GB2350590A

GB2350590A - Device for displacing a tyre bead from a wheel rim

Info

Publication number: GB2350590A
Application number: GB9912752A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Guy Roger Haffenden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-06-01
Filing date: 1999-06-01
Publication date: 2000-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-01
Also published as: GB9912752D0; GB2350590B

Abstract

The device comprises a main frame with two parallel plates 22 having slots for hooking around the inner edge of a wheel flange; mounted remote from the slots is a pivotable nut 60 retaining a threaded bar 56 having rotatably mounted at its end a spade 52 for pressing against a tyre bead 12. The bar 56 is rotated by a wrench or by a pneumatic, hydraulic or electric device. Associated with the frame is a plate 32 extending over the wheel flange and acting as a reaction abutment in respect of a cross-piece 29 of the frame which is located below the wheel flange. Location of the frame is aided by a pin 46 which is inserted into a hole 49 of the wheel flange. The slots obviate the need for fixing bolts. For wheel flanges of different thicknesses, packing pieces may be used.

Description

2350590 APPARATUS FOR USE IN REMOVING A TYRE PROM A WHEEL This invention

relates to apparatus for use in removing a tyre from a wheel.

There are various known types of apparatus f or use in removing a tyre from a wheel. The known types of apparatus often cause problems when the wheel is a commercial vehicle wheel. The known types of apparatus for use in removing a tyre from a commercial vehicle wheel are often fiddley, inadequate, noisy, expensive, and sometimes dependent upon an external power source.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided apparatus for use in removing a tyre from a wheel. which apparatus comprises a frame, a tyre-engaging portion which is mounted on the frame and which is for forcing a bead of the tyre inwardly and away from a rim of the wheel, and a wheel-engaging portion for engaging an inner flange of the wheel, the wheel-engaging portion being a slotted wheel-engaging portion which slots over the inner flange such as to secure the apparatus to the wheel during use.

The apparatus of the present invention is such that it is able to be secured to the wheel without the need f or fixing bolts which are usually required by the. known different types of apparatus. The apparatus of the present 2 invention is especially useful for removing tyres from commercial vehicle wheels where the wheel is such that the tyre bead has to be displaced from a tapered circumference of the wheel rim. The apparatus of the present invention is especially useful for use in removing tyres from commercial wheels of the type known as "safety", EVA (external valve aperture) EVB, EVH (external valve hole) and 11ActrosIl tyre commercial wheels. These commercial vehicle wheels have a rolled-in or raised hump over which the tyre bead must be pushed when displacing the tyre bead from its seated position on the wheel rim. The apparatus of the present invention may also be used on old wheels where the tyre has become attached to the wheel rim by corrosion.

The apparatus of the present invention may be used for removing a tyre from a commercial vehicle wheel, and especially a commercial vehicle wheel of the type that has one or more internal humps over which the bead of the tyre must be stretched or forced in order to enable the tyre to be demounted f rom the taper of the rim, and thereby to allow the tyre to be removed from the wheel for repair or replacement. The apparatus may also be used on other types of wheels if desired. The apparatus is able to be produced in an economical manner and such that it is compact, handportable, easy to use, simple in operating concept, and easy to keep clean. The apparatus is able to locate on a wheel in such a manner that maximum force can be applied to 3 the tyre at the point of greatest resistance, and thus provides the required deformation of the tyre in order to commence the process of removing the tyre from the wheel.

Preferably, the apparatus is one in which the slotted wheel-engaging portion secures the apparatus to the wheel as a loose f it. This loose f it enables the apparatus to rock slightly backwards and forwards when it is in position on the wheel and prior to force being applied to the tyreengaging portion.

The apparatus may be one in which the frame comprises a pair of side plates and a base plate, and in which the slotted wheel-engaging portion is formed by a slot in each one of the side plates. The slot in each side plate may be such that, in use, there is an upper portion of each side plate above the inner f lange of the wheel, and there is a lower portion of each side plate below the inner flange of the wheel. The base plate is able to interconnect the two side plates. The base plate is able to provide much of the strength and rigidity that is required for the entire frame. The base plate and its relationship with the slots enables the apparatus to be adapted for use on wheels of different designs. During use of the apparatus, the base plate is in contact with the underside of the wheel flange and it distributes the thrust applied by the side plates onto the underside of the wheel flange.

