Device for fitting / removing tires

Abstract

The device (1) for fitting / removing tires, comprises: - one supporting structure (2) associable with a tire-changing machine (M) and movable along at least one substantially vertical direction of work (L) to vary its own height with respect to a rim (C) of a wheel; one removing tool (3) associated with the supporting structure (2) and protruding therefrom, provided with a hooked portion (4) adapted to interact with the tire (P) of the wheel to remove it from said rim (C); one fitting tool (5) associated with the supporting structure (2) and provided with a working portion (6) adapted to interact with the tire (P) to fit it on the rim (C); wherein the fitting tool (5) is movable by shifting with respect to the supporting structure (2) between a working position, wherein it protrudes with respect to the supporting structure (2) and is configured to interact with the tire (P), and a home position, wherein it is moved away with respect to the working position.

Description

[0001] DEVICE FOR FITTING / REMOVING TIRES

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present invention relates to a device for fitting / removing tires.

[0004] Background Art

[0005] As is well known, wheels for vehicles consist of a metal rim having a substantially cylindrical conformation and provided at their ends with annular flaps, commonly known as flanges, on which the tire fits by interlocking, through their respective beads.

[0006] In order to perform maintenance and / or replacement jobs of the wheel components, tire-changing machines are known to be used to remove tires from their rims and, subsequently, to fit the same tire, or a replacement tire, again on the rim itself.

[0007] Such machines comprise a base frame for ground support provided with a bedplate on which a spindle is mounted which is operable in rotation around its own axis (usually vertical) and on which is attached, by means of a relevant clamping system, the rim on which work is to be done.

[0008] In addition, tire-changing machines comprise fitting / removing devices associated with the base frame and intended to fit and remove the tire.

[0009] The fitting / removing devices of known type comprise a supporting structure associable with the tire-changing machine and movable along at least one substantially vertical direction to vary the elevation thereof with respect to a wheel rim and, consequently, to move closer to / farther from it.

[0010] Known devices also comprise a removal tool and a fitting tool associated with the supporting structure and protruding therefrom.

[0011] In detail, the removal tool is provided with a hooked portion adapted to interact with the wheel tire to remove it from the rim and the fitting tool is provided with a working portion adapted to interact with the tire to fit it on the rim.

[0012] The use of such devices for fitting / removing tires does however have some drawbacks.

[0013] First, the use of such devices is not always easy because the tools used and / or their respective working areas are often overlapping or interfering. This results in obvious discomfort for the operator, as well as the risk of accidental damage to the rim and / or to the tire on which they are operating.

[0014] In addition, the presence of protruding tools can also be hazardous for the operator’s safety.

[0015] Description of the Invention

[0016] The main aim of the present invention is to devise a device for fitting / removing tires which allows simplifying the tire fitting / removing operations compared to the devices of known type.

[0017] Within this aim, one object of the present invention is to devise a device in which the tool that, depending on the operational phase, is not used, does not interfere with the working area of the tool being used from time to time, thus limiting the overlapping and / or interference between the working areas of the tools being used.

[0018] Again, another object of the present invention is to devise a device for fitting / removing tires which allows reducing the risk of damage to the tire and / or to the rim on which it is being operated compared to the devices of known type. Within the scope of this object, the present invention aims to devise a device for fitting / removing tires which allows contact between the tools and the wheel to be limited to only those phases in which such tools are actively employed.

[0019] An additional object of the present invention is to devise a device for fitting / removing tires which allows reducing safety risks to operators.

[0020] Another object of the present invention is to devise a device for fitting / removing tires which allows the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art to be overcome within the framework of a simple, rational, easy and effective to use as well as affordable solution.

[0021] The aforementioned objects are achieved by this device for fitting / removing tires having the characteristics of claim 1.

[0022] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a device for fitting / removing tires, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non- limiting example, in the accompanying tables of drawings in which:

[0024] Figure 1 is an axonometric view of a tire-changing machine provided with the fitting / removing device according to the invention;

[0025] Figure 2 is an axonometric detailed view of the device according to the invention, with the fitting tool at the home position;

[0026] Figures 3-6 are side views of the device according to the invention showing the movement of the fitting tool from the home position to the working position;

[0027] Figure 7 is an axonometric detailed view of the device according to the invention, with the fitting tool at the working position;

[0028] Figures 8-11 are side views of the device according to the invention during the removal phases of a tire;

[0029] Figure 12 is a side view of the device according to the invention during the fitting phase of a tire.

