GB814172A - Apparatus for and method of fitting tubeless tyres - Google Patents

Abstract

814,172. Mounting tubeless tyres. DUNLOP RUBBER CO. Ltd. Dec. 19, 1955 [Feb. 4, 1955], No. 3293/55. Classes 144 (1) and 144 (2). An apparatus for inflating and bead-seating a tubeless tyre 26 on a wheel rim 27 comprises a support 22 for the tyre and rim assembly, a rigid open-ended cylinder 10, the open end 12 of which seals coaxially against, and displaces axially inwardly, the wall of the tyre on the side remote from the support 22 on relative approach of the support and cylinder, and a sealing plate 16 disposed within the cylinder to seal against the edge of the adjacent wheel rim flange 21, the cylinder 10 having an opening 14 for supply of inflation air, which can enter the tyre through the gap 32 between the wheel rim flange and the unseated bead 30 of the tyre, and the support and cylinder being relatively retractable on completion of tyre inflation to permit seating of the tyre beads 29, 30 on their associated rim seats. As shown the support 22 is supported horizontally by a vertically disposed hydraulic ram 23, 24 and the cylinder 10 is fixedly mounted coaxially thereabove on a frame 11, 11a. The end 12 of this cylinder opens downwardly and is bevelled to provide a sharp sealing edge. The sealing plate 16 is rubber faced and is held coaxially captive in the cylinder 10 by a plunger 17 having limited axial movement in a housing 18 of the cylinder. In an alternative arrangement, Fig. 3, the direct acting ram 23, 24 may be replaced by a horizontally disposed pneumatic piston and cylinder arrangement 39, 36 acting through a toggle system 34, 35, the support 22 being guided vertically by rods 40 in the frame 11a. In other arrangements, the sealing plate 16 may be separate from, or rigidly attached to, with or without axial adjustment, the cylinder 10.