close proximity to such a large and heavy wheel and tyre, whilst raised above the ground, and manoeuvring a large heavy chain onto the tyre inherently presents a significant safety risk to them. 30 In addition, the aforedescribed current practice of fitting a tyre chain onto a tyre of a wheel on a vehicle, requires that the vehicle is non-operational during the time taken to fit tyre chains over the tyres of the wheels on the vehicle. Given that it can take up to 12 hours to fit tyre chains over the tyres of the wheels on the vehicle using the aforedescribed current practice, this means 3 there is significant down-time for the vehicle during which it is non-operational at the worksite. Disclosure of the Invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided an 5 apparatus for fitting a tyre chain to an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel comprising: spindle means, the spindle means comprising: mounting means arranged, in use, to be removably attached to a tyre manipulator arm of a tyre manipulator vehicle, 10 engagement means arranged, in use, to engage with the rim of an off vehicle tyre-bearing wheel, and support means to support the engagement means, the support means and the engagement means being rotatable relative to the mounting means, 15 wherein a first spindle means and a second spindle means are arranged, in use, to be removably attached to respective tyre manipulator arms of a tyre manipulator vehicle and to engage with the rim of the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel on a respective side thereof such that the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel is freely rotatable between the first spindle means and the second spindle 20 means. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for fitting a tyre chain to an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel comprising: 25 first spindle means and second spindle means, the first spindle means and the second spindle means each comprising: mounting means arranged, in use, to be removably attached to a tyre manipulator arm of a tyre manipulator vehicle, engagement means arranged, in use, to engage with the rim of an off 30 vehicle tyre-bearing wheel, and 4 support means to support the engagement means, the support means and the engagement means being rotatable relative to the mounting means, wherein the first spindle means and the second spindle means are arranged, 5 in use, to be removably attached to respective tyre manipulator arms of a tyre manipulator vehicle and to engage with the rim of the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel on a respective side thereof such that the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel is freely rotatable between the first spindle means and the second spindle means. 10 Preferably, the support means is rotatably mounted on the mounting means. Preferably, the mounting means comprises a mounting plate arranged, in use, to be removably attached to a tyre manipulator arm of a tyre manipulator 15 vehicle. Preferably, the mounting means further comprises a spindle member and the support means is rotatably mounted on the spindle member. 20 Preferably, the support means comprises arm members and the engagement means comprises engagement members, wherein the engagement members are provided at distal locations of the respective arm members. Preferably, the support means further comprises a plate member and the arm 25 members are fixed to the plate member. Preferably, the engagement members are arranged, in use, to engage with the surface of the rim of the tyre-bearing wheel. 30 Preferably, an engagement member comprises a cut-out portion in an arm member, at the distal location of the arm member, and a plate fixed to the arm member at the cut-out portion. 5 Preferably, the plate is provided with a pad which is arranged, in use, to contact the surface of the rim of the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel. In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided 5 a method of fitting a tyre chain to an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel comprising: engaging an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel on respective sides of the rim of the tyre-bearing wheel such that the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel is rotatably held, manoeuvring the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel adjacent to a first end of a tyre 10 chain laid out on a substantially horizontal surface, securing the tyre chain proximate to the first end of the tyre chain, rolling the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel over the tyre chain, and securing the tyre chain proximate to the second end of the tyre chain when the tyre chain substantially overlies the tread of the tyre of the off-vehicle tyre 15 bearing wheel. Preferably, securing the tyre chain proximate to the second end of the tyre chain when the tyre chain substantially overlies the tread of the tyre of the off vehicle tyre-bearing wheel comprises securing the tyre chain proximate to the 20 second end of the tyre chain to the tyre chain proximate to the first end of the tyre chain. Preferably, securing the tyre chain proximate to the first end of the tyre chain comprises fixing the tyre chain proximate to the first end of the tyre chain to a 25 separate device. Preferably, the method further comprises unsecuring the tyre chain proximate to the first end of the tyre chain from the separate device. Brief Description of the Drawings 30 The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 6 Figure 1 is a first perspective view of an embodiment of a first spindle device of the apparatus for fitting a tyre chain to an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel in accordance with an aspect of the present invention; Figure 2 is a second perspective view of the spindle device shown in