Dominion Tool & Die Co., Inc.

Chester P Kozlowski

Lawrence J Lawson

Thomas J Curcuri

John F Kinnick

There is disclosed herein load simulating apparatus for use in applying a load to a mounted and inflated wheel/tire assembly in order to insure proper and complete seating of the tire bead on the vehicle rim. The load simulating apparatus of the present invention incorporates a plurality of pivotably mounted driven rollers which are operable to move into engagement with the peripheral tread portion of the tire and to accelerate same while applying a generally radially inwardly directed force thereto so as to simulate the loading on the tire typically encountered after the wheel/tire assembly is mounted on a vehicle. Preferably, the load simulating apparatus of the present invention will be incorporated in a wheel/tire assembly line and located prior to the balancing machine so as to insure proper and complete seating of the tire bead before the assembly is balanced. It has been found that subjecting the wheel/tire assembly to a loading prior to balancing results in greater accuracy in the balancing process as well as a general overall reduction in the weight required to achieve proper balancing.

Wheel/tire load simulating apparatus

An apparatus and method for assembling wheel and tire units onto a vehicle as it moves along a conveyor. The apparatus includes an arrangement for centralizing the vehicle relative to the conveyor, orienting the hubs of the vehicle so as to receive a properly oriented wheel-tire unit, an apparatus for orienting the wheel-tire unit and means for mounting the oriented wheel-tire unit on the hub and for affixing the thus mounted wheel-tire onto the hub.

Automated wheel decking assembling

A mechanism for lifting wheels from a conveyor and positioning them in a wheel soaping mechanism. Also included is a device for rotating a lifted wheel through 360.degree. for presentation to a spray nozzle for soaping the wheel. The rotating mechanism is adapted to rotate each sequentially presented wheel in a direction opposite to that of the previously presented wheel.

Growing community of inventors

Royal Oak, MI, United States of America

Chester P Kozlowski