Wheel clamping system for tire changing machine

Abstract

The invention relates to an axial clamping system for securing a wheel assembly to a drive spindle of a tire changing machine. The clamping system consists of a shaft for engaging an axial bore of the drive spindle, the shaft configured to have a set of ball bearings resting within radial bores arranged in a helical configuration and extending into a central bore of the shaft. Axial movement of the plunger within the central bore displaces the ball bearing radially to project outside of the shaft outer surface to engage with a helical passage within the drive spindle axial bore. Rotation of the clamp system within the drive spindle axial bore while the ball bearing engages the helical channel secures the clamp nut against the wheel assembly resting on the flange of the drive spindle. Reverse rotation and retraction of the plunger within the shaft releases the clamping force to allow the wheel assembly to be removed from the drive spindle.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application is related to and claims priority from co-pending U.S. provisional patent application serial number No. 63 / 389,634 filed on July 15, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0003] Statement Regarding Federally Funded Research

[0004] not applicable. Background Art

[0005] The present invention relates generally to tire changing machines, systems for mounting and removing a tire from a rim, and methods of performing such operations, and more particularly to a tire changing machine wheel clamping assembly configured to secure a rim or wheel assembly to a spindle during a tire or wheel repair procedure.

[0006] The process of removing a tire from a rim and replacing it with another tire (referred to herein as tire changing) can be difficult and requires the application of considerable force to pull, twist and move the tire relative to the rim. In response to such difficulties, machines have been developed to facilitate the tire changing process. These tire changing machines typically include a clamping mechanism to secure the rim; and a drive shaft assembly configured to rotate the fixed rim around the axis of the drive spindle. A bead separation tool applies force on the tire adjacent to the edge of the rim to loosen the tire bead seal from the rim. A tire removal tool (sometimes referred to as a disassembly tool or tire hook) is used to pull the released tire bead off the rim as the rim rotates around the spindle axis, thereby allowing the tire to be separated from the rim for removal. Mounting the tire to the rim involves the reverse process. A tool, either manual or machine-implemented, is used to press the tire bead around the edge of the rim for assembly. While known tire changing machines have achieved a degree of success in reducing the time and labor associated with changing tires, there remains room for improvement, particularly with respect to the ease and speed with which an operator can accomplish the process of securing the rim and tire assembly to, and subsequently removing it from, the drive axle. Summary of the invention

[0007] Briefly, the present disclosure provides a tire changing machine with an axial clamping system for quickly securing a wheel assembly to a rotatable drive spindle. The clamping system consists of a shaft for engaging an axial hole in the drive spindle. The shaft is configured to have a set of ball bearings that rest in radial holes adjacent to a first axial end of the shaft. The radial holes are arranged in a spiral configuration and extend into a central hole that accommodates a movable plunger. The movable plunger is coupled to a spring-loaded release protrusion at the opposite axial ends of the shaft so that the axial movement of the plunger in the central hole displaces the ball bearings into the radial holes to protrude outside the outer surface of the shaft, thereby engaging with a spiral channel in the peripheral surface of the axial hole of the drive spindle. A handle coupled to the shaft allows an operator to rotate the shaft in the axial hole of the drive spindle while the ball bearings engage with the spiral channel to tighten the clamping nut against the wheel assembly resting on the drive spindle. Reverse rotation of the handle and retraction of the plunger in the shaft releases the clamping force, thereby allowing the wheel assembly to be removed from the drive spindle when the wheel servicing procedure is complete.

[0008] The foregoing features and advantages set forth in the present disclosure, as well as the presently preferred embodiments, will become more apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary prior art tire changing system;

[0011] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a prior art wheel assembly secured to a tire changing system via a prior art wheel clamping assembly;

[0012] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a clamp assembly of the present disclosure;

[0013] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of a clamping assembly;

[0014] Figure 5 is perpendicular to Figure 4 The view captured Figure 3 A second cross-sectional view of the clamping assembly;

[0015] Figure 6 Is used to receive Figure 3-Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of a tire changing machine drive spindle with a clamping assembly; and

[0016] Figure 7 It shows Figure 3 The clamping components and Figure 6 A cutaway view of a tire changing machine drive spindle engagement.

