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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The method and apparatus disclosed herein relates to commonly assigned
application Ser. No. 07/036,659 filed Apr. 10, 1987 now U.S. Pat. No.
4,763,392 and entitled METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A TOTALLY COATED TIRE RIM
in the names of Robert D. Fogel and Albert A. Tabor, and the totality of
the disclosure of the latter-identified application is incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to refinishing or reconditioning rims or
wheels of motor vehicles, such as trucks, automobiles, tractors, trailers,
or the like.
A truck rim is very rarely serviced from the day a tire is first mounted
thereon and any number of retreads or new tires are remounted thereon.
Such truck rims or wheels are subject to virtually constant use under most
adverse coditions of nature, terrain and the like. Quite simply, the more
commercial vehicles are used or are "on the road," the more profitable is
the return on investment. Accordingly, the wheels and rims are normally
removed from trucks, tractors, trailers, or the like, new tires or
retreads are mounted thereon, and these rims and wheels are returned to
service with most unfortunate consequences, as evidenced by recent
national reports confirming the high incidents of large vehicle accidents
in proportion to the lesser number of such vehicles on the road as
compared to passenger automobiles. If a truck wheel or rim is not cleaned,
refurbished and/or refinished or is not even incidentally inspected before
being returned to service, the truck upon which the rim or wheel is
mounted is a potential rolling disaster. Accordingly, the present
invention provides a novel method of and apparatus for refinishing truck
or similar vehicle wheels and rims so that when remounted with retreads or
new tires on vehicles, the safety factor of the refinished rims and/or
wheels are comparable and even better than when new.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a novel method of and apparatus for
refinishing truck or similar wheels and rims by rotating a rim/wheel in a
first chamber and subjecting the same to a hot high-pressure water spray
for cleaning and degreasing purposes, transferring the rim/wheel to a
second chamber in which the rim/wheel is again rotated and shot-blasted to
remove dirt, rust, debris and paint therefrom, removing the rim/wheel from
the second chamber, and thereafter applying a complete coating of
polymeric protective material upon the rim/wheel whereby a retread or a
new tire applied thereto will be assured of safety and performance,
extended wear and service life and low future maintenance, all
accomplished in a matter of minutes at low costs.
In further keeping with this invention, the rim/wheel is preferably rotated
in both chambers when its axis is disposed in a generally horizontal plane
and the coating of polymeric material is applied by spraying when the
rim/wheel is disposed in two positions with the axis thereof respectively
vertical and horizontal.
Another object of this invention is to provide a novel refinishing method
and apparatus in which the rim/wheel is elevated from floor level over an
arcuate path of travel to the first chamber, conveyed from the first
chamber to the second chamber, painted and subsequently relowered along an
arcuate path back to floor level.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel refinishing
method and apparatus as aforesaid wherein an ejection mechanism is
utilized with each chamber to effectively eject each rim/wheel by rotation
thereof along its axis.
With the above and other objects in view that will herein after appear, the
nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to
the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several
views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a novel refinishing apparatus or
machine of this invention, and illustrates a rim/wheel in phantom outline
progressively moving from right-to-left between an elevating station, a
pressurized hot liquid washing and degreasing station, a shot-blasting
station, a painting station, and a lowering station.
FIG. 2 is a highly schematic front elevational view of the refinishing
apparatus of FIG. 1, and illustrates the various stations with the
elevating and lower stations rotated 90 degrees for clarity.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line 3--3
of FIG. 1, and illustrates details of the high-pressure cleaning and
degreasing station, a rim/wheel ejector thereof, and a pivoting platform
at the elevating station.
FIG. 4, which appears on the sheet of drawings containing FIG. 2, is a
fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along line 4--4 of FIG.
2, and illustrates a rim/wheel in the shot blast chamber.
FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the washing and degreasing
chamber and the shot blast cleaning chamber, and illustrates details of
the structures thereof and the manner in which a rim/wheel is cleaned
thereby.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line 6--6
FIG. 2, and illustrates a rim/wheel being sprayed with polymeric material
during the rotation of the rim/wheel about a horizontal axis.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line
7--7 of FIG. 2, and illustrates a rim/wheel being sprayed while rotated
about a horizontal axis and subsequently being reoriented with its axis
vertical for subsequent spraying.
FIG. 8, which appears on the sheet of drawings containing FIG. 6, is an
enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line 8--8 of FIG. 7,
and illustrates the synthetic polymeric protective material being applied
to the rim/wheel during the rotation thereof about a vertical axis.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A novel machine or apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention
for refinishing wheels or rims R of relatively large vehicles, such as
trucks, tractors, trailers, and the like, is generally designated by the
reference numeral 10.
