WO1997010109A9

WO1997010109A9 - Apparatus for manipulating a wheel

Info

Publication number: WO1997010109A9
Application number: PCT/US1996/014379
Authority: WO
Filing date: 1996-09-10
Publication date: 1997-10-09

Abstract

Apparatus for manipulating a wheel (11) of a vehicle is provided. The apparatus includes a cradle (20), a base (12), and adjustment means (102). The cradle is shaped and dimensioned to support the wheel in use. The base rests on a support surface, e.g. the ground, in use. The adjustment means is connected to the base and to the cradle and is operable to adjust the position and orientation of the cradle relative to the base.

Description

APPARATUS FOR MANIPULATING A WHEEL

THIS INVENTION relates to apparatus for manipulating a wheel

Wheels of a large transportation vehicle e.g. a large load bed truck, may have a considerable weight and are thus replaced with somewhat difficulty when, for example, a flat tyre occurs Accordingly, when a wheel change is required, a maintenance or service team is usually deployed to replace the wheel having the flat tyre. This usually results m time delays with consequent down time and expense.

According to the invention, there is provided apparatus for manipulating a wheel, the apparatus including a cradle shaped and dimensioned to support the wheel in use; a base which rests on a support surface in use; and adjustment means connected to the case and to the craαle and operable to ad ust the position and orientation of the cradle relative to the base

The adjustment means may include displacement means comprising a support member attached to the base and attached to the cradle, and actuating means which is operable to cooperate with the support member selectively to displace the cradle generally vertically relative to the base. Typically, the support member is in the form of a boom which is pivotally attached to the base. However, in certain embodiments, the support member may be extensible relative to the base.

The actuating means may be in the form of a jack, e.g. a scissors jack, a bottle jack, or the like. In other embodiments, the actuating means may be a winch, a lever mechanism, a hydraulic jack, or the like. The actuating means may act on the support member m such a fashion so as to reduce lateral force components .

The adjustment means may include orientating means which comprises pivotal attachment means for pivotally attaching the cradle to the base, and actuating means which operatively cooperates with the cradle selectively to adjust the orientation of the cradle relative to the base.

In other embodiments, the base may include a body portion and ground engaging means e.g. a friction slide, wheels, or the like, and the cradle may be displaceable relative to the ground engaging means thereby selectively to adjust the orientation of the cradle relative to the support surface. Accordingly, the body portion of the base may be displaced m unison with the cradle. However, in a preferred embodiment, the base remains stationary relative to the ground when the orientation of the cradle is adjusted relative to the base.

The actuating means may be a worm and rotary gear arrangement, or the like

The apparatus may include at least two wheels, and wheel mounting means for mounting the wheels to the base The base may define an outer trapezoidal portion, a wheel being mountable proximate each corner of the outer trapezoidal portion.

The wheel mounting means which mount wheels proximate a front of the base may include extension means to permit selective displacement of the wneels between an extended position m which they are spaced from the base, and a retracted position. Typically, the wheels are in a retracted position when the apparatus is m its stowage condition The apparatus may include at least one handle to facilitate displacement thereof .

The base may be in the form of a base frame or chassis defined by a plurality of interconnected tubular members. The support member may be in the form of a support frame defined by a plurality of interconnected tubular members. Typically, the tubular members are made of steel, aluminium, or the like. In other embodiments of the invention, the base frame and/or the support frame are cast from aluminium, a suitable plastics material, or the like.

The adjustment means may be operable to adjust the position and orientation of cradle relative to the base so that cradle is retractable into its stowage condition m which it is proximate the base thereby to render the apparatus more compact .

The cradle may include a cradle base which has at least one extendable side member displaceably mounted to the cradle base selectively to adjust the dimensions of the cradle and thereby render the cradle suitable to support wheels of different dimensions .

The cradle may include a support bracket attached to an opposed side of the cradle base to which the extendable side member is mounted. The support bracket may be displ ceable between an extended position m which it is generally co-planar with the cradle base, and a dormant position in which it generally overlaps the cradle base thereby to render the cradle more compact when in its stowage condition.

The cradle may include retaining means for retaining the wheel in its supported position in the cradle in use.

The retaining means may include a cranked arm including a cranked end portion, the cranked end portion being shaped and dimensioned to abut an inner surface of the wheel thereby to retain the wheel in the cradle.