[0017] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.It should be understood that the drawings are for the purpose of illustrating the concepts set forth in the present disclosure and are not drawn to scale.

[0018] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] The following detailed description illustrates the present invention by way of example and not limitation. This description enables one skilled in the art to make and use the present disclosure, and describes several embodiments, variations, modifications, alternatives and uses of the present disclosure, including what is currently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art tire changing machine 100 that includes a frame or base 102 and a rotatable drive shaft assembly 104 attached to the base 102 for receiving and holding a wheel assembly 105 consisting of a rim 106 having a tire 108. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,307,874 B1 to Hanneken et al., which is incorporated herein by reference, the drive shaft assembly 104 may be configured to move to different positions to facilitate lifting and mounting the rim 106 to the drive shaft assembly 104, and may include a column or shaft positioned in the center of the base 102. Figure 2 As shown, after the wheel assembly 105 is loaded and mounted on the tire changing machine 100 , the rim 106 is secured to the drive shaft assembly 104 via a conventional clamping mechanism that passes through a central hole in the rim 106 to engage an axial receiver in the drive shaft assembly 104 .

[0021] Figure 2 The conventional clamping mechanism shown in FIG. 4 is composed of a clamping nut assembly 400 that is coaxially disposed about a spindle 402 and is secured in axial position on the spindle 402 by engagement of an annular clamp with an annular groove formed in the outer surface of the spindle 104. Engagement and release of the annular clamp is effected by means of operator-engaged depressing projections on the outer surface of the clamping nut 420. The clamping mechanism terminates in a short knob 404 having an annular recessed area that is configured to facilitate easy engagement by an operator between two fingers so that the operator's thumb can simultaneously engage an axially extending release button 406 while the clamping mechanism is seated within the drive shaft assembly receiver.

[0022] After the rim 106 is clamped in place, the operator manipulates the input selector 110a, which operates the drive shaft assembly 104 to rotate the wheel assembly 105 about the drive axis 112. In different exemplary embodiments, the drive shaft assembly 104 can be actuated pneumatically, hydraulically, or electrically. In different embodiments, clockwise and counterclockwise rotation (indicated by arrow A in FIG. 1 ) about the drive axis 112 are possible. Although the drive axis 112 is shown as being substantially vertical in the illustrated embodiment, in other embodiments, the drive axis 112 can be oriented horizontally or otherwise, and the displacement of the drive axis 112 can be selectively adjusted relative to the base 102, such as by linear movement of the drive shaft assembly 104.

[0023] As the rim 106 rotates about the drive axis 112, the tool assembly 114 physically contacts or engages the tire 108 in the direction of arrow B at a location proximate the outer periphery of the rim 106. With the tool assembly 114 properly positioned relative to the tire 108 and the rim 106, the wheel assembly 105 is further rotated about the axis 112 while the engaged tool assembly 114 removes the tire 108 from the rim 106. The tool assembly 114 may further be used to facilitate installation of a replacement tire 108 to the bare rim 106 secured to the drive shaft assembly 104. Although a single tool assembly 114 as shown may facilitate installation and removal of the tire 108 to and from the rim 106, it is contemplated that separate installation and removal tools may also be provided and used.

