An annular and ring extends around the interior of a wheel/rim on which a tire is mounted. The inner diameter of the annular ring is sized for a snug fit on the wheel rim. A tensioning cable extends through the tubular ring and opposed arms are attached to the ring and are movable between disengaged and engaged positions. The apparatus is selectively movable by actuation of a cable tensioner between a first, disengaged position where the arms do not engage the tire and thereby lock it to the rim, and a second, engaged position in which the arm bear against the tire beads, capturing the tire beads between the rim flanges and the wing members to lock the tire to the rim and to create and/or enhances the air-tight seal between the tire and the rim. The bead lock apparatus may be beneficially used in combination with a foam insert for enhanced tire performance.

An annular and ring extends around the interior of a wheel/rim on which a tire is mounted. The inner diameter of the annular ring is sized for a snug fit on the wheel rim. A tensioning cable extends through the tubular ring and opposed arms are attached to the ring and are movable between disengaged and engaged positions. The apparatus is selectively movable by actuation of a cable tensioner between a first, disengaged position where the arms do not engage the tire and thereby lock it to the rim, and a second, engaged position in which the arm bear against the tire beads, capturing the tire beads between the rim flanges and the wing members to lock the tire to the rim and to create and/or enhances the air-tight seal between the tire and the rim. The bead lock apparatus may be beneficially used in combination with a foam insert for enhanced tire performance.

A tubeless tire seating tool is disclosed. The tubeless tire seating tool includes a tube and a sealing stem. The tube is inflatable to apply pressure to a tubeless tire on a tire side of a wheel to seat the tubeless tire on the wheel. The sealing stem is coupled to the tube to facilitate delivery of a fluid into the tube to apply the pressure to the tubeless tire. The sealing stem includes a sealing element external to the sealing stem and forming a seal on the wheel to prevent the fluid from escaping around the sealing stem from within the tubeless tire in response to a failure of the tube.

An apparatus and method for mounting and inflating tires is described that is suitable for quickly sealing the beads of a tire to the rim of a wheel. The present invention delivers a high volume of pressurized air to an interior of a tire through a nozzle. The apparatus of the invention is particularly well suited for tire changing machines and tire mounting subsystems. The apparatus includes a tire changing station, an air supply controller, and a nozzle capable of delivering a high volume of pressurized fluid into an interior of a tire through a valve stem hole of the wheel rim.

The present invention relates generally to tire servicing operations and, more specifically, to a tire servicing cage for maintaining, repairing, changing, and inflating tires. The servicing cage may include a frame assembly secured to a base plate. A counterweight assembly may be coupled to the frame assembly to assist with moving the cage from an open position to a closed position. Further, the base plate may include a post member having a pivoting head configured to receive a rim of a tire. Advantageously, the servicing cage may prevent debris from discharging outside of frame assembly and accommodate maintaining, repairing, changing, and inflating wheel assemblies of different diameters.

The present invention relates generally to tire servicing operations and, more specifically, to a tire servicing cage for maintaining, repairing, changing, and inflating tires. The servicing cage may include a frame assembly secured to a base plate. A counterweight assembly may be coupled to the frame assembly to assist with moving the cage from an open position to a closed position. Further, the base plate may include a post member having a pivoting head configured to receive a rim of a tire. Advantageously, the servicing cage may prevent debris from discharging outside of frame assembly and accommodate maintaining, repairing, changing, and inflating wheel assemblies of different diameters.

The present invention concerns methods and apparatus for spreading beads in a tire. Particular embodiments of such methods include securing at least a portion of a first bead of the tire and positioning a tire spreader within the central opening of the tire, the tire spreader having a bead engaging portion for engaging a portion of a second bead generally opposite the secured portion of the first bead. Such methods may further include automatically translating the bead engaging portion of the tire spreader generally in an axial direction of the tire to displace the engaged portion of the second bead a desired distance to increase the distance between the opposing beads to form a widened interior cavity opening.

The present invention concerns methods and apparatus for spreading beads in a tire. Particular embodiments of such methods include securing at least a portion of a first bead of the tire and positioning a tire spreader within the central opening of the tire, the tire spreader having a bead engaging portion for engaging a portion of a second bead generally opposite the secured portion of the first bead. Such methods may further include automatically translating the bead engaging portion of the tire spreader generally in an axial direction of the tire to displace the engaged portion of the second bead a desired distance to increase the distance between the opposing beads to form a widened interior cavity opening.

An apparatus for mounting and removing a tyre on and from a respective rim comprises: an element for moving a bead of the tyre in order to insert/remove the bead into/from a respective groove in the rim, the element comprising a tool connected to a respective supporting arm for moving the bead; a rotatable support for the rim, in such manner as to turn the rim and the tyre about a corresponding longitudinal axis of the rim; at least one sensor associated with the supporting arm for measuring the mechanical strain applied to the bead of the tyre when the latter is mounted on, and removed from, the rim.

An apparatus for mounting and removing a tyre on and from a respective rim comprises: an element for moving a bead of the tyre in order to insert/remove the bead into/from a respective groove in the rim, the element comprising a tool connected to a respective supporting arm for moving the bead; a rotatable support for the rim, in such manner as to turn the rim and the tyre about a corresponding longitudinal axis of the rim; at least one sensor associated with the supporting arm for measuring the mechanical strain applied to the bead of the tyre when the latter is mounted on, and removed from, the rim.