The retaining means may include friction reducing means which abut the wheel in use thereby to facilitate rotation of the wheel relative to the cradle. The friction reducing means is typically in the form of a plurality of rollers, preferably made of a plastics material.

The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of apparatus in accordance with the invention in its stowage condition;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1 in an operative condition in which its cradle is in an extended position and orientated generally vertically;

Figure 3 shows a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1 with the cradle removed for clarity;

Figure 4 shows a three-dimensional view of a further embodiment of apparatus, m accordance with the invention, in use;

Figure 5 shows a side view of the apparatus of Figure 4 in its stowage condition;

Figure 6 shows a schematic side view of the apparatus of Figure 4 with its cradle in an extended position and orientated generally horizontally;

Figure 7 shows a schematic side view of the apparatus of Figure 4 with its cradle in a partially extended position and orientated generally vertically; and

Figure 8 shows an exploded view of the apparatus of Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, reference numeral 10 generally indicates apparatus, in accordance with the invention, for manipulating a wheel 11 of a vehicle (not shown) . The wheel 11 is typically a wheel of a heavy duty vehicle. The apparatus 10 includes a base or chassis 12, a wheel cradle 20 shaped and dimensioned to support the wheel 11, and adjustment means 102 connected to the chassis 12 and to the cradle 20 and selectively operable to adjust the position and orientation of the cradle 20, and thus the wheel 11, relative to the chassis 12.

The adjustment means 102 includes displacement means 104 comprising a support member or boom 16, and primary actuating means m the form of a ack 18. The primary actuating means cooperates with the boom 16 to displace the cradle 20 generally vertically relative to the chassis 12 (see Figure 2) . The adjustment means 102 further includes orientating means 106 comprising pivotal attacnment means (as described in more detail below) for pivotally attaching the cradle 20, via the boom 16, to the chassis 12, and secondary actuating means m the form of a worm and rotary gear arrangement 22 which operatively cooperates w th pivotal attachment means (described m more detail below) selectively to adjust the orientation of the cradle 20 relative to the chassis 12 (see Figures 1 and 2) .

As shown m Figure 3, the base or chassis 12 is H-shaped and includes a central beam 24 and two transverse members 26 and 28 are mounted at opposed ends of the central beam 24. Wheels 14 are mounted at respective ends of the transverse mermoers 26 and 28 to facilitate displacement of the apparatus 10 along a support surface, eg the ground, in use.

The boom 16, of the displacement means 104, is pivotally attached, at a pivot point 32, to an upright strut 30 (see

Figures 1 and 2) which is fixedly mounted to the chassis 12. A wedge-shaped member 34 (see Figure 2) is fixed to the boom 16 at an intermediate location between its ends.

The jack 18 is mounted on the central beam 24 of the chassis 12 and a roller 36 is mounted on an upper extremity of the ack 18. The jack 18 is of the kind often referred to as a 'scissors jack' and includes a threaded spindle 38 which is rotatable by means of a handle (not shown) which engages an eye 19 of the jack 18. Rotation of the spindle 38 in one direction causes the jack 18 to extend, as shown in Figure 2, while counter-rotation of the spindle 38 causes the jack 18 to retract as shown in Figure 1. Accordingly, the jack 18 and the boom 16 cooperate selectively to displace the cradle 20 generally vertically relative to the chassis 12.

The cradle 20 is shaped and dimensioned to accommodate the wheel 11 of given dimensions. Typically, the cradle 20 is shaped and dimensioned to support a wheel of a truck, or the like, having a wheel rim of between about 20 inches and about 26 inches. However, in other embodiments of the invention, the cradle 20 is shaped and dimensioned to accommodate a wheel of a passenger motor vehicle, or the like. Thus, in certain embodiments of the invention the cradle 20 is selectively adjustable to accommodate and support wheels 11 of different sizes.

The pivotal attachment means of the orientating means 106 has a platform 40 pivotally mounted to the boom 16 at a pivot point 42. The cradle 20 is removably mounted to the platform 40 by means of a locking pin 44. If the locking pin 44 is disengaged from the platform 40 and the cradle 20, the cradle 20 may be detached from the platform 40 thereby to render the apparatus 10 more compact for storage purposes. As mentioned above, Figure 3 shows the apparatus 10 in plan view but with the cradle 20 detached from the platform 40.

