Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
SEPARATING A TIRE BEAD FROM A WHEEL OF A VEHICLE
FIELD
This disclosure relates generally to separating a tire bead from a wheel of a
vehicle.
BACKGROUND
Removing tires from wheels, particularly in large vehicles such as haul
trucks, can be
costly and unsafe, for example because of strong forces that may hold tire
beads to surfaces of
the wheels.
SUMMARY
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method
of
separating a tire bead of a tire from a first wheel of a vehicle. The method
may involve
causing a ram to exert a force on the tire bead when the ram is held by a ram
holder of a ram
mounting body which may include a connector removably connected to the vehicle
to resist
movement of the ram mounting body relative to the vehicle when connected to
the vehicle.
The ram may be a hydraulic ram wherein causing the ram to exert the force may
include causing a hydraulic force to be transmitted to the hydraulic ram.
The method may include causing the ram to exert the force on the tire bead
including
causing the ram to exert the force on a portion of a wheel/rim flange that is
movable relative to
the first wheel and that transmits the force from the ram to a surface of the
tire proximate the
tire bead.
The method may include causing the ram to exert the force on a force transfer
body
having a force transfer surface complementary to and contacting an outer
surface of the
portion of the wheel/rim flange.
The method may further include causing the ram to exert the force in a
generally
constant direction.
The method may include causing the ram to exert the force in a range of
different
directions.
- 1 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
Causing the ram to exert the force may include causing the ram to move within
a range
of positions defined by the ram holder.
The method may include connecting the connector of the ram mounting body to
the
vehicle before causing the ram to exert the force on the tire bead.
Connecting the connector of the ram mounting body to the vehicle may include
positioning a portion of a fastening body of the ram mounting body in a
through-opening
defined by a portion of the vehicle proximate the tire.
Connecting the connector of the ram mounting body to the vehicle may further
include,
after positioning the portion of the fastening body of the ram mounting body
in the through-
opening defined by the portion of the vehicle proximate the tire, removably
securing the
portion of the fastening body of the ram mounting body in the through-opening
defined by the
portion of the vehicle proximate the tire.
The method may include securing the portion of the fastening body of the ram
mounting body in the through-opening defined by the portion of the vehicle
proximate the tire
which may include locking a fastener in a position through a through-opening
defined by the
fastening body of the ram mounting body.
Connecting the connector of the ram mounting body to the vehicle may include
positioning a first portion of a fastening body in a through-opening defined
by the ram
mounting body and a second portion of the fastening body in a through-opening
defined by a
portion of the vehicle proximate the tire.
The ram mounting body may be connected to the vehicle at a location spaced
apart
from the first wheel.
The ram mounting body may be connected directly to a motor housing of the
vehicle.
The method may further include connecting the connector of the ram mounting
body to
the vehicle including connecting the ram mounting body to the vehicle between
the first wheel
and a second wheel of the vehicle.
Connecting the ram mounting body to the vehicle between the first wheel and
the
second wheel may include removably positioning a first projection of the ram
mounting body
inside or on a portion of the first wheel and removably positioning a second
projection of the
- 2 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
ram mounting body inside or on a portion of the second wheel, such that the
ram mounting
body is generally securely connected to the first wheel and the second wheel.
The first wheel may be a rear wheel of the vehicle.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a
ram
mounting apparatus. The apparatus may include a ram mounting body including a
means for
connecting the ram mounting body to a vehicle to resist movement of the ram
mounting body
relative to the vehicle; and a means for holding a ram in at least one
position to exert a force
on a tire bead of a tire on a first wheel of the vehicle to separate the tire
bead from the first
wheel when the ram mounting body is connected to the vehicle.
The means for holding the ram may be configured to hold the ram in a generally
constant position as the ram exerts the force on the tire bead.
The means for holding the ram may also be configured to hold the ram in a
range of
different positions as the ram exerts the force on the tire bead.
The means for connecting the ram mounting body to the vehicle may be
configured to
connect the ram mounting body to the vehicle at a through-opening defined by
the vehicle.
The means for connecting the ram mounting body to the vehicle may be
configured to
connect the ram mounting body to the vehicle at a location spaced apart from
the first wheel.
The means for connecting the ram mounting body to the vehicle may also be
configured to connect the ram mounting body directly to a motor housing of the
vehicle.
The means for connecting the ram mounting body to the vehicle may also be
configured to connect the ram mounting body to the vehicle between the first
wheel and a
second wheel of the vehicle.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention, there is provided
a ram
mounting apparatus. The apparatus may include a ram mounting body including a
connector
configured to connect the ram mounting body to a vehicle to resist movement of
the ram
mounting body relative to the vehicle; and a ram holder coupled to the
connector and
positioned relative to the connector to hold a ram in at least one position to
exert a force on a
tire bead of a tire on a first wheel of the vehicle to separate the tire bead
from the first wheel
when the ram mounting body is connected to the vehicle.
- 3 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
The ram holder may be configured to hold the ram in a generally constant
position as
the ram exerts the force on the tire bead.
The ram holder may be configured to hold the ram in a range of different
positions as
the ram exerts the force on the tire bead.
The ram holder may also include a body defining an aperture sized to receive
at least a
portion of the ram.
The connector may include a fastening body sized to be received through a
through-
opening defined by the vehicle.
The fastening body may define at least one through-opening sized to receive a
pin to
secure a portion of the fastening body in the through-opening defined by the
vehicle.
The apparatus may further include the pin.
The connector may define a through-opening sized to receive a first portion of
a
fastening body with a second portion of the fastening body in a through-
opening defined by
the vehicle.
The connector may be configured to connect the ram mounting body to the
vehicle at a
location spaced apart from the first wheel.
The connector may further be configured to connect the ram mounting body
directly to
a motor housing of the vehicle.
The connector may be configured to connect the ram mounting body to the
vehicle
between the first wheel and a second wheel of the vehicle.
The connector may also be configured to connect the ram mounting body directly
to
the first wheel and directly to the second wheel.
The connector may include a first projection configured to be received in the
first
wheel; and a second projection configured to be received in the second wheel.
The apparatus may be used for separating the tire bead from the first wheel.
The apparatus may further include a kit which may include the first wheel.
The kit may further include the ram.
The ram may be a hydraulic ram.
The ram may include a force transfer body having a force transfer surface
complementary to an outer surface of a wheel/rim flange of the first wheel.
