Spiral Ball-Bearing Wheel Clamp for Faster Tire Changer Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tire changing machines face difficulties in efficiently securing and releasing wheel rims onto drive spindles, requiring significant manual effort and time, especially during tire mounting and demounting processes.
Innovation Solution
A tire changing machine with an axial clamping system featuring a shaft with ball bearings in a spiral configuration, which engages with the drive spindle's spiral channels to securely hold the wheel rim and can be easily released by counter-rotating handles and retracting a spring-loaded plunger, allowing for rapid attachment and detachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional clamping mechanism is used to secure the wheel rim, then the wheel rim can be held securely during tire changing, but significant manual effort and time are required for securing and releasing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional manual threading mechanisms with a ball bearing and spiral groove system. The ball bearings engage with spiral grooves in the shaft and axial bore, converting simple rotational motion into secure axial clamping without requiring manual threading operations. This mechanical substitution eliminates the need for operators to manually thread complex fasteners while maintaining reliable wheel rim securing.
Solution Approach 2:
The clamping mechanism is designed to be self-actuating through the interaction of ball bearings, spiral grooves, and spring-loaded plungers. When the shaft rotates, the ball bearings automatically engage with the spiral grooves, causing the plungers to be pushed axially and secure the wheel rim without external intervention. The spring-loaded plungers automatically maintain clamping pressure, eliminating the need for continuous manual adjustment.
2Reliability
If a traditional clamping mechanism is used to secure the wheel rim, then the wheel rim can be held securely during tire changing, but significant time is required for securing and releasing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces time-consuming manual threading operations with a rapid engagement system. The ball bearings and spiral grooves enable the clamping mechanism to secure the wheel rim through simple rotation, eliminating the need for operators to manually thread multiple fasteners. This mechanical substitution dramatically reduces the time required for both securing and releasing operations while maintaining reliable wheel rim holding.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded plungers are pre-positioned and biased to engage with the ball bearings and spiral grooves before the clamping operation begins. When the shaft rotates, the ball bearings automatically engage with the pre-positioned plungers, immediately initiating the clamping action. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for sequential adjustment steps, enabling rapid securing and releasing operations.
3Productivity
If ball bearings with spiral configuration are used in the clamping system, then rapid attachment and detachment are enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ball bearings serve multiple functions simultaneously: they act as rolling elements to reduce friction, guide the rotational motion along the spiral grooves, and transfer axial forces to secure the wheel rim. The spiral grooves themselves perform multiple roles: guiding the ball bearings during rotation, converting rotational motion into axial clamping movement, and providing a self-locking mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of spherical ball bearings interacting with curved spiral grooves creates a compact, space-efficient clamping mechanism. The spherical geometry of the ball bearings allows for smooth engagement and disengagement, while the spiral curvature of the grooves enables the conversion of rotational to axial motion within a compact volume. This geometric approach achieves rapid attachment and detachment without requiring complex linear mechanisms or large component dimensions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution significantly reduces the effort and time required for securing and releasing wheel rims, enhancing the efficiency and speed of tire changing procedures by providing a secure yet easily adjustable clamping mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
The radial bores are arranged in a spiral configuration and extend into a central bore containing a movable plunger. The movable plunger is coupled at an opposite axial end of the shaft to a spring-loaded release tab, such that axial movement of the plunger within the central bore displaces the ball bearings into the radial bores
Implementation Method 2
the ball bearing are engaged with the spiral channels, tightening a clamp nut against a wheel assembly seated on the drive spindle
Data Source
AI summary
An axial clamping system for securing a wheel assembly onto a tire changer drive spindle. The clamping system consists of a shaft for engaging an axial bore of the drive spindle, configured with a set of ball bearings seated within radial bore arranged in a spiral configuration and which extend into a central bore of the shaft. Axial movement of a plunger within the central bore radially displaces the ball bearings to protrude outboard of the shaft outer surface, engaging a spiral channel within the drive spindle axial bore. Rotation of the clamping system within the drive spindle axial bore while the ball bearings engage the spiral channels, tightens a clamp nut against a wheel assembly seated on a flange of the drive spindle. Counter rotation and retraction of the plunger within the shaft releases the clamping forces, allowing for removal of the wheel assembly from the drive spindle.