[0024] The tool assembly 114 may include features such as a tire hook for disengaging or displacing the inner circumference of the tire 108, including the tire bead surface (not shown), above the outer lip of the rim 106 during a tire removal operation to remove the tire 108, or alternatively engaging the inner circumference of the tire 108, including the tire bead, during assembly or installation of the tire 108 to the rim 106. The tool assembly 114 is further described in U.S. Patent No. 8,973,640 B1 to Hanneken, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0025] The bead breaking tools 116a and 116b are configured to apply pressure on the sidewall surface of the tire 108 to break the seal between the tire bead and the rim 106, or to push or displace the inner circumference of the tire 108 onto the outer lip of the rim 106 during the assembly of the tire 108. As shown in FIG. 1, the first bead breaking tool is located above the tire 108 and the second bead breaking tool is located below the tire 108. In another embodiment, only a single bead breaking tool 116 is provided. Exemplary operations of the bead breaking tools 116, 116a and 116b are more fully described in U.S. Patent No. 8,613,303 B1 to Hanneken et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0026] Machine tools 118a and 118b are provided and are sometimes referred to as pressing tools, pushing tools or bead pressing devices. As shown in FIG. 1 , during the tire installation and removal procedures, the bead pressing devices 118a, 118b apply pressure on the tire sidewall. As shown, the bead pressing device 118a is a roller mounted for rotation about an axis 120 that is substantially perpendicular to the machine drive axis 112. Thus, when the roller 118a is placed in contact with the tire sidewall, the roller rotates about the axis 120 as the tire 108 rotates about the machine drive axis 112, so that the roller 118a remains in a fixed position relative to the machine drive axis 112. When desired, the roller 118a is operable to rotate in conjunction with the tire 108 about the drive axis 112.

[0027] The bead pressing device 118b is adapted to contact the tire 108 and includes a friction engagement surface to facilitate movement relative to the tire. When engaged with the tire sidewall, the bead pressing device 118b rotates with the tire 108 about the drive axis 112. Optionally, the bead pressing device 118b may include features for engaging spokes, holes, or other features of the rim 106 to ensure that the bead pressing device 118b (and the tire 108 engaged therewith) rotates with the rim 106 and ensures that the bead pressing device 118b does not move relative to the rim 106. Alternatively, the bead pressing device 118b may be coupled to an independent drive mechanism 122 that is configured to push the bead pressing device 118b and the tire 108 in the direction of rotation of the rim about the drive axis 112. When the tire 108 is installed, in addition to pushing the tire bead into the drop center of the rim 106, this also establishes a "traction point".

[0028] The bead pressing devices 118a, 118b can be spaced apart from each other to hold the bead in the dropped center of the rim 106 during the tire removal procedure, or to push the bead into the dropped center during the tire installation procedure. Although two bead pressing devices 118a and 118b are shown in FIG. 1 , additional bead pressing devices 118 can be provided. Two or more bead pressing devices 118 are beneficial for installing or removing larger diameter tires and harder tires, although it is understood that in some cases, a single bead pressing device 118 may be sufficient to install or remove certain types of tires. The operation of the pressing tool and the independent drive mechanism is more fully described in U.S. Patent No. 8,387,675 B1 to Vaninger et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0029] In various exemplary embodiments, the tool assembly 114 and machine tools 116, 118 are pneumatically, electrically, or hydraulically actuated and are used to provide sufficient force at the correct angle and position relative to the tire 108 so that the bead of the tire 108 is forced out of or into the bead seat on the rim 106. Although the exemplary machine tools 116, 118 are shown in conjunction with the tool assembly 114, other tire changing tools and devices may still be provided and used for bead separation, tire installation and / or removal, positioning valve stems, positioning wheel weights, positioning wheel sensors (such as tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensors), or for other purposes. Such other tools may be provided in addition to or in place of the machine tools 116, 118 shown.

[0030] To assist in positioning the tool assembly 114 and the machine tools 116, 118, sensing capabilities may be further provided in the machine 100 to detect the position of the tool assembly 114 and the machine tools 116, 118 (or other tools that may be provided) relative to the tire 108 and / or rim 106. For example, a switch mechanism may be included that changes state when the bead breaking tool has just moved beyond the outer edge of the rim 106, thereby ensuring that the tool is positioned to engage the tire 108 at a predetermined position. A machine vision system may help align the machine tool at a predetermined position relative to the rim 106. Force feedback sensors may be integrated as further monitoring and control functions for machine components (including but not limited to machine tools). While such sensing capabilities may be beneficial, in some embodiments, they may be considered optional and therefore may not be present or used.