- 4 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
Other aspects and features will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in
the art
upon review of the following description of illustrative embodiments in
conjunction with the
accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a ram mounting body according to one
embodiment
from a first side of the ram mounting body.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ram mounting body of FIG. 1 from a second
side of
the ram mounting body.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ram mounting body of FIG. 1, including a
partially
exploded perspective view of a haul truck according to one embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ram mounting body of FIG. 1 connected to
the haul
truck of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ram mounting body of FIG. 1 connected
to the
haul truck of FIG. 3, taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4 and showing a ram
held by a ram
holder of the ram mounting body of FIG. 1 and in a resting position.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the ram mounting body of FIG. 1 connected
to the
haul truck of FIG. 3, taken along the line 5-5 in FIG. 4 and showing the ram
of FIG. 5 in an
extended position.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a ram mounting body according to another
embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the ram mounting body of FIG. 7, connected
to a
haul truck according to another embodiment, and showing a ram held by a ram
holder of the
ram mounting body of FIG. 7 and in a resting position.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the ram mounting body of FIG. 7, connected
to the
haul truck of FIG. 8, and showing the ram of FIG. 8 in an extended position.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a ram mounting body according to another
embodiment.
-5 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the ram mounting body of FIG. 10, connected
to a
haul truck according to another embodiment, and showing a ram held by a ram
holder of the
ram mounting body of FIG. 10 and in a resting position.
FIG. 12 is another perspective view of the ram mounting body of FIG. 10 and
the haul
truck of FIG. 11, enlarged to show a force transfer body of the ram of FIG.
11.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a ram mounting body according to another
embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the ram mounting body of FIG. 13, connected
to the
haul truck of FIG. 3, and showing a ram held by a ram holder of the ram
mounting body of
FIG. 13 and in a resting position.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a ram mounting body according to another
embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a force transfer body according to another
embodiment.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the ram mounting body of FIG. 1 connected to
the
haul truck of FIG. 8, and showing the force transfer body of FIG. 16 mounted
to a piston of a
ram held by the ram holder of the ram mounting body of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a ram mounting body 100 according to one embodiment.
The
ram mounting body 100 includes a base body, which is a base plate 102 in the
embodiment
shown, but which may include other functionally equivalent structures in other
embodiments.
The ram mounting body 100 and the base plate 102 have a first side shown
generally at 104,
and a second side shown generally at 106 opposite the first side 104.
On the first side 104, the ram mounting body 100 includes a ram holder 108
coupled
(by welding, for example) to the base plate 102. The ram holder 108 may be
cylindrical or
generally cylindrical and defines an aperture shown generally at 110 and sized
and shaped to
receive at least a portion of a ram, such as a 25-ton hydraulic ram 112 (shown
in FIGS. 3, 5,
and 6). In this context, "generally cylindrical" refers to a structure that
may not be perfectly
cylindrical, but that may function the same as or substantially similar to a
cylindrical structure.
- 6 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
In more general terms, the term "generally" as used herein includes variations
to an applicable
aspect, embodiment or component described herein that may function the same as
or
substantially similar to such applicable aspect, embodiment or component (as
the case may be)
described herein. In various embodiments the ram holder 108 may not be
cylindrical or
generally cylindrical so long as the ram holder 108 is sized and shaped to
receive and hold at
least a portion of an appropriate ram sufficient to facilitate the use of the
ram to separate a tire
bead from a wheel of a vehicle.
In some embodiments, the hydraulic ram 112 may include, for example, a model
#13090 or #13100 available from AME International of 2347 Circuit Way,
Brooksville,
Florida, United States of America, an ENERPACTM model #RC-256, or a model
#C256C
available from SPX Corporation of 5885 1 lth Street, Rockford, Illinois,
United States of
America, although alternative embodiments may include different ram holders
and different
types of rams serving the same or similar function. For example, an
alternative embodiment
may include a 30-ton ram or a 50-ton ram instead of a 25-ton ram.
The embodiment shown includes the hydraulic ram 112 separate from and
receivable
in the ram holder 108 because the ram holder 108 and the hydraulic ram 112 may
be heavy,
and installing the ram holder 108 and the hydraulic ram 112 separately may be
safer or easier
than installing the ram holder 108 and the hydraulic ram 112 together.
However, alternative
embodiments may include a hydraulic ram integrally formed with, permanently
connected to,
connected by a fastener to, or otherwise held by a ram holder.
The hydraulic ram 112 includes a hydraulic fluid conduit coupling 113 that may
be
coupled to or otherwise in fluid communication with a hydraulic fluid conduit
114 that may
receive hydraulic fluid from a hydraulic fluid source. In various embodiments,
the hydraulic
fluid source may include a pump, such as a five-quart 10,000 pounds-per-square-
inch ("PSI")
model #15920 air hydraulic pump available from AME International of 2347
Circuit Way,
Brooksville, Florida, United States of America, an air hydraulic pump such as
an
ENERPACTM model #PA-133 or other PA-series air hydraulic pump, or a Turbo II
air
hydraulic five-quart model #10502 pump available from Equipment Supply Company
of
15270 Flight Path Drive, Brooksville, Florida, United States of America,
although alternative
embodiments may include different hydraulic fluid sources serving the same or
similar
- 7 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
function. The hydraulic ram 112 also includes a piston 115 that rests in a
resting position and
that may forcefully extend from the resting position and away from the
remainder of the
hydraulic ram 112 into an extended position in response to a hydraulic force
transmitted by
hydraulic fluid received by the hydraulic ram 112 through the hydraulic fluid
conduit 114.
The ram holder 108 defines a longitudinal through-opening shown generally at
116 and
shaped to receive a portion of one or both of the hydraulic fluid conduit
coupling 113 and the
hydraulic fluid conduit 114 as the hydraulic ram 112 is received inside the
aperture 110 from
the first side 104 of the ram mounting body 100. The longitudinal through-
opening 116
terminates at an end region shown generally at 117, which includes retaining
regions shown
generally at 118 and 119 that are adjacent and peripherally spaced apart from
the longitudinal
through-opening 116. When the hydraulic ram 112 is received in the aperture
110, a portion of
one or both of the hydraulic fluid conduit coupling 113 and the hydraulic
fluid conduit 114
may be received (for example by gravitational force and slight axial rotation
of the hydraulic
ram 112 in the aperture 110) in either of the retaining regions 118 and 119,
which may retain
the hydraulic ram 112 in the ram holder 108 by resisting any forces tending to
remove the
hydraulic ram 112 from the aperture 110.
Also on the first side 104, the ram mounting body 100 may include a handle
120,
which may facilitate carrying and positioning the ram mounting body 100 as
described herein,
for example. A connector such as a chain 122 may connect the handle 120, and
thus the ram
mounting body 100, to a fastener such as fastener pin 124. The fastener pin
124 may include a
resilient wire coil 126 coupling a first elongate wire portion 128 to a second
elongate wire
portion 130 and permitting the first elongate wire portion 128 and second
elongate wire
portion 130 to move resiliently relative to each other. A clasp 132 is coupled
to the second
elongate wire portion 130, and the clasp 132 may be connected to and
disconnected from the
first elongate wire portion 128.