The worm and rotary gear arrangement 22, of the orientating means 106, comprises a gear 46 which is fixedly attached to the platform 40 with its centre coinciding with the pivot point 42. Accordingly, upon rotation of the gear 46, the platform 40 is also rotated and a worm gear 48 is meshed with the gear 46. The worm gear 48 is connected to one end of a shaft 50 and an eye 52 is provided at an opposite end of the shaft 50. The shaft 50 and worm gear 48 are rotatably mounted to pillar blocks 54 and, upon rotation of the shaft 50, the worm gear 48 cooperates with the gear 46 angularly to displace the platform 40 and thus the cradle 20 thereby to permit selective adjustment of the orientation of the wheel 11 relative to the chassis 12

The cradle has three arms 39, spaced at 120° relative to each other, which provide support for the wheel 11 supported in the cradle 20, and also allow access to the fixing studs or nuts which secure the wheel to the wheel hub. The spaced radially extending arms 39 also allow the wheel 11 to be deposited on the ground or to be picked up from the ground by selective manipulation of the adjustment means 102

The apparatus 10, when in the compact stowage condition shown m Figure 1, and normally with the cradle 20 detached from the remainder of the apparatus 10, may be stored on a vehicle or at any appropriate location. When a wheel of the vehicle has a flat tyre then the apparatus 10 is removed from its stowage position and the cradle 20 is attached to the platform 40 by means of the locking pin 44. The apparatus 10 is then moved, riding on wheels 14, so that it is brought alongside a spare wheel (not shown) of the vehicle. The boom 16 is then elevated using the ack 18 of the displacement means 104. During this process the roller 36 rides along an underside 35 of the wedge- shaped member 34 thereby enhancing an upwardly directed force component of the jack 18 and reducing lateral force components. The orientation of the cradle 20 is then adjusted by means of the orientating means 106 so that the cradle 20 directly opposes the spare wheel and the apparatus 10 is then moved so that the cradle 20 receives the spare wheel. The boom 16 is then raised slightly to free the spare wheel from its retaining studs or housing, as the case may be, so that the spare wheel is fully supported by the cradle 20.

The apparatus 10 is then moved, riding on its wheels 14, to the location where the spare wheel is required. The jack 18 and the worm and rotary gear arrangement 22 are then manipulated to deposit the spare wheel at one side of the vehicle.

The aforementioned process is then repeated to remove the wheel having the flat tyre from the vehicle. Once the wheel with the flat tyre has been put to one side, or attached to the vehicle at the spare wheel location, the apparatus 10 is used to bring the spare wheel into engagement with a hub of the wheel which previously carried the wheel with the flat tyre. The spare wheel is then secured to the hub, whereafter the apparatus 10 is once again stored on the vehicle.

In order to facilitate displacement of the apparatus 10 in use along its wheels 14, a handle 58 is mounted on the upstanding strut 30. The handle 58 is pivotable between an operative position in which it extends vertically (see Figure 2) , and an inoperative or stowage position (see Figure 1) m which it extends generally horizontally thereby to render the apparatus more compact .

Referring to Figures 4 to 8 of the drawings, reference numeral 100 generally indicates a further embodiment of apparatus, in accordance with the invention, for manipulating a wheel 11 of a vehicle (not shown) . The apparatus 100 resembles the apparatus 10 shown in Figures 1 to 3 , and like reference numerals have been used to indicate the same or similar features unless otherwise indicated.

The apparatus 100 includes a base or chassis 12, a wheel cradle 20, and adjustment means 102 connected to the base 12 and to the cradle 20 and operable selectively to adjust the position and orientation of the cradle 20 relative to the base 12.

As m the case of the apparatus 10, the adjustment means 102 includes displacement means 104 comprising a support member or boom 16 which is pivotally attached to the chassis 12 at a pivot point 32, and primary actuating means in the form of a bottle ack 108. A base 109 of the bottle jack 108 is pivotally attached to the chassis 12 at pivot point 110 and its plunger 112 is pivotally attached to the boom 16 at pivot point 114 When the bottle jack 108 is in an extended condition (see Figure 6) the boom 16 is pivoted about the pivot point 32 and the cradle 20 is then in an elevated position relative to the chassis 12. Conversely, when the bottle jack 108 is m a retracted condition (see Figures 5 and 7) the boom 16 is in a lowered position and, accordingly, the cradle 20 is also in a lowered position.