[0030] Embodiments of the Invention

[0031] With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally denotes a device for fitting / removing tires.

[0032] The device 1 comprises at least one supporting structure 2 associable with a tirechanging machine M and movable along at least one substantially vertical direction of work L to vary its own height with respect to a rim C of a wheel.

[0033] In more detail, the tire-changing machine M comprises a base frame for ground support provided with a bedplate on which a supporting assembly S for a rim C is mounted.

[0034] The supporting assembly S comprises a spindle rotating around its own substantially vertical axis, on which the rim C or wheel (intended as the combination of rim C and tire P) to be worked is attached by means of a corresponding clamping system.

[0035] The direction of work L is substantially parallel to the spindle axis and the supporting structure 2 is movable close to / away from the rim C.

[0036] The device 1 also comprises at least one removing tool 3 associated with the supporting structure 2 and protruding therefrom.

[0037] In detail, the removing tool 3 protrudes from the supporting structure 2 downward so that it can interact with the wheel as a result of the movement of the supporting structure itself along the direction of work L.

[0038] The removing tool 3 is provided with a hooked portion 4 adapted to interact with the tire P of the wheel to remove it from the rim C.

[0039] Specifically, the hooked portion 4 is configured to face the opposite side of the rim C, so that it can engage the bead, i.e., the edge, of the tire P.

[0040] The device 1 also comprises at least one fitting tool 5 associated with the supporting structure 2 and provided with a working portion 6 adapted to interact with the tire P to fit it on the rim C.

[0041] In detail, the working portion 6, in use, is also configured to face the wheel in order to push the bead of the tire P into the relevant seat of the rim C.

[0042] According to the invention, the fitting tool 5 is movable by shifting with respect to the supporting structure 2 between a working position, wherein it protrudes with respect to the supporting structure 2 and is configured to interact with the tire P, and a home position, wherein it is moved away with respect to the working position.

[0043] Substantially, during the fitting phases, the fitting tool 5 also protrudes from the supporting structure 2 downward, is arranged in the proximity of the removing tool 3, so that it can interact with the wheel as a result of the movement of the supporting structure itself along the direction of work L. During the removal phases, on the other hand, the fitting tool 5 is shiftable with respect to the working position, i.e., movable away from the removing tool 3, so as to avoid interfering with the operation of the removing tool itself.

[0044] In detail, the fitting tool 5 is shiftable between the working position and the home position along an operating direction D. In accordance with the embodiment shown in the figures, the operating direction D is inclined with respect to the vertical by an angle of between 0° and 30°. It cannot, however, be ruled out that the operating direction D may be oriented differently depending on the conformation of the device 1.

[0045] More particularly, the fitting tool 5 maintains its inclination unchanged with respect to the vertical between the home position and the working position. In other words, the inclination of the fitting tool 5 does not change during the displacement between the working position and the home position.

[0046] Conveniently, at the home position, the fitting tool 5 is arranged where the supporting structure 2 is located. In actual facts, at the home position, the fitting tool 5 substantially does not protrude from the supporting structure 2 in any direction. In this way, the fitting tool 5 not only does not interfere with the removing tool 3, but also does not interfere with the further components of the tire-changing machine M and also avoids accidentally bumping into the operator. Advantageously, the supporting structure 2 comprises a pair of opposite plates 2a defining a gap 7 and the fitting tool 5 is arranged, at the home position, within the gap 7. The plates 2a are substantially parallel to each other and arranged vertically. The fitting tool 5 and the removing tool 3 are associated with the plates 2a. The plates 2a are suitably spaced apart from each other so as to accommodate at least the fitting tool 5.

[0047] Conveniently, at the working position, the fitting tool 5 is adjacent to the removing tool 3. In this way, both fitting operations and removal operations can be carried out while keeping the device 1 and the rim C at substantially the same position with respect to each other.

[0048] Specifically, at the working position, the working portion 6 and the hooked portion 4 substantially lie on the same substantially vertical plane of reference R. Again, at such a working position, the working portion 6 is arranged inferiorly to the hooked portion 4. Such an arrangement allows convenient operation of the fitting tool 5 and prevents the hooked portion from interfering with the fitting operations.

