EP4622809A1

EP4622809A1 - Tyre spreading device and method for spreading tyres

Info

Publication number: EP4622809A1
Application number: EP23840614.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Milan DUCHÁCEK
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-11-22
Filing date: 2023-11-20
Publication date: 2025-10-01
Also published as: CZ2022491A3; WO2024109968A1

Abstract

The object of the invention is a tire expanding device and a method of expanding tires using the tire expanding device. The present device includes a support structure comprising a base (1) and two support posts (3) perpendicularly guided from the base (1), wherein the device further comprises at least one arresting post (9) perpendicularly guided from the base (1) and two arms (5) each rotationally connected to a different support post (3), wherein each arm (5) has an inner side (6) of the arm and an outer side (7) of the arm, wherein the outer side (7) of the arm is located on the opposite side from the rotary connection (4) of the arm (5) with the support post (3) than the inner side (6) of the arm and the arms (5) are oriented with their inner sides (6) towards each other, wherein the arms (5) comprise on their inner side (6) a hook (8) for attaching the upper bead of the tire and further that the base (1) comprises two fixation elements (2) for attaching the bottom bead of the tire between the support posts (3).

Description

TYRE SPREADING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SPREADING TYRES

Technical Field

The invention relates to a tire expanding device and a method of expanding tires, where the tire is expanded to allow removal and installation of a flexible ring.

Background of the Invention

Currently, tire expanding devices are available that are either complex, bulky instruments not applicable in the field, or they are devices that only allow the opposite beads of the tire to be expanded in the vertical position of the tire rather than expanding the bead of the tire on one side and simultaneously expanding the opposite beads in the horizontal position of the tire, where it is easier to remove and install the flexible ring into the tire.

One solution that uses a similar mechanism is disclosed in the document CN203254903U U. This solution describes a tire expanding device that includes a support structure, two posts perpendicularly and vertically attached thereto, one of which has a hook connected straight to it, and the other of which has an arm with a hook rotationally connected to it. This solution uses a lever mechanism. However, the lever arm is only on one side, so the expansion of the tire is technically limited, and a small amount of expansion occurs. Furthermore, the device is designed to expand opposite beads of the tire in the vertical position of the tire, not to expand the beads of the tire on one side in the horizontal position of the tire.

A similar solution is disclosed in the document CN206664174U U, which also describes a tire expanding device with a support structure, two posts attached perpendicularly and vertically to the support structure and a hook connected straight to one post, and an arm with a hook connected rotationally to the other post. The device further comprises fixation elements that can be used to fix the tire in its vertical position, which means that again the opposite beads of the tire are expanded apart from each other rather than one bead from one side of the tire.

In contrast, a solution is disclosed in the document DE102005045159 A1 that describes a tire expanding device in a horizontal position where the upper bead of the tire is expanded. Also described is a common expanding device for stretching a flexible ring such that it can be better inserted into the tire in an oval shape. However, the tire expanding device is dependent on electrical energy, no lever mechanism is used. In the field, its use can be more challenging due to its more robust structure and use of electrical energy.

A tire expanding device using a lever mechanism is disclosed in the document US2058100 A, which includes a support structure to which two arms are rotationally connected, which have hooks movably connected thereto at approximately half their length. Applying a force to the arms outwards from the central axis of the structure will cause the tire to expand. In this case, the opposite beads of the tire are expanded in the vertical position of the tire, which has the above disadvantages. Similarly, a tire expanding device is disclosed in the document US2647722 A, but unlike the device disclosed in the document US2058100 A, the device comprises only one rotationally connected arm to the support structure. On the opposite side of the structure a post with a hook is attached.

The devices known from the state of the art are of a robust structure and are not easy to use in the field and/or are used to expand opposite beads of the tire, i.e. the upper and bottom beads apart from each other, thus limiting the range of the expansion of the tire. Summary of the Invention

