GB2435231A

GB2435231A - Tyre recycling

Info

Publication number: GB2435231A
Application number: GB0603440A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Perks
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-02-21
Filing date: 2006-02-21
Publication date: 2007-08-22
Also published as: GB0603440D0

Abstract

A device 10 and method for removing rubber material 24 from vehicle tyres 13. The device includes a cutter 22 for removing rubber material 24 from the tyre 13. A wheel and tyre assembly 12 is removed from a vehicle and supported on the device 10. The cutter 22 can be positioned in contact with the tyre 13, and the device 10 can move the cutter 22 and the wheel and tyre assembly 12 relative to one another so that rubber material 24 is removed from the tyre 13. The cutter 22 may be heated and processing means (Figure 2, 41) for automating the movement of the cutting means 22 provided.

Description

Tyre Recycling

BACKGROUND

a. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to tyre recycling, and specifically to a device and method for removing rubber from vehicle tyres.

b. Related Art Rubber tyres, such as those used on most motor vehicles, require replacement as they become worn and lose their tread. Replacing a tyre typically involves taking the vehicle to an appropriate garage. At the garage the wheel and tyre assembly is removed from the vehicle, the tyre is removed from the wheel rim, a new tyre is fitted to the wheel rim, the wheel and new tyre assembly is balanced and then refitted to the vehicle.

Some used tyres may be suitable for reuse, however a significant number of used tyres are not suitable for such use. These tyres are generally stored at the garages for a period of time before being collected and transported to a suitable location for disposal or to a recycling plant. Recycling plants are able to separate the various components of the tyre. For example, the rubber can be removed from the tyres and reused to make athletics tracks, carpet underlays, playground surfaces and many other things.

Storing large quantities of used tyres at garages can be a problem because they occupy a significant amount of space. Currently either the garages must acquire larger premises, or frequent collections of used tyres must be made from these garages. Each of these solutions can be costly and inefficient. The present invention provides an alternative solution to the storage problem.

P4870A4 February 2006

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a device for removing rubber material from a vehicle tyre, the device comprising: means for supporting a wheel and tyre assembly, said wheel and tyre assembly comprising a tyre mounted on a wheel rim; and cutting means for removing rubber material from the tyre, wherein the device is arranged such that in use, when a wheel and tyre assembly is supported on the device, the cuffing means and wheel and tyre assembly are moveable relative to one another such that the cutting means can contact the tyre and remove rubber material therefrom.

Removing rubber from used tyres allows them to be stored far more efficiently at garages and tyre bays. Once the rubber has been removed, the remaining tyre carcass can simply be removed from the wheel and crushed. Most garages or tyre bays currently stack used tyres one on top of another, however the majority of the volume occupied by these stacks of tyres is empty space. By removing the rubber, and crushing the carcasses, the garages can store far more used tyres in a much smaller space. This also means that collections of used tyres from the garages can be made more infrequent as the collection lorries can transport greater numbers of tyres in one load. This therefore benefits the environment.

The garage owners additionally benefit by accumulating a supply of rubber material which can be sold for reuse.

The term vehicle' used herein is intended to include, inter alia, cars, lorries, motorbikes, caravans, and trailers. The machine is, however, suitable for use with all tyres of pneumatic tyres.

The cuffing means may be arranged to move about the tyre with the wheel and tyre assembly held substantially stationary on the device. Alternatively, the device P4870 A4 February 2006 may be arranged to move the wheel and tyre assembly relative to a stationary cutting means. Preferably however, the device is arranged to rotate the wheel and tyre assembly relative to the cutting means. Most preferably the cuffing means is also moveable relative to the rotating wheel and tyre assembly so that the cutting means can be brought in and out of contact with the tyre, and so that rubber can be removed from each part of the tyre.

Preferably the device comprises a main housing having a rotatable support connect thereto, onto which a wheel and tyre assembly can be secured. The rotatable support is connected to a shaft which is caused to rotate by any suitable means for example a motor located in the main housing of the device. The shaft and rotatable support may be orientated substantially vertically, substantially horizontally or at any angle there between. The angle of inclination of the rotatable support may also be adjustable according to the operator's preference.