The adjustment means 102 also includes orientating means 106 (see Figure 6) including actuating means and pivotal attachment means defined by a cranked end 116 of the boom 16 and an upright strut 30 of the chassis 12 which are pivotally attached at a pivot point 32. The orientating means 106 further includes a worm and rotary gear arrangement 22 (see Figures 6 and 7) having a screw threaded shaft or spindle (not shown) which is driven by a handle 118. The actuating means includes an elongate cross-bar 120 (see Figures 6 to 8) which is pivotally attached to a plate 122 at its one end, and pivotally attached at its other end to the cradle 20 at pivot point 124 The cradle 20 includes spaced platforms 40 (see Figure 8 in particular) which are fixedly attached to a cradle base defined by support members 126 of the cradle 20 and pivotally attached at pivot point 128 to a transverse arm 130 which is fixedly attached to, and extends transversely from, the boom 16 (see Figure 6) . Dependent upon whether the handle 118 is rotated in a clockwise or counter¬ clockwise direction, the plate 122 is displaced m the direction of arrows 132. When the handle 118 is rotated in a clockwise direction the plate 122 is displaced towards the transverse arm 130 and the cross-bar 120 then urges the cradle 20 to rotate about the pivot point 124 as shown in Figure 7. Accordingly, the cradle 20 may be displaced between a horizontal condition, as shown m Figure 6, and a vertical condition as shown in Figure 7. The worm and rotary gear arrangement 22 is configured so that the cradle 20 may be displaced past the vertical to facilitate replacement of a wheel when the vehicle is on a lateral slope. The base or chassis 12 of the apparatus 100 is trapezoidal shape and in the form of a frame (see Figure 8) . Two rear wheels 14.1 are removably mounted by means of pins 134 to a narrow rear side 136 (see Figure 8) of the chassis 12 Two front wheels 14.2 are mounted by means of extension arms 138 to the chassis 12. The extension arms 138 are received in a telescopic fashion withm side members 140 of the chassis 12 and may be selectively locked in both their extended and retracted positions by means of locking pins 142 (see Figure 8) . The extension arms 138, when received withm the side members 140 extend forwardly at an angle of 103° relative to the rear side 136 (as shown by arrows 144 in Figure 8) so that they may extend past the wheel of the vehicle. When the apparatus 100 is folded mto its stowage condition (as shown in Figure 5) the extension arms 138 are substantially retracted withm the side members 140 of the chassis 12 Further, in order to facilitate displacement of the apparatus 100 along a support surface, handles 58 with hand grips 146 are releasably attached to the boom 16 by means of aligned apertures through which retaining pins 148 (see Figure 8) pass.

As shown in Figure 8, the boom 16 is in the form of a frame having two side members 150 and 152 interconnected by cross- members 154 and 156 In the embodiment of the invention depicted the drawings, both the boom 16 and the chassis 12 are formed from rectangular steel tubing However, in other embodiments of the invention, the boom 16 and the chassis 12 are cast e g. they may be an aluminium casting.

The cradle 20 is an adjustable cradle and a U-shaped extension component 158 (see Figure 8) has extendable side members 160 which are received in a telescopic fashion within the support members 126. Accordingly, the cradle 20 may selectively be adjusted thereby to render t suitable to support wheels of varying radial dimensions. Further, when the apparatus 100 is m its stowage condition, the side members 160 may be retracted substantially withm the support members 126 thereby to render the apparatus 100 more compact The cradle 20 includes an angled support bracket 164 (see Figures 7 and 8) which is pivotally attached to the support members 126 at pivot points 166 (only one of which is shown in Figures 6 and 7) . The support bracket 164 has rounded transverse support bars 168 each of which define friction reducing means m the form of two rollers 170, typically of a plastics material, which are rotatably mounted thereon. When the cradle 20 is in its vertical condition as shown in Figure 7, and the wheel 11 is supported therein, the rollers 170 facilitate rotation of the wheel 11 thereby to enable a user of the apparatus 100 to align holes a replacement wheel with, for example, mounting studs provided on a wheel hub of the vehicle. Further, the cross-bar 120 (see Figures 7 and 8) comprises two cranked members 172 (see Figure 8) which define free space 174 which an outer rim of the wheel of the vehicle may be received. Accordingly, should the outer rim protrude past the tyre of the wheel which rests in the cradle 20, the outer rim will not abut the cross-bar 120.

