Tire spreader for tire repair

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10081222-B2
Application number	US-201514879740-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2015
Priority date	Jan 31, 2011
Publication date	Sep 25, 2018
Grant date	Sep 25, 2018

Abstract

The present invention concerns methods and apparatus for spreading beads in a tire. Particular embodiments of such methods include securing at least a portion of a first bead of the tire and positioning a tire spreader within the central opening of the tire, the tire spreader having a bead engaging portion for engaging a portion of a second bead generally opposite the secured portion of the first bead. Such methods may further include automatically translating the bead engaging portion of the tire spreader generally in an axial direction of the tire to displace the engaged portion of the second bead a desired distance to increase the distance between the opposing beads to form a widened interior cavity opening.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for preparing an interior surface of a tire for repair, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a tire having: a central opening extending axially through the tire along a rotational axis of the tire being bounded radially by an inner bead diameter; an interior tire cavity extending radially outward from the inner bead diameter and being bound by an interior surface of the tire; and an interior tire cavity opening extending between opposing an annular beads of the tire, the cavity being positioned between the central cavity and the interior tire cavity;
securing at least a portion of the first bead of the tire;
positioning a tire spreader within the central opening of the tire, the tire spreader having a bead engaging portion for engaging a portion of the second bead, the bead engaging portion having a surface for engaging the portion of the second bead, the surface extending in a direction biased relative to a translation direction of the tire spreader, wherein the tire spreader further includes a base generally extending perpendicular to the translation direction of the tire spreader, the bead engaging portion extending outwardly from a portion of the base, where the base is slideably retained within a mount member of the tire spreader to slide generally in a radial direction of the tire; and,
automatically translating the bead engaging portion of the tire spreader generally in an axial direction of the tire to displace the engaged portion of the second bead a desired distance to increase the distance between the opposing beads to form a widened interior cavity opening,
where the step of positioning a tire spreader within the central opening of the tire includes manually positioning the bead engaging portion of the bead spreader against the portion of the second bead before performing the step of automatically translating the bead engaging portion, the tire spreader being independently moveable from a tire spreader actuator used to translate the bead engaging portion of the tire spreader.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of automatically translating the bead engaging portion is accomplished by linearly translating the bead engaging portion of the tire spreader.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of automatically translating the bead engaging portion includes extending an actuator having a stroke sufficient to generate the widened interior cavity opening to receive a material removal tool.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the actuator engages the tire spreader as the actuator is extending.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the actuator has a constant length stroke to generate the widened interior cavity opening.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of positioning the spreader includes translating the bead engaging portion generally in a radial direction of the tire to radially position the bead engaging portion prior to the step of automatically translating the bead engaging portion.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the tire is arranged vertically, whereby the rotational axis of the tire is generally parallel with a ground plane.

8. The method of claim 1 , where the bead engaging portion is offset from the base to create a stop surface for radially engaging an associated tire bead.

9. The method of claim 1 , where the translation means is arranged to independently engage and disengage a translation member of the tire spreader, the translation member extending longitudinally in a translation direction of the tire spreader, the bead engaging portion of the tire spreader extending generally in a radial direction of the tire, the translation member of the tire spreader being slideably retained by a translation guide, where the mount member is operably attached to the translation member.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of automatically translating the bead engaging portion provides a widened interior cavity opening having a minimum width sufficient for receiving a material removal tool, and where the method further comprises the steps of:
positioning the tire in a location adjacent the material removal tool;
translating the material removal tool into the central opening of the tire; and,
positioning the material removal tool within the interior tire cavity by translating the material removal tool through the widened interior cavity opening.

11. A machine for spreading the interior of a tire, the machine comprising:
a tire spreader translatably mounted to the machine, the tire spreader being in communication with a translation means for forcefully translating a tire engaging portion of the tool a predetermined distance in a translation direction, the tire engaging portion having a surface for engaging a bead of a corresponding tire, the surface extending in a direction biased relative to the translation direction of the tire spreader; and,
a controller for automatically translating the tire engaging portion of the tire spreader generally in an axial direction of the tire,
where the tire engaging portion of the bead spreader is manually positionable against a portion of a second bead of the tire before automatically translating the tire engaging portion of the tool with the translation means, the tire spreader being independently moveable from the translation means used to translate the tire engaging portion of the tire spreader, and
where the translation means is a linear actuator arranged to independently engage and disengage a translation member of the tire spreader, the translation member extending longitudinally in a translation direction of the tire spreader, the tire engaging portion of the tire spreader extending generally in a radial direction of the tire, the translation member of the tire spreader being slideably retained by a translation guide.

12. The machine of claim 11 further comprising:
a tire receiving area having a means for securing at least a portion of a first tire bead, the tire spreader being arranged to engage a second tire bead positioned opposite the first tire bead in an axial direction of a tire.

13. The machine of claim 11 , wherein the tire spreader further includes a base generally extending perpendicular to the translation direction of the tire spreader, the tire engaging portion extending outwardly from a portion of the base.

14. The machine of claim 13 , wherein the tire engaging portion is offset from the base to create a stop surface for radially engaging an associated tire bead.

15. The machine of claim 13 , wherein the base is slideably retained within a mount member of the tire spreader to slide generally in a radial direction of the tire.

16. The machine of claim 15 , wherein the base slideably extends through an aperture within the mount member.

17. The machine of claim 15 , wherein the mount member is operably attached to the translation member.

18. The machine of claim 11 further comprising:
an abrading tool translatably mounted to the machine, the tool being in operable communication with a first translation means for translating the abrading tool into the central opening of a tire.

Assignees

• Michelin Rech Tech
• Michelin & Cie

Inventors

• Ikonomov Metodi Lubenov
• Chebli Adib Tony
• Zarak Cesar Enrique
• Chandler Michael Collins

Classifications

• Y10T29/49718

  Repairing · CPC title

• B60C25/14 Primary

  Apparatus or tools for spreading {or locating} tyre beads · CPC title

• B60C25/142 Primary

  Devices for tightening or expanding the felly, devices for spreading the tyres · CPC title