In the context of service and maintenance of heavy road vehicles, apparatus is provided that is configured to engage and support a rack and manoeuvre it into position relative to the vehicle to facilitate removal and installation of the wheels. The rack has a frame with a base and a pair of arms, each arm being pivotally attached to opposite sides of the base to pivot between an open configuration and a folded configuration. The apparatus may be expanded and contracted between an expanded configuration, where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the open configuration, and a contracted configuration where the rack engagement assembly is configured to engage the rack in the folded configuration.

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 device is provided for changing a wheel of a vehicle comprising a carriage assembly including two platform elements running longitudinally with one another and substantially parallel. First and second swingarms are connected to respective platform elements. The swingarms are rotatably positionable at a desired height above the carriage. A lift mechanism selectively raises or lowers the carriage during use. A tow bar allows the carriage to be pushed or pulled on wheels mounted to the carriage. A method of the invention includes mounting the wheel on the platform elements, raising free ends of the swingarms to a desired height so a knock out bar may be placed through a hub of the wheel, operating the lift mechanism to raise the wheel to a desired height, and aligning the wheel with the vehicle so the wheel may be secured to the vehicle.

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.

A jig for mounting a component on a structure is disclosed. The jig includes a frame having a base defining an elongated channel and adapted to be disposed substantially parallel to a surface. The jig also includes a support assembly for supporting the component to facilitate the mounting of the component on the structure. The support assembly extends vertically through the elongated channel and adapted to slide relative to the base along a length of the elongated channel.

A tool set for fitting a wheel to a wheel hub of a vehicle. The tool set comprises a wheel carrying bar and a support peg. The wheel carrying bar is configured to pivotably engage with the support peg.

Systems, methods and apparatus for automated vehicle wheel removal and replacement are provided. One system includes a computer system with applications for scheduling the replacement of tires for the vehicle. An electronically controlled lift device and robotic apparatus is configured for interaction with the computer system. The lift device mechanically adjusts arms for placement on lift points of vehicles. The robotic apparatus detects positioning of lug nut configuration for a wheel, removes lug nuts, and then removes the wheel from the wheel hub with gripping arms. The wheel and tire are then handed off to a separate tire changing machine. When a new tire is replaced the robotic apparatus then mounts the wheel to the original wheel hub, and then secures the lug nuts to the lug nut bolts.

A tool for mounting a motor-vehicle wheel on a wheel hub includes a tubular body having a coupling portion arranged for coupling to the wheel hub, and a carrier portion for supporting the motor-vehicle wheel during a centering phase of the wheel on the hub. The tool has an inner tubular member and an outer tubular member rigidly connected to each other so as to be coaxial. At the coupling portion, the inner and outer tubular members are spaced apart so as to define a space arranged to receive an end portion of the wheel hub, in such a way that, in an operating condition, the end portion of the hub is interposed between the inner tubular member and the outer tubular member.

The invention relates to the automation system providing automatic assembly/disassembly of the vehicle subsystems such as wheel, suspension, axle complex, power transfer etc. of the military land vehicles. In particular, the invention relates to the military land vehicles assembly/disassembly automation systems comprising the drive tower (100), which moves on the “X” axis by the tower movement system (133) drive on the rail (500) anchored to the ground, which is connected with the mounting apparatus (111) of the vehicle body (700) and provides that the height on the “Z” axis with the ball screw (120) to be suitable for mounting, the slave tower (150), which moves on the “Y” axis by the tower movement system (133) drive on the rail (500) anchored to the ground, which is connected with the mounting apparatus (111) of the vehicle body (700) and provides that the height in the “Z” axis with the ball screw (120) to be suitable for mounting, the automatically guided vehicle (600), which has heavy tonnage capacity and the ability to move on X, Y and Z axes on which the work piece (800) to be mounted is positioned, controllable on all of the axis (X,Y and Z) except the manual PLC control (program) with the remote control panel (300) and with wireless or vehicle controller (601) on it, and which is rechargeable and has wireless power supply (traction battery) (602), PLC (400) with programmable structure having its own database that controls all moving elements within the automation system and safety systems within the program limits.

A modular tire lifting assembly includes a yoke that has a pair of arms which are spaced apart from each other such that t a vehicle tire can be positioned between the pair of arms. The yoke is comprised of a plurality of modular sections such that the yoke can be disassembled for storage in a vehicle. A first handle and a second handle are provided and either can be removably attachable to the yoke. Either the first handle or the second handle angles upwardly from the yoke when removably attached to the yoke thereby facilitating the yoke to lift the vehicle tire when either the first handle or the second handle is urged downwardly. Additionally, the second handle has a length that is less than a length of the first handle.