The machine 10 includes a frame or framework 11, an elevating station 12
for elevating each rim or wheel R (hereinafter rim/wheel R) from ground
level to a high-pressure, hot water washing and degreasing station 13, a
shot-blasting station 14, a polymeric resin coating or painting station 15
and a lowering or discharge station 16. A second rim/wheel elevating
station 17 is utilized to lift rims/wheels R from ground level directly to
the shot blast station 14 thereby by-passing the high-pressure, hot water
washing and degreasing station 13 should rim/wheels R be sufficiently free
of grease, grime, dirt and the like for direct shot-blasting at the blast
station 14. Conveyor means 18 which will be described more fully
hereinafter convey or transfer each rim/wheel from right-to-left, as
viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, during the refinishing thereof.
The elevating stations 12, 17 and the lowering station 16 are virtually
identical in construction, and each includes means in the form of an
L-shaped platform 20 defined by a plate 21 and a ramp plate 22 which is
welded to the base plate 21 at substantially 90 degrees thereto. Each ramp
plate 22 is also welded to generally parallel side guide plate 23. A pair
of cylindrical sleeves 24 (FIG. 7) are welded or otherwise secured to an
upper end portion (unnumbered) of each of the ramp plates 22, and a
cylindrical pivot pin 25 is received in and projects outwardly of the
cylindrical sleeves 24. The sleeves 24 are welded or adjustably locked to
the pivot pin 25 by radial set screws or bolts 26. The ends of each pivot
pin 25 are journalled for rotation in bearing blocks 27 which are suitably
welded or bolted to the frame 11.
Means 30 (FIG. 3) in the form of a fluid cylinder 31 housing a reciprocal
piston rod 32 is provided for pivoting each platform 20 between the
positions thereof shown in FIG. 1 at which the base plates 21 rest upon
and are generally parallel to the support surface S' of the machine 10,
and the positions shown in phantom outline in FIGS. 3 and 6 at which the
ramp plates 22 are disposed generally in a horizontal plane. A
conventional pivotal connection 33 (FIG. 3) connects each cylinder 31 to
an appropriate portion of the frame 11 and a like conventional pivotal
connection 34 pivotally connects each piston rod 32 to the associated ramp
plate 22. A fluid pressure source (not shown) is connected by conventional
lines (also not shown) to the head and rod ends of the cylinder 31 and by
operating appropriate foot pedals 35 (FIG. 1) an operator can selectively
extend or retract the piston rods 32 relative to the cylinders 31. As an
example, by depressing one of the foot pedals 35 after a rim/wheel R has
been positioned upon the base plate 21 of the elevating station 12, as
shown in FIG. 1, the piston rod 32 will be extended thereby pivoting the
platform 20 (FIG. 3) from the solid to the phantom outline position in
FIG. 3 about a generally horizontal axis defined by the pivot pin 25. In
this manner the platform 20 elevates the rim/wheel along a generally
arcuate path of travel A between the solid and phantom outline positions
of the platform 20 illustrated in FIG. 3 to thereby raise the rim/wheel R
to a position immediately adjacent the high-pressure, hot water washing
and degreasing station 13. Obviously, at the lowering station 16 each
refinished rim/wheel R is rolled upon the ramp plate 22 when in a
horizontal position after which the associated piston rod 32 is retracted
into the cylinder 31 to lower the refinished rim/wheel R to the surface
S', again along an arcuate path of travel A1 (FIG. 2).
The conveying means 18 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 3) run the length of the machine 10
and are defined by two generally cylindrical rollers 41, 42 transversely
spaced from each other (FIGS. 3 and 4) in generally parallel relationship
and mounted for rotation at opposite ends of the machine 10 in journals
43, 44, respectively. While the rollers 41, 42 are generally parallel to
each other, as viewed along the length thereof, the elevations of upper
surfaces (unnumbered) are not aligned and, in fact, cross at approximately
the mid-point of the length of the rollers 41, 42, as is best illustrated
in FIG. 2. Referring specifically to FIG. 2, the left-hand end of the
roller 41 in FIG. 2 is shown elevated above the left-hand end of the
roller 42, whereas the right-hand end of the roller 42 is above the
right-hand end of the roller 41. Stated another way, the axes of the
rollers 41, 42 cross substantially mid-way between the ends of the rollers
41, 42, and the reason therefor is to advance, convey or transport the
rims/wheels from right-to-left, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, when the
rollers 41, 42 are rotated in the same direction, which is clockwise in
FIG. 3. The rollers 41, 42 are driven clockwise by means of a conventional
electrical motor 45 (FIG. 3) having a pulley 46 rotated in a clockwise
direction to similarly drive a pulley belt 47 which is in turn entrained
about pulleys 48, 49 connected to the respective rollers 41, 42. The motor
45 is selectively energized from an electrical power source (not shown) by
manipulating conventional switches 51 (FIG. 1). When the rollers 41, 42
are rotated clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 3, the rim wheel R supported
thereby on its beads B1 is rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 3,
and due to the vertical offsetting of the rollers 41, 42 heretofore noted,
the rim/wheel R not only rotates about its axis but also moves parallel to
its axis from right-to-left, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, from the
elevating station 12 toward the lowering station 16 during a refinishing
operation when, of course, the rollers 41, 42 are being driven by
energization of the motor 45. The motor 45 can be, of course, a variable
speed motor to control the rate of transport or travel of the rims/wheels
R during the operation of the machine 10.
