AU2017101022A4 - Tyre Handler - Google Patents

Abstract

A tyre handler 1 for handling a tyre and associated wheel rim of a large heavy vehicle, for example a mining truck. The tyre handler 1 including a pair of arms selectively moveable towards and away from one another, each arm including a distal end having a tool mounting means configured to accept one of a plurality of interchangeable tool elements including at least one tool element 19 for engaging with a tread region of a tyre. C) Cll 0j ,-OC

Description

2017101022 28Jul2017 1

TYRE HANDLER FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a tyre handler for handling a tyre and associated wheel rim of a large heavy vehicle, for example a mining truck. As the tyre handler is particularly suited for use in changing a tyre on a wheel rim, it will be convenient to describe the invention in relation to that specific application.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] The wheels and tyres of large vehicles such as mining dump trucks, excavation vehicles and the like are often too large and heavy to be safely lifted, installed, replaced, etc. without using specialized equipment. A tyre handler is a device commonly used to lift and manoeuvre wheels and tyres and is often utilised when changing or repairing the tyre of a large vehicle. A tyre handler is typically mounted on a front region of a fork lift-type truck, wheel loader or similar vehicle or may be mounted at a distal end of a boom of a vehicle such as a telescopic handler. A tyre handler typically includes a pair of outwardly extending arms which are displaceable with respect to one another to grasp a tyre therebetween. At a distal end of each arm is usually provided some form of tyre clamping member having a serrated portion to assist in gripping the tyre between opposing clamp members.

[0003] A problem with known tyre handlers is that their use is primarily limited to grabbing, lifting and manoeuvring wheels and tyres. If a tyre is required to be removed or installed from an associated wheel rim, specialised additional equipment is normally needed along with manual intervention. It would be desirable to provide a tyre handler with increased functionality and ease of use. 2 2017101022 28Jul2017

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tyre handler including a pair of arms selectively moveable towards and away from one another, each arm including a distal end having a tool mounting means configured to accept one of a plurality of interchangeable tool elements including at least one tool element for engaging with a tread region of a tyre.

[0005] The tool mounting means preferably includes a socket into which a corresponding stem member of a tool element is insertable. Further, the stem member of the tool element preferably includes an aperture into which a retaining pin is positionable to prevent the stem member being withdrawn from the socket of the tool mounting means.

[0006] The tool mounting means may further include first and second threaded apertures for securing the tool element to the tool mounting means with threaded bolts. The socket is preferably positioned between the first and second threaded apertures.

[0007] In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a tool element for the tyre handler of the first aspect of the invention. The tool element includes a main body, and a stem member for inserting in a corresponding socket of the tool mounting means of the tyre handler.

[0008] In one embodiment, the tool element may further include a plurality of serrations extending substantially perpendicular to the main body. The serrations advantageously assist the tool element to grip the tread region of a tyre.

[0009] In another embodiment, the tool element may further include a flange engaging bar for engaging with a bead flange, and one or more projecting studs for engaging an outwardly projecting lip of the bead flange. 3 2017101022 28 Jul 2017 [0010] In another embodiment, the tool element may further include one or more projecting tabs for abutting with a leg member of a bead seat band.

[0011] In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a tyre handler in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, in combination with a tool element in accordance with the second aspect of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention. The following description should not be considered as limiting any of the statements in the previous section. The preferred embodiments will be described with reference to the following figures in which: [0013] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tyre handler in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, having a tool element in the form of a tyre gripping tool positioned in the tool mounting means of the tyre handler arms.

[0014] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of a distal portion of one arm of the tyre handler showing the arm and a tool element in the form of a flange tool, configured to manipulate wheel components used in retaining the tyre on a wheel rim, in accordance with an embodiment.

[0015] Figure 2a is a partial cross sectional view of the flange tool illustrated in Figure 2 showing the flange tool element engaged with a tyre retaining bead flange.

[0016] Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of a tyre on a wheel rim, and a distal portion of the tyre handler arms with a pair of associated tool elements in the form of seating tools engaging the bead seat band, in accordance with another embodiment. 4 2017101022 28Jul2017

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] With reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings there is shown a tyre handler 1 which includes a coupling member 3 for removable attachment of the tyre handler 1 to a vehicle, for example a fork lift-type truck, wheel loader or telescopic handler. The tyre handler 1 further includes a main body 5 which is preferably configured to rotate laterally in both directions relative to the coupling member 3. In this regard, pivotal movement of the main body 5 with respect to the coupling member 3 may be implemented by mechanical, hydraulic or electronic means.

