Tire Fitting Tool Motion Control for Rim Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for fitting or removing tires from vehicle wheels often require complex motion control systems that risk damaging the rim surface, as they need to adjust to various wheel types and contours, leading to potential contact and damage.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a simple linear motion control system where the tire fitting or removal tool moves parallel to the wheel axis, with the wheel rotating perpendicularly to its axis based on sensed rim contours, maintaining a small spacing from the rim surface to avoid contact, using optical or other sensing devices for contour detection and controlled by a motor-driven spindle system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the tool moves in complex motions to adapt to various wheel types and rim contours, then the tool can accommodate different wheel configurations, but the risk of tool contact with the rim surface increases, potentially causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the tool to follow the rim contour, the invention inverts the approach by moving the wheel itself to follow the tool's path. The tool remains stationary relative to the rim contour, eliminating contact risk while maintaining adaptability through wheel movement controlled by sensing devices that detect rim geometry and guide the wheel's motion accordingly.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces sensing devices as intermediaries between the tool and the rim. These devices detect the rim contour and transmit information to the control system, which then adjusts the wheel's position and orientation. This intermediary layer allows the system to adapt to different wheel types without the tool physically contacting or risking damage to the rim surface.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the tool is held at a given spacing from the rim surface using sensing devices, then the rim surface is protected from damage, but the motion control system becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention simplifies the motion control system by inverting the control approach. Rather than controlling the tool's complex six-degree-of-freedom motion to maintain spacing from the rim, the system controls the wheel's motion to follow a predetermined tool path. This reduces the control complexity while maintaining the protective spacing through wheel positioning rather than tool positioning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different control surfaces are provided for various wheel types, then the tool can be guided along different rim contours, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies universality by using a single, simple tool path definition that works for all wheel types. The sensing devices detect the specific rim contour of any wheel type, and the control system calculates the appropriate wheel motion from the same basic tool path. This eliminates the need for multiple pre-programmed control surfaces while maintaining adaptability to different wheel configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses dynamic adaptation rather than static pre-programming. The sensing devices continuously detect the rim contour during operation, and the control system dynamically adjusts the wheel's position and orientation in real-time based on the detected geometry. This allows a single control system to handle various wheel types without requiring multiple fixed control surfaces.
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 approach allows for a gentle and efficient tire fitting or removal operation without touching the rim surface, ensuring the tool does not contact the rim, even during complex wheel types, by maintaining a consistent linear motion independent of the rim contour, thus protecting the wheel and simplifying the process.
Implementation Method 1
optical or other sensing devices for contour detection
Implementation Method 2
motor-driven spindle system
Data Source
AI summary
A method of and an apparatus for fitting or removing a tire 4 of a vehicle wheel 1, in which at least one fitting or removal tool 5 is guided parallel to the axis 11 of the vehicle wheel 1 and the vehicle wheel 1 is moved controllably perpendicularly to its wheel axis 11 in dependence on a rim contour along which the fitting or removal tool 5 is to be guided at a small spacing.