Tire Inflation Bell Transfer for Centered Rim-to-Tire Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tire filling systems face challenges in maintaining the centering of the tire arrangement relative to the rim during the filling process, leading to inconsistencies and reduced process reliability.
Innovation Solution
A tire filling system with a vertically movable tire inflation ring and a carrying device that can transition between positions outside and inside the inflation bell, utilizing grippers to center and maintain the tire assembly, ensuring consistent sealing contact and precise positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the tire assembly is transferred from the first conveyor belt to the second conveyor belt using conventional systems, then the tire assembly can be positioned for filling, but the centering of the tire relative to the rim cannot be maintained, leading to centering loss
Solution Approach 1:
The support device is made movable between a first position outside the filling bell and a second position inside the filling bell, allowing dynamic repositioning while maintaining continuous contact with the tire assembly. This dynamic capability enables the system to adapt to different operational phases (positioning vs. filling) without losing centering precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The support device acts as an intermediary between the conveyor belts and the filling bell, providing continuous support and maintaining centering during the transition. The support device with continuous support surface ensures that the tire assembly remains centered while being moved from the first conveyor belt to the second conveyor belt position.
2Reliability
If a continuous support surface is used for the tire assembly, then sealing contact can be maintained during movement, but space is required for rim gripper operation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the rim gripper grip from below or the side, the rim gripper is designed to grip the rim from above. This inverted approach allows the continuous support surface to extend fully beneath the tire assembly for reliable sealing contact, while the rim gripper operates in the vertical space above the rim without requiring additional horizontal space.
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 ensures reliable centering of the tire arrangement during filling, enhancing process reliability and efficiency by maintaining continuous contact and precise positioning, thereby improving the tire inflation process.
Implementation Method 1
a rim gripper (9) and a tire gripper (10), which are designed to center the rim (8) relative to the tire (7) and/or lift the centered tire assembly (7, 8)
Implementation Method 2
at least one tire inflation ring (4) that is vertically movable by means of a lifting device of the tire inflation system
Implementation Method 3
The carrying device forms a support surface for the tire assembly and the lower side of the tire assembly can be brought into sealing contact with the support surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a tire inflation system (1) with a tire inflation bell (2) having at least one tire inflation ring (4) which is vertically movable by means of a lifting device of the tire inflation system, and with a support device (11) which is designed to support a tire assembly consisting of a wheel rim (8) and a tire (7) mounted on the wheel rim (8), wherein the support device (11) forms a support surface (3) for the tire assembly and the lower side of the tire assembly can be brought into sealing contact with the support surface (3) required for the inflation process, wherein the support device (11) is movable between a first position in which the support surface (3) is located outside the tire inflation bell (2) in plan view and a second position in which the support surface (3) is located inside the tire inflation bell (2) in plan view, while maintaining contact.