Preferably the shaft is orientated such that it extends substantially horizontally so that the wheel and tyre assembly is rotated in a substantially vertical plane.

The angle of inclination of the cuffing means relative to the tyre is adjustable to provide some control over the direction that the removed rubber is flung.

Preferably the blade is angle so that rubber is directed downwards towards the floor. The device may also include a shield for catching rubber which is flung in upwards or outwards directions. Preferably the device includes a shield which can be positioned to substantially cover the wheel and tyre assembly when the device is in use. The shield is a safety device and catches stones, grit or pieces of removed rubber that would otherwise be flung at high speed away from the device.

Preferably the device includes suitable means for collecting the removed rubber material, for example a basket or similar container.

The wheel and tyre assembly may be secured to the rotatable support by any suitable means known in the art. A number of examples of suitable securing means can be found in use on existing wheel balancing machines and as such are not discussed any further herein. Preferably however the rotatable support P4870.A4 February 2006 includes a chuck at the end which can engage with a substantially central aperture in the wheel, said aperture being present on all motor vehicle wheels and being commonly used in the process of wheel balancing. The chuck can be adjusted to secure wheels having apertures with different diameters. As the device can rotate the wheel on the rotatable support, it can also be used to balance the wheel once a new tyre is fitted.

Any suitable cutting means may be used, for example a single blade, multiple blades, a metal surface having a plurality of serrations in it, or even a suitable laser device. Preferably the cutting means comprises a U or L-shaped metal blade having a bevelled cutting edge. The metal blade is also preferably heated to facilitate removal of rubber from the tyre. Heating may be achieved using any suitable means, for example using electric currents. The cutting means is preferably removable from the device so that it can be replaced easily or sharpened.

Preferably the cutting means is mounted on a moveable arm which can be raised and lowered with respect to a wheel and tyre assembly supported on the device.

More preferably, the cutting means is located on a pickup assembly which is slidably mounted on the moveable arm to allow the cutting means to be moved along the arm parallel to the width of the tyre so that rubber can be removed from the entire width of the tyre tread. Preferably the cutting means is pivotally attached to the pickup assembly so that the cutting means can be angled with respect to the tyre to remove rubber from the sides and edges of the tyre.

In order to cut rubber from tyres of different diameters, or to cut to the maximum depth of rubber, the moveable arm may be moveable towards and away from the wheel and tyre assembly. The pickup assembly itself may also be extendable in this direction so that the cutting means can be moved relative to the tyre even when the arm is kept stationary; this can allow for more precise control over the movement of the cutting means in order to avoid cutting into the carcass.

P4870.A4 February 2006 The interface between the pickup assembly and cutting means may be a universal one so that different sorts of cutting means can be interchanged on the device according to the desired size and shape of the sections of rubber to be removed.

The cutting means is preferably pivotally connected to the pickup assembly so that rubber can be removed from the edges and sides of the tyre as well as from the main tread-bearing surface of the tyre.

Preferably the moveable arm, pickup assembly and cutting means are all moveable manually. The device may alternatively be computer controlled, such that the operator is only required to secure the wheel and tyre assembly on the device and press a start button. The movement of the arm, pickup assembly and cutting blade may be achieved using suitable actuating means, for example hydraulics or motors, and be controlled by suitable processing means such that substantially all, or the majority, of rubber material from the tyre is removed.

Preferably the device comprises means for determining the position of the tyre carcass in the tyre and hence the depth of rubber material on the tyre. Any suitable means known in the art may be used, for example ultrasound, x-rays, lasers or vibration detectors. The depth of rubber material on the tyre could also be measured, for example, by using a sharp or heated implement to bore a hole into the tyre until the carcass is reached, and then measuring the depth of this hole.