[0018] Connected to the main body 5 of the tyre handler 1 is a first arm and a second arm. The first arm is of generally L-shaped configuration and includes an outer sleeve 7 which is preferably welded or otherwise permanently attached to an upper region of the main body 5. The first arm further includes an inner extendable section 9 which is movable in a telescoping manner with respect to the first outer sleeve 7 about a longitudinal axis of the outer sleeve 7. In this regard, the first arm further includes an actuator 11 having one end fixed to the first outer sleeve 7 and an opposite end connected to the inner extendable section 9. Likewise, the second arm is of generally L-shaped configuration and includes an outer sleeve 13 which is welded or otherwise permanently connected to the main body 5. The second arm further includes an inner extendable section 14 which is able to extend and retract with respect to the outer sleeve 13 about a longitudinal axis of the outer sleeve 13. The second arm further includes an actuator 15 having one end connected to the inner extendable section 14 of the second arm and an opposite end connected to the outer sleeve 13 of the second arm.

[0019] The first and second inner extendable sections 9, 14 both include at a distal end a tool mounting means 17 which is configured to accept one of a 5 2017101022 28 M2017 plurality of interchangeable tool elements. The tools elements can be moved towards and away from each other by operation of the actuators 11, 15 which are preferably hydraulic and connectable to the hydraulic system of the vehicle to which the tyre handler is mounted.

[0020] In Figure 1 the tool element shown on both arms is in the form of a gripping tool 19. In Figure 2 the tool element is a flange tool 21, and in Figure 3 the tool element is in the form of a bead seat band seating tool. The gripping tools 19 are designed to securely hold a tyre therebetween by gripping the tread region on opposing sides of the tyre. The tyre can then be lifted and manoeuvred in the manner desired by an operator of the vehicle to which the tyre handler is mounted. As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, each tool element includes a stem member 23 for inserting into a corresponding socket 25 of the tool mounting means 17. The stem member 23 is provided with an aperture 27 which extends through the stem member 23. The socket 25 is provided with a corresponding aperture 29 which aligns with the stem aperture 27 when the tool element is fully engaged in the socket 25. A retaining pin (not illustrated) can then be inserted through the aligned apertures 27, 29 to retain the tool element in the socket 25 by preventing the stem member 23 from being withdrawn.

[0021] As best shown in Figure 2, the tool mounting means 17 may further include first and second threaded apertures 31, 33 positioned on mounting blocks 34. The threaded apertures 31, 33 enable the tool element to be securely mounted to the tool mounting means 17 with threaded bolts 36 which pass through corresponding bolt apertures 38 provided in a main body 24 of the tool element. The main body 24 is welded or otherwise connected to the stem member 23 and lies substantially perpendicular to the stem 23. The threaded bolts 36 assist to prevent torsional forces rotating the tool element with respect to the tool mounting means 17 when the tool element is under load. In contrast to the main body 24 of the flange tool 21, the gripping tool 19 shown in Figure 1 further includes a plurality of serrations which project outwardly perpendicular to the main body 24. 6 2017101022 28 Μ 2017 [0022] In Figure 3, a cross-sectional view of a tyre 43 is shown attached to a wheel rim 45. The tyre 43 is retained on the wheel rim 45 by a circular bead flange 53 which rests on the bead of the tyre 43. The bead flange 53 is held in place by a circular bead seat band 51 which is wedged shaped in cross section. The bead seat band 51 wedges between the bead flange 53 and the wheel rim 45 and is locked in place by a circular clip, commonly referred to as a lock ring 47, seated in a retaining groove 49 provided in the wheel rim 45.

[0023] In order to remove the tyre 43 from the wheel rim 45, the lock ring 47 must firstly be unseated and removed from the retaining groove 49. The bead seat band 51 and bead flange 53 can then be removed with the flange tool 21 positioned in the mounting means 17.