The above shortcomings of the solutions known from the state of the art are to a certain extent eliminated by the present invention for a tire expanding device that includes a support structure comprising a base and two support posts perpendicularly guided from the base, wherein the device further comprises at least one arresting post perpendicularly guided from the base and two arms each rotationally connected to a different support post, wherein each arm has an inner side of the arm and an outer side of the arm, wherein the outer side of the arm is located on the opposite side from the rotary connection of the arm with the support post than the inner side of the arm and the arms are oriented with their inner sides towards each other, wherein the arms comprise on their inner side a hook for attaching the upper bead of the tire, and further the base comprises two fixation elements for attaching the bottom bead of the tire between the support posts. The tire expanding device has a relatively light and portable structure, allowing easy handling by the operator, so the device can be used in the field when removing and installing a flexible ring, for example on military or off-road vehicles. For use in the field, the tire expanding device can be disassembled into transportable form and simply put together again for further use. Further, the device is adapted to expand a tire placed in a horizontal position, wherein the bottom bead of the tire faces the base of the device and represents the circumference of the inner bottom edge of the tire, the upper bead of the tire faces in the opposite direction from the bottom bead and represents the circumference of the inner upper edge of the tire. The axis of rotation of the tire is therefore oriented vertically in the working position. The device of the invention expands both the upper bead of the tire and the opposite beads, that is, the upper and bottom beads of the tire, apart from each other in the shape of a bent ellipse. When using the device of the invention, a lever mechanism is used and significantly less external energy is required.

In a preferred embodiment, the fixation elements for attaching the bottom bead of the tire between the support posts are two hooks, wherein these hooks are oriented away from each other. The fixation elements allow attaching the bottom bead of the tire to prevent tire movement during the handling of the tire expanding device. By fastening the tire with fixation elements, the tire has a greater range of expansion and the removal and installation of the flexible ring is easier. In a further preferred embodiment, at least one arm has an arresting opening on the outer side of the arm for arresting the arm in the desired position and at least one arresting post has an opening with a locking pin on its upper side. An advantage of this embodiment is that the arm is arrested in a position when the beads of the tire are expanded either on one arm or on both arms such that the arrested arms then hold the tire in the expanded state without exerting additional forces.

In a further preferred embodiment, the rotary connections of the support posts and arms are above the level of the opening of the arresting post of the given arm. This preferred embodiment will provide sufficient space for the outer sides of the arms to move downward to the level of the base to expand the upper bead of the tire and the upper and bottom beads of the tire apart from each other as much as possible.

In a further preferred embodiment, each arm is bent upwards at an obtuse angle on its outer side behind the level of the arresting opening. An advantage of arms bent at an obtuse angle is easier handling by the operator when using the tire expanding device, and this embodiment further allows a greater range of movement of the outer side of the arm downward towards the base, thus allowing for a greater expansion of the upper bead of the tire and the upper and bottom beads of the tire apart from each other.

Furthermore, the essence of the invention is a method of expanding tires using the tire expanding device comprising a step of inserting the tire, furthermore, a step of attaching the upper bead of the tire using hooks of the inner sides of the arms, and a subsequent step of expanding the upper bead of the tire by moving the outer sides of the arms downward to the level of the base, wherein the step of inserting the tire in a horizontal position comprises attaching the bottom bead of the tire using fixation elements located on the base of the support structure, wherein in the step of expanding the upper bead of the tire, the upper bead of the tire and the bottom bead of the tire are expanded apart from each other. An advantage of this method of using the tire expanding device are easy handling by the operator, greater range of expansion of the upper bead of the tire and the upper and bottom beads of the tire apart from each other, and further, prevention of spontaneous movement of the tire when using the tire expanding device.

In a preferred embodiment of the method of expanding tires using the tire expanding device, the outer sides of the arms are arrested to the arresting posts after the step of expanding the upper bead of the tire. An advantage of this embodiment is that the arm is arrested in a position when the beads of the tires are expanded either on one arm or on both arms such that the arrested arms then do not need to be secured by the operator.

Description of Drawings

A summary of the invention is further clarified using exemplary embodiments thereof, which are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: fig. 1 shows schematically the tire expanding device of the first exemplary embodiment of the invention in a state without arresting the device in a front view, fig. 2 shows schematically the tire expanding device of the first exemplary embodiment of the invention in a state without arresting the device in a slightly rotated top view, fig. 3 shows schematically the tire expanding device of the second exemplary embodiment of the invention in an arrested state of the device in a front view, fig. 4 shows schematically the tire expanding device of the second exemplary embodiment of the invention in an arrested state of the device in a slightly rotated top view, Exemplary Embodiments of the Invention

The tire expanding device of the invention and the method of use thereof will be further clarified using exemplary embodiments with reference to the respective drawings.

