INNER TUBE INSERTION APPARATUS

DISPOSITIF D'INSERTION DE CHAMBRES A AIR

English Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Stiff inner tubes of the type normally used on
military vehicles which are designed to run "flat" are inserted
into tires using a bulky apparatus in a vehicle maintenance
building. The standard tire changer already mounted on a truck
or other military vehicle can readily be modified to include
an inner tube insertion apparatus. The tire changer includes
a base, a frame at one end of the base, a vertically movable
carriage on the frame for holding the tire in a vertical position,
and a horizontally slidable carriage mounted on tracks on the
base for movement towards and away from the frame. The insertion
apparatus includes a slide on an inclined ramp for carrying the
inner tube into the tire, and a force transfer arm connecting
the horizontal carriage to the slide so that movement of the
horizontal carriage toward the frame is accompanied by forcing
of the tube into the tire.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A stiff inner tube insertion apparatus for use with
a conventional tire changer of the type including a base, a frame
on one end of the base, a first carriage slidable on the frame
for vertical movement thereon, tire support arms on the first
carriage for holding a tire in a substantially vertical position
above said one end of the base, tracks on the base, and a second
carriage slidable on the tracks for movement towards and away from
said one end of the base, said apparatus comprising ramp means
pivotally connected to the other end of said base; slide means
on said ramp means for supporting an inner tube above said second
carriage; and force transfer means for connecting said slide means
to said second carriage, whereby movement of said second carriage
towards and away from said one end of the base results in corres-
ponding movement of said slide means towards said tire to force
the inner tube into the tire.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, including deflector
means for deflecting a partially inserted inner tube upwardly
into said tire.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said
ramp means includes lug means for engaging a beaded inner periphery
of a tire for maintaining the ramp means properly oriented with
respect to the tire during insertion of the inner tube.

Description

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This invention relates to an apparatus for inserting
an inner tube into a tire, and in particular to an inner tube
insertion apparatus for tires of the type designed for use when
flat.
In this case, the word "tire" is intended to mean the
carcass or casing which normally covers an inner tube. Vehicles
of the type employed by our armed forces are equipped with
wheel assemblies, which are designed to run flat, i.e. even when
the air pressure drops in the tires. The inner tubes used in
such tires are relatively thick and stiff, and consequently
difficult to insert into the tires. The assembly presently
used to place an inner tube in a tire is large, expensive and
not capable of use on a conventional vehicle. Thus, a need exists
for an inner tube insertion apparatus which can readily be carried
on a vehicle for use in the field.
The object of the present invention is to meet such
need by providing a relatively simple, lightweight inner tube
insertion apparatus, which can be used on a tire changer already
mounted on a truck or other vehicle. In other words, the
I insertion apparatus is a kit which can be added to existing -tire
chanters.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a stiff
inner tube insertion apparatus for use with a conventional
tire changer of the type including a base, a frame on one end
of the base, a first carriage slid able on the frame for vertical
Jo

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movement thereon, tire support arms on the first carriage for
holding a tire in a substantially vertical position above said
one end of the base, tracks on the base, and a second carriage
slid able on the tracks for movement towards and away from said
one end of the base, said apparatus comprising ramp means pivotal
connected to the other end of said base; slide means on said ramp
means for supporting an inner tube above said second carriage;
and force transfer means for connecting said slide means to
said second carriage whereby movement of said second carriage
towards and away from said one end of the base results in
corresponding movement of said slide means towards said tire to
force the inner tube into the tire.
The invention will now be described in greater detail
with reference to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a
preferred embodiment of the invention, and wherein:
Figure 1 is a schematic, perspective view from above
and one end of an inner tube insertion apparatus, with parts
omitted; and
Figure 2 is a schematic, side elevation view of the
I apparatus of Fig. 1 in use.
With reference to the drawing, the apparatus of the
present invention is designed to insert an inner tube 1 into a
tire 2. The inner tube 1 is of the heavy duty, military vehicle
type which is designed to run flat, i.e. with little or no air
pressure. For such purpose, the tube 1 is formed of heavy,
fabric reinforced rubber, and consequently is relatively stiff
-- 2

