Device for locking wheel rims for vehicles on repair workshop machines, particularly tyre-changing machines or the like

• US 9,132,706 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2012
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Giuliano Group S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Giuliano Group S.p.A.
• Inventors: Bonacini, Maurizio
• Primary Examiner(s): SCRUGGS, ROBERT J
• Application Number:
  US13/551,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20130025797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 157/1.1, 157/1.26, 157/14, 157/16, 157/18, 157/20, 157/21
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 30/06 engaging the wheel body, e.g. the rim
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 25/0542 with self-centering means, e.g. cones
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 25/138 with rotary motion of tool or tyre support
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/045 the body being a vehicle wheel

Abstract

A device (1) for locking wheel rims for vehicles on repair workshop machines, particularly tire-changing machines or the like, includes a fastening apparatus (2) associable in a removable way with at least a supporting arrangement (B) of the rim of a wheel (A) in a vehicle repair workshop machine or the like, a stop element (3) engageable on a rim arranged on the supporting arrangement (B) for locking the rim itself and a simultaneous movement apparatus (4) associated with the fastening apparatus (2) and with the stop element (3) and suitable for simultaneously moving the fastening apparatus (2) and the stop element (3) between a release configuration, wherein the fastening apparatus is released from the supporting arrangement and the stop element is substantially disengaged from the rim, and a locking configuration, wherein the fastening apparatus is associated with the supporting arrangement and the stop element is engaged on the rim.

Claims

1. Device (1) for locking wheel rims for vehicles on repair workshop machines, including tyre-changing machines, comprising at least a fastening apparatus (2) associable in a removable way with at least a supporting arrangement (B) of the rim of a wheel (A) in a vehicle repair workshop machine or the like, at least a stop element (3) engageable on a rim arranged on said supporting arrangement (B) for locking the rim itself, at least a simultaneous movement apparatus (4) associated with said fastening apparatus (2) and with said stop element (3) and suitable for simultaneously moving said fastening apparatus (2) and said stop element (3) between a release configuration, wherein said fastening apparatus (2) is released from said supporting arrangement (B) and said stop element (3) is substantially disengaged from said rim, and a locking configuration, wherein said fastening apparatus (2) is associated with said supporting arrangement (B) and said stop element (3) is engaged on said rim, at least an extremal section (5) of substantially elongated shape which can be fitted in a corresponding housing (E) on said supporting arrangement (B) of the rim, and wherein said fastening apparatus (2) comprises at least an expansion clamp element (6) made along at least a portion of said extremal section (5) and suitable for being expanded to engage on the inner surface of said housing (E) in said locking configuration.

2. Device (1) according to the claim 1, wherein said expansion clamp element (6) comprises at least an elastic band (6) or the like.

3. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said stop element (3) is substantially truncated-cone-shaped and is intended to engage on said rim, in correspondence to the central through hole of said rim.

4. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said simultaneous movement apparatus (4) comprises at least a control device (10) associated with said fastening apparatus (2) and with said stop element (3) and which can be positioned between an idle position, wherein said fastening apparatus (2) and said stop element (3) are in said release configuration, and a working configuration, wherein said fastening apparatus (2) and said stop element (3) are in said locking configuration.

5. Device (1) according to the claim 1, wherein said simultaneous movement apparatus (4) comprises expansion means (11) associated with said expansion clamp element (6) and suitable for expanding and reducing said expansion clamp element (6) to move it between said release configuration and said locking configuration.

6. Device (1) according to the claim 5, wherein said expansion clamp element (6) comprises at least an elastic band (6) or the like and said expansion means (11) comprise at least a truncated-cone element (11) fitted axially sliding inside said elastic band (6), engaged sliding on at least a part of the inner surface of said elastic band (6) and moving between an idle position, wherein said elastic band (6) is in said release configuration and a working position, wherein said elastic band (6) is in said locking configuration.

7. Device (1) according to the claim 6, wherein said elastic band (6) has a sloped inner surface (12) on which the outer surface of said truncated-cone element (11) is engaged sliding.

8. Device (1) according to claim 6, wherein said extremal section (5) has a substantially tubular and elongated shape and comprises said elastic band (6) along at least one of its portions.

9. Device (1) according to claim 5, wherein said simultaneous movement apparatus (4) comprises at least a control device (10) associated with said fastening apparatus (2) and with said stop element (3) and which can be positioned between an idle position, wherein said fastening apparatus (2) and said stop element (3) are in said release configuration, and a working configuration, wherein said fastening apparatus (2) and said stop element (3) are in said locking configuration, and wherein said simultaneous movement apparatus (4) comprises at least a connection element (14) between said control device (10) and said expansion means (11).

10. Device (1) according to claim 9, wherein said connection element (14) has a substantially elongated shape, is fitted axially sliding inside said extremal section (5), has an extremity associated with said control device (10) and an opposite extremity with said expansion means (11), said connection element (14) being axially sliding by means of the operation of said control device (10) and with respect to said extremal section (5) between an extracted position, wherein said control device (10) and said truncated-cone element (11) are in the respective idle positions, and a retracted position, wherein said control device (10) and said truncated-cone element (11) are in the respective working positions.

11. Device (1) according to claim 9, wherein said control device (10) comprises at least an eccentric lever device or the like.

12. Device (1) according to claim 11, wherein said control device (10) comprises at least a lever (15) and at least a cam (17) or the like associated integral with said lever (15).

13. Device (1) according to claim 12, wherein said cam (17) is operatively associated with at least a pusher element (19) of said stop element (3) and is associated revolving with said connection element (14), around a rotation axis which is substantially transversal to the longitudinal axis of said connection element (14), said cam (17) being revolving by means of the rotation of said lever (15) between said idle position and said working position to move said stop element (3) between said release configuration and said locking configuration and to move said connection element (14) between said extracted position and said retracted position.

14. Device (1) according to claim 1, comprising at least an elastic element (8) placed between said stop element (3) and said fastening apparatus (2), said elastic element being suitable for pressing during the movement of said stop element (3) from said release configuration to said locking configuration and being suitable for decompressing during the return of said stop element (3) from said locking configuration to said release configuration.

15. Device (1) according to claim 2, wherein said stop element (3) is substantially truncated-cone-shaped and is intended to engage on said rim, in correspondence to the central through hole of said rim.