[0049] Furthermore, at the working position, the working portion 6 and the hooked portion 4 are aligned along a substantially vertical axis of reference A. This not only contributes to the smooth operation of the fitting tool 5, but also allows minimizing the overall dimensions of the device 1 at both working position and home position.

[0050] Advantageously, the fitting tool 5 comprises a seat 8, arranged where the working portion 6 is located and adapted, at the working position, to receive the hooked portion 4. The seat 8 defines a cavity within which the hooked portion fits when the fitting tool 5 is fully pulled out of the supporting structure 2.

[0051] As shown in the figures, the seat 8 comprises a curved wall 9 and at least one lateral wall 10 that prevents access to the hooked portion 4 and thus avoids the tire P can accidentally hook therewith during rotation.

[0052] Conveniently, the device 1 also comprises interlocking means 11,12 associated with the tools 3,5 and comprising at least one protrusion 11 defined on one of either the fitting tool 5 or the removing tool 3 and at least one recess 12 defined on the other of either the fitting tool 5 or the removing tool 3 and adapted, at the working position, to receive the protrusion 11 by interlocking.

[0053] In accordance with the embodiment shown in the figures, the protrusion 11 is defined on the fitting tool 5 and the recess 12 is defined on the removing tool 3. The interlocking means 11,12 allow avoiding possible misalignment of the two tools 3,5 during use and malfunction of the device 1.

[0054] The device 1 comprises movement means 13 adapted to move the fitting tool 5 between the home position and the working position.

[0055] The movement means 13 comprise a rail unit 14 associated with the supporting structure 2 and supporting the fitting tool 5 by sliding and an actuator assembly 15 associated with the supporting structure 2.

[0056] The rail unit 14 comprises a pair of slots 16 defined on the plates 2a of the supporting structure 2 and running along the operating direction D and a set of pins 17 associated with the fitting tool 5 and associated with the slots 16 in a sliding maimer.

[0057] The actuator assembly 15 comprises a pneumatic actuator 18 and a linkage 19 positioned between the pneumatic actuator 18 and the fitting tool 5. The function of the linkage 19 is to transfer the movement of the pneumatic actuator 18 when shifting the fitting tool 5 along the operating direction D.

[0058] In more detail, the fitting tool 5 comprises a main body 20, which is of elongated conformation parallel to the operating direction D and associated, at one end with the rail unit 14 and with the actuator assembly 15.

[0059] At the opposite free end, the main body 20 is associated with the working portion 6. The seat 8 is arranged between that free end and the working portion 6.

[0060] In addition, the free end defines the protrusion 11 of the interlocking means 11, 12. Conveniently, the fitting tool 5 also comprises sliding means 21 associated with the working portion 6 and adapted to promote the sliding of the working portion itself on the tire P, as a result of the rotation of the latter.

[0061] In accordance with the embodiment shown in the figures, the sliding means 21 comprise a roll associated rotatable with the working portion 6 around a substantially vertical axis of rotation. It cannot, however, be ruled out that the sliding means 21 may be of a different type.

[0062] This device 1 also enables the movement of the removing tool 3. In fact, during the removing phases, it is necessary for the removing tool 3 to fit between the rim C and the tire P, move the tire P away from the flange of the rim C and engage the bead of the tire P by means of the hooked portion 4 to pull it out of the flange. For this purpose, the removing tool 3 is associated rotatable with the supporting structure 2 around a substantially horizontal axis of work W.

[0063] The device 1 comprises a rotational unit 22 adapted to move the removing tool 3 in rotation around the axis of work W. The rotational unit 22 comprises a pneumatic cylinder 23 and an additional linkage 24 positioned between the pneumatic cylinder 23 and the removing tool 3.

[0064] The rotational unit 22 also intervenes during the movement of the fitting tool 5 to the working position. In fact, as shown in Figures 3 to 6, at the end of the positioning phase of the fitting tool 5, the rotational unit 22 causes a rotation of the hooked portion 4 so as to release the passage of the fitting tool 5 and its relevant positioning at the working position. At that point, the removing tool 3 is rotated again so that the hooked portion 4 fits into the seat 8.

[0065] In addition, the removing tool 3 is also movable along a substantially horizontal direction, close to / away from the base frame of the tire-changing machine M, so as to position radially with respect to the rim C.

[0066] Hence, the device 1 also comprises a shifting unit 25 adapted to move the removing tool 3 by shifting and comprising an actuator cylinder positioned between the supporting structure 2 and a fixed portion 26 of the device 1, which is associable with the tire-changing machine M.