The device may also comprise movement prevention means for preventing movement of the cutting means. The processing means may be configured to receive data from the depth determining means, and activate the movement prevention means to prevent the cutting means from being moved by an operator beyond a certain limit, said limit depending on the depth of the rubber material on the tyre, such that the tyre carcass cannot be accidentally cut into.

The main housing may be provided with wheels on its base to enable the device to be easily moved around a garage or tyre-bay. Preferably the wheels are lockable P4870 A4 February 2006 so that the device cannot move around during use.

The dimensions of the device are similar to that of wheel balancing machines, such as those found in most garages and tyre-change bays. The present invention is therefore suitable for use in garages and tyre-change bays. Wheel balancing machines generally have processing means, sensing means and rotation means, and are arranged to rotate a wheel and tyre assembly while the sensing means detects an imbalance in the wheel, and the processing means calculates the position on the wheel that a weight must be placed to balance the wheel. As the present device is preferably arranged to rotate a wheel and tyre assembly, and preferably includes processing means, it is also preferable that the device includes sensing means so that the device can operate additionally as a wheel balancing machine. This enables garages and tyre-bays to have a single device which can remove rubber from used tyres, and also balance wheels.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of removing rubber from a vehicle tyre using a device having support means, cutting means, and movement means for moving the support means and cutting means relative to one another, the method comprising the steps of: supporting a wheel and tyre assembly on the support means, said wheel and tyre assembly comprising a tyre mounted on a wheel rim; positioning the cutting means in contact with the tyre; using the movement means to move the wheel and tyre assembly and the cutting means relative to one another such that the cutting means removes rubber material from the tyre.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of changing a tyre on a wheel of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: providing a vehicle; removing a wheel and tyre assembly from the vehicle, said wheel and tyre assembly comprising a tyre mounted on a wheel rim; providing a device having support means, cutting means and means for P4870.A4 February 2006 providing relative movement between the support means and cutting means, supporting said wheel and tyre assembly on the support means; moving the support means and cutting means relative to one another such that the cutting means contacts the tyre and removes a quantity of rubber material therefrom; removing the tyre carcass from the wheel rim; fitting a replacement tyre onto the wheel rim to form a wheel and tyre assembly; and replacing the wheel and tyre assembly on the vehicle.

For the avoidance of doubt, the terms rubber' and rubber material' used herein refer to the physical properties of the materials comprising the tyre, rather than to their chemical compositions.

P4870 A4 February 2006

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device for removing rubber material from a motor vehicle tyre according to the invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view from above of part of the device viewed along the line Y in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a close up of part of a cutting blade viewed along the line Z-Z of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a side view of a motor vehicle tyre; and Figure 6 is a cross section of the motor vehicle tyre viewed along line X-X in Figure 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device 10 according to the invention. A wheel and tyre assembly 12 comprising a tyre 13 mounted on a wheel rim 14 is shown supported on the device 10 and rotating in the direction of arrow 21 relative to a cutting blade 22. As the wheel and tyre assembly 12 rotates, the cutting blade 22 removes rubber material 24 from the tyre 13.

Figure 5 shows a typical motor vehicle tyre 13 as viewed from the side. A cross-section of the tyre 13 as viewed along line X-X is shown in Figure 6. The tyre 13 is P4870.A4 February 2006 comprised of beads 51, a liner 52, carcass 53 and rubber material 54. The beads 51 are generally made from high tensile steel wire and anchor the tyre to the wheel rim. The liner 52 is generally made of halo-butyl rubber, and the carcass 53, which is located over the liner 52 is generally made of a rubberised textile fabric, and gives the tyre 13 its strength. The external surface of the carcass 52 is surrounded by the rubber material 54. The rubber material 54 forms the tread 55 and sidewalls 56 of the tyre 13. It should be understood that when the process of removing the carcass from the wheel' is discussed herein, this refers to removing the entire remains of the tyre 13 from the wheel rim, and so includes removing the beads 51, liner, 52 carcass 53 and any rubber material 54 which is not removed during the cutting process.

