997results about "Wheel mounting apparatus" patented technology

An early warning system for a tractor operator engaged in towing or pushing an aircraft includes two ultrasonic sensors that are used to create a detection area in which the aircraft should be present when the steering angle is well within a safe range. When one of the detectors fails to detect the presence of the aircraft, then the operator is alerted, before over steering can occur, in order that corrective action can be undertaken. Accordingly, complex distance-measuring algorithms can be avoided as can the requirement that an aircraft fuselage have a specially modified detection region.

A method and an apparatus for automatically removing pieces of luggage that have different surface properties and dimensions and getting the pieces of luggage ready for further transport by means of a gripper that is hingedly connected to a robot arm is described. The method includes: a) moving the gripper and the container that is to be emptied close together; b) determining the first piece of luggage to be removed; (c) gripping the piece of luggage using a horizontal suction elements (3) and withdrawing the luggage horizontally; d) if the vertical suction elements (4) are not yet able to sufficiently grip the luggage, the vertical suction elements (4) are repositioned and turned off, the vertical suction elements (5) are repositioned, and then turned on to re-grip the piece of luggage.

An apparatus for assembling a tire and a wheel is disclosed. The apparatus includes a single-cell workstation including a device that retains a wheel, and a plurality of sub-stations. The device moves the wheel to each of the plurality of sub-stations, without releasing the wheel, to assemble a tire-wheel assembly. A method is also disclosed.

A wheel pulling apparatus and method for removing vehicle wheels by pushing against the mounting studs of a motor vehicle wheel assembly. The invention is designed to remove or break uni-mount wheels from large wheel assemblies. A push plate is positioned onto the wheel by at least one receiver. At least two threaded grappling hooks are affixed to the wheel, and the threaded portion of the grappling hooks are slid through slots in the push plate. Washers are inserted and nuts are tightened onto the threaded portion. The nuts are then alternately tightened causing the push plate to snug onto mounting studs and to pull the wheel from the wheel assembly.

A lift apparatus for conveying, lifting and at least partially inverting a refuse container for emptying into a dumpster or a refuse receptacle. The apparatus preferably has a base with wheels and a handle to facilitate transport. In one embodiment, the handle telescopes vertically and is hook shaped and adapted for engaging the lip of a dumpster or garbage chute. A pair of offset pivot arms is pivotally mounted to the frame and to a bin carriage, into which a refuse receptacle may be received. Application of a pivoting force to the pivot arms lifts and at least partially inverts the bin carriage for emptying the refuse container. Preferably a damper is provided on bin carriage movement as well as a locking mechanism to prevent bin carriage movement while being conveyed. The device may be operated manually, or adapted with mechanical power output devices to simplify lifting.

An aircraft handler (10) for use with an undercarriage of an aircraft, the handler being self-propelled and comprising a generally “U” shaped body (11) having arms (12 &13) linked by a bridge (14) at one end thereof with a pair of drive wheels (16 &17) located one at the free end of each arm, with at least one wheel(15) located adjacent the bridge(14). A pair of clamping jaws (51) are mounted on the body (11) between the drive wheels (16 &17) and the bridge (14)and jaws (51) have a lower profile than the arms (12 &17). The drive wheel (16 &17) are driven by DC electric motors powered by batteries stored in the arms.

An apparatus for servicing a tired wheel for motor vehicles, which comprises a tire assembling-disassembling machine provided with a rotatable motor-driven support (3) for supporting a wheel to be handled, sensor means (4, 5) for controlling both the position of, and the load on, the rotatable support (3), urging locking means (6) designed to act on the middle portion of the wheel-rim to make the wheel rigid in rotation with the rotatable support (3), detecting means (7, 7a, 7b) designed to measure the size of the wheel-rim, and program control means (EC).

A system, and a method of using a system, for controlled tool operation. The method includes providing a tool used in a force application such as a such torque application. The tool communicates with a controller which can communicate with the tool, and to a display in communication with the tool and the controller. The controller can be programmed with operational information about a tool operation. Information related to the operational information is displayed to a user during use. Service information including at least information about an amount of force applied during use is recorded and stored in the controller. Also disclosed is a computerized system for controlled tool operation which sends operational instructions to the tool before use and retrieves service information from the tool after use.

A dolly is particularly adapted to lift, support and maneuver a four-wheel vehicle. The dolly comprises an adjustable, generally U-shaped frame assembly for each vehicle tire. The frame assembly has pairs of reciprocally opposed first and second frame members adapted to be positioned adjacent opposite sides of a tire and to lift the vehicle by way of the tires. A castering wheel assembly supports the vehicle on a ground surface. The frame assembly is pivotably mounted on a tractor.

A wheel dolly is disclosed that is suited to serve as both an automobile jack, capable of holding large loads aloft for extended periods, relying on only mechanical systems and eliminating hydraulic systems. In a further aspect, the wheel dolly of the present invention does not include extended arms, handles, or levers for pumping or rotating the lifting mechanisms. Each lifting element terminates in only a single nut exposed to the user. Preferably, each nut of each lifting system has the same plan dimensions as the other, thus providing the advantage of allowing the user to operate the dolly with a driver and only one socket.

