Multi-diameter clamp for clamping on tires of different sizes

• US 10,040,498 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2014
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Sun, Yuan-Heng, Lee, Kang-Feng, Chang, Yuan-Ann, Lin, Meng-Ru, Ma, Ruey-Liang, Yu, Jen-Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodas, Richard Isla
• Assistant Examiner(s): HERNANDEZ, MANUEL J
• Application Number:
  US14/581,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20160176304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 320108, 211 19, 211 20, 70 19, 70225, 70226, 70237, 70258-260
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/12 Inductive energy transfer
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/16 Connectors, e.g. plugs or sockets, specially adapted for charging electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/30 Constructional details of charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/09 by restraining wheel rotation, e.g. wheel clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/093 comprising ground-engaging means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 9/10 for cycles
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 2003/005 Supports or holders associated with means for bike rental
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 3/00 Separate supports or holders for parking or storing cycles cycle supports used during maintenance B25H; building aspects E04H
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 3/04 involving forked supports of brackets for holding a wheel B62H3/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 3/06 collapsible
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 3/08 involving recesses or channelled rails for embracing the bottom part of a wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/14 preventing wheel rotation B62H5/003 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/141 by means of sliding bolts removable B62H5/145
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/142 by means of pivoting, or pivoting and sliding bolts
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/144 pincer-like pincer-like padlocks E05B67/32
• CPC Class Codes: B62H 5/148 acting on the hub
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 Plug-in electric vehicles

Abstract

A multi-diameter clamp for clamping on tires of different sizes is provided. The multi-diameter clamp comprises at least one clamping unit, at least one actuator, and at least one sensing unit. The at least one clamping unit further includes at least one movable member and a fixed member. Wherein the at least one movable member moves within a tire housing space having a starting position and a clamping position. The tire housing space locates between the movable member and the fixed member for clamping on a tire. The at least one actuator connects to the at least one movable member, and enables the at least one moveable member to move between the starting position and the clamping position. The at least a sensing unit obtains a diameter size of the tire, and based on the diameter size, actuates the at least one actuator corresponding to the diameter size.

Claims

1. A multi-diameter clamp for clamping on tires of different sizes, comprising:

at least one clamping unit including a plurality of movable members and a fixed member, wherein the plurality of movable members move within a tire housing space having a starting position and a clamping position, and the tire housing space is located between at least one of the plurality of movable members and the fixed member for clamping on a tire, wherein the plurality of movable members and the fixing member are disposed in parallel and extend annularly along a same extending direction, and the movable members and the fixing member each have a radius of curvature substantially matching a radius of curvature of a peripheral portion of the tire;

a plurality of actuators that connect to the plurality of movable members, and enable the plurality of movable members to move between the starting position and the clamping position; and

at least one sensing unit that obtains a diameter size of the tire, and based on the diameter size, actuates one of the actuators of the plurality of actuators corresponding to the diameter size.

2. The multi-diameter clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of movable members is a longitudinal panel.

3. The multi-diameter clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multi-diameter clamp further includes at least one linear guide connected to at least one of the plurality of movable members, and the at least one linear guide and the plurality of actuators are disposed in parallel.

4. The multi-diameter clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensing unit includes a sensing tag.

5. The multi-diameter clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensing unit includes a sensor.

6. The multi-diameter clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of actuators is an electric cylinder, a solenoid, a pneumatic actuator or a hydraulic actuator, to actuate at least one of the plurality of movable members.

7. The multi-diameter clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the multi-diameter clamp further includes a charging unit.

8. The multi-diameter clamp as claimed in claim 7, wherein the charging unit is a wired charging unit or a wireless charging unit.

9. The multi-diameter clamp as claimed in claim 8, wherein the wired charging unit further includes a charging gun and a charging dock.

10. The multi-diameter clamp as claimed in claim 8, wherein the wireless charging unit further includes a charging output terminal and a charging receiving terminal, and the charging output terminal is a power output induction coil.

11. The multi-diameter clamp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tire is one of a bike tire, a tire of an electric motor vehicle, or a tire of an electric bicycle.