When the f rame is such that it comprises the pair of side plates and the base plate, then the apparatus may 4 include a strengthening member extending between the side plates. The strengthening member may be of any suitable and appropriate shape. A presently preferred strengthening member is a rod. The rod is able to act as a handle f or enabling the apparatus easily to be carried.

The apparatus may include force transfer means for transferring a proportion of the force with which the wheel-engaging portion acts on the wheel. The f orce transfer means may be such that some of the downward force on the force transfer means is applied to the flange part of the wheel immediately above a fixed part of the frame under the wheel, thus countering upward forces at this point.

The force transfer means may be a plate device that fits in use between the frame and the wheel. Other types of force transfer means may however be employed.

When the frame comprises the pair of side plates and the base plate, and the force transfer means is the plate device, then the apparatus may be one in which the plate device has three legs which form a T-shape, in which the two legs forming the top of the T-shape fit in use between the frame and the wheel, and in which the other leg forming the central part of the T-shape fits between the side plates and over the wheel. The plate device may be of other shapes if desired.

The apparatus of the present invention may include a pin for loosely locating the frame centrally above a bolt hole in the wheel, thereby to ensure that the f rame acts on the strongest part of the wheel which is between bolt holes, and also pegs everything together for extra saf ety. The pin may be positioned in an aperture in the base plate.

The tyre-engaging portion may be a spade device. Other types of tyreengaging portion may be employed.

The tyre-engaging portion may be manually operated. The tyre-engaging portion may then have a screw thread which is manually turned in order to cause operation of the tyre-engaging portion.

If desired, instead of being manually operated, the tyre-engaging portion may be pneumatically operated, hydraulically operated or electrically operated.

The apparatus of the invention may include accessory devices for enabling the apparatus to be used on a variety of wheels of different sizes. The accessory devices may be in the form of a family of extension and location brackets.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus in use; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a top view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1.

6 Referring to the drawings, there is shown apparatus 2 f or use in removing a tyre 4 f rom. a wheel 6. The apparatus 2 comprises a frame 8, and a tyre-engaging portion 10 which is mounted on the frame 8 and which is for forcing a bead 12 of the tyre 4 away f rom a rim 14 of the wheel 6. The apparatus 2 also comprises a wheel-engaging portion 16 for engaging an inner f lange 18 of the wheel 6. The wheelengaging portion 16 is a slotted wheel-engaging portion 16 which slots over the rim 14 such as to secure the'apparatus 2 to the wheel 6 during use. As can be seen f rom the drawings, bolts are not required to f ix the apparatus 2 to the wheel 6.

The frame 8 comprises a pair of side plates 20, 22. The slotted wheelengaging portion 16 is formed by a slot 24 in each one of the side plates 20, 22. The slot 24 is an over-size slot so that the apparatus 2 mounts on the wheel 6 as a loose f it which enables the apparatus 2 to rock backwards and forwards by a limited amount, for example for initial adjustment purposes prior to applying force to the tyre-engaging portion 10. As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2, the slot 24 in each side plate 20, 22 is such that, in use, there is an upper portion 26 of each side plate 20, 22 above the inner flange 18 of the wheel 6, and there is a lower portion 28 of each side plate 20, 22 below the inner f lange 18 of the wheel 6.

As shown in Figure 2, the f rame 8 includes a base plate 29. The base plate 29 is welded in position between 7 the side plates 20, 22 such that it connects the sides plates and provides much of the strength and rigidity required by the entire frame 8. The base plate 29 and its relationship with the slots 24 in the side plates 20, 22 enables the apparatus 2 to be adapted for use on wheels of different designs. The base plate 29 is the main part of the frame 8 that is in contact with the underside of the f lange 18. The base plate 29 distributes the thrust applied by the side plates 20, 22 onto the underside of the flange 18.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the apparatus 2 includes a strengthening member in the form of a rod 30 which extends between the side plates 20, 22. The rod 30 acts also as a handle for enabling the apparatus 2 easily to be carried.

The apparatus 2 includes force transfer means 32 for transferring a proportion of the force with which the wheel-engaging portion 16 acts on the wheel 6. The force transfer means 32 acts such that some of the downward force on the force transfer means 32 is applied during use of the apparatus 2 to the inner flange 18 immediately above a fixed part of the frame 8 under the wheel 6, thus countering upward forces at this point. The force transfer means 32 is a plate device which, as shown in Figure 3, fits in use between the f rame 8 and the wheel 6.