Figure 1; 5 Figure 3 is a first cross-sectional view of the spindle device shown in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a second cross-sectional view of the spindle device shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side view of the spindle device shown in Figure 1; Figure 6 is a third cross-sectional view of the spindle device shown in Figure 10 1; Figure 7 is an end view showing two spindle devices, of the type shown in Figure 1, mounted on a storage rack; Figure 8 is a plan view showing two spindle devices of the type shown in Figure 1, mounted to respective tyre manipulator arms of a tyre manipulator 15 vehicle; Figure 9 is a perspective view showing two spindle devices, of the type shown in Figure 1, attached to the tyre manipulator arms of a tyre manipulator vehicle and engaging an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel; Figure 10 is a perspective view showing an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel 20 having a spindle device, as shown in Figure 1, mounted thereon (the tyre manipulator vehicle being omitted for clarity); Figure 11 is a perspective view showing two spindle devices, of the type shown in Figure 1, engaging the rim of a wheel (the tyre and the tyre manipulator vehicle being omitted for clarity); and, 25 Figure 12 is a perspective view showing an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel, having two spindle devices, of the type shown in Figure 1, engaging the rim of the wheel, in the process of being rolled onto a tyre chain (the tyre manipulator vehicle being omitted for clarity). Best Mode(s) for Carrying Out the Invention 30 In the drawings, there is shown an apparatus for fitting a tyre chain C onto an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel W comprising a spindle device 10. In use, two spindle devices 10 are used to fit the tyre chain C to an off-vehicle tyre 7 bearing wheel W, as will be later herein described. Each spindle device 10 comprises a mounting unit 12 and a support unit 14. The support unit 14 is rotatable relative to the mounting unit 12. 5 The mounting unit 12 comprises a mounting plate 16 and a spindle member 18. The mounting plate 16 is fixed to the spindle member 18. The support unit 14 is rotatable on the spindle member 18 of the mounting unit 12. The support unit 14 comprises arm members 20 supported on a plate 22 and 10 a hub 24 located at the central region of the plate 22. The hub 24 is retained in position at the central region of the plate 22. A backing plate 23 is located on the opposite side of the plate 22. Bolts 27 extend through the backing plate 23, plate 22 and into the hub 24 to thereby retain the hub in position at the central region of the plate 22. The plate 22 may be in the shape of a disc. The 15 arm members 20 are substantially in the same plane. The arm members 20 extend from the hub 24 and terminate at distal locations, which may be proximate to their distal ends 25 which are substantially equally spaced from the hub 24. The distal ends 25 of the arm members 20 are substantially equally spaced from each other, e.g. by substantially 900 for the four distal 20 ends 25 of the embodiment shown. The hub 24 houses self-aligning bearings 26 whereby the support unit 14 is rotatable on the spindle member 18. A circular seal 29 is provided between the spindle member 18 and the backing plate 23 to prevent dirt fouling the self-aligning bearings 26. The self-aligning bearings 26 have load capabilities corresponding to the static load of the tyre 25 bearing wheel and the tyre chain C. The distal ends 25 of the arm members 20 are provided with engagement members 28. The arm members 20 are dimensioned and such that, in use, the engagement members 28 can engage the surface of the rim R of the off 30 vehicle tyre-bearing wheel W. The surface of the rim R that the engagement members 28 can engage is the inside surface of the rim R of the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel W. 8 Each engagement member 28 comprises a cut-out portion 30 in an arm member 20, at the distal end 25 of an arm member 20, and a plate 32 fixed to the arm member 20 at the cut-out portion 30. The plate 32 is provided with a pad 34 which is arranged, in use, to contact the surface of the rim R of the off 5 vehicle tyre-bearing wheel W. The pad may comprise rubber or synthetic rubber material, e.g. neoprene. The mounting plate 16 is used to removably attach the spindle device 10 to a tyre manipulator arm B of a tyre manipulator, or tyre handler, vehicle V. 10 A tyre manipulator vehicle is known in the art and is equipped with a tyre manipulator, or tyre handler, used to grip large wheels and tyres and move them from one location to another. Due to the large size and weight of these wheels and tyres, it is not possible for personnel to move or manoeuvre them 15 manually. A tyre manipulator has a pair of arms that extend from the front of the vehicle and are arranged to grip the tyre or wheel therebetween. Tyre manipulators generally grip the tyre at diametrically opposed regions. A tyre manipulator is able to grip a tyre that is mounted on a wheel as well as a tyre that is not mounted on a wheel. 