[0031] The machine 100 as shown in FIG. 1 includes a support tower 130 extending from the base 102 at a location spaced apart from the drive shaft assembly 104. The support tower 130 extends to a height above any wheel assembly fixed to the drive shaft assembly 104. A connecting rod 132 extends outwardly from the support tower 130 to couple to the bead pressing devices 118a, 118b. The connecting rod 132 can be moved by an actuator on the support tower 130 in a direction parallel to the arrow B in FIG. 1 so that the bead pressing device carried on the connecting rod 132 moves toward or away from the tire 108. Therefore, the bead pressing devices 118a, 118b can move in a direction parallel to the machine drive axis 112.

[0032] In addition to movement parallel to the machine drive axis 112, the bead pressing devices 118 are mounted to the linkage 132 so that they can rotate about an axis 136, which is fixed and coincident with the machine drive axis 112. That is, the bead pressing devices 118 can rotate about an axis 136 that is coaxial with the machine drive axis 112. Because the axis 136 coincides with the drive axis 112, when the bead pressing devices 118 are in contact with the tire 108, the bead pressing devices 118 can rotate with the tire as the tire 108 rotates about the drive axis 112.

[0033] For the reasons described, while it may be beneficial to position the axis of rotation 136 of the bead pressing device 118 at a fixed and set distance and position from the tower support frame 130, it should be appreciated that in further and / or alternative embodiments, neither the drive axis 112 nor the position of the axis of rotation 136 for the bead pressing device need be fixed in such a manner, so long as the axes 112 and 136 are adjustable to coincide when the bead pressing device 118 is in use. That is, either or both of the axes 112 and 136 may be moved to different positions, distances, and orientations relative to each other and to the tower support frame 130 for reasons unrelated to the use of the bead pressing devices 118a, 118b, but when the bead pressing devices 118a, 118b are to be engaged to a tire, the axes 112 and 136 are moved to coincide again so that the bead pressing device 118 may rotate about the drive axis 112 with the tire 108.

[0034] The bead pressing devices 118a, 118b are further movable in a direction perpendicular to the axis 136 and the drive axis 112. That is, an actuator is provided that moves the bead pressing devices 118a, 118b radially toward and away from the drive axis 112 so that the bead pressing devices 118 can be manually or automatically adjusted to different radial positions measured from the drive axis 112 to accommodate tires and rims of different diameters. As described below, the bead pressing devices 118 can be manually or automatically positioned in a direction perpendicular to the drive axis 112.

[0035] The bead breaker tools 116a, 116b are coupled to and supported by a tower support frame 130 (or other support structure in alternative embodiments) via vertically and horizontally movable linkages to position the bead breaker tools 116a, 116b relative to the rim 106 and tire 108 during use.

[0036] The tool assembly 114 is also coupled to the support 138 and associated links on the tower support frame 130 by actuators so that the support 138 can be moved in vertical and horizontal directions relative to the tower support frame 130. Thus, the tool assembly 114 can be moved radially toward and away from the drive axis 112, and can be moved toward and away from the wheel assembly 105 in a direction parallel to arrow B. The tool assembly 114 operates independently of the tools 116, 118, but can be used in conjunction when changing the tire 108. The positions of the various components 114, 116 and 118 and the operation of the other features of the drive shaft assembly 104 and the machine 100 can be coordinated by a programmable control unit and actuator components.

[0037] The machine operator can manipulate the input selectors 110a and 110b to direct the control unit to move the tool assembly 114 and tools 116, 118 to a desired position, operate the drive shaft assembly 104, or activate other machine features. In the illustrative embodiment, the input selectors 110a, 110b are foot pedals located near the bottom of the machine base 102 for ease of use by the machine operator. In other embodiments, input devices 154 (including but not limited to levers, buttons, knobs, switches, joysticks, and touch-sensitive displays 152) can be employed in various locations on or near the machine 100. For the benefit of the operator, an operator station 150 including a display 152 and an input device 154, including a keyboard or other input selector, can optionally be provided.