[0067] The operation of the fitting / removing device according to the present invention is schematically shown in Figures 8 to 12.

[0068] In a removing mode (Figures 8 to 11), the fitting tool 5 is at the home position, that is, at a retracted position with respect to the removing tool 3.

[0069] The removing tool 3 is pushed onto the tire P so as to induce deformation thereof and to allow the hooked portion 4 to be fitted (Figure 8).

[0070] The removing tool 3 is then rotated so that the hooked portion 4 engages the bead of the tire P (Figure 9) and then, the device 1 is lifted to pull the bead out of the flange of the rim C (Figure 10).

[0071] Finally, the removing tool 3 is shifted radially with respect to the rim C to determine the bead overlapping (Figure 11).

[0072] In a fitting mode, the fitting tool 5 is shifted to the working position as previously described and the device 1 is lowered to bring the working portion 6 into contact with bead of the tire P and to press the latter inferiorly to the flange of the rim C (Figure 12).

[0073] As is clear from the figures, the removing and fitting operations are carried out without the two tools 3,5 interfering with each other in carrying out their respective operations.

[0074] It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects, and in particular, the fact is emphasized that the device according to the invention for fitting / removing tires makes it possible to avoid overlapping and / or interference between the areas of work of the tools used.

[0075] In addition, this fitting / removing device allows reducing the risk of damage to the tire and / or to the rim on which one is operating compared to the devices of known type.

[0076] Again, this fitting / removing device makes it possible to limit the contact between the tools and the wheel to only those phases where these tools are actively used. Finally, this device for fitting / removing tires also allows reducing safety risks for the operators.

Claims

CLAIMS1) Device (1) for fitting / removing tires, comprising: at least one supporting structure (2) associable with a tire-changing machine (M) and movable along at least one substantially vertical direction of work (L) to vary its own height with respect to a rim (C) of a wheel; at least one removing tool (3) associated with said supporting structure (2) and protruding therefrom, provided with a hooked portion (4) adapted to interact with the tire (P) of said wheel to remove it from said rim (C); at least one fitting tool (5) associated with said supporting structure (2) and provided with a working portion (6) adapted to interact with said tire (P) to fit it on said rim (C); characterized by the fact that said fitting tool (5) is movable by shifting with respect to said supporting structure (2) between a working position, wherein it protrudes with respect to said supporting structure (2) and is configured to interact with said tire (P), and a home position, wherein it is moved away with respect to said working position.2) Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the inclination of said fitting tool (5) with respect to the vertical remains unchanged during the displacement between the home position and the working position.3) Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that, at said home position, said fitting tool (5) is arranged where said supporting structure (2) is located.4) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said supporting structure (2) comprises a pair of opposite plates (2a) defining a gap (7), said fitting tool (5) being arranged, at said home position, within said gap (7).5) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that, at said working position, said fitting tool (5) is adjacent to said removing tool (3).6) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that, at said working position, said working portion (6) and said hookedportion (4) substantially lie in the same substantially vertical plane of reference (R).7) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that, at said working position, said working portion (6) is arranged inferiorly to said hooked portion (4).8) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that, at said working position, said working portion (6) and said hooked portion (4) are aligned along a substantially vertical axis of reference (A).9) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said fitting tool (5) comprises a seat (8), arranged where said working portion (6) is located and adapted, at said working position, to receive said hooked portion (4).10) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises interlocking means (11, 12) associated with said tools (3,5) and comprising at least one protrusion (11) defined on one of either said fitting tool (5) or said removing tool (3) and at least one recess (12) associated with the other of either said fitting tool (5) or said removing tool (3) and adapted, at said working position, to receive said protrusion (11) by interlocking.11) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises movement means (13) adapted to move said fitting tool (5) between the home position and the working position and comprising a rail unit (14) associated with said supporting structure (2) and supporting said fitting tool (5) by sliding and an actuator assembly (15) associated with said supporting structure (2).12) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said actuator assembly (15) comprises a pneumatic actuator (18) and a linkage (19) positioned between said pneumatic actuator (18) and said fitting tool (5).13) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said fitting tool (5) comprises sliding means (21) associated with said working portion (6) and adapted to promote the sliding of said workingportion (6) on said tire (P).14) Device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said sliding means (21) comprise a roll associated rotatable with said working portion (6) around a substantially vertical axis of rotation.

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