[0024] The flange tool 21 in the embodiment shown in Figure 2 includes a flange engaging bar 35 that is preferably formed of a metal rod having a diameter of about 15mm which is bent in a loop with both ends welded or otherwise securely fastened to the main body portion 24 of the flange tool 21. The flange tool 21 further includes a pair of projecting studs 37 which have a longitudinal axis that is generally perpendicular to a plane of the main body portion 24. With reference to Figure 2A, the projecting studs 37 function to abut with an outwardly projecting lip 61 of the bead flange 53 and the curvature provided in the engaging bar 35 is sized to permit the flange engaging bar 35 to seat behind the bead flange 53 when the projecting studs 37 are in abutment with the outwardly projecting lip 61 of the bead flange 53. In this position, the bead flange 53 can be lifted and removed from the wheel rim 45. In order to position the flange engaging bar 35 in the position shown in Figure 2A, the flange engaging bar 35 is firstly pressed against the tyre 43 adjacent to the bead flange 53 such that the tyre 43 is forced away from the bead flange 53. Opposing flange tools 21 on each arm can then be slightly moved towards one another such that the projecting studs 37 abut with the projecting lip 61 of the bead flange 53. Once in this position, the bead flange 53 and associated bead seat band 51 can be lifted away from the wheel rim 45 and associated tyre 43, thereby releasing the tyre 43 from the wheel rim 45. The bead seat band 51 is able to be released together 2017101022 28 Μ 2017 7 with the bead flange 53 as the bead seat band 51 has an annular rim 63 which the bead flange 53 sits behind.

[0025] The tool element shown in Figure 3 is in the form of a bead seat band seating tool which is a variation of the flange tool 21 depicted in Figure 2. The seating tool is used primarily when fitting the bead seat band 51 to the wheel rim 45. The seating tool includes a planar main body 24 like the flange tool 21, and one or more projecting tabs 65. When installing a tyre onto the wheel rim 45, the tyre is firstly positioned on the wheel rim 45. The bead flange 53 is then positioned around the wheel rim 45 on the bead of the tyre. The bead seat band 51 is then placed between in a gap between the wheel rim 45 and the bead flange 53. The seating tool is then positioned such that the projecting tabs 65 of the seating tool abut with the annular rim 63 of the bead seat band 51 and push the bead seat band 51 and underlying bead flange 63 into secure engagement on the wheel rim 45. The lock ring 47 is then positioned in the annular retaining groove 49 in the wheel rim 45.

[0026] The present invention advantageously provides a tyre handler of improved versatility by virtue of the tool mounting means on both arms permitting interchangeable tools elements to be quickly and easily installed and removed from the arms.

Claims (12)

1. CLAIMS:

   1. A tyre handler including a pair of arms selectively moveable towards and away from one another, each arm including a distal end having a tool mounting means configured to accept one of a plurality of interchangeable tool elements including at least one tool element for engaging with a tread region of a tyre.
2. 2. A tyre handler as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tool mounting means includes a socket into which a corresponding stem member of a tool element is insertable.
3. 3. A tyre handler as claimed in claim 2 wherein the stem member of the tool element includes an aperture into which a retaining pin is positionable to prevent the stem member being withdrawn from the socket of the tool mounting means.
4. 4. A tyre handler as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the tool mounting means further includes first and second threaded apertures for securing the tool element to the tool mounting means with threaded bolts.
5. 5. A tyre handler as claimed in claim 4 wherein the socket of the tool mounting means is positioned between the first and second threaded apertures.
6. 6. A tool element for a tyre handler as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, the tool element including a stem member for inserting in a corresponding socket of the tool mounting means.
7. 7. A tool element as claimed in claim 6 wherein the tool element further includes a main body which lies perpendicular to the stem member.
8. 8. A tool element as claimed in claim 7 wherein the main body has a plurality of serrations mounted thereon extending outwardly substantially perpendicular to the main body.
9. 9. A tool element as claimed in claim 7 wherein the tool element further includes a flange engaging bar for engaging with a bead flange.
10. 10. A tool element as claimed in claim 9 wherein the tool element further includes one or more projecting studs for engaging an outwardly projecting lip of the bead flange.
11. 11. A tool element as claimed in claim 7 wherein the tool element further includes one or more projecting tabs for abutting with a leg member of a bead seat band.
12. 12. A tool element as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 11 in combination with a tyre handler as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5.