20 Accordingly, the mounting plate 16 is provided with suitable means for removably attaching to a tyre manipulator arm B of the tyre manipulator vehicle V. For example, the mounting plate 16 shown in the drawings is provided with holes 36 therethrough and a lug 38, at one end thereof, whilst 25 the other end is provided with bevelled corners 40. These elements mate with corresponding attachment members on the tyre manipulator arms B on the tyre manipulator vehicle V so that the mounting plate 16 can be removably attached to a tyre manipulator arm B. For example, bolts can be passed through the holes 36 and corresponding holes in a tyre manipulator arm B of 30 the tyre manipulator vehicle V whilst the other elements, such as the lug 38 and the bevelled corners 40, mate with corresponding elements of the tyre manipulator arm B of the tyre manipulator vehicle V. However, it will be understood that the elements for the attachment of the mounting plate 16 to a tyre manipulator arm B need not be of the particular type as hereinbefore 9 described and illustrated in the drawings, but rather, may be of any suitable form to permit removable attachment of a spindle device 10 to an tyre manipulator arm B of a tyre manipulator vehicle V. 5 A method of fitting a tyre chain to an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel will now be described. The method will be described with reference to the apparatus of the present invention as herein before described. Figure 7 shows a pair of spindle devices 10 positioned on a storage rack K. 10 The spindle devices 10 are positioned on the storage rack K when they are not in use. When it is desired to fit a tyre chain C to a tyre-bearing wheel W of a vehicle, the wheel W is first removed from the vehicle. Conveniently, the tyre chain C may be fitted to the tyre T of the tyre-bearing wheel W of the vehicle whilst the tyre-bearing wheel W is removed from the vehicle for other servicing 15 requirements. Typically, the vehicle in question may be an earthmover vehicle or other large vehicle. Such vehicles may have large size tyres with diameters of 3 metres or more. A spindle device 10 is fixed to a respective tyre manipulator arm B of a tyre 20 manipulator vehicle V using the mounting plates 16. This is shown in Figure 8. Figures 10 shows a spindle device 10 engaging the rim R of a tyre bearing wheel with the tyre manipulator vehicle omitted for clarity of representation. For further clarity of representation, Figure 11 also omits the tyre. 25 The tyre manipulator vehicle V is then manoeuvred so that the off-vehicle tyre bearing wheel W is located between the spindle devices 10 with the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel W in an upright condition. The tyre manipulator arms B of the tyre manipulator vehicle V are moved toward each other such that the engagement members 28 of each spindle device 10 can engage with the rim 30 R of the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel W on respective sides thereof. The pads 34 of the engagement members 28 contact the surface of the rim R, at the inside surface thereof, of the tyre-bearing wheel W. This is shown in Figures 10 and 11. The off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel W is held by the engagement of the rim R by the engagement members 28, of the arm 10 members 20, due to the grab force exerted by the tyre manipulator arms B, of the tyre manipulator M. The off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel W is freely rotatable between the two spindle devices 10. The tyre-bearing wheel W is rotatable with the support unit 14 relative to the mounting unit 12. 5 The off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel can then be carried from one location to another by the tyre manipulator vehicle V. This is shown in Figure 9. The tyre manipulator vehicle V is then used to manoeuvre the off-vehicle tyre 10 bearing wheel W to adjacent a first end F of the tyre chain C. The tyre manipulator vehicle V then rolls the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel W along the tyre chain a short distance, and stops, so as to allow the tyre chain C to be attached to one of the arm members 20 of each spindle device 10, proximate to the first end F of the tyre chain C 15 The tyre manipulator vehicle V then continues to roll the off-vehicle tyre bearing wheel W over the tyre chain C until the first end F of the tyre chain C comes to approximately 2700 around the circumference of the tyre T, at which point the tyre manipulator vehicle V stops. The second end S of the tyre chain 20 C is then moved into position, by personnel, adjacent to the first end F of the tyre chain C. The tyre chain C is then connected together at locations proximate to the first end F and the second end S by locking links. The tyre chain C has then been fitted to the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel W such that the tyre chain C substantially covers the tread of the tyre T of the off-vehicle 25 tyre-bearing wheel W. The tyre manipulator vehicle V then moves the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel W, with the tyre chain C fitted, to its required storage location. The tyre manipulator arms B of the tyre manipulator vehicle V are then moved away 30 from each other so that the engagement members 28 of the spindles 10 disengage from the rim R of the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel W. After use, the spindle devices 10 are placed back on the storage rack K and detached from the tyre manipulator arms B of the tyre manipulator vehicle V. 11 The present invention enables the tyre chain C to be fitted to the tyre T whilst the tyre-bearing wheel W is located off the vehicle. Furthermore, the off vehicle tyre-bearing wheel W is not in a raised condition but instead is at 5 ground level. Furthermore, personnel handle the tyre chain C only whilst the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel W is stationary and the tyre manipulator vehicle V is stopped. Thus, no personnel are in the vicinity of the wheel W whilst it is in motion as it is rolled over the tyre chain C by the tyre manipulator vehicle M. 10 In addition, the present invention allows the tyre chain C to be fitted to the tyre T of a tyre-bearing wheel W when the tyre-bearing wheel has been removed from the vehicle for other servicing requirements. This reduces the downtime of the vehicle since the vehicle does not need to be taken out of service for the sole purpose of fitting tyre chains. 15 Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention. 12

