CA2179596A1 - Wheel repair stand - Google Patents

Abstract

A wheel repair stand includes a frame 12) with a pair of horizontal support beams (12b) to support a turntable (20). A wheel may be mounted on the turntable (20) and radial forces applied by an extensible tool between the frame and the wheel rim (64). The wheel may be rotated on the turntable to allow the force to be applied at the desired location.

Description

~ WO 95/1727~ 217 9 5 9 ~ PCTICA94100~7 llREEL REPAI~ 8TA~ID
The present invention relates to a method and device for repairing wheel rims, and more particularly, 5 to a method and device ~or repairing the metal rims of bicycles and motor vehicle wheels arter the rims have been dented or bent out of shape.
As is well, known, the wheels of most, i~ not all, bicycles and motor vehicles, such as cars, trucks, 10 motorbikes, etc., consist of two main parts: a circular metal or alloy rim and a rubber tyre ~ i ~posed circumrerentially around the periphery of the rim. One of the main ~UL~O9e.1~ of the rim i5 to provide ~LLU~.LULe~1 ~.LL.~ Lh to the wheel. Herein, the term "metal rim" will 15 be used to refer to a ri~ made of metal or alloy.
Arter excessive and repeated use, the metal wheel rims of motor vehicles may become damaged in a number of ways. For examplQ, a metal wheel rim may become dented or rL _~uLæd, or the metal wheel rim may be 20 distorted from a circular shape. As well, portions o~
the metal rim may become worn, etc. Thus, after excessive use, o~pe~ ly when the vehicle i~ used in rough terrain or under heavy loads, or when the vehicle's wheels encounter a pothole or curb, the metal rim of the 25 wheels may become dented or bent so that the wheels are no longer circular, but rather take on an "oval" shape.
Such a bent or oval wheel rim can cause potontiillly serious problems to the proper and safe operation of the motor vehicle. If a metal wheel rim is in any way 30 damaged, the motor vehicle wheel will be off balance, resulting in excessive vibration and may also result in ~ aLur6 1085 of air PL~SDULa in the tires. In addition, even newly manufactured wheel rims after casting may be bent slightly out of shape and of f 35 balancQ, thus also posing a similar problem and a safety hazard .
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device useful for repairing the metal rims of bicycle or motor vehicle WO 95/17271 ~ . PCT/CA91/007~7 ~179~96 2 wheels. According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for repairing the metal rims of motor vehicle and bicycle wheels.
An embodiment of the present invention will now S be described by way of example only with reference to the a ~nying drawings, in which like numerals denote like parts in the several views, and in which:
Figure 1 is a peL~ecLive view of a wheel repair stand with a damaged wheel fltted;
Figure 2 is a peL,~- Live view on an enlarged ~cale of the ~ ts Or the wheel repair stand of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;
15 FigurQ 4 is a per,~e.i~ive view of a -rlt used to support a wheel on the ~tand of Figur~2 2;
Figure S is a plan view o~ thQ _ ~ of Figure 4;
FigurQ 6 iB an ~l~rloded ViQW of the damago~d whe~l mounted on the stand;
Figure ~ is an enlarged view showing application of a repair tool to the damaged wheel; and Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7.
Figur~ 9 iB a front elevation of an alternative o~oA; ~ l of a wheel repair stand shown in Figure 1.
Figure 10 is a view on the line 10-10 of Figure 9.
Referring to Figure 1, a wheel repair stand 10 30 1 n~ P a machine frame 12 welded from channel section ~LL~ LC~1 steel and having uprights 12a and a horizontal beam 12b. The U-framed channel irons of frame 12 are sQcurely connected together, preferably by welding or other means, to m;nimi7e vibration and ~.~ t of the 35 entire device 10. The frame 12 is bolted to the floor with bolts 14, or other such securing means, to ensure ~ WO 95117271 2 1 7 9 ~ 9 ~ P~T/C~9 ~/00717 that the overall structure of device lo does not move or vibrate substantially while in use.