In the first exemplary embodiment, the device of fig. 1 and fig. 2 comprises a support structure composed of a base 1 and two support posts 3 perpendicular and rigidly connected to the base 1_. Two fixation elements 2 for attaching the bottom bead of the tire are placed between the support posts 3 on the base 1. The fixation elements 2 are L- shaped or U-shaped hooks that are oriented away from each other. These fixation elements 2 fasten the tire in the device of the invention such that no unwanted displacement of the tire occurs during the use of the device. The second function of the fixation elements 2 is to allow the expansion of both the upper bead apart and the opposite upper and bottom beads apart, thereby achieving a greater overall expansion of the tire. Further, arms 5 are rotationally connected to the support posts 3 via a rotary connection 4. The rotary connections 4 of the support posts 3 and the arms 5 are above the level of the opening 10 with the locking pin of the arresting post 9 of the given arm 5. The arm 5 is composed of an inner side 6 of the arm and an outer side 7 of the arm, where these sides are defined by the rotary connection 4 of the arm 5 and the support post 3. Hooks 8 are rigidly connected on the inner side 6 of both arms for attaching and expanding the upper bead of the tire. Each arm 5 is bent upwards at an obtuse angle on its outer side 7 beyond the level of the arresting opening 1 1 . On the outer side 7 of each of the arms, an arresting opening 1 1 is located behind the rotary connection 4 for arresting the arm 5 in the expanded position of the beads of the tire. To arrest the arms 5 through the arresting opening 1 1 on the outer side 7 of the arm, two corresponding arresting posts 9 are required that are perpendicular to the base 1 and are rigidly connected thereto. Each arresting post 9 has an opening 10 on its upper side with a locking pin. Fig. 1 and fig. 2 show the device of the invention, where the arms 5 are in a position relative to the arresting posts 9 where they do not contact each other, and the tire is thus not expanded.

In the second exemplary embodiment of fig. 3 and fig. 4, the two arms 5 are in a position relative to the arresting posts 9 where the arresting opening 1 1 and the opening 10 with the locking pin overlap each other and the locking pin is inserted into these openings 10 and 1 1. Subsequently, the upper bead of the tire and the upper bead and bottom bead of the tire are expanded relative to each other, so the device is in the position of the expansion of the tire. Then the removal and installation of the flexible ring, which in the specific case of military and off-road vehicles is a run-flat ring, can be carried out.

In an alternative embodiment, the device of the first exemplary embodiment does not include the arresting posts 9 and the arresting openings 1 1 and the opening 10 with the locking pin.

In a further alternative embodiment, the tire expanding device includes only one arresting post 9 with the opening 10 with the locking pin and the arresting opening 1 1 is in only one corresponding arm 5. Once the arm 5 and the arresting post 9 are in the correct position where the arresting opening 11 and the opening 10 with the locking pin overlap, the locking pin is inserted in them. The second arm 5 may be held in the required position by the operator, or it may remain in the initial position as shown in fig. 1 and fig. 2.

In a further alternative embodiment, a piston may be used instead of one or both of the arresting posts 9 which would replace the work of the operator and provide movement of the outer side 6 of the arm towards the base 1, thereby expanding the upper bead of the tire and the upper and bottom beads of the tire apart from each other.

The procedure for using the tire expanding device is as follows. To ensure smooth use and tire expansion, it is recommended to clean the beads of the tire from remains of the installation paste used during the removal of the tire from the rim before using the device. The cleaned tire is placed in the central part of the support structure between the support posts 3 such that the cross in the center of the circle of the bottom bead of the tire is visible. Two fixation elements 2, i.e. hooks, are used to provide the fixation of the bottom bead of the tire. To provide the fixation of the upper bead of the tire, the movement of the outer side 7 of the arm downward towards the base 1 on the right side is first used. Then the upper bead on the right side is raised such that it approaches an expansion hook 8 on the inner side 6 of the arm. The hook 8 is then inserted under the upper bead of the tire and pressed by hand all the way to the bead edge of the tire. The movement of the outer side 7 of the arm downward towards the base 1, the fixation of the arm 5 can be carried out by inserting the locking pin simultaneously into the arresting opening 1 1 in the arm 5 and the opening 10 with the locking pin in the arresting post 9. Similarly, the left side of the upper bead of the tire is raised and the hook 8 is inserted under it. As it will be more difficult to move the outer side 7 of the arm downward towards the base 1, it is recommended to use an extension element to the outer side 7 of the arm and lock it with the locking pin. After pushing the outer side 7 of the arm downward, the arm 5 is fixed by inserting the locking pin simultaneously into the locking opening 1 1 in the arm 5 and the opening 10 with the locking pin in the arresting post 9. In this state, the tire is ready for removal and installation of the run-flat ring.