The ram mounting body 100 also includes a fastening body 134, which is coupled
(by
welding, for example) to the base plate 102 in a through-opening of the base
plate 102. The
fastening body 134 includes a projection 135 and is positioned relative to the
base plate 102
such that the projection 135 extends away from the base plate 102 and towards
the second side
106. The projection 135 is generally cylindrical and includes generally
diametrical through-
- 8 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
openings 136 and 138, each sized to receive a portion of the first elongate
wire portion 128
with the wire coil 126 on one side of the through-opening and with the clasp
132 on the other
side of the through-opening. The fastener pin 124 may thus be secured to the
projection 135
by positioning the first elongate wire portion 128 through one of the through-
openings 136 and
138 and then connecting the clasp 132 to the first elongate wire portion 128.
Referring to FIG. 3, the ram mounting body 100 may be connected or fastened to
a
vehicle, which is a KomatsuTM 930E haul truck 140 in the embodiment shown, but
which may
include other vehicles in other embodiments. The haul truck 140 has a left-
side front wheel
assembly 141, a right-side front wheel assembly 142, a left-side outer rear
wheel assembly
143, a left-side inner rear wheel assembly 144, a right-side inner rear wheel
assembly 145, and
a right-side outer rear wheel assembly 146. Each of the wheel assemblies
includes a tire and a
wheel/rim assembly. In general, "wheel" and "rim" may sometimes be used
interchangeably,
and may sometimes refer to different structures. Herein, a "wheel/rim
assembly" refers to an
assembly including a wheel, a rim, or any other structure to which a tire may
be mounted to
mount the tire rotatably on a vehicle. In the KomatsuTM 930E haul truck 140 of
the
embodiment shown, the tires are known as "59/80 R 63" tires, which are tires
having a radius
of about 63 inches (or about 1.6 meters), although alternative embodiments may
include
different tires.
For illustration purposes, the left-side inner rear wheel assembly 144 is
shown
including a tire 147 and a wheel/rim assembly 148. The wheel/rim assembly 148
includes a
wheel 149, detachable wheel/rim flanges 150 and 152, and a mounting flange
154. The
wheel/rim flanges 150 and 152 may also be referred to as side rings. The tire
147 may be
mounted to the wheel/rim assembly 148 with tire beads of the tire 147
proximate the
detachable wheel/rim flanges 150 and 152. The wheel/rim assembly 148 may vary
in different
embodiments, and for illustration purposes may include a RIMEXTm Taper Secure
Radial
(TSR) wheel, for example. The detachable wheel/rim flanges 150 and 152 are
movable
relative to the wheel 149 as discussed below. The detachable wheel/rim flanges
150 and 152
may be movable to at least two positions:
(1) a mounted position wherein the detachable wheel/rim flanges
150 and 152 are
mounted firmly and securely against generally opposing and distal portions of
- 9 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
the wheel 149 when an inflated tire (e.g. tire 147) is mounted on the
wheel/rim
assembly 148 and firmly abuts the detachable wheel/rim flanges 150 and 152,
with the detachable wheel/rim flanges 150 and 152 providing a secure seal
between the tire 147 and the wheel 149 in the mounted position; and
(2) a detached position wherein the detachable wheel/rim flanges 150 and
152 are
detached from or loosely in contact with wheel 149 such that the tire 147 may
be removed from or mounted to the wheel 149.
Likewise, the left-side outer rear wheel assembly 143 includes a tire 155 and
a wheel/rim
assembly 156. The wheel/rim assembly 156 also includes a wheel, two detachable
wheel/rim
flanges, and a mounting flange 157. Outer rear wheel assembly 143 may be
configurable
similar to inner rear wheel assembly 144.
The haul truck 140 may have a diesel-electric powertrain including a motor
housing
159 coupled to an electric wheel drive assembly 160, which for illustration
purposes is a
General ElectricTM GDY85 electric wheel drive assembly in the embodiment
shown, but
which may include other powertrain structures in other embodiments. The
electric wheel drive
assembly 160 includes a mounting flange 162 connectable to the mounting flange
157 to
mount the wheel/rim assembly 156 and the left-side outer rear wheel assembly
143 to the
electric wheel drive assembly 160, and a mounting flange 164 connectable to
the mounting
flange 154 to mount the wheel/rim assembly 148 and the left-side inner rear
wheel assembly
144 to the electric wheel drive assembly 160. The motor housing 159 includes
mounting
flanges 166, 168, 170, and 172 extending rearward from the motor housing 159.
The mounting
flanges 166 and 168 support a load absorber 174, and the mounting flanges 170
and 172
support a load absorber 176. The load absorbers 174 and 176 support a dump
body 178, which
can carry heavy loads in mining operations for example. Therefore, the
mounting flanges 166,
168, 170, and 172 are structural components of the haul truck 140 that are
able to withstand
significant loads and that remain generally stationary relative to the
chassis, drivetrain, and
other structural components of the haul truck 140. The mounting flange 166
includes a
through-opening shown generally at 180 and sized and shaped to receive a
portion of the
fastening body 134 to connect or fasten the ram mounting body 100 to the haul
truck 140 as
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
- 10 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
When the left-side outer rear wheel assembly 143 is removed from the electric
wheel
drive assembly 160, the ram mounting body 100 may be connected or fastened to
the haul
truck 140 to facilitate removing the tire 147 from the wheel/rim assembly 148
as described
below. First, the electric wheel drive assembly 160 or other structure at the
rear end of the haul
truck 140 may be supported on a jack or other support structure, and the tire
147 may be
deflated to relieve pneumatic pressure from the wheel/rim flanges 150 and 152.
Then the
hydraulic ram 112 may be received inside the aperture 110 formed by the ram
holder 108 with
the hydraulic fluid conduit 114 initially disconnected from the hydraulic
fluid conduit
coupling 113 and with the piston 115 facing away from the base plate 102.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a portion of the fastening body 134 may be
received
through the through-opening 180 such that the base plate 102 contacts the
mounting flange
166 and faces the tire 147, and such that the projection 135 extends away from
the mounting
flange 166 on a side of the mounting flange 166 opposite the tire 147. When
the base plate 102
is thus positioned, an end surface 182 on an end body 183 coupled to the base
plate 102 is
positioned to abut an outer surface 184 of the motor housing 159, which limits
rotation of the
ram mounting body 100 about the fastening body 134 in the through-opening 180.
Further, the
first elongate wire portion 128 of the fastener pin 124 may be positioned
through the through-
opening 136 with the clasp 132 connected to a portion of the first elongate
wire portion 128
opposite the wire coil 126 to lock the fastener pin 124 in a position such
that portions of the
fastener pin 124 extend away from the projection 135 and contact the mounting
flange 166 to
secure the fastening body 134 in position through the through-opening 180, and
thus to secure
the base plate 102 against the mounting flange 166. The fastening body 134,
the end surface
182, and the fastener pin 124 thus cooperate to connect or fasten the ram
mounting body 100
to the haul truck 140 at a structural component of the haul truck 140 that is
spaced apart from
and proximate to the wheel 149 to resist movement of the ram mounting body 100
relative to
the haul truck 140, and the fastening body 134 thus functions as a connector
to removably
connect the ram mounting body 100 to the haul truck 140 as described above.