Slots 13 are formed in the inner faces of uprights 12a to receive a connecting block 15. Block 15 5 is secured to the frame uprights 12a by bolts 17 located in slots 13 to inhibit relative ~
A pair of cross beams 16 ,18 are welded to either side of the uprights 12a and braced with triangular fillets 19. I'he beams 16,18 are _~LU~ ~ULCIl 10 ~teel rh~nn~l ~2 positioned at approximately one metre from the f loor to provide a convenient work height . A
turntable 20 is located between the beams 16,18 and is secured to the upper and lower rlanges Or the beams by plateL 21.
Turntable 20 incll~A~ a tubular hou~ing 23 having tub- 20 a central bore 22 to receiv~ a shart 24.
Shart 24 is mad- Or high tensile steel and is fitted into the bore 22 as be~t shown in Figure 3. Th~ shart 24 is rotatably located by a pair of fltting bearings 26, 28, respectively, that are located at opposite ends of the housing 23 against shoulders 25. Upper end 34 of shaft 24 has an enlarged head 27 that overlies the bearing 26.
The lower end 30 Or shaft 24 is threaded to receive a bolt 32 to secure sha~t 24 axially . As such, shaft 24 is able to rotate rreely about its longitudinal axis once it is in place.
The size of sllaft 24 is selected so as to be able to receive various sizes Or motor vehicle wheel rim~, as more rully described hereinbelow. Thus, dirrerent si2ed sharts ~Day be needed ,l~r~n~lin-J on the variety of size- Or the wheel rim to be repaired. The two ritting bearings 26, 28 will, accordingly, also be of dirferent sizes dep~n~l;n~ on the 5ize of shaft 24 used.
Typically, most wheel rims of cars can be mounted on the 35 same size shaft 24, whereas a larger shaft 24 is required for truck wheel rims. As well, each of the fitting bearings 26, 28 and the sha~t 24 will preferably be wo gs/17271 PCTICA94100717 ~1 79~96 4 structurally larger and aLrullc"er where the metal rims of larger truck wheels are to be repaired.
The head 27 of shaft 24 has an internally threaded bore 36 to receive a bolt 37. Typically, the width of wheel rims that can be repaired with the device 10 ranges from the wheel rims of bicycles to the wheel rims for trucks. A wheel is mounted on the shaft 24 by a 6upport plate 38, an example of which is shown in Figs.
4 and 5. The support plate 38 i5 pre~erably made of metal and is generally disc-shaped. The wheel rims of motor Yehicles include rer~inin-j holes d;~rosed at regular intervals through which bolts can be inserted for mounting and retaining the wheel rim on thQ motor vehicle ' s axle . The number of such retaining holes depends on the size of the wheel rim and type o~ motor vehicle, and typically varies from threQ to eight holes.
Accordingly, a number o~ dirferent conflgurations o~
support plates will be reyuired to ~ ~' t- thQ
di~erent type~ o~ wheel in th~ exampl~ shown. Th-support platQ 38 shown is d-~igr~' for use with a four hole wheel rim.
As can be seen from Fig-. 6 and 8 the plate 38 has a top sur~ace 48 and a bottom sur~ace S0. A circular counterbore 44 is r--hinr,~d into thQ bottom surface 50 of plate 38 and i~ intendQd to recQivQ th- head 27 o~ shaft 24 therQin. The top surface 48 of plate 38 inrllldr~c undercut sl ~ y~ 46 (Figure 4) that radiate from a c-ntre hole 42 . Each slideway 46 i nrlll~r~ a narrowed opening 54 and a wider portion 56. The head 43 of a bolt 40 is received in the wider portion 56 with its shank 41 projecting through the opening 54. The bolt 40 can thus ~lid~ radially in the rh_nnr lc 46, but neverthelQss is retained on the plat- 38 against axial ~G t. The hole 42 is counterbored, as indicated at 52, to ~ te the head of a bolt 37 which extends into the threaded bore 36 in shaft 24.

