The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 30, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 10, 1997
Frank R Jellison, Canton, OH (US);
Francis J Bormet, Tallmadge, OH (US);
Richard Cukelj, Strongsville, OH (US);
David W Lees, Sr, Ravenna, OH (US);
Keith A Neiferd, Norton, OH (US);
Dennis Allyn Reynolds, Munroe Falls, OH (US);
Christy Quinn, Doylestown, OH (US);
Other;
Abstract
An automatic, adjustable width chuck apparatus for securely positioning tires in a tire testing machine includes a lower chuck in the form of a spindle assembly and an upper chuck in the form of a movable chuck assembly. The spindle assembly includes a rotatable spindle having a tapered portion and the chuck assembly includes a chuck member having a mating tapered recess. The spindle assembly and chuck assembly each carry a half-rim for engaging the lower and upper beads of the tire. The entire chuck assembly is movable toward and away from the spindle assembly under force of a hydraulic cylinder and can be stopped at any point between fully raised and fully lowered positions. In addition, the chuck member is independently movable by pneumatic cylinders to engage the spindle member at various relative positions of the spindle and chuck assemblies. The movable chuck has an increased stroke length to accommodate various size tires. The pneumatic cylinders maintain the force with which the chuck member engages the spindle substantially constant. A tire stripper mechanism is provided to forcibly remove the tire from the rim of the chuck assembly upon completion of the testing.