Referring to FIG. 5, the tire 147 includes a bead wire 186 proximate the wheel
149,
and a bead surface 188 between the bead wire 186 and the wheel 149. In various
embodiments, the ram holder 108 may be positioned relative to the base plate
102 such that,
- 11 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
when the hydraulic ram 112 is received inside the aperture 110 formed by the
ram holder 108
with the piston 115 in the resting position and facing away from the base
plate 102, and when
ram mounting body 100 is removably connected to the vehicle proximate the tire
147, the ram
holder 108 is sized and shaped to hold the hydraulic ram 112 with the piston
115 spaced apart
from the tire 147 but positioned to contact a portion of the wheel/rim flange
152 when the
hydraulic ram 112 is activated with a force sufficient to dislodge the
wheel/rim flange 152
from the mounted position on wheel 149 thereby dislodging the tire 147 from a
sealed position
on the wheel 149 and placing the wheel/rim flange 152 in the detached
position. In the
embodiment shown in FIG. 5, when ram mounting body 100 is removably connected
to the
vehicle proximate the tire 147, the fastening body 134 may be positioned or
received through
the through-opening 180, and the end surface 182 of the base plate 102 may
abut the outer
surface 184 of the motor housing 159, such that the ram holder 108 holds the
hydraulic ram
112 with the piston 115 spaced apart from the tire 147 but positioned to
contact the wheel/rim
flange 152 when the piston 115 is activated and extends from the resting
position away from
the remainder of the hydraulic ram 112 and into the extended position. As
shown in FIG. 5,
the ram holder 108 holds the hydraulic ram 112 such that the piston 115
extends towards the
outer surface 184 of the motor housing 159 and at an acute angle 189 from the
base plate 102,
and thus towards the outer surface 184 of the motor housing 159 and at the
acute angle 189
from the mounting flange 166. In the embodiment shown, the acute angle 189 is
about 65.7 .
However, in alternative embodiments, the acute angle 189 may differ and may,
for example,
be from about 60 to about 70 , or about 66 .
As indicated above, the hydraulic fluid conduit 114 may be initially
disconnected from
the hydraulic fluid conduit coupling 113, but once the ram mounting body 100
is removably
connected or fastened to the haul truck 140 as described above, the hydraulic
fluid conduit 114
may be connected to the hydraulic fluid conduit coupling 113 as shown in FIG.
6, and a
hydraulic force may be transmitted by hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic
fluid conduit 114
and to the hydraulic ram 112 to cause the piston 115 to extend forcefully from
the resting
position away from the remainder of the hydraulic ram 112 and into the
extended position to
contact forcefully the wheel/rim flange 152 and dislodge the wheel/rim flange
152 from the
mounted position in a direction away from the hydraulic ram 112 as shown in
FIG. 6. In
- 12 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
various embodiments, causing a piston of a ram to exert a force may involve,
for example,
causing a source of pressurized fluid to transmit pressurized fluid to the
ram.
Referring to FIG. 6, because the inner bead of the tire 147 is proximate to
and abutting
the wheel/rim flange 152 in the mounted position, movement of the wheel/rim
flange 152 in
the direction away from the hydraulic ram 112 transfers force from the
hydraulic ram 112 to a
bead region of the tire 147 proximate the bead surface 188 of the tire 147,
which separates the
bead surface 188 from the wheel 149. Therefore, once activated the hydraulic
ram 112 exerts a
force on the bead region of the tire 147 sufficient to separate the bead
region from the wheel
149 when the hydraulic ram 112 is held by the ram holder 108. In various
embodiments, the
fastening body 134 may be used to securely connect the ram mounting body 100
to the haul
truck 140 so that the hydraulic ram 112 is securely positioned to consistently
dislodge the
wheel/rim flange 152 from the mounted position when the hydraulic ram 112 is
activated.
Further, in various embodiments, because the ram holder 108 is coupled to the
base plate 102,
because the base plate 102 rests against the mounting flange 166, and because
the mounting
flange 166 is a structural component of the haul truck 140, a structural
component of the haul
truck 140 accommodates forces from the hydraulic ram 112.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the aperture 110 (shown in FIG. 1) formed
by the
ram holder 108 is sized and shaped to hold the hydraulic ram 112 in a
generally constant
position, so that when the hydraulic ram 112 is activated causing the piston
115 to extend from
the resting position and into the extended position, the piston 115 exerts a
force in a generally
constant direction with the piston 115 contacting the wheel/rim flange 152
sufficiently to
dislodge the wheel/rim flange 152 from the mounted position on wheel 149. More
generally,
in various embodiments, the ram holder 108 may be configured to hold the
hydraulic ram 112
so that when the piston 115 extends from the resting position and into the
extended position,
the piston 115 exerts a force on the wheel/rim flange 152, wherever the
wheel/rim flange 152
may be positioned on the wheel 149 to provide a secure seal between the tire
147 and the
wheel 149, to exert a force upon activation on the bead region of the tire 147
to separate the
bead region from the wheel 149 when the hydraulic ram 112 is held by the ram
holder 108
connected to a portion of the haul truck 140 proximate the tire 147.
- 13 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
FIG. 7 illustrates a ram mounting body 190 according to another embodiment.
The ram
mounting body 190 includes a base body, which for illustration purposes is a
base plate 192 in
the embodiment shown, but which may include other functionally equivalent
structures in
other embodiments. The ram mounting body 190 and the base plate 192 have a
first side
shown generally at 194, and a second side shown generally at 196 opposite the
first side 194.
On the first side 194, the ram mounting body 190 includes a ram holder 198
coupled
(by welding, for example) to the base plate 192. The ram holder 198 defines a
flared aperture
shown generally at 200 and sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of a
ram, such as
a 25-ton hydraulic ram 202 shown in FIG. 8, although alternative embodiments
may include
different rams. Because the aperture 200 is flared, the ram holder 198 may
hold the hydraulic
ram 202 in a range of positions defined by the aperture 200. Although the
embodiment shown
includes the hydraulic ram 202 separate from and receivable in the ram holder
198, alternative
embodiments may include a hydraulic ram integrally formed with, permanently
connected to,
connected by a fastener to, or otherwise held by a ram holder. The ram holder
198 also defines
a longitudinal through-opening shown generally at 204 that may receive a
portion of one or
both of a hydraulic fluid coupling and a hydraulic fluid conduit similar to
the longitudinal
through-opening 116 described above. Also on the first side 194, the ram
mounting body 190
may include a handle 206, and a chain 208 may connect a fastener pin 210 to
the handle 206
and thus to the ram mounting body 190. The fastener pin 210 may be similar to
the fastener
pin 124 described above.