An apparatus and method for attaching / detaching a circular array of threaded fasteners are suitable for mounting a fastener of a wheel to a vehicle or removing a fastener of the wheel from the vehicle. The apparatus has a bracket and a set of parallel rotating shafts mounted on the bracket, the axes of the rotating shafts being distributed in a circular array, or equivalently described as that,the axes of the rotating shafts being equidistantly distributed on a cylindrical surface. These shafts can be rotated about respective axes, and one end of these shafts can be used to hold and rotatesome type of threaded fastener. The threaded fastener is configured to form a thread pair with another type of threaded fastener on the wheel mounting member for securing the wheel to the wheel mounting member. The apparatus has an adjustment mechanism capable of synchronously adjusting the positions of all the rotating shafts such that the diameter of the cylindrical surface of the axis of all the above-mentioned rotating shafts varies between the first diameter and the second diameter, thereby adjusting the size of the rotating shaft spacing.

In a method and system for depalletizing tires using a robot, wherein the tires are randomly located on a carrier, the position and orientation of outer tires on the carrier are detected using a sensor, and a processor, using a signal from the sensor, determines a tire that can be gripped by a gripping tool of an industrial robot, and calculates a movement path for the gripping tool for that tire. If the calculated path is not collision-free, another tire from among the outer tires is selected, and a movement path for depalletizing that tire is determined. The procedure is repeated until a collision-free movement path for a tire from among the outer tires is established. The gripping tool is then guided according to this collision-free movement path to depalletize the tire having the collision-free path associated therewith.

A caddy apparatus for lifting and carrying a vehicle tire includes a cart frame and a wheel maneuvering structure having a tilt frame and lift carriage slideably mounted on the tilt frame; a pivot mounting of the tilt frame on the cart frame; a tire lift carriage slideably mounted to the tilt frame of the wheel maneuvering structure for engaging and retaining a vehicle tire; and a tire lift carriage lifting and lowering mechanism, preferably employing a hydraulic pump and cylinder.

An improved dolly system including at least three dollies adjustably interconnected as a system to allow a trailer or other vehicle to be loaded therein. The dollies are adjusted for the width and the length of the trailer to mate the dollies with the wheels of the trailer. Four dollies can be adjustably connected in a system to provide a vehicle dolly system. The system can include one or more brakes and once loaded the system can be moved in any direction to facilitate the maximum use of available parking space.

A factory layout including a track circuit, one or more wheeled carts for traversing the track circuit and a tire / wheel assembly carried by the wheeled cart. One or more work stations can be positioned at locations along the track circuit. Various wheeled cart embodiments are disclosed and various work station configurations are disclosed.

A wheel lift device includes an upright extending upwardly from a wheeled base. A carriage slides along the upright and includes a wheel support to support an automotive wheel thereon. A pneumatic lift mechanism is housed in the upright and is coupled to the carriage. A lift control comprises a supply valve to couple the lift mechanism to a source of compressed gas for lifting and a vent valve to couple the lift mechanism to a vent for lowering. The lift device has rapid response, is of low cost and requires minimal maintenance when arranged to connect to conventional compressed air supply lines of the type readily available in automotive servicing stations. Location of the lift controls directly on the upright ensures quick access for controlling the lifting and lowering of wheels in direct proximity to the task being performed.

A guard device for a handrail in an entry zone of an escalator is disclosed, which assures safety of an entry of the escalator, sanitary maintenance of the handrail by sterilization, efficient advertisement of products and business corporations, and clean maintenance of air in the entry of the escalator. The guard device includes a guide channel at its bottom to receive a part of the handrail. The guard device further includes a sterilization unit to sterilize the handrail, an advertising display provided on a front face thereof, and an air-cleaning unit provided at a side wall thereof.

A small vehicle jack, having the ability to lift vehicles having a variety of wheel bases, and axle configurations. A support frame provides stability for a vertical bar, which supports a winch means. The winch means raises a lifting frame using a strap means, and the lifting frame which follows the vertical bar using an improved sleeve means, in which rollers are used on either side of the vertical bar. The jack may have adjustable and detachable wheel support means, in which the wheels of the vehicle are used as the contact points to raise the vehicle. The jack may also be used without wheel support means, but instead use hook means to attach to an axle.

A chuck for mounting wheel castings having different diameters upon a wheel lathe for machining the casting to final shape is provided. The chuck includes stepped jaw inserts that cooperate with corresponding stepped part supports to securely mount the wheel castings upon the chuck.

The invention relates to a machine for fastening wheels on a vehicle. The machine of the present invention is capable of mounting and securing wheels to vehicles in a fully automatic manner along an assembly line without the assistance of an operator. The invention consists of a wheel supply base (1) equipped with positioning elements (23) for centering the wheel and lifting the wheel so that the support arm (2) grabs the wheel and transports it to the rotating plate (3), which 3) Incorporated to the screw supply device (4) which is assisted by a light detector to insert the screw into the rim. The support arm (6) adjacent to the mobile base (5) contains a compound screwdriver (7), which is positioned inside the screw. The assembly is then tilted 90° to position the wheel relative to the hub of the vehicle and finally insert the wheel.

