Wheel apparatus for use with vehicles are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a wheel for a vehicle. The wheel has a groove disposed on an annular wall adjacent a drop well and extending away from the drop well. The example apparatus also includes a ring positioned in the groove.

A gripping tool for adjustable wheel balancing clamping tool includes a gripping body and an adjustable-bolt-pattern-adaptor attachment mechanism. The gripping body that enables the user to grasp the clamping tool includes an outer annular body, an inner annular body, and a connector ring. The inner annular body is concentrically positioned within the outer annular body. The connector ring is perimetrically connected the outer annular body and the inner annular body. The connector ring is terminally positioned to a first outer edge of the outer annular body and a first inner edge of the inner annular body. The adjustable-bolt-pattern-adaptor attachment mechanism is connected to the outer annular body and the inner annular body thus securing the gripping body to the clamping tool.

Disclosed is a vehicle support device comprising a polygonal surface which may be affixed to a front edge of an at least one circumferential plate (110) or to a midline of an at least one circumferential plate (110). The polygonal surface (105) may be a pentagon polygon having five sides, a hexagon polygon having six sides, an octagon polygon having eight sides, or any polygonal shape. The polygonal front surface may have an at least one asymmetrical side. The polygonal front surface (105) may have a plurality of lug bolt supports (120), which may have five lug bolt supports (120), seven lug bolt supports (120), eight lug bolt supports (120), or twelve lug bolt supports (120). The vehicle support device may have an axle support centerline (125), a vehicle support device centerline (130), and an non-zero centerline offset (135) between the axle support centerline (125) and the vehicle support centerline (130) to provide for offset alignment of the vehicle support device in a vehicle wheel well. The vehicle support device may be used to support any wheeled automobile, trailer or tractor, to provide levelness and stability of the vehicle, prevent UV and time or gravity-caused degradation of the tires, and extend the life of the tires, and on other vehicles with modification. For most automobiles, trailers, and tractors, the vehicle support device may replace one or more of the tires and wheels on an axle to securely and solidly support the vehicle on ground or a on concrete pad.

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.

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.

Disclosed is a vehicle support device comprising a polygonal surface which may be affixed to a front edge of an at least one circumferential plate (110) or to a midline of an at least one circumferential plate (110). The polygonal surface (105) may be a pentagon polygon having five sides, a hexagon polygon having six sides, an octagon polygon having eight sides, or any polygonal shape. The polygonal front surface may have an at least one asymmetrical side. The polygonal front surface (105) may have a plurality of lug bolt supports (120), which may have five lug bolt supports (120), seven lug bolt supports (120), eight lug bolt supports (120), or twelve lug bolt supports (120). The vehicle support device may have an axle support centerline (125), a vehicle support device centerline (130), and an non-zero centerline offset (135) between the axle support centerline (125) and the vehicle support centerline (130) to provide for offset alignment of the vehicle support device in a vehicle wheel well.

The vehicle support device may be used to support any wheeled automobile, trailer or tractor, to provide levelness and stability of the vehicle, prevent UV and time or gravity-caused degradation of the tires, and extend the life of the tires, and on other vehicles with modification. For most automobiles, trailers, and tractors, the vehicle support device may replace one or more of the tires and wheels on an axle to securely and solidly support the vehicle on ground or a on concrete pad.

A wheel lock bolt removal tool apparatus for removing a wheel lock from a vehicle wheel, the wheel lock having a wheel lock bolt with a spinning ring, the apparatus comprising an extractor comprising a collet and a sleeve received substantially coaxially over the collet, the collet body having a distal opening formed having a radially-inwardly-projecting distal lip, the distal opening and distal lip configured to pass over and seat on the spinning ring of the wheel lock as by engaging the lip on a distal edge of the spinning ring, the collet body configured to be selectively closed upon distal movement of the sleeve along the collet and further having a proximal end configured for application of an axial proximally-directed force in removing the spinning ring from the wheel lock bolt.

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.

An apparatus having means for providing axial rotation and support of a wheel, wherein said wheel is intended for at least one of, removal, repair, inspection, installation, and replacement; means for allowing for different size wheels to be supported; means for rendering support for said means for providing axial rotation; means for allowing a lateral movement of said support rendering means along a central axis and operable for aligning the wheel with wheel studs; means for increasing a bottom surface area of said apparatus to create additional support for said apparatus; means for aiding a transportation and placement of said apparatus; and means for adjusting a vertical positioning of the wheel.

Methods for manipulating, positioning, and removing a lock ring for a wheel are disclosed. Manipulating the lock ring for the wheel involves increasing a separation distance between a first fastener fastened to a first end of the lock ring and a second fastener fastened to a second end of the lock ring opposite the first end. Positioning the lock ring in a lock ring groove of the wheel involves causing a lock ring positioner to position the lock ring proximate the wheel before positioning the lock ring in the lock ring groove of the wheel. Removing the lock ring from the wheel involves receiving the lock ring in at least one catcher receptacle of a lock ring positioner after removing the lock ring from the wheel.