Returning now to Figure 1, the device 10 comprises a support frame 18 having an upright portion 26 which includes a rotatable support 16 (shown by the dotted lines), on which the wheel and tyre assembly 12 is supported. The rotatable support 16 is arranged on a rotatable shaft (not shown) which extends into the upright portion 26. In use, the rotatable support 16 and shaft are orientated substantially horizontally, such that the wheel and tyre assembly 12 rotates in a substantially vertical plane. The wheel and tyre assembly 12 is secured on the rotatable support 16 by a three jaw chuck 20 which extends through a substantially central aperture 15 in the wheel rim 14. The chuck 20 is radially expanded in the aperture 15 until the wheel and tyre assembly 12 is firmly clamped to the support 16.

The cutting blade 22 is mounted on a pickup assembly 28 which is in turn attached to one end of a moveable L-shaped arm 30. The other end of the moveable L-shaped arm 30 is slidably mounted in an elongate vertical recess 32 in the upright portion 26, such that the arm 30 can be raised and lowered in the direction of arrow 34. The pickup assembly 28 is slidably connected to the L-shaped arm 30, such that the pickup assembly 28, and hence the cutting blade 22 can be scanned across the full-width of the tyre 13. This also allows the device 10 to be used with tyres of various widths.

P4870.A4 February 2006 Figure 2 is an end view of the device 10. The L-shaped arm 30 can be moved horizontally in the direction of arrow 40 to bring the cutting blade 22 closer to, or further from, the tyre 13. Although not shown in the drawings, the pickup assembly 28 may include suitable means to allow it to also move in the direction of arrow 40 to allow more precise control on the movement of the cutting blade 22.

The device 10 further includes an electronic control panel 41 and suitable processing means (not shown) which provides automation of the device 10, for example the processing means may automatically control the movement of the L-shaped arm 30 and/or pickup assembly 28 and cutting blade 22 during the cutting process. Alternatively, the operator of the machine could control these movements manually.

The device 10 includes a waste catcher 36 attached to the support frame 18 and positioned to catch the shreds of rubber material 24 cut from the tyre 13. The waste catcher 36 is removable from the support frame 18 so that it can be emptied when full. The support frame 18 has a contoured outer surface 38 which is arranged to direct the cut rubber 24 over the surface 38 and into the waste catcher 36. This can be seen in more detail in Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a partial cross-section of the pickup assembly 28 as viewed from along arrow Y in Figure 2. The pickup assembly 28 extends from the L-shaped arm 30 towards the tyre 13, and includes the cutting blade 22 arranged to contact the tyre 13. The cutting blade 22 is pivotally connected to the pickup assembly 28 and can pivot in a substantially horizontal plane about a pivot assembly 42 as shown by the broken lines 44. A heating element is located within the pivot assembly 42 and provides heat to the cutting blade 22 through conduction. Figure 4 is a close up of part of the cutting blade 22 as viewed along line Z-Z in Figure 3. It can be seen from Figure 4 that the cutting blade 22 has a bevelled edge 2 which is sufficiently sharp to remove rubber from the tyre.

The method of operation of the device will now be described with reference to P4870 A4 February 2006 Figures 1 to 3. The device 10 is intended for use in a garage, or tyre change bay.

A vehicle enters the garage or tyre change bay and a wheel and tyre assembly 12 is removed from the vehicle in the normal way. Instead of the tyre being removed from the wheel, the wheel and tyre assembly 18 is placed on the rotatable support 16 of the device 10 such that the three jaw chuck 20 extends through an aperture (Figure 1) in the centre of the wheel 14. The three jaw chuck 20 is radially expanded within the aperture 15 until the wheel and tyre assembly 12 is firmly secured on the device 10.