A tyre changing apparatus 1, for use with tyres on large haul trucks employed in mining operations. The apparatus includes a tyre handler. The grab unit of the tyre handler can provide a stable work platform from which robots may execute tasks. Hence, a first robot is disposed adjacent to the proximal end of arm and a second robot is disposed adjacent to the proximal end of the second arm. This apparatus may be utilised by the robots so as to spread the gap in a lock ring to assist when removing and installing the lock ring. An o-ring installation device may be utilized by the robots when installing an o-ring.

A wheel dolly is disclosed that is suited to serve as both an automobile jack, capable of holding large loads aloft for extended periods, relying on only mechanical systems and eliminating hydraulic systems. In a further aspect, the wheel dolly of the present invention does not include extended arms, handles, or levers for pumping or rotating the lifting mechanisms. Each lifting element terminates in only a single nut exposed to the user. Preferably, each nut of each lifting system has the same plan dimensions as the other, thus providing the advantage of allowing the user to operate the dolly with a driver and only one socket.

A wheel lift device includes an upright extending upwardly from a wheeled base. A carriage slides along the upright and includes a wheel support to support an automotive wheel thereon. A pneumatic lift mechanism is housed in the upright and is coupled to the carriage. A lift control comprises a supply valve to couple the lift mechanism to a source of compressed gas for lifting and a vent valve to couple the lift mechanism to a vent for lowering. The lift device has rapid response, is of low cost and requires minimal maintenance when arranged to connect to conventional compressed air supply lines of the type readily available in automotive servicing stations. Location of the lift controls directly on the upright ensures quick access for controlling the lifting and lowering of wheels in direct proximity to the task being performed.

A wheel lift system for efficiently lifting and positioning a wheel and tire onto a wheel hub. The wheel lift system includes a first arm and a second arm pivotally attached to one another, a plurality of caster wheels attached to the lower portion of the arms, and a first support and a second support extending from the arms respectively for supporting a wheel and tire. A bias member is preferably attached to the arms for providing a bias force that assists in elevating the wheel and tire.

A caster lock indicator adapted to operate to indicate a locked state or an unlocked state of a caster. The caster lock indicator includes a stopper spring that operates in response to a rotary motion of a stopper lever when it is operated to unlock the caster. As the stopper lever is rotated around a lever support member, the stopper spring is turned about a stopper spring support member to lock the wheel against any swiveling motion. In the unlocked state, a lock indicator surface of a lock indicator plate can be visually recognizable through an indicator window of the stopper lever. When the caster is locked, the lock indicator plate is driven to slide so that the part for indicating the locked state of the lock indicator surface of the lock indicator plate comes to be visually recognizable through the indicator window.

A self-propelled transport aid for wheeled structures is advantageously provided. The transport aid generally includes a chassis, a lift assembly operatively supported thereby, and preferably a wheel capturing apparatus operatively united with the lift assembly. The wheel capturing apparatus has a first configuration for receipt of a wheel upon a wheel landing of the apparatus, and a second configuration for retention of the wheel received upon the wheel landing in the first configuration, wherein the first configuration of the wheel capturing apparatus is associated with a down position thereof. Alternate means for receiving and retaining a portion of a wheeled structure are further disclosed.

A dual mode end effector is disclosed. The dual mode end effector includes a bridge member having a first end and a second end, wherein the bridge member includes a first substantially axial flange extending from the first and, wherein the bridge member includes a second substantially axial flange extending from the second end; a tire / wheel gripping assembly connected to the bridge member, wherein the tire / wheel gripping assembly includes a pair of substantially axial members, a substantially radial support member, and a pair of radially-projecting engaging assemblies, wherein the pair of substantially axial members are movably-supported upon the substantially radial support member, wherein a first end of the substantially radial support member is connected to the first substantially axial flange of the bridge member, wherein the a second end of the substantially radial support member is connected to the second substantially axial flange of the bridge member, wherein a first radially-projecting engaging assembly of the pair of radially-projecting engaging assemblies is connected to an inner radial surface of a first substantially axial member of the pair of substantially axial members, wherein a second radially-projecting engaging assembly of the pair of radially-projecting engaging assemblies is connected to an inner radial surface of a second substantially axial member of the pair of substantially axial members.

An apparatus for assembling a tire and a wheel is disclosed. The apparatus includes a single-cell workstation including a device that retains a wheel, and a plurality of sub-stations. The device moves the wheel to each of the plurality of sub-stations, without releasing the wheel, to assemble a tire-wheel assembly. A method is also disclosed.

In a method and system for depalletizing tires using a robot, wherein the tires are randomly located on a carrier, the position and orientation of outer tires on the carrier are detected using a sensor, and a processor, using a signal from the sensor, determines a tire that can be gripped by a gripping tool of an industrial robot, and calculates a movement path for the gripping tool for that tire. If the calculated path is not collision-free, another tire from among the outer tires is selected, and a movement path for depalletizing that tire is determined. The procedure is repeated until a collision-free movement path for a tire from among the outer tires is established. The gripping tool is then guided according to this collision-free movement path to depalletize the tire having the collision-free path associated therewith.