Charles D Cross

US Patent:

7011131, Mar 14, 2006

Filed:

Dec 18, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/324313

Inventors:

Brett Chappell - New Market AL, US
Charles Cross - Fayetteville TN, US
Stephen Downs - Los Lunas NM, US

Assignee:

SUMMA Technology, Inc. - Huntsville AL

International Classification:

B60C 12/128

US Classification:

157 117, 157 12, 157 126

Abstract:

A mobile bead breaker () may be provided comprising a pair of conjoined housings (). In a first of such housings () may be the control and drive mechanisms of the present invention including a pump, hydraulic ram (), a vertical guide plate () and the apparatus' controls. In the second of such housings () may be located a supporting wall () and for smaller tires a positioning rod () for locating and then maintaining the tire/rim assembly in a stationary vertical position for engagement by the bead breaker mechanism. The bead breaker mechanism, additionally located within the second housing (), may be a spider assembly () comprising a plurality of legs () equally spaced about a central hub (). The central hub () of such spider assembly () may be mounted to the hydraulic ram (). When the ram () is activated, the spider assembly () moves toward and engages the tire/rim assembly about the bead of the tire to break the rim/bead seal.