The high-pressure, hot water washing and degreasing station 13 includes
means 50 defining a generally rectangular chamber or housing essentially
closed at its top, bottom, rear and opposite sides, but having a front
wall 51 provided with a generally rectangular opening 52. The opening 52
is aligned with the platform 20 of the elevating station 12 so that each
rim/wheel R can be manually rolled from the ramp plate 22 (FIG. 3) across
the rollers 42, 41, whether stationary or driven, and into the chamber 50
through the opening 52 thereof. In order to assist in this transfer the
upper portion (unnumbered) of the ramp plate 22 at the elevating station
12 has a plate 54 welded between the side guide plates 23 and projects
slightly past the roller 42 (FIG. 3) when the platform 20 has been
elevated. The plate 45 thereby provides a transition surface over which
the wheel/rim R can be rolled, and like transition surfaces can be so
provided, if necessary, by welding suitable plates 55, 56 to the framework
11 and the housing 50.
A generally rectangular door 60 provided with appropriate seals can be
reciprocated up and down to respectively open and close the opening 52.
Suitable lateral vertical guides or tracks 61, 62 received lateral edges
(unnumbered) of the door 60 and guide its reciprocal motion upwardly and
downwardly under the influence of door moving means 65 in the form of a
fluid cylinder 66 having a reciprocal rod 67 pivotally connected at 68 to
the door 60. The cylinder 66 is pivotally connected at 69 to a bracket 70
which is in turn connected to an appropriate angular portion of the frame
11 (FIG. 1).
A ledge 72 (FIG. 3) forms a transition at the opening 52 of the chamber 50
for facilitating the rolling of each rim/wheel R into the housing 50 and
upon a pair of generally parallel rollers 73, 74 which collectively define
means for rotating each rim/wheel R when being treated in the chamber 50
with, of course, the door 60 closed. The rollers 73, 74 are conventionally
journaled in the side walls (unnumbered) of the chamber 50, as is evident
in FIG. 5, and each roller 73, 74 is driven through a pulley 75 (FIG. 5)
connected to each roller 73, 74, a pulley belt 76 entrained thereabout and
about a pulley 77 with the pulley 77 being driven by a conventional
variable speed motor 78. An appropriate guard 80 houses the pulleys 75, 77
and the belt 76.
An appropriate reservoir 85 is provided in a lower portion of the chamber
50 in which water W is maintained at a predetermined height and is heated
to a desired temperature (preferably 180.degree. F.) by conventional gas
burners 86 connected to a suitable gas source. An electric motor 87
operated by one of the switches 51 (FIG. 10 operates a conventional
submersible pump 88 having an inlet (not shown) which draws the water W
from the reservoir 85 and feeds it under high pressure through an outlet
pipe 90 and a series of other pipes connected thereto and being closed by
caps 91 through 96 (FIGS. 3 and 5) having elongated slits 97 for emitting
therefrom high pressure hot sprays S of water W. The slit cap or nozzle 91
directs the spray S upwardly against the rotating rim/wheel R; the slit or
nozzle 92 directs the spray from left-to-right, as viewed in FIG. 5,
against the left bead of the rim/wheel; another opposing nozzle (not
shown) in the same plane as the slit cap/nozzle 92 directs the spray from
right-to-left in FIG. 5; and the pairs of slit caps or nozzles 93, 94 and
95, 96 direct the spray to the right and down and to the left and down,
respectively, in FIG. 5. Because of this spray orientation and the
rotation of the rim/wheel R, the entirety of the rim/wheel including
internal, external and peripheral surfaces, are cleaned and degreased.
At the completion of the high-pressure hot water washing and degreasing
operation, the rod 67 is retracted into the cylinder 66 (FIG. 3) thereby
opening the door 60 and the rim R can be ejected from the chamber 50.