W0 9~117271 ~ ~ 7 9 5 9 6 PCTICA9S1~0717 Referring back to Fig. 2, and ~lso to Fig. 6, once plate 38 i5 mounted and secured to the top end 34 of shaft 24, a wheel rim 64 can then be mounted onto plate 38. The wheel rim is retained thereon by inserting the 5 shanks 41 of bolts 40 through the retaining holes Or the wheel rim 64, and securing it axially with suitable nuts 68 which are threaded on to shanks 41.
Wheel rim 64 i5 radially locat~d on plate 38 by USQ of a r-~hin--~ support member 67 as shown in Fig. 8.
10 Support member 67 is formed from a pair of C~ Lic cylinders, one of which, 69, is wider than the other 71.
The diameter of narrower cylinder 71 is slightly smaller than the diameter of counterbore 52 on plate 38, thereby allowing narrowed cylinder 71 to fit snugly therein and 15 has a cylindrical recess 73 to ~ te the head of bolt 37. The diameter of wider portion 69 will vary ~-~r~nAinq on the diameter of the hub Or the wheel rim 64 to be repaired. Sincf~ hub 8iZ~ generally varies with wheel size, the d~ r Or wider portion 69 will v~ry 20 according 80 that it is slightly smaller than th<~ hub, thus allowing a snug rit when the wheel hub is slipped over wider portion 69.
The operation Or the device is best seen from Figures l, 6 and 7. A shaft 24 with a head height 25 appropriate for the width and of fset Or the rim to be repaired is inserted into f itting bearings 26, 28 (not shown in Figure 6) and retained by lock bolts 32. Head 27 of shal~t 24 is inserted into ~ -a portion 44 on bottom side 50 and bolt 37 is used to retain plate 38.
30 The support member 67 is ~itted over bolt 66 and into counterbore 52 of plate 38 so that the head of bolt 66 is received within recess 73. Wheel rim 64 is mounted onto plate 38 as shown, with the hub of wheel rim 64 slipped over support member 67. Shanks 41 Or each bolt 43 are 35 then inserted through the retaining holes Or the wheel rim 64. Nuts 68 are used to securely retain wheel rim 64 Wo 95/17271 PCT/CAs~/~07l7 21~9~96 on plate 38. Once~ mounted, wheel rim 64 can be rotated with sha~t 24 relative to frame 12.
To check for eccentricity of the wheel 64 a measuring in~LL, -nt 72 capable of moving along upper 5 surface of beams 18 is utilised as seen in Figure 1.
Measuring ina~L, ~ 72 includes a relatively massive base 76 to slide along the beams 16, 18 and an upright post 78 that extends from base 76 at a 90 angle.
Slidably mounted on post 78 is a sleeve 80 having a 10 tightening screw 82. Sleeve 80 can slide vertically along post 78 and can be retained at a desired location on post 78 by tightening screw 82. Extending at a 90 angle from sleeve 80 is a pointer 84 that can be adjusted relative to post ~8.
The ils_LL, ~ 72 is used to d~termine which areas of a wheel rim 64 are dented or bent into an oval shapQ, thereby reguiring repair, by positioning th~
polnter against the rim and rotating thQ wheel rQlative to th~l fram~. Di~ e will b~ 1 by departure of the pointer from the rim ~nd tho~e areas marked .
Onc~ the defects in the whe~l have been determined, the wheel may be repaired by application of a force from a hydraulic power set 98 or other extensible tool. The power set 98 is secured to a connecting block 15 which i~ secured in an appropriate one of the slots 13. ThQ po~ition of the block 15 is chosen to suit the particular dirQction in which ~orce is to be applied to correct that dQ~Qct.
Hydraulic pow~r set 98 i~, typically a 10 ton set made by 81ack Hawk for use with car wheels, 20 ton for truck wheels, and 4 ton for motor cycle wheels. Set 98 comprises a cylinder 100 and piston 102 combination.
A handle and pump (not shown) allow the user to hydraulically "pump" the piston 102 out of cylinder 100, and in the preferred . '~ t, the set 98 can apply up to 10 tons o~ yr6s ,uLa. One end 104 of set is fitted ~ WO 95/17271 21~ 9 ~ 9 ~ PCTICA9~100717 with a press tip 106. Press tip 106 comprises a curved mild steel member 108 and a retainer 110 (Fig. 7).
