Rim Replacement Device Carrying Arms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rim change devices face challenges in reducing the time required for replacing upper and lower rims due to collision avoidance issues, leading to inefficiencies in the rim replacement process.

Innovation Solution

A rim change device with a carrying mechanism that includes first and second carrying arms, which are configured to turn and move in specific directions to allow simultaneous replacement of upper and lower rims, reducing replacement time by enabling the carrying of new rims during the collection of old ones, and utilizing a storage system that stores rims in an up-down direction to minimize installation area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If another upper rim is carried to the upper spindle from another direction intersecting the direction of collecting the upper rim, then collision between upper rims is avoided, but replacement time cannot be further reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoidreplacement time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having the carrying arm approach from a different direction to avoid collision, the invention makes the carrying arm approach from the opposite direction of the collecting arm, allowing both arms to operate in opposite directions simultaneously without interfering with each other's path

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The carrying arm is configured to carry another upper rim in advance during the time the collecting arm is collecting the current upper rim, so that when the collecting arm finishes, the carrying arm is already positioned with the next rim ready to install, overlapping the operations to reduce total replacement time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Area of stationary object

If rim storage stores multiple types of rims in the up-down direction, then installation area is minimized, but access to stored rims becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation areaVSAvoidstorage access complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from storing rims in a horizontal plane to storing them vertically in the up-down direction, utilizing the vertical dimension to reduce the horizontal installation area while maintaining efficient access through the carrying arm's ability to move vertically and horizontally

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3757540B1Rim replacement device, tire test device, and rim replacement method

Publication Date: 2022.06.01 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND MACHINERY SYST LTD

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AI summary

A first carrying arm (64) and a second carrying arm (65) provided in a first post (61) and a third carrying arm (73) and a fourth carrying arm (74) provided in a second post (62) are provided, the first carrying arm (64) is turned in a direction following the third carrying arm (73) from a side opposite to a side on which the third carrying arm (73) collecting an upper rim turns to carry another upper rim to an upper spindle, and the second carrying arm (65) is turned in a direction following the fourth carrying arm (74) from a side opposite to a side on which the fourth carrying arm (74) collecting a lower rim turns to carry another lower rim to a lower spindle.