The force transfer means 32 has three legs 34, 36, 38 which form a Tshape. The legs 34, 36 forming the top of 8 the T-shape fit in use between the frame 8 and the wheel 6 as can best be appreciated f rom Figures 2 and 3. As shown in Figure 3, the frame 8 has portions 40, 42 which pass over the legs 34, 36 respectively. The portion 42 can also be seen in Figure 2. The other leg 38 forming the central part of the T-shape fits between the side plates 20, 22 and over the wheel 6, as can best be seen from Figure 3.

As best seen from Figure 2, the force transfer means 32 has an upstanding portion 44 which enables the force transfer means 32 easily to be located in position and also to be handled.

The apparatus 2 includes a pin 46 for loosely locating the frame 8 centrally above a bolt hole 48 in the wheel 6, thereby to ensure that the frame 8 acts on the strongest part of the wheel 6 which is between bolt holes 48. If the side plates 20, 22 were to act directly above bolt holes 48 instead of between bolt holes 48 as shown in Figure 3, then the side plates 20, 22 would be acting on the weakest part of the wheel 6. As shown in Figure 2, the pin 46 locates in a hole 49 in the base plate 29. In order to guard against the pin 46 becoming lost, it is secured by a chain 50 to the force transfer means 32 adjacent the portion 44 as can be seen f rom Figures 2 and 3.

The tyre-engaging portion 10 is in the form of a spade device as can best be seen from Figures 1 and 2. More specifically, the tyre-engaging portion 10 includes a spade portion 52 which acts between the tyre bead 12 and the rim 9 14 as shown in Figure 2. The spade portion 52 is connected to a screw threaded rod 54 having a screw thread 56 and a flat sided head 58. The flat sided head 58 is for receiving a spanner or other appropriate tool for enabling the rod 54 to be screwed backwards and forwards through a nut 60 which is fixed between the side plates 20, 22 by a support member 62 as best shown in Figure 1. The rod 54 thus forms a manually operated part of the tyre-engaging portion 10.

The spade portion 52 is able to rotate with respect to the rod 54 by bearings 64, 66 shown in Figure 2.

As can be seen f rom the drawings, the apparatus 2 is able to be attached to the wheel 6 in such a manner that no bolt or thread fastenings are required. Thus the apparatus 2 can very quickly and simply be secured to the wheel 6, simply by f itting the slots 24 in the side plates 20, 22 over the inner flange 18. This method of fixing also ensures that the apparatus 2 is correctly positioned on the wheel 6. The loading force is able to be distributed on the wheel 6 in such a manner that all the potential force that the apparatus 2 employs is able to be saf ely used without risk of damage of deformation to any part of the inner flange 18 or the rim 14. This may even be the case with aluminium wheels which are polished or thick.

During use of the apparatus 2, the apparatus 2 can be carried to a desired position simply in one hand by utilising the rod 30. The apparatus 2 can quickly and easily be slipped on to the inside of the inner f lange 18, f or example of a commercial vehicle wheel 6 or any other suitable and appropriate chosen type of wheel. The wheel 6 may be of various sizes. The apparatus 2 easily locates and aligns itself as mentioned above, with only a simple retaining pin 46 being required. Once the apparatus 2 is located in position on the wheels 6, the nut 60 is turned by a hand spanner or similar device until the spade portion 52 rests on the tyre 4, -having been guided by hand to the correct alignment and location, with the front of the spade portion 52 abutted against the wheel rim 14 as shown in Figure 2. Once the spade portion 52 has been correctly located, usually no further alignment will be required. The rod 54 is then turned. The illustrated offset in the spade portion 52, combined with the angle at which the operating thrust is applied to the bead 12 and the wall 68 of the tyre 4, ensure that the tyre 4 is quickly and easily displaced from its seating on the wheel rim 14. The ability of the apparatus 2 to remain effective during the tyre displacement is enhanced by the fact that the tyreengaging portion 10 is able to oscillate during the operation in order to enable the spade portion 52 closely to follow the wheel rim profile and thus ensure that the tyre bead 12 is not pinched or damage between the spade portion 52 and the rim 14. If desired, tyre bead lubrication may be applied to the curved part of the spade 11 portion 52, in order to enhance the ease with which the above mentioned operation is carried out.

Once the tyre 4 has been adequately displaced, the spade portion 52 may be retracted via the rod 54 so that the spade portion 52 can be put back to its original position ready for a next reuse. The apparatus 2 can then be easily removed from the wheel 6 and removed from the wheel 6 for further use as required.