For removal and installation of the run-flat ring a device for adjusting the shape of the run-flat ring not shown in the figure is used. This device allows changing the shape of the run-flat ring into an ellipse, which is required for removal and installation thereof. Due to the high stiffness of the run-flat ring, it is necessary to use a high-pressure hydraulic cylinder and a high-pressure pneumatic-hydraulic pump. The high-pressure hydraulic cylinder is a single-acting cylinder with a return spring with a load capacity of 15 tons and a maximum working pressure of 700 bar. The high-pressure pneumatic-hydraulic pump is a two-stage air driven pump with a maximum working pressure of 700 bar. After removing a defective run-flat ring, the new run-flat is maximally stretched and shaped into the shape of an ellipse using the high-pressure hydraulic cylinder and the high-pressure hydraulic-pneumatic pump, then the run-flat ring is inserted into the expanded tire in this shape without damaging the sidewall or beads of the tire. The cylinder is subsequently removed from the run-flat ring.

After inserting the new run-flat ring into the tire, the arrested arms 5 can be gradually released by unlocking the locking pin from the opening 10 with the locking pin on the arresting post 9 and from the arresting opening 1 1 on the outer side 7 of the arm. The tire is released and can be removed from the device.

List of Reference Signs

1 - Base

2 - Fixation element

3 - Support post

4 - Rotary connection

5 - Arm

6 - Inner side of the arm

7 - Outer side of the arm

8 - Hook

9 - Arresting post

10 - Opening with locking pin

11 - Arresting opening

Claims

1 . A tire expanding device comprising a support structure comprising a base (1 ) and two support posts (3) perpendicularly guided from the base (1 ), wherein the device further comprises at least one arresting post (9) perpendicularly guided from the base (1 ) and two arms (5) each rotationally connected to a different support post (3), wherein each arm (5) has an inner side (6) of the arm and an outer side (7) of the arm, wherein the outer side (7) of the arm is located on the opposite side from the rotary connection (4) of the arm (5) with the support post (3) than the inner side (6) of the arm and the arms (5) are oriented with their inner sides (6) towards each other, characterized in that the arms (5) comprise on their inner side (6) a hook (8) for attaching the upper bead of the tire and further that the base (1 ) comprises two fixation elements (2) for attaching the bottom bead of the tire between the support posts (3).

2. The tire expanding device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the fixation elements (2) for attaching the bottom bead of the tire between the support posts (3) are hooks, wherein these hooks are oriented away from each other.

3. The tire expanding device according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one arm (5) on the outer side (7) of the arm comprises an arresting opening (1 1 ) for arresting the arm (5) in the desired position and at least one arresting post (9) comprises an opening (10) with a locking pin on its upper side.

4. The tire expanding device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary connections (4) of the support posts (3) and the arms (5) are above the level of the opening (10) with the locking pin of the arresting post (9) of the given arm (5).

5. The tire expanding device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each arm (5) is bent upwards at an obtuse angle on its outer side (7) beyond the level of the arresting opening (1 1 ).

6. A method of expanding tires using the tire expanding device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a step of inserting the tire, furthermore, a step of attaching the upper bead of the tire using hooks (8) of the inner sides (6) of the arms, and a subsequent step of expanding the upper bead of the tire by moving the outer sides (7) of the arms downward to the level of the base (1 ), characterized in that the step of inserting the tire comprises attaching the bottom bead of the tire using fixation elements (2) placed on the base (1 ) of the support structure, wherein in the step of expanding the upper bead of the tire, the upper bead of the tire and the bottom bead of the tire are expanded apart from each other.

7. The method of expanding tires according to claim 6, characterized in that after the step of expanding the upper bead of the tire, the outer sides (7) of the arms are arrested to the arresting posts (9).