The ram mounting body 190 also includes a fastening body 212, which is coupled
(by
welding, for example) to the base plate 192 in a through-opening of the base
plate 192. The
fastening body 212 includes a projection 214 that extends away from the base
plate 192 and
towards the second side 196. The projection 214 may be generally cylindrical
and includes a
generally diametrical through-opening (shown generally at 216) and is sized
and shaped to
receive a portion of the fastener pin 210.
Referring to FIG. 8, the ram mounting body 190 may be connected or fastened to
a
portion of a vehicle, which for illustration purposes is a portion of a
KomatsuTM 830E haul
truck shown generally at 218 in the embodiment shown, but which may include
other vehicles
in other embodiments. The KomatsuTM 830E haul truck 218 of the embodiment
shown is
- 14 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
similar to the KomatsuTM 930E haul truck 140 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, although
the tires of the
KomatsuTM 830E haul truck 218 of the embodiment shown are known as "40.00 R
57" tires,
which have a smaller radius (of about 57 inches or about 1.45 meters) than the
tires of the
KomatsuTM 930E haul truck 140 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6. Further, the tires of the
KomatsuTM 830E haul truck 218 of the embodiment shown have slightly different
widths than
the tires of the KomatsuTM 930E haul truck 140 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6. However,
alternative
embodiments of the haul truck 218 may include different tires. Similar to the
haul truck 140
shown in FIG. 3, the haul truck 218 has a left-side inner rear wheel shown
generally at 220,
which includes a wheel 222, a detachable wheel/rim flange 224, and a tire 226
including a
bead wire 228 proximate the wheel 222, and a bead surface 230 between the bead
wire 228
and the wheel 222.
Also like the haul truck 140 shown in FIG. 3, the haul truck 218 includes a
motor
housing 232 having an outer surface 234, and a mounting flange 236, which is
also a structural
component of the haul truck 218 that is able to withstand significant loads
and that remains
generally stationary relative to the chassis, drivetrain, and other structural
components of the
haul truck 218. The mounting flange 236 defines a through-opening shown
generally at 238
and is sized and shaped to receive a portion of the fastening body 212. The
motor housing 232
and the mounting flange 236 of the KomatsuTM 830E haul truck 218 of the
embodiment shown
are similar or substantially identical to the motor housing 159 and the
mounting flange 164
respectively of the KomatsuTM 930E haul truck 140 (shown in FIGS. 3 to 6).
The ram mounting body 190 may be connected or fastened to the haul truck 218
to
facilitate removing the tire 226 from the wheel 222 as described below. First,
the rear end of
the haul truck 218 may be supported on a jack or other support structure, and
the tire 226 may
be deflated to relieve pneumatic pressure from the wheel/rim flange 224. The
hydraulic ram
202 may be received inside the aperture 200, and a portion of the fastening
body 212 may be
received in the through-opening 238 such that the base plate 192 contacts the
mounting flange
236 and faces the tire 226, and such that the projection 214 extends away from
the mounting
flange 236 on a side of the mounting flange 236 opposite the tire 226. When
the base plate 192
is thus positioned, an end surface 240 on an end body 241 coupled to the base
plate 192 is
positioned to abut the outer surface 234 of the motor housing 232, which
limits rotation of the
- 15 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
ram mounting body 190 about the fastening body 212 in the through-opening 238.
Further, in
various embodiments a portion of the fastener pin 210 may be positioned
through the through-
opening 216 to secure the fastening body 212 in position, and thus to secure
the base plate 192
against the mounting flange 236. The fastening body 212, the end surface 240,
and the fastener
pin 210 thus cooperate to connect or fasten the ram mounting body 190 to the
haul truck 218
at a structural component of the haul truck 218 that is spaced apart from the
wheel 222 to
resist movement of the ram mounting body 190 relative to the haul truck 218.
The fastening
body 212 may therefore function as a connector to detachably connect the ram
mounting body
190 to the haul truck 218 as described above.
As shown in FIG. 8, the hydraulic ram 202 includes a piston 242 that contacts
or is
proximate to the wheel/rim flange 224. FIG. 8 illustrates the wheel/rim flange
224 before
receiving a force from the hydraulic ram 202. Before the hydraulic ram 202 is
activated and
exerts a force on the wheel/rim flange 224, the hydraulic ram 202 is in a
position, within the
range of positions defined by the aperture 200, that is relatively oriented
towards the outer
surface 234 of the motor housing 232. A fluid conduit may be coupled to the
fluid coupling of
the hydraulic ram 202, and upon activation a hydraulic force may be
transmitted by hydraulic
fluid to the hydraulic ram 202 to cause the piston 242 to extend forcefully
from the resting
position shown in FIG. 8 to an extended position to contact forcefully the
wheel/rim flange
224 and move the wheel/rim flange 224 in a direction away from the hydraulic
ram 202 as
shown in FIG. 9. In various embodiments, as the piston 242 extends from the
resting position
to the extended position shown in FIG. 9, the piston 242 remains in contact
with the wheel/rim
flange 224 and moves through a range of positions defined by the aperture 200.
Specifically,
the range of positions defined by the aperture 200 may range from a starting
position inclined
relatively towards the outer surface 234 of the motor housing 232 to an end
position shown in
FIG. 9 oriented away from the outer surface 234 of the motor housing 232
(towards tire 226)
relative to the starting position shown in FIG. 8. More generally, in various
embodiments, the
ram holder 198 may be configured to hold the hydraulic ram 202 so that when
the piston 242
extends from the resting position and into the extended position, the piston
242 exerts a force
on the wheel/rim flange 224, wherever it may be positioned, to exert a force
on the bead
region of the tire 226 sufficient to separate the bead region from the wheel
222 when the
- 16 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
hydraulic ram 202 is held by the ram holder 198 while the ram mounting body
190 is
connected to the haul truck 218.
Referring to FIG. 9, because the inner bead of the tire 226 is proximate the
wheel/rim
flange 224, movement of the wheel/rim flange 224 in the direction away from
the hydraulic
ram 202 transfers force from the hydraulic ram 202 to a bead region of the
tire 226 proximate
the bead surface 230 of the tire 226, which thereby separates the bead surface
230 and the
bead region from the wheel 222. In this way, for various embodiments the
hydraulic ram 202
exerts a force on the bead region of the tire 226 sufficient to separate the
bead region from the
wheel 222 when the hydraulic ram 202 is held in position by the ram mounting
body 190
connected to the haul truck 218. In various embodiments, because the ram
holder 198 is
coupled to the base plate 192, because the base plate 192 rests against the
mounting flange
236, and because the mounting flange 236 is a structural component of the haul
truck 218, a
structural component of the haul truck 218 accommodates forces from the
hydraulic ram 202
as the hydraulic ram 202 upon activation causes the wheel/rim flange 224 to
move to separate
the bead surface 230 and the bead region from the wheel 222.