[0038] When operating the tire changing machine 100, a preliminary step required before performing a wheel assembly repair procedure is to secure the rim 106 to the drive shaft assembly 104. Typically, the rim 106 is secured to the drive shaft assembly 104 by means of a clamping mechanism that holds the rim 106 coaxially against an axial end of the drive assembly.

[0039] Go to Figure 3-Figure 7 , the clamping mechanism of the present disclosure is generally shown at 500. The clamping mechanism 500 consists of a hollow spindle assembly 501 for engaging the drive shaft assembly 104, an interchangeable annular wheel cone 502 resting on the spindle assembly 501 for centering the rim 106, and a handle assembly 503 fixed to the spindle assembly 501 axially outside the annular wheel cone 502. The handle assembly 503 is fixed to the spindle assembly 501 by bolts 503c and includes a pair of folding handles 503d for transmitting torque to rotationally clamp the spindle assembly 501 to the drive shaft assembly 104 or rotationally release it from the drive shaft assembly. The annular wheel cone 502 has an axial bore sized to receive the spindle assembly 501 and includes a tapered surface 506 configured to facilitate centering of the rim 106 center hole around the axis of the clamping mechanism 500. During use, the tapered surface 506 rests against the peripheral edge of the wheel center hole through which the spindle assembly 501 passes to axially engage the drive shaft assembly 104, thereby centering the rim 106 about the spindle assembly axis. A set of interchangeable annular wheel cones 502 having different tapered surfaces 506 can be used with the spindle assembly 501 to accommodate a variety of different sizes of rim center holes. Figure 3 As shown in FIG. 5 , each annular wheel cone 502 is coaxially secured with the handle assembly 503 by means of engagement of a snap-fit ​​protrusion or spring-loaded ring 502 a with an annular recess 503 a within the handle assembly 503 .

[0040] Four steps are required to secure the rim 106 to the drive shaft assembly 104 using the components of the present disclosure. Initially, the rim 106 is coaxially positioned on the receiving flange 600 at the upper end of the drive shaft assembly 104. Figure 6 The main shaft assembly 501 then passes axially through the center hole of the rim and enters the receiving hole of the drive shaft assembly 104 (such as Figure 7502) to position the tapered surface 506 of the wheel cone 502 proximal to or in contact with the upper edge of the rim center hole. To permit placement of the spindle assembly 501 within the receiving hole, a spring-loaded push rod 508 extending axially from the upper end of the spindle assembly 501 adjacent the handle assembly 503 is depressed to axially displace an inner cylinder 509 adjacent the axially opposite end within the spindle assembly 501. The inner cylinder 509 includes a spirally configured radial recess 509a that is sized to receive a ball bearing 510. Axially displacing the inner cylinder 509 moves the radial recess 509a into alignment with a set of spirally spaced radial holes 512 through the outer wall of the spindle assembly 501, each radial hole partially housing an associated ball bearing 510, allowing the ball bearing 510 to radially displace into the radial recess 509a to be received within the outer surface of the spindle assembly 501. It should be readily understood that the radial thickness of the outer surface of the spindle assembly is less than the diameter of the ball bearing 510, thereby ensuring that the ball bearing alone cannot be completely accommodated in the radial hole 512. With the ball bearing 510 retracted, the spindle assembly can axially pass through the central hole of the rim 106 and enter the receiving hole of the drive shaft assembly 104.

[0041] With the spindle assembly 501 in place, the spring loaded push rod 508 is disengaged and biased to return to the extended position, thereby pulling the inner cylinder 509 axially upward. Displacing the inner cylinder 509 so that the radial recess 509a is not aligned with the radial hole 512 forces the ball bearing 510 radially outward within the radial hole 512 and into engagement with the helical cut channel 604 within the drive shaft assembly bore 602. Finally, torque is applied to the handle assembly 503 to rotate the entire clamping mechanism 500 about the longitudinal axis of the spindle assembly, pulling the wheel cone 502 into a centered clamping engagement with the wheel rim through the threaded interaction between the ball bearing 510 and the helical cut channel 604.

