An inflation work station for inflating a tire-wheel assembly including a tire mounted to a wheel is disclosed. The inflation work station includes at least one inflation probe including a female portion and a male portion. The male portion is arrangeable with respect to the female portion in one of a non-mated orientation such that the at least one inflation probe is arranged in an offline orientation and a mated orientation such that the at least one inflation probe is arranged in an online orientation. The inflation work station further includes a working device including a controller, at least one movement actuator connected to the controller and the at least one inflation probe. The at least one movement actuator imparts movement to the male portion to result in the online/offline orientation of the at least one inflation probe. The inflation work station includes at least one valve connected to the controller and the at least one inflation probe. The inflation workstation includes at least one pressurized fluid source connected to the at least one inflation probe by way of the at least one valve to permit or deny communication of a pressurized fluid of the at least one pressurized fluid source to a cavity formed by the tire-wheel assembly for inflating the tire-wheel assembly. A method is also disclosed.

A flexible compression apparatus for seating the bead of a tubeless tire onto a rim and a method of using the apparatus. The flexible compression including: a circular spiral flexible band having a first terminal edge wound on an exterior surface of the flexible band and a second terminal edge wound on an inner surface of the flexible band; one or more straps in contact with the exterior surface of the flexible band and running parallel to the flexible band, said one or more straps each having a secured end and a terminal end, wherein the secured end of the one or more straps is affixed to the flexible band; and one or more tightening mechanisms for receiving the terminal end(s) of the strap(s).

A flexible compression apparatus for seating the bead of a tubeless tire onto a rim and a method of using the apparatus. The flexible compression including: a circular spiral flexible band having a first terminal edge wound on an exterior surface of the flexible band and a second terminal edge wound on an inner surface of the flexible band; one or more straps in contact with the exterior surface of the flexible band and running parallel to the flexible band, said one or more straps each having a secured end and a terminal end, wherein the secured end of the one or more straps is affixed to the flexible band; and one or more tightening mechanisms for receiving the terminal end(s) of the strap(s).

A method, device, and installation for mounting a motor vehicle tire on a rim of a wheel, characterized in that at least one tire bead of the motor vehicle tire is prestretched in a targeted manner before the tire is pulled onto the rim, in particular before the tire beads are pulled over the rim flanges of the rim.

A pneumatically operated gas valve mounted on a vessel containing pressurized gas. The gas valve includes a piston positioned in a cylinder with one closed end so that the piston seats against a gas outlet to close the gas valve. A control reservoir is formed in the cylinder between the piston and the closed end of the cylinder. Upon filling vessel, some of the pressurized gas enters the control reservoir to provide a control pressure behind the piston. Actuating the control mechanism vents the control reservoir, resulting in the gas valve opening rapidly to release the pressurized gas in the vessel through an exhaust port of the gas valve.

A manifold for inflating tubeless tires that efficiently directs pressurized air to a void between a tire bead and a rim edge. Manifold is fan shaped with a center face and angled side faces. Side faces have a first plurality of apertures at a predetermined centerline and the center face has a second plurality of apertures that are offset from the predetermined centerline. The offset second plurality of air flow apertures are directed to the widest void between the tire bead and rim edge while the first plurality of air flow apertures are directed to the narrow void on either side of the widest void. A two contact point stop or rest assembly is used to abut against two points on the rim edge to provide and maintain a predetermined distance between the center face and the widest void and to provide an optimum angle of the manifold for inflation.

A collapsible tire for a passenger vehicle, comprising at least one carcass reinforcement optionally associated with an inextensible crown reinforcement, itself radially on the inside of a tread, two beads and two sidewalls, said beads comprising at least one inextensible circumferential reinforcing element called a bead wire, said bead wire defining, when free of any stress, a mean line forming a substantially circular closed curve in a circumferential plane, wherein the invention is characterized in that the bead wire of each bead is flexible, wherein after the tire has been collapsed, the mean line of the bead wire simultaneously defines a first curvature, and a second curvature, the first and second curvatures being connected together by a third connecting curvature, the projection of said first, second and third curvatures of the collapsed tire onto an axial plane defining the two-dimensional envelope by way of a total perimeter P of less than or equal to [3(2H+A)], H being the height of the sidewall and A the width of the tire, and a collapsing method for the tire.

A collapsible tire for a passenger vehicle, comprising at least one carcass reinforcement optionally associated with an inextensible crown reinforcement, itself radially on the inside of a tread, two beads and two sidewalls, said beads comprising at least one inextensible circumferential reinforcing element called a bead wire, said bead wire defining, when free of any stress, a mean line forming a substantially circular closed curve in a circumferential plane, wherein the invention is characterized in that the bead wire of each bead is flexible, wherein after the tire has been collapsed, the mean line of the bead wire simultaneously defines a first curvature, and a second curvature, the first and second curvatures being connected together by a third connecting curvature, the projection of said first, second and third curvatures of the collapsed tire onto an axial plane defining the two-dimensional envelope by way of a total perimeter P of less than or equal to [3(2H+A)], H being the height of the sidewall and A the width of the tire, and a collapsing method for the tire.

An apparatus for seating a bead of a tire adjacent a bead seat of a wheel is disclosed.

An apparatus for seating a bead of a tire adjacent a bead seat of a wheel is disclosed.