As indicated above, the motor housing 232 and the mounting flange 236 of the
KomatsuTM 830E haul truck 218 of the embodiment shown are similar or
substantially
identical to the motor housing 159 and the mounting flange 164 respectively of
the
KomatsuTM 930E haul truck 140 (shown in FIGS. 3 to 6), but the tires of the
KomatsuTM 830E
haul truck 218 of the embodiment shown have a smaller radius and a slightly
different width
than the tires of the KomatsuTM 930E haul truck 140. The ram mounting body 190
differs from
the ram mounting body 100 (shown in FIGS. 1 to 6) to accommodate for the
smaller radius
and slightly different width of the tires of the KomatsuTM 830E haul truck 218
of the
embodiment shown. However, in other embodiments, a force transfer body may
alternatively
accommodate for the smaller radius and slightly different width of the tires
of the
KomatsuTM 830E haul truck 218 and may thus allow the ram mounting body 100 to
be adapted
for use on the KomatsuTM 830E haul truck 218.
For example, referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, a force transfer body 360 according
to one
embodiment includes a piston mounting body 362 configured to be mounted to a
piston of a
hydraulic ram 364. In the embodiment shown, the hydraulic ram 364 is similar
to the
- 17 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
hydraulic ram 112 (shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 6) and includes a piston similar
to the piston 115
(also shown in FIGS. 5 and 6), although alternative embodiments may include
different rams.
In general, the end of a piston of a hydraulic ram may include a hole that may
be about 1.375
inches (or about 3.5 centimeters) in diameter and about 1.375 inches (or about
3.5 centimeters)
deep. The piston mounting body 362 may be configured to be mounted to the
piston of the
hydraulic ram 364 by receiving a portion of the piston mounting body 362 in
such a hole on
the end of the piston of the hydraulic ram 364. The force transfer body 360
also includes a
projection 366 and a projection 368, and the force transfer body 360 defines a
recess shown
generally at 370 between a surface 372 of the projection 366 and a surface 374
of the
projection 368.
FIG. 17 illustrates the ram mounting body 100 (also shown in FIGS. 1 to 6)
removably
connected to the KomatsuTM 830E haul truck 218. As indicated above, the motor
housing 232
and the mounting flange 236 of the KomatsuTM 830E haul truck 218 are similar
or
substantially identical to the motor housing 159 and the mounting flange 164
respectively of
the KomatsuTM 930E haul truck 140 (shown in FIGS. 3 to 6), so the ram mounting
body 100
may be removably connected to the KomatsuTM 830E haul truck 218 generally as
shown in
FIGS. 3 to 6 and as described above for the KomatsuTM 930E haul truck 140.
Further, as
indicated above, the hydraulic ram 364 is similar to the hydraulic ram 112
(shown in FIGS. 3,
5, and 6), and as shown in FIG. 17, the ram holder 108 may hold the hydraulic
ram 364
generally as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6 and as described above for the hydraulic
ram 112. Further,
as with the hydraulic ram 112, the ram holder 108 is sized and shaped to hold
the hydraulic
ram 364 in a generally constant position.
As also shown in FIG. 17, the piston mounting body 362 of the force transfer
body 360
may be mounted to the piston of the hydraulic ram 364 and positioned such
that, when the
mounting body 100 is removably connected to the KomatsuTM 830E haul truck 218
as
described above, and when the ram holder 108 holds the hydraulic ram 364, a
portion of the
wheel/rim flange 224 is received in the recess 370 between the surface 372 and
the surface
374, and the surface 372 is positioned to contact an outer surface of the
wheel/rim flange 224
and transfer a force from the hydraulic ram 364 to the wheel/rim flange 224 to
move the
wheel/rim flange 224 and separate the bead surface 230 and the bead region
from the wheel
- 18 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
222 (shown in FIGS. 8 and 9) generally as described above and shown in FIGS. 8
and 9.
Therefore, the surface 372 is a force transfer surface that is complementary
to, and that may
contact, an outer surface of the portion of the wheel/rim flange 224.
In general, the force transfer body 360 may function as an adaptor to adapt
the ram
mounting body 100 for use on the KomatsuTM 830E haul truck 218 of the
embodiment shown
by accommodating the relatively smaller radius and slightly different width of
the tires of the
KomatsuTM 830E haul truck 218 of the embodiment shown when compared to the
KomatsuTM 930E haul truck 140 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6. Using the force transfer
body 360 to
adapt the ram mounting body 100 for use on the KomatsuTM 830E haul truck 218
may in some
embodiments be more economical than the ram mounting body 190 (shown in FIGS.
7 to 9).
More generally, in other embodiments, other such force transfer bodies may
adapt ram
mounting bodies such as the ram mounting bodies described herein for various
different
vehicles or tires.
FIG. 10 illustrates a ram mounting body 244 according to yet another
embodiment.
The ram mounting body 244 includes a base body, which for illustration
purposes is a base
plate 246 in the embodiment shown, but which may include other functionally
equivalent
structures in other embodiments. The ram mounting body 244 and the base plate
246 have a
first side shown generally at 248, and a second side shown generally at 250
opposite the first
side 248.
On the first side 248, the ram mounting body 244 includes a ram holder 252
coupled
(by welding, for example) to the base plate 246. The ram holder 252 is
generally cylindrical
and defines an aperture shown generally at 254 and is sized and shaped to
receive at least a
portion of a ram, such as a 25-ton hydraulic ram 256 shown in FIG. 11,
although alternative
embodiments may include different rams. Although the embodiment shown includes
the
hydraulic ram 256 separate from and receivable in the ram holder 252,
alternative
embodiments may include a hydraulic ram integrally formed with, permanently
connected to,
connected by a fastener to, or otherwise held by a ram holder or the ram
mounting body 244.
The ram mounting body 244 may include a generally cylindrical connector body
258 defining
a through-opening shown generally at 260 and extending between the first side
248 and the
second side 250 of the ram mounting body 244. On the second side 250, the ram
mounting
- 19 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
body 244 includes a force transfer body 262 including force transfer surfaces
264 and 266 that
transfer forces from the hydraulic ram 256 to structural components of a haul
truck as
described below.
Referring to FIG. 11, the ram mounting body 244 may be detachably connected or
fastened to a vehicle, which is a CaterpillarTM 797 haul truck shown generally
at 270 in the
embodiment shown, but which may include other vehicles in other embodiments.
The haul
truck 270 has a motor housing 272 and a right-side inner rear wheel 269
similar to the wheels
described above, with a tire 274 and a wheel/rim flange 276 similar to the
tires and wheel/rim
flanges described above and mounted to the wheel 269. The motor housing 272
includes
mounting flanges 271 and 273 extending rearward from the motor housing 272.