[0042] To release the wheel assembly 106, the process is reversed. First, the handle assembly 503 is rotated in the opposite direction to unscrew the ball bearing 510 engaged with the spiral cutting channel 604 within the drive shaft assembly bore 602, thereby relieving the clamping force applied by the wheel cone 502 on the wheel rim. Next, the spring loaded push rod 508 is engaged, displacing the inner cylinder 509 within the spindle assembly 501, aligning the radial bore 512 with the radial recess 509a. With the radial bore 512 and radial recess 509a aligned, the ball bearing 510 is free to disengage from the spiral cutting channel 604 and retract below the surface of the spindle assembly 501. When the ball bearing 510 is disengaged from the spiral cutting channel 604, the spindle assembly 501 is axially removed from the drive shaft assembly 104 receiving bore 602, and the wheel assembly 106 is released.

[0043] As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A tire changing machine 100, comprising: a drive shaft assembly 104 configured to receive a rim 106 for rotation about an axis; a clamping mechanism 500 configured to releasably engage the drive shaft assembly 104 to secure the rim 106 to the drive shaft assembly 104; a plurality of tools 116 , 118 configured to mount a tire 108 to the rim 106 and to remove the tire 108 from the rim 106 ; a control system configured to coordinate operation of the plurality of tools 116 , 118 ; a control input element 154 configured to be operated by an operator to direct the control system to perform a tire repair procedure on the rim 106 fixed by the clamping mechanism 500; The clamping mechanism 500 includes an annular wheel cone 502 resting on a spindle assembly 501, the annular wheel cone 502 having a conical surface 506 configured to engage a surface of the wheel rim 106, and a handle assembly 503 fixed to the spindle assembly 501, the handle assembly 503 being configured to transmit an applied rotational torque to the spindle assembly 501; and In which, the main shaft assembly 501 is sized to be placed in the axial hole of the drive shaft assembly 104, and the main shaft assembly 501 is characterized by a group of ball bearings 510, which are placed in a plurality of spirally spaced radial holes 512 located in the main shaft assembly 501 for radial displacement, and the group of ball bearings 510 are configured to engage at least one spiral channel 604 formed in the inner surface of the center hole 602 of the drive shaft assembly 104 in a first position, and are configured to be radially withdrawn from the main shaft assembly 501 in a second position, and the group of ball bearings 510 are converted between the first position and the second position in response to the axial displacement of the push rod 508 in the main shaft assembly 501.

2. The tire changing machine according to claim 1, wherein: The annular wheel cone 502 is releasably fixed to the handle assembly 503 and is coaxial with the spindle assembly 501 .

3. The tire changing machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The push rod 508 is spring biased toward a first axial position in which the set of ball bearings 510 are displaced to the first position.

4. The tire changing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The push rod 508 terminates at the upper axial end of the spindle assembly 501 in the form of a button 406, and terminates at the lower axial end at a cylindrical member 509 coaxially accommodated within the spindle assembly 501, the cylindrical member 509 having a plurality of radially oriented recesses 509a, and the plurality of radially oriented recesses are arranged in a spirally spaced configuration to align with the spirally spaced radial holes 512 when the axial push rod 508 is shifted to a second axial position within the spindle assembly 501.

5. The tire changing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein: When the push rod 508 is displaced to the first axial position, the outer surface of the cylindrical member 509 causes the set of ball bearings 510 to be displaced radially outward toward the first position.

6. The tire changing machine according to claim 4, wherein: When the push rod 508 is displaced to the second axial position, the outer surface of the cylindrical member 509 receives the set of ball bearings 510 in the second position within the plurality of radially oriented recesses 509a.

7. The tire changing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: When the set of ball bearings 510 is in the first position, torque is applied to the handle assembly 503 in a first rotational direction to tighten the clamping mechanism 500 into the central bore 602 of the drive shaft assembly 104 .