The movable arm 30 and/or pickup assembly 28 are adjusted such that the cutting blade 22 is first out of contact with the tyre 13. The device 10 is then switched on and the wheel and tyre assembly 18 rotates in the direction of arrow 21. The rate of revolution of the wheel and tyre assembly 12 is adjusted using control panel 41 (Figure 2). To remove rubber material from the tyre 13, the operator moves the moveable arm 30 to bring the culling blade 22 into contact with the tyre 13. The pickup assembly 28 is then scanned along the arm 30 in the direction of arrow 50 to remove rubber from the full width of the tyre 13. Rubber can be removed from the sides 48 and edges 49 (see Figure 3) of the tyre 13 by moving the pickup assembly 28 along the arm 30 in the direction of arrow 50 towards the edge 49 of the tyre 13, and by pivoting the cutting blade 22 to a position such as that shown by broken lines 44.

The cutting blade 22 is angled relative to the tyre 13 so that the rubber material 24 which is removed from the tyre 13 is directed towards, and collected in, waste catcher 36. Once all of the rubber, or the majority of the rubber, has been removed from the tyre, the tyre carcass is then removed from the wheel rim 14 and the wheel rim 14 is removed from the device 10. A new tyre is fitted to the wheel rim 14 and the wheel and new tyre assembly are replaced on the device 10 and balanced. The wheel and new tyre assembly are then removed from the device 10 and replaced on the vehicle.

It should be understood that the invention has been described by way of example P4870.A4 February 2006 only and that modifications in detail may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined In the Sims.

P4810 M 2OFsbnsy2008

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A device for removing rubber material from a vehicle tyre, the device comprising: means for supporting a wheel and tyre assembly, said wheel and tyre assembly comprising a tyre mounted on a wheel rim; and cutting means for removing rubber material from the tyre, wherein the device is arranged such that in use, when a wheel and tyre assembly is supported on the device, the cutting means and wheel and tyre assembly are moveable relative to one another such that the cutting means can contact the tyre and remove rubber material therefrom.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising actuating means for moving the cutting means and the wheel and tyre assembly relative to one another.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2, further comprising processing means for automating the movement of the cutting means and the wheel and tyre assembly relative to one another.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 3, further comprising means for determining the depth of rubber material present on the tyre, and means for preventing relative movement of the cutting means and wheel and tyre assembly beyond a calculated limit such that the cutting means cannot cut into the tyre carcass.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising rotation means for rotating a wheel and tyre assembly supported on the device relative to the cutting means.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the rotation means comprises a rotatable support having securing means for securing a wheel and tyre assembly thereon, and wherein the device further comprises means for rotating said support.

P4870 A4 February 2006 7. A device as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the securing means comprises a chuck for location through a substantially central aperture in a vehicle wheel.

8 A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cuthng means is moveable relative to the wheel and tyre assembly.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cutting means comprises a heated metal blade.

10. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising collection means for collecting the rubber removed from the tyre.

11. A method of removing rubber from a vehicle tyre using a device having support means, cutting means, and movement means for moving the support means and cutting means relative to one another, the method comprising the steps of: supporting a wheel and tyre assembly on the support means, said wheel and tyre assembly comprising a tyre mounted on a wheel rim; positioning the cutting means in contact with the tyre; using the movement means to move the wheel and tyre assembly and the cutting means relative to one another such that the cutting means removes rubber material from the tyre.

12. A method as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the movement means comprises means for moving the support means.

13. A method as claimed in Claim 11 or Claim 12, wherein the movement means comprises means for moving the cutting means.

14. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 13, further comprising rotating the wheel and tyre assembly relative to the cutting means.

P4870.A4 February 2006 15. A method as claimed in Claim 14, further comprising moving the cutting means into contact with the rotating tyre to remove rubber material from the tyre.

16. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 15, further comprising determining the position of the tyre carcass in the tyre and removing rubber from the tyre until the carcass is reached.

