Tire Glide Table With Airbag Lift for Wheel Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for removing and installing vehicle tires, especially larger ones, require significant strength and can lead to strain, injury, and chronic pain, particularly for non-mechanics handling wheels in roadside environments.
Innovation Solution
A tire glide device comprising a base section, airbag, roller box, glide table, and rollers that allows for the gradual adjustment of tire height and lateral movement, reducing the need for manual lifting and alignment, enabling easier and safer tire installation and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual lifting and alignment methods are used for tire removal and installation, then the process can be completed with simple equipment, but significant physical strain and injury risk occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a glide table as an intermediary device between the tire and the ground. The glide table provides a controlled sliding surface that allows the tire to be moved laterally and adjusted in height without direct manual handling. This intermediary structure transfers the mechanical work from human muscles to the glide table's mechanical system, eliminating the need for workers to directly lift and position heavy tires, thereby reducing physical strain and injury risk while maintaining operational ease
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydraulic lift system to raise and lower the glide table vertically. The hydraulic mechanism provides controlled height adjustment of the tire during the removal and installation process. By using hydraulic power instead of manual lifting, the system handles the heavy weight of large tires safely and efficiently, eliminating the need for workers to exert significant physical force while maintaining precise control over the tire's position
2Productivity
If traditional manual methods are used for wheel alignment and positioning, then equipment complexity remains low, but productivity and safety decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the tire handling system into distinct functional segments: the glide table for lateral movement, the hydraulic lift for vertical adjustment, and the roller box for supporting the tire. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, improving overall productivity. The modular nature of the segmented system also makes it easier to operate and maintain compared to a fully integrated complex machine, thus achieving high productivity without excessive device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates dynamic elements including the movable glide table that can slide laterally on rollers, the hydraulic lift that dynamically adjusts height, and the roller box that rotates to accommodate different tire orientations. These dynamic features enable quick and efficient tire removal and installation by allowing smooth, controlled movements rather than requiring static repositioning. The dynamic capabilities significantly improve productivity while the simplicity of each dynamic mechanism keeps overall device complexity manageable
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 tire glide device minimizes strain and risk of injury by allowing for controlled height adjustment and alignment, making tire changes more accessible and safer for both professionals and non-experts, particularly in challenging environments.
Implementation Method 1
an airbag positioned within the base section and configured to gradually adjust a vertical position of the wheel
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus having means for providing axial rotation and support of a wheel, wherein said wheel is intended for at least one of, removal, repair, inspection, installation, and replacement; means for allowing for different size wheels to be supported; means for rendering support for said means for providing axial rotation; means for allowing a lateral movement of said support rendering means along a central axis and operable for aligning the wheel with wheel studs; means for increasing a bottom surface area of said apparatus to create additional support for said apparatus; means for aiding a transportation and placement of said apparatus; and means for adjusting a vertical positioning of the wheel.