The mounting
flanges 271 and 273 define respective generally collinear through-openings,
and a fastening
body 275 may be positioned through the through-openings of the mounting
flanges 271 and
273 and through the through-opening 260 (shown in FIG. 10) of the connector
body 258 to
fasten or connect the ram mounting body 244 to the mounting flanges 271 and
273. The
mounting flanges 271 and 273 are structural components of the haul truck 270
that are able to
withstand significant loads and that remain generally stationary relative to
the chassis,
drivetrain, and other structural components of the haul truck 270, so the
connector body 258,
the mounting flanges 271 and 273, and the fastening body 275 thus cooperate to
connect or
fasten the ram mounting body 244 to the haul truck 270 at a structural
component of the haul
truck 270 that is spaced apart from the wheel 269 to resist movement of the
ram mounting
body 244 relative to the haul truck 270.
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the hydraulic ram 256 includes a piston 278 and
a force
transfer body 280 at a distal end of the piston 278. The force transfer body
280 includes a
curved force transfer surface 282 that is complementary to a curved surface
284 of the
wheel/rim flange 276. Similar to the embodiments described above, the piston
278 is shown in
FIGS. 11 and 12 in a resting position, and when upon activation the piston 278
extends away
from the remainder of the hydraulic ram 256 and away from the ram mounting
body 244, the
piston 278 and the force transfer body 280 transfer a force from the hydraulic
ram 256 to the
wheel/rim flange 276 sufficient to move the wheel/rim flange 276 in a
direction away from the
hydraulic ram 256, thereby dislodging the wheel/rim flange 276 from a mounted
position. In
- 20 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
so dislodging the wheel/rim flange 276 from the wheel 269, the piston 278 and
the force
transfer body 280 also cause the wheel/rim flange 276 to move a bead surface
of the tire 274
in the direction away from the hydraulic ram 256 to separate the bead surface
from the wheel
269. The hydraulic ram 256 may thus exert a force, via the wheel/rim flange
276, on a bead
region of the tire 274 to separate the bead region from the wheel 269 when the
hydraulic ram
256 is held by the ram holder 252 and when the connector body 258 is connected
to the haul
truck 270.
In the embodiment shown, the aperture 254 is sized and shaped to hold the
hydraulic
ram 256 in a generally constant position, so when the piston 278 extends from
the resting
position and into the extended position, the piston 278 exerts a force in the
generally constant
direction. Further, the generally constant direction in the embodiment shown
is generally
parallel to the portion of the fastening body 275 that extends through the
through-openings of
the mounting flanges 271 and 273, and is thus generally parallel to a notional
line that extends
through respective centers of the through-openings of the mounting flanges 271
and 273. The
generally constant direction may also be generally horizontal in the
embodiment shown. More
generally, in various different embodiments, the ram holder 252 may be
configured to hold the
hydraulic ram 256 so that when the piston 278 extends from the resting
position and into the
extended position, the piston 278 exerts upon activation a force on the
wheel/rim flange 276,
wherever the wheel/rim flange 276 may be positioned on the wheel 269 in a
manner that
provides a secure seal between the tire 274 and the wheel 269, to exert a
force on the bead
region of the tire 274 to separate the bead region from the wheel 269 when the
hydraulic ram
256 is held by the ram holder 252 as the ram mounting body 244 is connected to
the haul truck
270 proximate the tire 274 in the manner described above.
FIG. 13 illustrates a ram mounting body 286 according to yet another
embodiment.
The ram mounting body 286 includes a base body, which for illustration
purposes is a base
plate 288 in the embodiment shown, but which may include other functionally
equivalent
structures in other embodiments. The ram mounting body 286 and the base plate
288 have a
first side shown generally at 290, and a second side shown generally at 292
opposite the first
side 290. On the first side 290, the ram mounting body 286 includes a stop
body 294 having a
stop surface 296 extending away from the base plate 288 and facing towards the
first side 290.
- 21 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
The base plate 288 also includes a portion or projection 298 extending past
the stop surface
296 on the first side 290 of the ram mounting body 286. On the second side
292, the ram
mounting body 286 includes a stop body 300 having a stop surface 302 extending
away from
the base plate 288 and facing the second side 292 of the ram mounting body
286. The base
plate 288 also includes a portion or projection 304 extending past the stop
surface 302 towards
the second side 292 of the ram mounting body 286. The ram mounting body 286
also includes
a ram holder 306 coupled (by welding, for example) to the base plate 288. The
ram holder 306
is generally cylindrical and defines an aperture shown generally at 308. The
aperture 308
extends generally parallel to the base plate 288 and faces the first side 290.
The aperture 308 is
also sized to receive at least a portion of a ram, such as a 25-ton hydraulic
ram 310 shown in
FIG. 14, although alternative embodiments may include different rams. Although
the
embodiment shown includes the hydraulic ram 310 separate from and receivable
in the ram
holder 306, alternative embodiments may include a hydraulic ram integrally
formed with,
permanently connected to, connected by a fastener to, or otherwise held by a
ram holder.
Referring to FIGS. 3, 13 and 14, the ram mounting body 286 may be connected to
a
vehicle, which for illustration purpose is the haul truck 140 from FIG. 3 in
the embodiment
shown, but which may include other vehicles in other embodiments. FIG. 3
illustrates the
right-side inner rear wheel assembly 145 and the right-side outer rear wheel
assembly 146 of
the haul truck 140, and FIG. 14 illustrates that the right-side inner rear
wheel assembly 145
includes a wheel 316 (similar to the wheel 149 described above), a wheel/rim
flange 318
similar to the wheel/rim flanges described above and movable relative to the
wheel 316, and a
tire 320 mounted to the wheel 316 inside the wheel/rim flange 318. FIG. 14
also illustrates that
the right-side outer rear wheel assembly 146 includes a wheel 322 (similar to
the wheel 149
described above), a wheel/rim flange 324 similar to the wheel/rim flanges
described above and
movable relative to the wheel 322, and a tire 326 mounted to the wheel 322
inside the
wheel/rim flange 324. The right-side inner rear wheel assembly 145 and the
right-side outer
rear wheel assembly 146 are mounted to an electric wheel drive assembly 328
similar to the
electric wheel drive assembly 160 described above.
As shown in FIG. 14, the ram mounting body 286 is positionable and connectable
between the right-side inner rear wheel assembly 145 and the right-side outer
rear wheel
- 22 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
assembly 146 by positioning the projection 298 in a space between the wheel
322 and the
electric wheel drive assembly 328, and by positioning the projection 304 in a
space between
the wheel 316 and the electric wheel drive assembly 328, with the stop surface
296 positioned
at or near the wheel 322 and with the stop surface 302 positioned at or near
the wheel 316.