Means for ejecting the rim/wheel R from the chamber 50 includes a
cylindrical rod 100 (FIG. 5) journaled in the side walls (unnumbered) of
the chamber or housing 50, and carrying centrally thereof a depending arm
101 carrying a crossbar 102. An end of the rod 100 outside of the housing
50 carries a crank arm 103 which is connected by a pivot 104 to a rod 105
of a fluid cylinder 106 having rod and cylinder ends connected to suitable
sources of compressed air and operated by appropriate solenoids through
one of the switches 51 or one of the foot pedals 35, as desired. The
cylinder 106 is connected by a pivot 107 to the housing 50. With the rod
105 fully retracted in the cylinder 106, the arm 101 and the crossbar 102
occupy the position shown in FIG. 3 spaced remote from the door 60 and the
opening 52. However, when the rod 105 is extended, the arm 101 pivots
counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG. 3, causing the crossbar 102 to engage
the wheel/rim R and push the same outwardly through the opening 52 and
upon he rollers 41, 42. Of course, the door 60 should not be opened until
the motor 87 has been deenergized and the spray S from the associated
nozzles 91 through 96 has stopped. All of this can be done manually or
through appropriate interlocks which perform no part of the present
invention. Furthermore, an appropriate exhaust opening (unnumbered) is
provided in the housing 50 and is suitably vented to atmosphere by an
appropriate fan and motor which is generally designated by the reference
numeral 108 (FIG. 5). Also, appropriate parallel guide rods 110, 111
(FIGS. 3 and 5) can be provided in the housing 50 to ensure that the
rim/wheel R will be fed properly into and out of the chamber 50 and, of
course, during the rotation thereof by the rollers 73, 74, guide rods 110,
111 will impart stability to the rim/wheel and assure rotation about a
generally horizontal axis. Furthermore, the high pressure of the sprays S
will not tip the rim/wheel R over upon either of its beads because of the
stability offered by the rods 110, 111. Thus, the rods 110, 111 not only
serve the purpose of guiding the introduction of the rim/wheel R into and
out of the housing 50, but also provide means for stabilizing the
rim/wheel R with the axis horizontal during the high-pressure hot water
washing and degreasing operation.
Once the rim/wheel R has been ejected from the high-pressure hot water
washing and dereasing station 13, the beads B thereof rest upon the
rollers 41, 42 which during the rotation thereof advance the rim/wheel R
from the station 13 to the shot blast station 14.
The shot blast station 14 includes a housing 50' and other components
identical the those of the station 13 and, thus, the same have been
identically numbered and primed. Accordingly, once the washed and
degreased rim/wheel R is advanced to the opening 52' or, absent washing
and degreasing, elevated by the platform 20 of the elevating station 17
adjacent the opening 52', the rim/wheel R is manually rolled into the shot
blast housing or chamber 50' past the rollers 42, 41 (FIG. 4) and upon
rollers 73', 74' which are rotated by the electric motor 78',pulleys 75',
77', and the associated belt 76'. As the rim/wheel R rotates (FIGS. 4 and
5), shot blast means generally designated by the reference numberal 120
drive tiny metallic pieces P of shot against exterior and interior
surfaces of the rim/wheel R by means of electrical driven motors 121 which
rotate within housings 122 at high speeds in a generally upward direction,
as viewed in FIG. 5. A plurality of deflector plates 123 are suitably
mounted within the chamber 50' to intercept the pieces or shot blast P or
portions thereof and redirect the blast, particularly toward the interior
of the rim/wheel R to make certain that all surfaces thereof are totally
cleansed. In an actual experimental working embodiment of this invention,
the shot blast P removed all rust and scale from the rim/wheel R and up to
seven layers of baked on paint from both the inside and outside of the
rim/wheel R. Dust is withdrawn through an opening 125 in a rear wall
(unnumbered) of the shot blast chamber 50' and is delivered via vacuum and
an associated flexible pipe 126 to a self-contained dust collector housing
127 (FIG. 7) so as to preclude venting. The dust collector includes a
suitable conventional filter for entraining dust, dirt and the like, and
this can be discharged from the hopper 127 through a discharge door 128
(FIG. 1) at a truncated lower portion of the hopper 127. In addition, sine
the shot blast P is directed at high velocity against the surface of the
rim/wheel R, the metallic material is heated through friction, and this
heat augments the drying of the subsequent applied polymeric coating
material, as will be described immediately hereinafter. The door 60' is,
of course, opened at the shot blast station 14 only after the shot blast
motors 121 have been deenergized to preclude obvious damage, and
thereafter the rim/wheel R is ejected from the chamber 50' by rolling
about its horizontal axis by the crossbar 102', as is most evident from
FIG. 4. Preferably a suitable reservior or tray 130 having a discharge
spout 131 (FIG. 2) is positioned between the rollers 41, 42 at the shot
blast station 14 so that any of the shot blast P adhering thereto can be
dislodged by, for example, manually bouncing the rim/wheel R, tipping the
same over in either of two directions or both of two directions with the
axis thereof vertical, etc. The shot blast exiting the spout 131 (FIG. 2)
can be collected in a suitable container 132 and, of course, reinserted
into the chamber 50' for continued use.
At the end of the shot blast operation, the rim/wheel R is transferred by
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