8. The tire changing machine according to claim 7, wherein: When the set of ball bearings 510 is in the first position, torque along a second rotational direction is applied to the handle assembly 503 to loosen the clamping mechanism 500 from the central hole 602 of the drive shaft assembly 104 .

9. The tire changing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein: When the set of ball bearings 510 is in the second position, the clamping mechanism 500 is released from engagement with the central bore 602 of the drive shaft assembly 104 .

10. A method for securing a rim 106 to a drive assembly 104 of a tire changing machine 100 using a clamping mechanism 500, the clamping mechanism comprising: a spindle assembly 501 configured to be axially seated within a central bore 602 of the drive assembly 104; A handle assembly 503, the handle assembly being fixedly connected to a first axial end of the spindle assembly 501; an annular wheel cone 502, the annular wheel cone is concentrically placed around the spindle assembly 501 and axially adjacent to the handle assembly 503; a set of helically spaced radial holes 512 adjacent the second axial end of the spindle assembly 501, each of the helically spaced radial holes 512 retaining a ball bearing 510 displaceable between a first position fully recessed within the associated radial hole 512 and a second position at least partially projecting radially outwardly from the associated radial hole 512; and a push rod 508 axially disposed within the spindle assembly 501, the push rod 508 terminating at a first end axially outward of the handle assembly 503 and at a second end coupled to a cylindrical member 509 having a plurality of helically spaced recesses 509a, the push rod 508 and the cylindrical member 509 being biased to transition axially between a first axial position in which the helically spaced recesses 509a are displaced from the helically spaced radial bores 512, and a second axial position in which the helically spaced recesses 509a are aligned with the helically spaced radial bores 512 to receive the ball bearings 510; Wherein, the method comprises: Positioning the wheel rim 106 on the wheel receiving flange 600 of the drive assembly 104; axially pressing the first end of the push rod 508 within the spindle assembly 501 into the second axial position to axially align the spirally spaced recesses 509a on the inner cylinder 509 with the spirally spaced radial holes 512; Pass the spindle assembly 501 through the center hole of the rim 106 and into the center hole 602 of the drive assembly until the conical surface 506 of the annular wheel cone 502 is at least close to the edge of the center hole of the rim; releasing the first end of the axial push rod 508 to return the axial push rod 508 to the first axial position, displacing the spirally spaced recesses 509a on the inner cylinder 509 from a position axially aligned with the spirally spaced radial holes 512, driving the associated ball bearings 510 radially outward from the spirally spaced radial holes 512 and engaging with the spirally cut channels 604 in the drive assembly central bore 602; and A rotational torque along a first direction is applied to the handle assembly 503, and the rotational torque screws the spindle assembly 501 into the center hole 602 of the drive assembly through the engagement of the ball bearing 512 with the spiral cutting channel 604, thereby coaxially clamping the rim 106 between the conical surface 506 of the annular wheel cone 502 and the wheel receiving flange 600.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein: Releasing the wheel rim 106 from between the tapered surface 506 of the annular wheel cone 502 and the wheel receiving flange 600 includes: Applying a rotational torque along a second direction to the handle assembly 503, the rotational torque along the second direction loosens the spindle assembly 501 from the drive assembly center hole 602 through the engagement of the ball bearing 510 with the spiral cutting channel 604, thereby loosening the conical surface 506 of the annular wheel cone from the wheel rim 106; axially displacing the first end of the axial push rod 508 in the spindle assembly 501 to the second axial position to axially align the spirally spaced recesses 509a on the inner cylinder 509 with the spirally spaced radial holes 512 to thereby withdraw the associated ball bearing 510 from engagement with the spiral cutting channel 604; and The spindle assembly 501 is pulled out from the rim 106 and the drive assembly center hole 602 to release the rim 106 .

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein: The first end of the axial push rod 508 in the spindle assembly 501 is axially displaced to the second axial position, and the inner cylinder 509 is The spirally spaced recesses 509a on the inner surface are axially aligned with the spirally spaced radial holes 512, The ball bearings 510 are thereby displaced radially inwardly from the spirally spaced radial holes 510 .

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