Tire/Wheel Bead Entrapment Remover

Abstract

A tire/wheel bead entrapment remover is disclosed. The tire/wheel bead entrapment remover includes one or more working assemblies having a circumferential perimeter that substantially engages a tire. The one or more working assemblies axially-moves one of a wheel of the tire mounted to the wheel while axially-fixing the other of the tire or the wheel to remove one or more entrapments between a bead of the tire and a beat seat of the wheel. According to an embodiment, a tire/wheel bead entrapment remover includes one or more wheels that engages an outboard surface or an inboard surface of a tire mounted to a wheel. The radial axis extends through the one or more wheels. The radial axis traverses a radial line that radially extends from a common axis of rotation of the tire and the wheel. A method for removing an entrapment from a tire/wheel assembly is also disclosed.

1 .- 34 . (canceled) 
   
   
       35 . A method for processing an inflated tire-wheel assembly including one or more beads of a tire seated within one or more bead seats of a wheel, comprising the steps of:
 axially-moving at least a portion of one of the tire and wheel while   axially-fixing at least a portion of the other of the tire and wheel for
 interrupting contact of said one or more beads and said one or more bead seats. 
   
   
   
       36 . The method according to  claim 35 , further comprising the step of:
 applying a vacuum proximate the one or more beads and one or more bead seats for
 removing one or more entrapments disposed proximate the one or more beads and one or more bead seats. 
   
   
   
       37 . The method according to  claim 36 , wherein, prior to the applying a vacuum step, further comprising the steps of:
 sealingly-disposing at least one working assembly adjacent at least one outer surface of the tire for
 defining one or more chambers; and 
   applying said vacuum to the one or more chambers.   
   
   
       38 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the axially-moving and axially-fixing steps are further defined by:
 axially-fixing the tire about an axis; and   axially-moving the wheel about the axis.   
   
   
       39 . The method according to  claim 35 , wherein the axially-moving and axially-fixing steps are further defined by:
 axially-fixing the wheel about an axis; and   axially-moving the tire about the axis.   
   
   
       40 . An apparatus for processing an inflated tire-wheel assembly including one or more beads of a tire seated within one or more bead seats of a wheel, comprising:
 means for
 axially-moving one of the tire and wheel while 
 axially-fixing the other of the tire and wheel for
 interrupting contact between said one or more beads and said one or more bead seats; and 
 
   at least one working assembly connected to said means.   
   
   
       41 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein the means further provides removing one or more entrapments disposed proximate the one or more beads and one or more bead seats upon interrupting contact of said one or more beads and said one or more bead seats. 
   
   
       42 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein the means includes:
 at least one an oscillating motor, wherein the at least one oscillating motor is connected to the at least one working assembly.   
   
   
       43 . The apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein the at least one working assembly is disposed adjacent at least one outer surface of the tire to define one or more chambers, wherein the apparatus further comprises:
 means for applying a vacuum to the one or more chambers.   
   
   
       44 . The apparatus according to  claim 43 , wherein the means for applying a vacuum includes:
 at least one vacuum apparatus connected to the at least one working assembly.   
   
   
       45 . A method for processing an inflated tire-wheel assembly including one or more beads of a tire seated within one or more bead seats of a wheel, comprising the steps of:
 disposing one or more kneading devices adjacent one or more outer surfaces of the tire; and   kneading a portion of the one or more outer surfaces of the tire with the one or more kneading devices for
 interrupting contact between said one or more beads and said one or more bead seats. 
   
   
   
       46 . The method according to  claim 45 , further comprising the step of
 removing one or more entrapments disposed proximate the one or more beads and one or more bead seats upon interrupting contact of said one or more beads and said one or more bead seats.   
   
   
       47 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein the one or more kneading devices includes one or more kneading wheels, wherein a kneading wheel axis of rotation extends through each of the one or more kneading wheels, wherein the kneading step further comprises the step of:
 permitting one or more of the kneading wheel axes of rotation of each of the one or more kneading wheels to angularly deviate for
 permissively-wobbling the one or more kneading wheels. 
   
   
   
       48 . The method according to  claim 45 , further comprising the step of:
 rotating the tire-wheel assembly about a tire-wheel assembly axis of rotation.   
   
   
       49 . The method according to  claim 48 , wherein the kneading step is responsive to the rotating step. 
   
   
       50 . An apparatus for processing an inflated tire-wheel assembly including one or more beads of a tire seated within one or more bead seats of a wheel, comprising:
 a rotary output shaft connected to the wheel; and   means for
 kneading a portion of one or more outer surfaces of the tire for
 interrupting contact of said one or more beads and said one or more bead seats. 
 
   
   
   
       51 . The apparatus according to  claim 50 , wherein the means further provides removing one or more entrapments disposed proximate the one or more beads and one or more bead seats upon interrupting contact of said one or more beads and said one or more bead seats. 
   
   
       52 . The apparatus according to  claim 50 , wherein the means includes:
 one or more kneading wheels disposed adjacent said one or more outer surfaces of the tire, wherein a kneading wheel axis of rotation extends through each of the one or more kneading wheels   
   
   
       53 . The apparatus according to  claim 52 , wherein the means further includes permitting one or more of the kneading wheel axes of rotation of each of the one or more kneading wheels to angularly deviate for the purpose of:
 permissively-wobbling the one or more kneading wheels.   
   
   
       54 . The apparatus according to  claim 50 , wherein the rotary output shaft provides:
 means for rotating the tire-wheel assembly about a tire-wheel assembly axis of rotation.   
   
