Synchronized Tire Changer Arms for Compact Rim Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tire changer apparatuses are complex and bulky, with excessive bulkiness due to rigid push-pull cables and multiple brakes, making them inefficient for mounting and dismounting tires of varying sizes and widths, and prone to damage during operation.
Innovation Solution
A tire changer apparatus with a compact and flexible structure, utilizing a motorized wheel-holder and synchronized extensible arms with a transmission system that includes double pulleys and anti-return cams, allowing for precise movement and adaptation to different rim sizes without the need for extensive cables or complex brakes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If push-pull cables are used to control extensible arms, then the arms can be manually extended and retracted, but the apparatus becomes excessively bulky and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the push-pull cables and brakes from the system entirely, extracting the problematic components that caused bulkiness. Instead, it uses a motorized wheel-holder with synchronized extensible arms that eliminate the need for complex cable mechanisms, directly resolving the contradiction between operational ease and apparatus compactness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical cable-pulley-brake system with a motorized drive system. The motorized wheel-holder synchronizes arm movement through direct mechanical coupling rather than flexible cables, substituting a compact motorized mechanism for the bulky cable arrangement while maintaining manual controllability
2Reliability
If multiple brakes are installed on extensible arms, then the arms can be blocked in pre-established positions, but the structure becomes extremely complex and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent completely removes the brake mechanisms from the arm structures. Instead of using brakes to block arms in position, the motorized wheel-holder maintains arm positions through synchronized mechanical engagement, eliminating the complexity and bulk associated with multiple brakes while preserving position stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the positioning and blocking functions into the motorized drive mechanism itself. The synchronized extensible arms are integrated with the wheel-holder, which provides both movement control and position maintenance through a unified mechanism rather than separate brake components
3Ease of operation
If rigid push-pull cables are used for arm control, then manual operation is possible, but wide curvature radiuses are required increasing apparatus volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the rigid push-pull cables entirely, eliminating the need for wide curvature radiuses. The motorized extensible arms achieve manual operation without requiring the space-intensive cable routing, directly resolving the contradiction between operational capability and space efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the cable-based control system with a direct motorized drive system. The extensible arms are mechanically coupled to the motorized wheel-holder, providing manual operation capability through direct mechanical connection rather than through rigid cables that require large bending radii
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
The apparatus achieves efficient and safe mounting and dismounting of tires across a range of diameters and widths, reducing the risk of damage to tires and tools while minimizing production costs and operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a first wheel (15) fit on the bar (41) and integral in rotation with the latter; said first wheel (15) being configured for connecting in motion the bar (41) with the stem (14) of the arm (7)
Implementation Method 2
the apparatus comprises a crown on which an anti-return cam acts; the anti-return cam is configured for blocking the rotation of the hexagonal bar
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention regards a tire changer apparatus (1) comprising: a base (2), a wheel-holder (3) configured to put in rotation around a rotation axis (Z) at least one wheel of a vehicle, a first and second column (4a, 4b) emerging from the base, a first device (5) having an extensible arm (7) carrying a tool (8), at least one second device (6) having a respective extensible arm (70) carrying a tool (80) opposite the tool (8) of the first device (5) with respect to an ideal middle plane (P) of the apparatus (1). The tire changer apparatus also comprises: a first and a second bar (41, 42) respectively connecting the arms of the first and second devices, a transmission (60) which connects the first and the second bar (41, 42) in order to synchronize the movement of the arms of the first and second devices (5, 6). The present invention also regards a process for mounting and dismounting tires.