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 vehicle includes a vehicle wheel, a vehicle frame and an adjustment mechanism configured to move the vehicle wheel relative to the vehicle frame. The adjustment mechanism includes a cam stud and a cam spacer. The cam stud extends at least partially through the vehicle frame. The cam spacer is rotationally fixed to the cam stud. Rotating the cam spacer moves the vehicle wheel relative to the vehicle frame.

The rotor of an electric motor unit has a web portion partially enclosing the remainder of the unit and terminating in a circumferentially extending rim. The brake drum defines an engagement surface for drum brake linings, and has an outboard end defining a flange securable to the wheel hub. The brake drum also includes an open inboard end, partly covered over by a dust guard, and a circumferential wall extending between the outboard and inboard ends and surrounding the engagement surface. By way of keys and slots or recesses, a reinforcing ring interlocks the circumferentially extending rim of the web portion and the circumferential brake drum wall. The reinforcing ring is secured to the circumferentially extending rim and to the wall of the brake drum at a location disposed axially between the rim of the web portion and the brake drum lining engagement surface.

The present invention relates to a device for the removal of a pallet jack's load wheel pins. Where said invention is comprised of a hydraulic jack secured in a horizontal position within a frame assembly. A tooling adapter is fitted on the end of the piston rod so that the piston rod may push against the pallet jack's load wheel pin when the piston rod is extended. The frame assembly is slid underneath the forks of the pallet jack and the hydraulic jack's piston rod is aligned with the pallet jack load wheel pins that are to be removed. When the hydraulic jack is activated, the piston rod pushes against the pallet jack's load wheel pins pushing them out from the load wheel allowing the load wheel to be removed from the pallet jack's fork. Large extension springs are mounted on the underside of the frame assembly and are attached to piston rod to return the piston rod to the hydraulic jack once the load wheel pins are removed.

A wheel and tire assembly for a mobile vehicle in accordance with the present invention includes an inner central rim, a flexible ring mounted on the inner central rim, and a spoke structure extending between the inner central rim and the flexible ring. The spoke structure defines a plurality of cavities and alternating radially extending openings disposed concentrically about the inner central rim and allowing the flexible ring to deflect under load. The spoke structure further defines a plurality of triangular openings disposed at the flexible ring and between the cavities and the inlet openings.

A system for use in providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft includes a preload apparatus having a first extension and a second extension engageable with an inner race of the bearing and configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. The first extension has a first projection and the second extension has a second projection. A stop ring is configured to limit a radially inward movement of the first extension and the second extension toward each other to position the first projection and the second projection relative to the bearing.

A method of balancing an assembly of a wheel and a tire, may include measuring a maximum-value position of RFV of a tire and marking the measured maximum-value position, as a tire reference position, measuring each of the internal runout and external runout of the wheel, extracting a primary component of a waveform of the measured internal runout and a primary component of a waveform of the measured external runout and setting the former and latter measured primary components to be internal and external runout waveforms, respectively, synthesizing the internal and external runout waveforms and marking a minimum-value position on a synthesis waveform resulting from the synthesizing, as a wheel reference position, and aligning the tire reference position on the tire and the wheel reference position on the wheel to have the same phase and assembling the wheel and the tire.

A wheel assembly to be coupled to a hub of a vehicle may include an inner rim to be coupled to the hub of the vehicle and an outer rim surrounding the hub. The wheel assembly may also include gas springs operatively coupled between the inner rim and the outer rim to provide a gas suspension for relative movement between the inner rim and the outer rim. The wheel assembly may also include a disk coupled to the inner rim. The wheel assembly may also include inboard lateral stops carried by an inboard interior surface of the outer rim, and outboard lateral stops carried by an outboard interior surface of the outer rim so that the inboard lateral stops and the outboard lateral stops cooperate to limit relative lateral movement of the disk and the outer rim.

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 semi-trailer wheel restraint system having a bearing swivel and one or more cable sections and hub cab attachments for receipt into and through a hollow core of the trailer's axle. During a wheel bearing failure, the wheel restraint system keeps the loose wheel assembly near the end of the axle by anchoring it to the opposite-end's hub cap, thereby preventing a run-away wheel assembly and providing an operator of the truck an opportunity to safely stop the rig.