A tire and wheel assembly includes a non-pneumatic tire and a wheel. The non-pneumatic tire has a tread, a plurality of spokes, and an inner liner with a first side, a second side, and at least one taper extending between the first side and the second side. The wheel has an inboard side, an outboard side, and an outer surface with at least one complementary taper extending between the inboard side and the outboard side such that the non-pneumatic tire is serviceably mounted on the wheel. A locking ring can be included and the locking ring can be configured to abut against the inboard side or the outboard side of the wheel. Also, a wheel flange extending inwardly from the inner liner can be included and the wheel flange is configured to abut against the outboard side or the inboard side of the wheel.

A lock-ring system may include one or more lock-ring sections configured to at least partially define an annular lock-ring and one or more coupler plates configured to couple a first ring section end of a first lock-ring section to either a second ring section end of the first lock-ring section or to a ring section end of a second lock-ring section. The one or more coupler plates may be configured to be received in ring recesses of the one or more lock-ring sections. The one or more coupler plates may be coupled to the one or more ring section ends by fasteners and may be configured to slide relative to the ring recesses when the fasteners are loosened, so that a lock-ring formed by the one or more lock-ring sections may be mounted on, or removed from, a wheel assembly. A handle may be used to assist with maintaining separation of the lock-ring sections during handling and to assist with handling the lock-ring during removal and installation of the lock-ring on a wheel assembly.

Vehicle dimension data describing dimensions of a vehicle are obtained, a robotic apparatus is moved to a position about the vehicle, a reference point of the vehicle is determined, and the robotic apparatus is caused to move to positions about the vehicle based on the reference point. The reference point may be a center point of a selected wheel of the vehicle. A coordinate system of the robotic apparatus is aligned to the reference point of the selected wheel of the vehicle. Based on the aligned coordinate system of the robotic apparatus, operations are performed by the robotic apparatus to remove lug nuts from a wheel hub of the vehicle.

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 robot tool has a chassis and a wheel servicing sub-system supported on the chassis, the wheel servicing sub-system having a sub-system interface part engageable with a wheel interface part, the wheel servicing sub-system interface part engagement with the wheel interface part permitting operation of the wheel servicing sub-system to service the wheel, and a control unit on the robot tool to control operation of the wheel servicing sub-system to effect said wheel servicing. The wheel servicing sub-system is one or more of a chassis sub-system, a tool support sub-system, a fastener detaching/attaching sub-system, a fastener storage sub-system, a jacking sub-system, a wheel gripper sub-system, a tire inspection sub-system, a tire pressure sub-system, and a wheel balancing sub-system.

A tire lifting assembly used to remove and replace a wheel and a tire on a vehicle is disclosed. The tire lifting assembly is configured to take the weight of the wheel and the tire when the service technician removes or replaces it thereby eliminating the need for manual efforts from a service technician. The assembly is rolled under the mounted wheel and tire and quickly adjusted to secure the wheel and tire by using a roller platform. A scissor jack mechanism is used to adjust the height of the roller platform which allows the rotation of the tire during the mounting procedure.

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 robot tool for servicing a wheel positioned adjacent the robot tool and having an axis of rotation. The tool has a chassis which can be moved in any of rectilinear, curvilinear and spin motion on a support surface. A base mounted can be tilted from level and can be raised and lowered relative to the chassis. A wheel servicing sub-system mounted to the base has an operational axis and an interface part for mechanically engaging a corresponding interface part of a wheel being serviced in a mechanical engagement permitting wheel servicing by the servicing sub-system when the operational axis is aligned with the wheel axis of rotation.

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.

A connecting element, preferably for fastening a wheel, or rim, to a hub of a vehicle, includes a body having a respective outer perimeter surface which extends along a respective imaginary profile, in particular an imaginary circular profile, there being formed, at the perimeter surface, respective elements for the engagement of corresponding elements or tool for screwing and/or unscrewing the connecting element, and screw thread elements for fastening, preferably to the vehicle hub. The engagement elements include a plurality of perpendicularly extending and circumferentially distributed engagement troughs which are recessed relative to the imaginary outer profile and each being separated from the adjacent trough by a respective outer perimeter transit zone. The outer transit zone has a width (r) which is less than the width (i) of the trough, and in particular, a width (r) which is less than half the width of the trough.