A tire lifter is provided having a horizontal frame in a vertical support, the horizontal frame providing for wheel movement of the tire lifter. A drive lift mechanism is positioned within the vertical upright of the frame and includes a screw drive that is used to raise and lower a pair of support arms which cradle a tire or a tire and wheel combination. Further, the support arms which cradle the tire can also be adjusted in a forward and rearward direction to allow for easier placement of a tire relative to an automobile.

A method enabling two holes belonging to two parts to be aligned relies on use of a tool, comprising a body, having a first outer surface which gradually wanders from a longitudinal axis of the body as it extends from a first end of the body, and a hollow part having a second outer surface with a complementary section to the section of the holes. The hollow part comprises a hole through which it is removably mounted on the tool so that the second outer surface extends the first outer surface on an opposite side to the first end of the body. The method comprises inserting the first end of the body into the first hole, and then operating the tool to push the body and then the hollow part together into the holes. This method especially applies to the assembly of a floor module to an aircraft fuselage.

A mobile part includes at least one attachment module situated on the mobile part. The attachment module has a base plate and a wheel holding unit. A first linear axle is situated on the base plate, and a second linear axle is situated so as to be movable by the first linear axle. The wheel holding unit is situated so as to be movable via a third linear axle, which is situated so as to be movable by the second linear axle, and each one of the linear axles has a non-vanishing angle with respect to each of the other linear axles, in particular a right angle.

An apparatus for removing and storing outer wheel assemblies from combines being transported on public roads is disclosed. The apparatus includes a pivoting dual-boom crane temporarily mounted to an attachment frame of a combine. The crane swings over either outside wheel assembly and provides a lifting support for installing or removing the wheel assembly. A dual-boom crane includes a wheel bar configured to grip and lift a wheel assembly. The wheel assemblies are then secured on the apparatus such that the combine can be transported over public roadways without exceeding a typical width limit.

In one embodiment, there is provided an apparatus for retaining and moving an automobile tire, and which includes a pair of tire engagement roller assemblies and a lever actuator assembly coupled to the roller assemblies. The roller assembly includes a movable base frame and a tire engaging roller rotatably coupled to the base frame, and the lever actuator assembly includes a lever arm, a link arm pivotally coupled to the lever arm along a length thereof, and a retention bar for selectively holding the lever and link arms in a fixed position relative to each other. Longitudinal end portions of the lever and link arms are rotatably coupled to associated said roller assemblies. Rotational movement of the lever arm towards a generally upright position effects inward movement of the roller assemblies towards each other to mount the tire disposed therebetween.

An apparatus and method for aligning a rim of a wheel assembly to a wheel hub. The apparatus can include a wheel handler device that is structured to securely engage the wheel assembly. The apparatus can include one or more light emitting devices that project one or more light spots on the face of the wheel hub. The position of one or more light spots relative to another light spot(s) and/or to a reference feature on the face of the hub can provide an indication of the location, orientation, and/or alignment of at least the rim relative to the wheel hub.

Vehicle dimension data describing dimensions of a vehicle are obtained, a robotic apparatus is moved to a position about the vehicle, a reference point of the vehicle is determined, and the robotic apparatus is caused to move to positions about the vehicle based on the reference point. The reference point is a center point of a selected wheel of the vehicle. A coordinate system of the robotic apparatus is aligned to the reference point of the selected wheel of the vehicle. Based on the aligned coordinate system of the robotic apparatus, operations are performed by the robotic apparatus to remove lug nuts from a wheel hub of the vehicle.

A device for lifting a wheel and rolling the wheel on a surface includes an elongated rigid plate having a top side, a bottom side, a peripheral edge, a pedal portion at a rear end of the rigid plate, and a wheel portion at a forward end of the rigid plate. A ground roller is fixed with the bottom side of the rigid plate and at least two wheel rollers are fixed with a top side of the wheel portion. In use, with the wheel resting on the wheel rollers, the pedal portion may be pressed downwardly to pivot the rigid plate about the roller to lift the wheel. The lifting device is then rolled on the surface to place the wheel at a desired position, and rotated until obtaining a desired rotational orientation.

A load balancer includes an articulating assembly connected with a support mechanism. The articulating assembly is connected to a support assembly where the support assembly is able to secure a load thereto. The articulating assembly articulates the support assembly and thereby the load between a first position and a second position. The articulating assembly includes at least one linkage assembly interposed between the attachment member and the support assembly. The at least one linkage assembly includes an arm and an actuator where the actuator is selectively pivotable relative to the arm. The load balance and the load together have a center of gravity. The center of gravity remains substantially aligned with an attachment to the support mechanism during the articulation of the support assembly between the first position and the second position.

The present disclosure provides a wheel centering apparatus and sleeve comprising a cylindrical body extending from a first end to a second end, a threaded hole extending into the first end configured to engage with a wheel stud, a junction interface extending from the second end having a non-circular cross-section, and longitudinal indicator markings along the cylindrical body. The apparatus facilitates centering and alignment of dual wheels on an axle. A method of using two such apparatuses for centering dual wheels is also disclosed, along with a system incorporating the apparatuses and a level for wheel alignment.