Tire Mounting Machine Parallelogram Arm Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing tire mounting and demounting machines face issues with tool deformation and misalignment due to large cantilever lengths, leading to potential rim damage and alignment problems across varying rim diameters.

Innovation Solution

A machine with a mobile structure of four interconnected arms using exclusively rotary mechanical connections, maintaining constant lever arm length and tool orientation relative to the rim, ensuring correct alignment and reducing deformation risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a horizontal mobile arm mounted in rotation around a vertical column is used to position the tool, then the tool can be brought close to the rim edge, but the large cantilever causes strong deformations and potential rim contact

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool positioning capabilityVSAvoidmechanism rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile structure is divided into four separate arms (A, B, C, D) interconnected by pivots, rather than using a single long cantilever arm. This segmentation distributes the mechanical loads across multiple shorter segments, reducing deformations while maintaining tool positioning capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanism transitions from a planar rotation around a vertical column to a three-dimensional parallelogram structure with pivots having parallel axes. This dimensional change allows the tool to reach the rim edge while maintaining a shorter effective cantilever length through spatial configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If a horizontal mobile arm pivots around a vertical column, then the tool can reach the rim edge, but the azimuthal position varies with rim diameter

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool accessibility to rimVSAvoidtool alignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The parallelogram mobile structure provides universal positioning capability that works across different rim diameters. The geometric constraints of the parallelogram mechanism ensure that the tool maintains correct azimuthal alignment regardless of the rim size, making the mechanism adaptable to various wheel dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile structure dynamically adapts its configuration through the four pivots with parallel axes, allowing the arms to rotate and adjust to different rim diameters while maintaining proper tool alignment. The mechanism's degrees of freedom enable it to accommodate varying dimensions without losing precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a sliding mechanism is used for the horizontal arm, then the tool can be positioned radially, but play appears over time causing misalignment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveradial tool positioningVSAvoidalignment stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the sliding mechanism with a rotary pivot connection. While rotary connections may have some play, they are more reliable over time compared to sliding mechanisms where play accumulates. The rotary pivots can be easily replaced or maintained, ensuring long-term alignment stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The sliding mechanical connection is replaced with a rotary pivot connection. This substitution changes the type of mechanical interaction from linear sliding to rotational movement, eliminating the wear and play issues inherent in sliding mechanisms while achieving the same radial positioning function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Measurement precision

If the horizontal arm slides perpendicular to the column, then azimuthal position remains constant, but the overhang remains large causing deformations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetool azimuthal alignmentVSAvoidmechanism rigidity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The long horizontal arm is segmented into four shorter arms forming a parallelogram. This segmentation reduces the overhang length from the vertical column while maintaining the tool's azimuthal alignment capability through the coordinated rotation of the four pivots.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanism moves from a two-dimensional sliding arm to a three-dimensional parallelogram configuration. This spatial reconfiguration allows the tool to maintain constant azimuthal position relative to the rim while reducing the horizontal overhang distance, thereby improving rigidity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2298580B1Machine for installing and removing tyres
Publication Date: 2011.11.30 DU QUESNE BERTRAND
  • EP2298580B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2298580B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP2298580B1 patent drawingFigure 7~10

AI summary

The machine has a table (11) for attaching a rim (2) and rotating the rim in a centered manner around a vertical axis (Y). A fitting and removal tool (12) fits and removes a tire (1). A movable structure (20) has four arms (A-D) connected together two by two by four pivots (p-s), respectively. The pivots are provided with pivot axes that are parallel with one another, respectively. One of the arms is secured to a frame (10), and the tool is connected to the other arm.