When the ram mounting body 286 is thus positioned, the stop bodies 294 and 300
resist longitudinal and rotational movement of the ram mounting body 286
relative to the
wheels 316 and 322, and the projections 298 and 304 resist vertical and
lateral movement of
the ram mounting body 286 relative to the wheels 316 and 322. The wheels 316
and 322 are
structural components of the haul truck 140 that are able to withstand
significant loads and
that remain generally stationary relative to the chassis, drivetrain, and
other structural
components of the haul truck 140, so the wheels 316 and 322, the stop bodies
294 and 300,
and the projections 298 and 304 thus cooperate to connect the ram mounting
body 286 to the
haul truck 140 at a structural component of the haul truck 140 to resist
movement of the ram
mounting body 100 relative to the haul truck 140, and the stop bodies 294 and
300 and the
projections 298 and 304 thus functions as a connector to detachably connect
the ram mounting
body 286 to the haul truck 140 as described above.
When the ram mounting body 286 is thus connected to the haul truck 140, a
piston 330
of the hydraulic ram 310 faces towards the wheel/rim flange 324, and a force
transfer body
332 on a distal end of the piston 330 is positioned with a force transfer
surface of the force
transfer body 332 against an inner surface of the wheel/rim flange 324. The
force transfer
surface of the force transfer body 332 is complementary to the inner surface
of the wheel/rim
flange 324 to facilitate transferring force from the piston 330 to the
wheel/rim flange 324.
FIG. 14 illustrates the piston 330 in a resting position, and in response to a
hydraulic force, the
hydraulic ram 310 can forcefully extend the piston 330 in a direction towards
the wheel/rim
flange 324 to force the wheel/rim flange 324 in a direction away from the
hydraulic ram 310
to move the wheel/rim flange 324 in the direction away from the hydraulic ram
310 to separate
a bead of the tire 326 from the wheel 322. The hydraulic ram 310 may upon
activation thus,
via the force exerted on the wheel/rim flange 324, exert a force on a bead
region of the tire 326
sufficient to separate the bead region from the wheel 322 when the hydraulic
ram 310 is held
- 23 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
by the ram holder 306 and when the stop bodies 294 and 300 and the projections
298 and 304
are connected to the haul truck 140.
In the embodiment shown, the aperture 308 is sized to hold the hydraulic ram
310 in a
generally constant position, so when the piston 330 extends from the resting
position and into
the extended position, the piston 330 exerts a force in a generally constant
direction. Further,
the generally constant direction in the embodiment shown is generally parallel
to the base
plate 288, and is thus generally horizontal and parallel to an axis of the
wheel assemblies 145
and 146. More generally, in various different embodiments, the ram holder 308
may be
configured to hold the hydraulic ram 310 so that when the piston 330 extends
from the resting
position and into the extended position, the piston 330 exerts a force on the
wheel/rim flange
324, wherever it may be positioned, to exert a force on the bead region of the
tire 326 to
separate the bead region from the wheel 322 when the hydraulic ram 310 is held
by the ram
holder 308 and when the stop bodies 294 and 300 and the projections 298 and
304 are
connected to the haul truck 140.
In alternative embodiments, additional stop bodies (namely, in addition to the
stop
bodies 294 and 300) may be added to the ram mounting body 286 adjacent one or
both of the
stop surface 296 and the stop surface 302 to adjust an overall length between
opposite stop
surfaces of the ram mounting body 286 to accommodate for different separation
distances
between wheel assemblies in particular embodiments. For example, such
additional stop
bodies may allow the ram mounting body 286 to be adapted for an embodiment
including
wheel assemblies that are farther apart from each other than the right-side
inner rear wheel
assembly 145 and the right-side outer rear wheel assembly 146.
Referring to FIG. 15, a ram mounting body 334 according to yet another
embodiment
is similar to the ram mounting body 286 (shown in FIGS. 13 and 14) and
includes a base body,
which for illustration purposes is a base plate 336 in the embodiment shown,
but which may
include other functionally equivalent structures in other embodiments. The ram
mounting
body 334 also includes a ram holder 338 and side plates 340 and 342 coupled
(by welding, for
example) to the base plate 336. The ram mounting body 334 has a first side
shown generally at
344, and a second side shown generally at 346 opposite the first side 344. On
the first side
344, the ram mounting body 334 includes a stop body 348 having a stop surface
350 extending
- 24 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
away from the base plate 336 and facing towards the first side 344. On the
second side 346,
the ram mounting body 334 includes a stop body 352 having a stop surface 354
extending
away from the base plate 336 and facing the second side 346 of the ram
mounting body 334.
However, on the first side 344, the ram mounting body 334 also includes a stop
body
356 that is removably attachable to the base plate 336. The stop body 356 has
a stop surface
358 that is positioned such that, when the stop body 356 is removably attached
to the base
plate 336, the stop surface 358 extends away from the base plate 336 and faces
towards the
first side 344 at a position farther towards the first side 344 than the stop
surface 350.
Therefore, removably attaching the stop body 356 to the base plate 336 may
adjust an overall
length between opposite stop surfaces of the ram mounting body 334 to
accommodate for
different separation distances between wheel assemblies in particular
embodiments.
Ram mounting bodies such as the ram mounting bodies described herein may, for
example, be formed by welding or otherwise fastening components cut and formed
from
sheets of one or more different metals. For example, some ram mounting bodies
may be
formed by steel, aluminum, or various different combinations of steel and
aluminum that may
balance relatively higher strength of steel with relatively lower weight of
aluminum to provide
a combination of strength and weight that may be suitable for particular
applications.
In various different embodiments, vehicles and wheel assembles of the vehicles
may
vary from the embodiments shown, and accordingly ram mounting bodies of such
different
embodiments may vary from the embodiments shown. In general, various different
embodiments may involve configuring a ram mounting body such that, when the
ram
mounting body is fastened or otherwise connected to a vehicle, the ram
mounting body
positions a ram to contact a wheel/rim flange or other structure that, when
contacted forcefully
by the ram, causes a tire bead to be separated from a wheel. Various different
embodiments
may also include a ram body thus configured. In general, embodiments such as
those
described above may facilitate separating a tire bead from a wheel by allowing
a ram to be
positioned and held in a position that allows transfer of force from the ram
to a wheel/rim
flange or other structure that, when contacted forcefully by the ram, causes
the tire bead to be
separated from the wheel. Therefore, embodiments such as those described above
may permit
- 25 -
CA 02996083 2018-02-20
WO 2017/035625
PCT/CA2015/050843
easier, less-costly, and safer separation a tire bead from a wheel of a
vehicle when compared
to other techniques for separating a tire bead from a wheel of a vehicle.
Although specific embodiments have been described and illustrated, such
embodiments should be considered illustrative only and not as limiting the
invention as
construed according to the accompanying claims.
- 26 -
