Tyre Changer Working Head With Polymeric Rim-Safe Demounting Guide
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tyre changing apparatuses face challenges such as manual operation requiring significant strength, risk of tyre damage during demounting, complex maintenance and replacement procedures, and potential damage to the rim due to the design of the gripping tool and contoured elements.
Innovation Solution
A working head with a contoured element made of plastically compliant polymeric material, featuring a demounting and mounting guide, and a gripping tool driven by an actuator through a transmission unit, allowing for easy replacement of the contoured element and reducing the risk of rim damage by positioning the gripping tool correctly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an actuator-driven gripping tool is used to avoid manual operation, then physical effort is reduced, but the space occupied by the automatic gripping tool increases, leading to a higher risk of damaging the tyre during demounting
Solution Approach 1:
A polymeric contoured element is introduced as an intermediary between the actuator-driven gripping tool and the tyre. This contoured element has a specific geometry that guides the tyre during demounting operations, distributing forces evenly and preventing direct contact between the gripping tool and the tyre surface, thereby eliminating the risk of tyre damage while maintaining automated operation
Solution Approach 2:
The contoured element is made from polymeric material that combines flexibility and strength. This composite material approach allows the contoured element to deform slightly to accommodate tyre variations while maintaining its guiding function, providing both protection against tyre damage and effective force transmission for automated operation
2Productivity
If the contoured element is made from a very hard, undeformable material to facilitate operations, then operational effectiveness is improved, but the rim may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The material properties of the contoured element are changed from hard and undeformable to polymeric with appropriate flexibility. This parameter change in material hardness and deformability allows the contoured element to maintain operational effectiveness through its geometric design while adapting to rim surface variations, thereby preventing rim damage
Solution Approach 2:
The contoured element is designed with specific local geometric features (contours) that concentrate force application at appropriate locations during tyre demounting. This local quality in the geometric design compensates for the reduced material hardness, maintaining operational effectiveness while the polymeric material prevents rim damage through its compliance
3Device complexity
If the contoured element is integrated with the transmission unit as one component, then structural simplicity is achieved, but maintenance and replacement operations become complex
Solution Approach 1:
The working head is segmented into distinct components: the transmission unit and the contoured element are made separable. This segmentation allows the contoured element to be replaced independently of the transmission unit, simplifying maintenance operations. The contoured element can be quickly removed and replaced without disassembling the complex transmission mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The contoured element is designed as a replaceable component that can be easily replaced when worn or damaged. This approach treats the contoured element as a consumable part with lower cost, allowing frequent replacement without the need for complex maintenance procedures on the integrated transmission system
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 solution enables efficient and safe tyre mounting and demounting operations with reduced physical effort, simplified maintenance, and minimized risk of tyre and rim damage, while allowing for quick replacement of components.
Implementation Method 1
The contoured element is made of a polymeric material. In an embodiment, the polymeric material is plastically compliant.
Data Source
AI summary
A working head (1) for an apparatus (100) for mounting and demounting a tyre to and from a corresponding rim (C) of a vehicle wheel comprises: a contoured element, having a first end (2A) and a second end (2B), spaced from each other along a longitudinal orientation (L) and including a demounting guide (22) and a mounting guide (21) juxtaposed with the demounting guide (22) along a transverse orientation (T) perpendicular to the longitudinal orientation (L);a gripping tool (3), movable in a working plane perpendicular to the transverse orientation (T) between a gripping position (PP), where it is operatively interposed between the rim and the tyre, and a prising position (PS), where the gripping tool (3) is lifted longitudinally relative to the second end (2B) of the contoured element (2); a transmission unit (4) connectable to an actuator (103) and to the gripping tool (3) and configured to move the gripping tool (3).The demounting guide (22) is interposed, along the transverse orientation (T), between the gripping tool (3) and the mounting guide (21) of the contoured element (2), the mounting guide being removably connected to an arm (102) of the apparatus (100).