Claims

1. Apparatus for fitting a tyre chain to an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel comprising: spindle means, the spindle means comprising: 5 mounting means arranged, in use, to be removably attached to a tyre manipulator arm of a tyre manipulator vehicle, engagement means arranged, in use, to engage with the rim of an off vehicle tyre-bearing wheel, and support means to support the engagement means, the support 10 means and the engagement means being rotatable relative to the mounting means, wherein a first spindle means and a second spindle means are arranged, in use, to be removably attached to respective tyre manipulator arms of a tyre manipulator vehicle and to engage with the rim of the off-vehicle tyre 15 bearing wheel on a respective side thereof such that the off-vehicle tyre bearing wheel is freely rotatable between the first spindle means and the second spindle means.

2. Apparatus for fitting a tyre chain to an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel 20 comprising: first spindle means and second spindle means, the first spindle means and the second spindle means each comprising: mounting means arranged, in use, to be removably attached to a tyre manipulator arm of a tyre manipulator vehicle, 25 engagement means arranged, in use, to engage with the rim of an off vehicle tyre-bearing wheel, and support means to support the engagement means, the support means and the engagement means being rotatable relative to the mounting means, 30 wherein the first spindle means and the second spindle means are arranged, in use, to be removably attached to respective tyre manipulator arms of a tyre manipulator vehicle and to engage with the rim of the off 13 vehicle tyre-bearing wheel on a respective side thereof such that the off vehicle tyre-bearing wheel is freely rotatable between the first spindle means and the second spindle means. 5

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support means is rotatably mounted on the mounting means.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting means comprises a mounting plate arranged, in use, to be 10 removably attached to a tyre manipulator arm of a tyre manipulator vehicle.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mounting means further comprises a spindle member and the support means is rotatably mounted on the spindle member. 15

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, the support means comprises arm members and the engagement means comprises engagement members, wherein the engagement members are provided at distal locations of the respective arm members. 20

7. Apparatus according to any claim 6, wherein the support means further comprises a plate member and the arm members are fixed to the plate member. 25

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the engagement members are arranged, in use, to engage with the surface of the rim of the tyre bearing wheel.

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein an engagement 30 member comprises a cut-out portion in an arm member, at the distal location of the arm member, and a plate fixed to the arm member at the cut-out portion. 14

10.Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the plate is provided with a pad which is arranged, in use, to contact the surface of the rim of the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel. 5

11.A method of fitting a tyre chain to an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel using the apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10 comprising: engaging an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel, with the engagement means of the apparatus, on respective sides of the rim of the tyre-bearing wheel such that the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel is rotatably held, 10 manoeuvring the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel adjacent to a first end of a tyre chain laid out on a substantially horizontal surface, securing the tyre chain proximate to the first end of the tyre chain, rolling the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel over the tyre chain, and securing the tyre chain proximate to the second end of the tyre chain when 15 the tyre chain substantially overlies the tread of the tyre of the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel.

12.A method according to claim 11, wherein securing the tyre chain proximate to the second end of the tyre chain when the tyre chain substantially 20 overlies the tread of the tyre of the off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel comprises securing the tyre chain proximate to the second end of the tyre chain to the tyre chain proximate to the first end of the tyre chain.

13.A method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein securing the tyre chain 25 proximate to the first end of the tyre chain comprises fixing the tyre chain proximate to the first end of the tyre chain to a separate device.

14.A method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising unsecuring the tyre chain proximate to the first end of the tyre chain from 30 the separate device.

15.Apparatus for fitting a tyre chain to an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 15

16.A method for fitting a tyre chain to an off-vehicle tyre-bearing wheel, using the apparatus according to claim 15, substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 5 16