During the tyre displacing operation, the tyreengaging portion 10 will usually be at an acute angle with respect to the f rame 8. The greater the force applied by the spade portion 52 to the bead 12, the harder the apparatus 2 is pulled and located on to the inner f lange 18 of the wheel 6. It is this force which enables the apparatus of the present invention to do without the need for fixing devices such for example as bolts, nuts, screws and other fixing devices. The pin 46 is merely used as an optional device for ensuring optimum positioning of the apparatus 2 on the wheel 6 as described above.

The apparatus 2 is such that it only has two lubricating points and can be operated with a spanner which may be a sliding spanner or a 32mm commercial wheel nut spanner. The apparatus 2 is able to apply in excess of 3 tonnes of force if required with such a simple spanner in the hands of a person of normal strength. This is more power than is usually required to displace the tyres on commercial vehicles. Once the tyre has been displaced with 12 respect to the wheel, the tyre can then be removed in any usual manner, for example using a tyre lever.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, instead of applying pressure to the spade portion 52 by hand, a pneumatic, electrical or hydraulic arrangement may be employed. The spade portion 52 is of a particularly effective design but it be of another type of design if desired. The frame 8 may be of another design if desired. The apparatus 2 may be used with an accessory pack such for example as a family of extension and location brackets to enable the apparatus 2 to be used on a wide variety of wheels. Although the apparatus 2 has been shown on the wheel 6 which is of a type known as an external valve wheel, the apparatus 2 may be used for all sorts of wheels including other commercial vehicle wheels and noncommercial wheels. The width of the slots 24 is preferably approximately 14mm when the apparatus 2 is to be used for steel wheels. The slot width may be increased to approximately 27mm for aluminium wheels. Figure 1 shows how the side plates 20, 24 may have a further plate 70 welded in position. A packing piece (not shown) may be quickly attached to the apparatus 2 in order to re-narrow the slots 24 for use with steel wheels. The plates 20, 22 and 29 and/or the slots 24 may be used by the extension and 13 location brackets for registering, locating and attaching the said brackets for any accessories, extensions or additions that may be required to adapt the apparatus for displacing the tyres from wheel types that may be found in other applications, for example agriculture, forestry and industry.

1%

Claims

CLAIMS THE DEVICE IS A TOOL FOR DISPLACING A TYRE BEAD FROM ITS SEATING ON A EL RIM.

1. The device consists of a main frame consisting of two slotted side plates connected by an integral base plate and tie bar. The base plate is adjacent to the slots in the main frame. When the device is in use the base plate bears onto the reverse side of the wheel flange. There are a pair of lugs on the side plates positioned for engaging with a seperate support plate.

The slots are on one edge of the side frames and are towards one end of the frames, and are at an acute angle to the centre line of the frame. They are of sufficient width to slot over or mate with the centre disc or flange of a wheel. The slots may be provided with packing pieces or other accomodating device to suit the wheel flange. At the other end of the main frame there is provision for locating a nut and screw thread type assembly to which is attached a tyre displacement spade.

The lugs on the main frame may engage with an additional support plate, the purpose of which is to distribute part of the counterforce across the wheel flange.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the slots in the main frame mate with the inner diameter of the wheel flange in such a way that the main frame is adequately located on the wheel flange.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the width or shape of the wheel mating slots can be varied to suit the wheel flange by the use of the packing plates or other accomodating devices.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 1 in which a nut carrying the screw thread assembly is located within the main frame in such a way as to allow the thread assembly and spade end to pivot within the main frame.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 4 in which the screw thread has a tyre displacement spade mounted upon it. The spade can rotate freely around the screw thread axis thus allowing the spade to remain pointing in one direction when the thread is rotated.,

6. A device as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 4 in which the spade and thread assembly can rotate around a fixed point. This being the location point on the main frame. This allows the toe of the spade assembly to follow closely the profile of the wheel rim.

Is

7. A device as claimed in preceding Claims in which the nut locating point within the in fi ma rame is at a greater radius from the centre of the wheel than the toe of the spade assembly.

8. A device as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the contact point of the spade assembly is offset from the centre line of the screw thread.

9. A seperate support plate as claimed ion Claim 1 is located below the main frame lugs and directly above the frame base plate and bears on the wheel flange thereby countering the force applied through the main frame base plate. The support plate has at least one other contact point on the wheel flange.

10. As in the preceding Claims the support plate and main frame are retained on the wheel flange by means of a pin, or similar device, which locates through the existing wheel flange bolt hole.

11. An apparatus for the displacing of a tyre from a wheel rim substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.