17. A method of changing a tyre on a wheel of a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of: providing a vehicle; removing a wheel and tyre assembly from the vehicle, said wheel and tyre assembly comprising a tyre mounted on a wheel rim; providing a device having support means, cutting means and means for providing relative movement between the support means and cutting means, supporting said wheel and tyre assembly on the support means; moving the support means and cutting means relative to one another such that the cuffing means contacts the tyre and removes a quantity of rubber material therefrom; removing the tyre carcass from the wheel rim; fitting a replacement tyre onto the wheel rim to form a wheel and tyre assembly; and replacing the wheel and tyre assembly on the vehicle.

18. A method as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the method is performed at a garage, tyre-change bay or the like.

19. A method as claimed in Claim 17 or Claim 18, wherein the support means is rotatable, and the method includes the steps of rotating the support means such that the wheel and tyre assembly rotates relative to the cutting means, and positioning the cutting means in contact with the tyre such that the cutting means removes rubber material from the tyre as it rotates.

P4870 A4 February 2006 -16 - 20. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 19, further comprising using the device to balance a wheel and tyre assembly.

21. A device for removing rubber material from a motor vehicle tyre substantially as herein described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

22. A method of removing rubber from a vehicle tyre, the method being substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A method of changing a tyre on a wheel of a vehicle, the method being substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

P4870.A4 February 2006 Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows

CLAIMS

1. A device for removing rubber material from a vehicle tyre, the device comprising: means for supporting a wheel and tyre assembly, said wheel and tyre assembly comprising a tyre mounted on a wheel rim; cutting means for removing rubber material from the tyre; actuating means for moving the culling means and the wheel and tyre assembly relative to one another; Processing means for automating the movement of the cutting means and the wheel and tyre assembly relative to one another; and sensor means for determining the depth of rubber material present on the tyre, and means for preventing relative movement of the cutting means and wheel and tyre assembly beyond a limit such that the cutting means cannot cut into the tyre carcass; wherein the device is arranged such that in use, when a wheel and tyre assembly is Supported on the device, the cutting means and wheel and tyre assembly are moveable relative to one another such that the cutting means can contact the tyre and remove rubber material therefrom and said processing means uses data received from said sensor means to determine said limit.

:
2. A device for removing rubber material from a vehicle tyre, the device comprising: means for supporting a wheel and tyre assembly, said wheel and tyre assembly comprising a tyre mounted on a wheel rim; cutting means for removing rubber material from the tyre; rotation means for rotating a wheel and tyre assembly supported on the device relative to the cutting means; the rotation means comprises a rotatable support having an expandable chuck for location through a substantially central aperture in a vehicle wheel for securing a wheel and tyre assembly thereon, and wherein the device further comprises means for rotating said support such that the cutting means can contact P4870.A4v2 doc July 2007 the tyre and remove rubber material therefrom.

3. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cutting means is moveable relative to the wheel and tyre assembly.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cutting means comprises a heated metal blade.

5. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising collection means for collecting the rubber removed from the tyre.

6. A method of removing rubber from a vehicle tyre using a device having support means, cutting means, and movement means for moving the support means and cutting means relative to one another, the method comprising the steps of: supporting a wheel and tyre assembly on the support means, said wheel and tyre assembly comprising a tyre mounted on a wheel rim; positioning the cutting means in contact with the tyre; using the movement means to move the wheel and tyre assembly and the cutting means relative to one another such that the cutting means removes rubber material from the tyre; and determining the position of the tyre carcass in the tyre and removing rubber from the tyre until the carcass is reached.

7. A method as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the movement means comprises means for moving the support means.

8. A method as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the movement means comprises means for moving the cutting means.

9. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 8, further comprising rotating the wheel and tyre assembly relative to the cutting means.

P4870.A4tj2 doc July 2007 10. A method as claimed in Claim 9, further comprising moving the cutting means into contact with the rotating tyre to remove rubber material from the tyre.

11. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 6 to 10, further comprising using the device to balance a wheel and tyre assembly.

12. A device for removing rubber material from a motor vehicle tyre substantially as herein described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.

13. A method of removing rubber from a vehicle tyre, the method being substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings. * . * V

P4870 A4v2.doc July 2007