Retaining means in the form of a cranked arm 176 is removably attached to the extension component 158 of the cradle 20. As in the case of the support bracket 164, the cranked arm 176 includes two rollers 178, 180 which are rotatably mounted thereto to facilitate rotation of the wheel 11 while supported by the cradle 20. The cranked arm 176 is pivotally and removably mounted to the side members 160 at 182 so that the cranked arm 176 may be removed from the cradle 20 the event of bodywork of the vehicle obstructing positioning of the cranked arm 176 with the wheel hub.

The apparatus 100 s typically stored within a rectangular box-like housing (not shown) , typically having dimensions of about 900 x 900 x 400 mm, which may be mounted at an appropriate location on the vehicle, typically a transportation vehicle such as a truck. Under normal circumstances, without the use of the apparatus 100 a truck driver would call out a maintenance team to assist in replacement of a wheel which has the flat tyre due to the substantial weight of a truck wheel. However, the apparatus 100, may be used to assist the driver to replace the wheel without calling out a maintenance team.

When a flat tyre occurs, the truck driver removes the apparatus 100 from its housing and attaches the front and rear wheels 14.1 and 14.2 to the chassis 12. The handles 58 are then attached to the boom 16 and the support bracket 164 is pivoted into its operative position in which it is aligned with the support members 126 (see Figures 5 to 7) The cranked arm 176 may optionally be attached to the side members 160. The extension component 158 may then be extended from the support members 126 a suitable distance so that the cradle 20 is dimensioned to receive the wheel having the flat tyre Further, the extension arms 138 are extended so that the front wheels 14.2 are an extended position in which they extend past the wheel and beneath the chassis of the vehicle.

In the event of the spare wheel of the truck being horizontally mounted, the cradle 20 is orientated by means of the handle 118 in a generally horizontal position as shown in Figure 6 and is aligned beneath the spare wheel of the truck. The bottle ack 108 is then actuated to raise the cradle 20, and with selective adjustment of the orientation of the cradle 20 by means of the handle 118, the cradle 20 is raised so that the spare wheel of the vehicle is seated and supported therein. In the event of spare wheel of the truck being vertically mounted, the same procedure is generally followed except the cradle 20 is adjusted into a vertical position as shown in Figure 7

Retaining nuts which retain the spare wheel in its stowage position may then be loosened and removed with relative ease due to the frame like structure of the boom 16 comprising the side members 150, 152 and the cross members 154, 156. The spare wheel may then be lowered by retraction of the plunger 112 of the bottle jack 108 and the apparatus 100, supporting the spare wheel, may then be displaced by means of the handles 58 and the wheels 14.1 and 14.2 to the location of the flat tyre. The cradle 20 is then pivoted into its vertical orientation (as shown Figure 7) by means of the handle 118 and the spare wheel may then be removed from the cradle 20 and located, for example, against the side of the truck.

The apparatus 100, with its cradle 20 m the vertical position, may then be moved so that the wheel having the flat tyre is positioned between the extension arms 138 and received within the cradle 20. If there is sufficient clearance between an upper end of the wheel and the wheel hub of the vehicle, the cranked arm 176 may be located in position thereby to retain the wheel withm the cradle 20 The bottle ack 108 may then be actuated so that the rollers 170 of the cradle 20 engage a lower surface of the flat tyre. The nuts whicn hold the wheel to the wheel hub may then be loosened and removed. The apparatus 100 is then moved away from the truck and, since the flat tyre is seated with the cradle 20 it is also removed from the truck. The apparatus 100 may then be wheeled and, in a reverse procedure as described above, the wheel with the flat tyre may be located and secured withm the housing on the truck which normally houses the spare wheel.