   
       55 . A method for processing an inflated tire-wheel assembly including one or more beads of a tire seated within one or more bead seats of a wheel, comprising the steps of:
 providing an oscillating force to one of the tire and wheel while   fixing the other of the tire and wheel for
 interrupting contact of said one or more beads and said one or more bead seats. 
   
   
   
       56 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein the providing step includes:
 defining an axis of rotation extending through the tire and wheel;   providing the oscillating force substantially in parallel to the axis of rotation.   
   
   
       57 . The method according to  claim 55 , further comprising the step of:
 applying a vacuum proximate the one or more beads and one or more bead seats for
 removing one or more entrapments disposed proximate the one or more beads and one or more bead seats. 
   
   
   
       58 . The method according to  claim 57 , wherein, prior to the applying a vacuum step, further comprising the steps of:
 sealingly-disposing at least one working assembly adjacent at least one outer surface of the tire for
 defining one or more chambers; and 
   applying said vacuum to the one or more chambers.   
   
   
       59 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein the axially-moving and axially-fixing steps are further defined by:
 axially-fixing the tire about an axis; and   axially-moving the wheel about the axis.   
   
   
       60 . The method according to  claim 55 , wherein the axially-moving and axially-fixing steps are further defined by:
 axially-fixing the wheel about an axis; and   axially-moving the tire about the axis.   
   
   
       61 . An apparatus for processing an inflated tire-wheel assembly including one or more beads of a tire seated within one or more bead seats of a wheel, comprising:
 means for
 providing an oscillating force to one of the tire and wheel while 
 fixing the other of the tire and wheel for
 interrupting contact of said one or more beads and said one or more bead seats; and 
 
   at least one working assembly connected to said means.   
   
   
       62 . The method according to  claim 61 , wherein the providing an oscillating force to one of the tire and wheel further includes:
 defining an axis of rotation extending through the tire and wheel;   providing the oscillating force substantially in parallel to the axis of rotation.   
   
   
       63 . The apparatus according to  claim 61 , wherein the means further provides removing one or more entrapments disposed proximate the one or more beads and one or more bead seats upon interrupting contact of said one or more beads and said one or more bead seats. 
   
   
       64 . The apparatus according to  claim 61 , wherein the means includes:
 at least one an oscillating motor, wherein the at least one oscillating motor is connected to the at least one working assembly.   
   
   
       65 . The apparatus according to  claim 61 , wherein the at least one working assembly is disposed adjacent at least one outer surface of the tire to define one or more chambers, wherein the apparatus further comprises:
 means for applying a vacuum to the one or more chambers.   
   
   
       66 . The apparatus according to  claim 65 , wherein the means for applying a vacuum includes:
 at least one vacuum apparatus connected to the at least one working assembly.   
   
   
       67 . A method for processing an inflated tire-wheel assembly including one or more beads of a tire seated within one or more bead seats of a wheel, comprising the steps of:
 disposing one or more disrupting devices adjacent one or more outer surfaces of the tire; and   applying a disruptive force to a portion of the one or more outer surfaces of the tire with the one or more disrupting devices for
 interrupting contact of said one or more beads and said one or more bead seats. 
   
   
   
       68 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein the one or more disrupting devices includes one or more kneading wheels, wherein the applying a disruptive force to a portion of the one or more outer surfaces of the tire includes kneading a portion of the one or more outer surfaces of the tire with the one or more kneading wheels. 
   
   
       69 . The method according to  claim 45 , wherein the one or more disrupting devices includes one or more wobble wheels, wherein the applying a disruptive force to a portion of the one or more outer surfaces of the tire includes kneading, vibrating and pulling a portion of the one or more outer surfaces of the tire with the one or more wobble wheels. 
   
   
       70 . The method according to  claim 67 , further comprising the step of:
 removing one or more entrapments disposed proximate the one or more beads and one or more bead seats upon interrupting contact of said one or more beads and said one or more bead seats.   
   
   
       71 . The method according to  claim 67 , wherein the one or more kneading devices includes one or more kneading wheels, wherein a kneading wheel axis of rotation extends through each of the one or more kneading wheels, wherein the kneading step further comprises the step of:
 permitting one or more of the kneading wheel axes of rotation of each of the one or more kneading wheels to angularly deviate for
 permissively-wobbling the one or more kneading wheels. 
   
   
   
       72 . The method according to  claim 67 , further comprising the step of:
 rotating the tire-wheel assembly about a tire-wheel assembly axis of rotation.   
   
   
       73 . The method according to  claim 72 , wherein the kneading step is responsive to the rotating step. 
   
   
       74 . An apparatus for processing an inflated tire-wheel assembly including one or more beads of a tire seated within one or more bead seats of a wheel, comprising:
 a rotary output shaft connected to the wheel; and   means for
 applying a disruptive force to a portion of one or more outer surfaces of the tire for
 interrupting contact of said one or more beads and said one or more bead seats. 
 
   
   
   
       75 . The apparatus according to  claim 74 , wherein the means further provides removing one or more entrapments disposed proximate the one or more beads and one or more bead seats upon interrupting contact of said one or more beads and said one or more bead seats. 
   
   
       76 . The apparatus according to  claim 74 , wherein the means includes:
 one or more kneading wheels disposed adjacent said one or more outer surfaces of the tire, wherein a kneading wheel axis of rotation extends through each of the one or more kneading wheels   
   
   
       77 . The apparatus according to  claim 76 , wherein the means further includes permitting one or more of the kneading wheel axes of rotation of each of the one or more kneading wheels to angularly deviate for the purpose of:
 permissively-wobbling the one or more kneading wheels.   
   
   
       78 . The apparatus according to  claim 74 , wherein the rotary output shaft provides:
 means for rotating the tire-wheel assembly about a tire-wheel assembly axis of rotation.