Retainer 110 releasably attached to member 108. Retainer 110 can be located at any desired position on member 108, 5 and prererably, retainer 110 is attached at a eith~r a 30O~ 45, 60, 75 or 90 angle.
Once the wheel rim 64 is mounted and secured on plate 38, measuring ir.i,~. ~ 72 can be moved toward wheel rim 64 so that the tip Or pointer 84 is placed adjacent to outer wall 113 Or wheel rim 64. By rotating wheel rim 64, pointer 84 can be used to determine which areas of rim 64 are dented. Ir rim 64 is not dented, then outer wall 113 will lemain at approximately the same relative distance from pointer 84 as the rim 64 rotates.
15 on the other hand, i~ there is a dent, that distance will very, thereby indicating the location Or the dent.
The wheel rim 64 is tested rrom the top of the wheel rim outer wall 113 to the bottom. Pointer 84 c~n b~ moved vertically by ~lidlng sleev~ 80 along po2~t 78.
20 Wh~n a dent~d ar~a is located, the po3ition Or the power set 98 i5 then ad~usted to allow the press tip 108 to apply pr~s..uL æ on the dented area and thus repair that area. Once the dented area is repaired, wheel rim 64 is tested again to ensure the repair of the dented area did not cause a dif rerent area Or the wheel rim 64 to become dented or bent out Or shape. During the trimming process, the shart permits the natural position Or the rim to be adjusted for optimum application of the forces but resists axial ~ . The radial loads applied are 3 0 taken by the support member 3 7 to ensure accurate application of the rorces from the hydraulic set.
Ir an area Or an inner wall of the wheel rim 64 is damaged, the hydraulic power set 98 can still be used in the same fashion to repair that area. The distance 35 between tube 20 and an inner wall is usually sur~iciently great to allow the power set 98 to f it therein. The distance between tube 20 and the inner wall can be as WO 91;/17271 2 t i g 5 9 6 PCTICA94/00717 ~
small as 2 inches since porto power sets haviny cylinders that small are currently available on the market. The spacing of the beams 16 ,18 also permits the power set 98 to be applied ~rom below rim.
If any portion of the surface of the wh~el rim 64 is cracked or torn, or ir the wheel rim 64 cracks or tears when pLe~ rom tho hydraulic power set 98 is applied thereto, an argon alloy gas torch or other suitable torch can be used to weld together the torn portion of the rim 64. Th~ wheel rim 64 i8 then checked again and repaired as required to ensure that it is circular .
Once the wheel rim 64 is found to be sub61 AntiAl ly circular and thus repaired, it is removed ~rom the device 10 and the wheel rim 64 can then be subjected to further repair or re~urbishing if de~ired.
For example, the wheel rim 64 may be polished, paint~d, QtC .
Finally, th- whQ~l rim 64 is, pr~forably, then ch~cked on a typical motor vehicl~ wheel l -lAn~ Ar to ensure that the wheel rim 64 is b~ n~ within the spQcif ied calibration without a tyr~ on the wheel rim 64 .
Ir thQ wheel rim does fall within thn k^l~n~ ;n7 specification, then the tyrR i~ fitted onto th~ wheel rim A~ well, even newly manuractured wheel rim~ are oftRn out o~ calibration and not within , - f icntion, th~r~forn th~ device 10 and process Or the present inv~ntion can be used to ensure that brand new wheel rims arc not dented or bent and thu!~ fall within specified calibrations.
An alternative arr~nq L is shown in Figures 9 and 10 to ~acilitate the repair o~ the internal surfaces Or the wheel. Like re~erence numerals will be used to denote like c ~s with the suf~ix "a" added ~or clarity. Referring therefore, to Figure 9, support beams 16a, 18a are provided with a series of aligned holes 110 to one side of the turn table 20a. The aligned -WO 95/~7271 2 ~ 7 9 5 9 ~ PCTICA9-~100717 g holes 110 receive a bolt 112 that pivotally supports a lever 114. ~ushes 116 inhibit lateral r ~,, t of the lever 114 relative to the beams 16a, 18a.