The apparatus 100 may then once again be wheeled to the spare wheel leaning against the truck and the spare wheel may once again be seated withm the cradle 20 and positioned so that it is adjacent the wheel hub from which the flat tyre has been removed. The spare wheel may then be rotated, while supported in the cradle 20, to align apertures in the wheel rim with corresponding positions on the wheel hub. The retaining nuts which retain the wheel to the wheel hub are then inserted. The bottle ack 108 is then retracted so that the rollers 170 are free of the spare wheel and the apparatus 100 may then be folded into its compact condition, as shown in Figure 5, whereafter it is inserted back mto its housmg.

Although the apparatus 10, 100 has been described with respect to a wheel of a truck, it is to be appreciated that it may be used to change the wheel of any vehicle. For example, it may be used to assist women who may not have sufficient strength to lift and replace a wheel of a passenger vehicle.

It is believed that the invention, as illustrated, provides apparatus 10, 100 which facilitates the replacement of a wheel of a vehicle. The apparatus 10, 100 provides a mechanical advantage so that a smgle operator can manipulate a wheel of substantial weight e.g. the wheel of a truck. As certain of the components of the apparatus 100 are pivotally, and m certain circumstances, releasably interconnected, the apparatus 100 may be folded mto a compact condition m which it may be stored on the vehicle. Further, when the apparatus 100 is m its compact condition, portability thereof is facilitated.

Claims

1. Apparatus for manipulating a wheel, che apparatus including a cradle shaped and dimensioned to support the wheel in use; a base which rests on a support surface m use; and adjustment means connected to the base and to the cradle and operable to adjust the position and orientation of the cradle relative to the base.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, which the adjustment means includes displacement means comprising a support member attached to the base and attached to the cradle, and actuating means which is operable to cooperate with the support member selectively to displace the cradle generally vertically relative to the base .

3. Apparatus as claimed m Claim 2, m which the actuating means is in the form of a jack.

4. Apparatus as claimed Claim 2 or Claim 3 , in which the adjustment means includes orientating means which comprises pivotal attachment means for pivotally attaching the cradle to the base, and actuating means which operatively cooperates with the cradle selectively to adjust the orientation of the cradle relative to the base.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, m which the actuating means is worm and rotary gear arrangement .

6. Apparatus as claimed m any one of the precedmg claims 2 to 6, which mcludes at least two wheels, and wheel mountmg means for mounting the wheels to the base.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, in which the base defines an outer trapezoidal portion, a wheel being mountable proximate each corner of the outer trapezoidal portion.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, in which the wheel mounting means which mount wheels proximate a front of the base include extension means to permit selective displacement of the wheels between an extended position in which they are spaced from the base, and a retracted position.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 2 to 8, m which the base is in the form of a base frame defined by a plurality of interconnected tubular members

10. Apparatus as claimed m Claim 9, in which the support member is in the form of a support frame defined by a plurality of interconnected tubular members

11 Apparatus as claimed m any one of the precedmg claims, which includes at least one handle to facilitate displacement of the apparatus .

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the precedmg claims, which the adjustment means is operable to adjust the position and orientation of cradle relative to the base so that cradle is retractable mto a stowage condition which it is proximate the base thereby to render the apparatus more compact .

13. Apparatus as claimed any one of the precedmg claims, in which the cradle includes a cradle base which has at least one extendable side member displaceably mounted to the cradle base selectively to adjust the dimensions of the cradle and thereby render the cradle suitable to support wheels of different dimensions.

14. Apparatus as claimed Claim 13, which the cradle includes a support bracket attached to an opposed side of the cradle base to which the extendable side member is mounted, the support bracket being displaceable between an extended position in which it is generally co-planar with the cradle base, and a dormant position m which it generally overlaps the cradle base thereby to render the cradle more compact when its stowage condition.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, m which the cradle mcludes retaining means for retaining the wheel m its supported position m the cradle in use.

16. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 15, which the retaining means mcludes a cranked arm including a cranked end portion, the cranked end portion being shaped and dimensioned to abut an inner surface of the wheel thereby to retain the wheel m the cradle.

17. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 15 or Claim 16, which the retaining means includes friction reducing means which abut the wheel m use thereby to facilitate rotation of the wneel relative to the cradle.

18. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 17, which the friction reducing means is the form of a plurality of rollers.

19. New apparatus for manipulating a wheel, substantially as described and illustrated herein.