Sue
and difficult to handle. before normal insertion of -the tube 1
into a tire 2, a belt 3 is placed around the tube and pulled
tight to bring opposite sides of the tube together. Thus,
rather than being annular, the tube assumes a figure eight
shape.
PRIOR ART MACHINE
The insertion apparatus is designed as a kit for use
with a conventional tire changer of the type including a feat-
angular base 4 and a pair of tracks 5 mounted on the base 4.
I The tracks 5 are defined by a pair of elongated metal tubes extend-
in between sleeves 7, which arejfixedly mounted on the base 4.
A carriage generally indicated at 8 is slid ably mounted on the
tracks 5 for horizontal movement thereon. The carriage 8 is
defined by a rectangular body 9 and a sleeve 10 on each side
thereof. A longitudinally extending row of pockets 11 is provided
in the centre of the Bud. The carriage 8 is caused to move
along the tracks 5 by means of a hydraulic cylinder 12 and a
piston rod (not shown) extending out of one end of the cylinder
12 and connected to one end of the carriage 8. The other end of
I the cylinder 12 is connected to a frame 13 including vertical
posts 14. A carriage 15 is slid ably mounted on the posts 14
or vertical movement thereon. A turntable 16 and so-called wheel
chuck arms 18 are mounted on the carriage 15.
APPARATUS OF TIE PRESENT INVENTOR
The ramp 20 is defined by a rectangular frame, including

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sides 21, a bottom end 22 and a top end 23~ The bottom end 23
of the ramp is pivotal connected to one end 25 of the base
5 by a pin 26. The pin 26 extends through one of a row of
holes 27 in a bracket 28 on the end 25 of the base 5, and
through arms extending downwardly from the end 23 of the ramp
20. Thus, the position of the ramp 20 can be adjusted for use
on machines of different sizes. Two fixed lugs 30 and one
rotatable lug 31 extend outwardly from the other end 22 of the
frame 20. The lugs 30 and 31 are generally L-shaped for gripping
the beaded inner edge 32 of the tire 2. A hinge 33 in the lug
31 permits rotation of the outturned thereof, so that the lugs
can be inserted readily into the tire 2.
The inner tube 1 is pushed into the tire by means of a
slide 34, which is slid ably mounted on the ramp 20. The slide
lo 34 includes an inverted L-shaped frame 35 with a tire engaging
pad 36 on one side thereof. A pair of gussets 37 extend outwardly
from the other side of the frame 35. A generally triangular top
plate 38 is connected to the gusset 37 on each end of the frame
35, and the top plate 38 is connected to a similar bottom plate
I 39 by nuts and bolts 40 (one shown). A force transfer arm 42
connects the slide 34 to the carriage 10. The arm 42 includes
an inclined top end 43 extending upwardly between the plate
38 and 39 for engaging the shoe 34. An L-shaped bottom end 45
engages the carriage 10.
I The tube 1 is guided upwardly in the tire 2 by a deflector

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46. The deflector 46 is mounted on the outer ends of the wheel
checkrooms 18. The deflector includes a plurality of radially
extending arms 48.
In use r a tire 2 is mounted on the stand 13. The lugs
30 and 31 are placed in the tire 2 (Fig. 1). The wheel chuck
arms 18 are raised with the vertical carriage 15 which pulls
the tire open fig. 2). Then, the horizontal carriage 8 is
moved towards the frame 13. Force is applied to the slide 34
through force transfer arm 42 to push the tube 1 into the tire
I 2. Once the tube 1 has been partially inserted, the deflector
46 causes the tube to bend upwar~ly'into the top of the tire.
Continued movement of the carriage 8 towards the frame 13
results in complete insertion of the tube into the tire. the
carriage 15 is then lowered so that the tire 2 can be removed.
.
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