The lower end of lever 114 is drilled to 5 receive a pin 118 for connection to hydraulic power set 98a. The power set 98a is attached through a bracket 15a to the f rame 12 .

The upper end of lever 114 is bored as indicated at 120 to receive tool bits (not shown) of lo di~ferent standard configurAtion~.

With the arrA-, t shown in Figures 9 and 10, the lever 114 may be po~itioned rAdially inwArdly Or the rim of a wheel mounted on the turn tabl~ 2 Oa and a radially outward force applied through the hydraulic power set 98a. The position Or the lever 114 may be adju~ted on the beams 16a, 18a to a:_ ~te di~erent diameters of wheel and di~rerent tools may be ~itted to the upper end o~ lever~ 114 a:~ n~c~ Ary.

The positioning o~ the power set 98a below the 20 beams 16a, 18a enables di~rerent hydraulic cylinders to be utilized in the power set with longer strokes if n~C~c~ry. Clearly the position o~ the power sets 98a can be ad~usted on the frame 12 to suit particular requirements although generally it i8 preferable for the 25 cylinder to be ~ posed parallel to the beams 16a, 18a.

In summary, the device and method of the present invention is userul ~or repairing metal wheel rims used on motor vehicles. Essentially, any type of dent on the wheel rim can be repaired so that thQ wheel 30 rim is rendered round again. The device and method o~

the present invention can be used on any type of wheel rim, for example, those used on cars, trucks, motorbikes, etc. Preferably, the wheel rim is made of ~ minllm, but it will be understood by those skilled in the art that 35 any metal wheel rim can be repaired accordingly.

It will be understood by persons skilled in the art that modif ications and alterations are possible to wo 95/17~71 PCT/CA94/00717 2~7~9~ lo the present invention . All such nodif ications and alterations are considered to be within tlle scope Or this invention .

Claims (9)

1. A wheel repair stand comprising a pair of vertical frame members spaced apart from one another and each having a plurality of discrete attachment points spaced from one another along said frame members, a support extending between said frame members and having a pair of beams laterally spaced from one another to provide an elongate slot extending between said frame members, a turntable mounted on said support between said frame members and including a shaft rotatable relative to said support about a vertical axis and a platform secured to said shaft to receive a wheel rim, said platform having a boss to engage said wheel rim and inhibit relative radial movement between said rim and said platform, said stand further including at least one attachment bracket selectively positionable at one of said attachment points and operable to support an extensible tool in applying a force between a selected position of said rim and said frame.

2. A wheel repair stand according to claim 1, wherein each of said attachment points includes an elongate slot to receive an attachment bracket.

3. A wheel repair stand according to claim 1, wherein said platform is detachably secured to said spindle.

4. A wheel repair stand according to claim 3, wherein said platform includes a plurality of bolts projecting upwardly from said platform to secure said rim to said platform.

5. A wheel repair stand according to claim 4, wherein said bolts are radially adjustable on said platform.

6. A wheel repair stand according to claim 3, wherein said shaft is removably secured in said housing to inhibit relative axial movement between said housing and said shaft.

7. A wheel repair stand according to claim 1, wherein a lever is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said beams to one side of said turntable, one end of said lever projecting above said support and an actuator extending between one of said frame members and another end of said lever.

8. A wheel repair stand according to claim 7, wherein a hydraulic actuator extends between said one end of said lever and one of said uprights.

9. A wheel repair stand according to claim 8, wherein said lever includes means to support a tool at an end opposite to said actuator.