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 roller is fixed with the bottom side of the rigid plate and the peripheral edge of the wheel portion at the forward end of the rigid plate is bent upward to form a tire-tread engaging lip, at least a portion of which engages a tread of the wheel. In use, with the wheel resting on the wheel portion, 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.

A tire changing device for lifting and positioning a tire, providing rolling members allow for easy vertical adjustment of the tire and whose shape enables a tire to be conveniently rolled on, positioned and retained thereon. The tire mounting device for mounting a tire to a vehicle, includes a lower frame comprising caster wheels and raising and lowering devices which act in concert via a common control. The disclosed device also includes an upper platform in communication with a lower platform configured to be raised and lowered thereby to a height of a wheel hub to receive the tire via a scissor lift. The device further includes a pair of rollers having an adjustable space there between less than a diameter of a wheel to be mounted to a vehicle to enable a tire rotation to align wheel hub lugs to rim lug holes.

A tire changing device for lifting and positioning a tire, providing rolling members allow for easy vertical adjustment of the tire and whose shape enables a tire to be conveniently rolled on, positioned and retained thereon. The tire mounting device for mounting a tire to a vehicle, includes a lower frame comprising caster wheels and raising and lowering devices which act in concert via a common control. The disclosed device also includes an upper platform in communication with the supporting pneumatic pistons and configured to be raised and lowered thereby to a height of a wheel hub to receive the tire. The device further includes a pair of rollers spaced apart an adjustable space there between less than a diameter of a wheel to be mounted to a vehicle, the pair of adjustable rollers enabling a tire rotation to align wheel hub lugs to rim lug holes.

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.

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.

Apparatus for use in robotic servicing of a vehicle has a frame defining a bay for receiving a laterally positioned vehicle and a hallway longitudinally adjacent the bay, the hallway accommodating a mobile robotic servicing sub-system. A wheeled chassis underlies and supports the frame with the top of the chassis providing a floor of the bay and the hallway. A deck is located above the bay and an automated robotic system is used to pick the component from the deck, move a component along the frame, and to lower the component into the hallway for release to and pickup by the mobile robotic servicing sub-system to enable servicing with the component of the vehicle by the mobile robotic servicing sub-system.

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.

In one embodiment, a wheel righting apparatus includes a main frame and a wheel latching frame that is pivotally coupled to the main frame. The wheel latching frame is configured to be removably coupled to a wheel. The wheel righting apparatus also includes a winch assembly coupled to the main frame. The winch assembly is operable to move the wheel from a horizontal position to a vertical position by pivoting the wheel latching frame relative to the main frame.

An automatic wheel changer robot has a includes a drive assembly, a torque gun, a sensor assembly, and a controller. The drive assembly has a mobile base and two wheel-clamping assemblies, each configured to engage a wheel. The controller generates a set of instructions based, at least in part, on information obtained from the sensor assembly. The drive assembly uses the set of instructions to cooperatively remove respective wheels from respective hubs on a vehicle and/or attach respective wheels to respective hubs on a vehicle. The device may have lidar sensors and Mecanum wheels that the controller is programmed to use to move between respective hubs and wheel storage locations install wheels, replace wheels, rotate tires, and perform similar operations.

The invention is directed to a lifting tool (10) for a vehicle wheel (4), comprising a scissor lifting mechanism (12) with scissor pivoting arms (14); wheels (20) mounted on a lower portion of the scissor lifting mechanism (12), for rolling on the floor; and two parallel bars (16) on a top portion of the scissor lifting mechanism 812), for supporting the vehicle wheel (4). The wheels (20) are mounted directly on the scissor pivoting arms (14).