US3685125A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dolly for handling large wheels as for aircraft
Assignee: KALAMAZOO Manufacturing Co
•
Filing: 1970-05-14
•
Granted: 1972-08-22
•
Expires: 1990-05-14
Abstract
Abstract A wheel handler apparatus for transporting and handling large diameter and/or heavy wheels, particularly wheels for aircraft. The apparatus includes a frame supported on a plurality of rollers and having coupling means for permitting same to be suitably connected to a towing vehicle. The frame includes a main support axle adapted to have the large and/or heavy wheels removably supported on the opposite ends thereof. A wheel transfer structure is mounted on the axle and includes engaging device adapted to coact with the web plate of the wheel for permitting the wheel to be axially drawn onto and supported on the main axle or moved axially outwardly off of the axle so as to be piloted onto a support hub on which the wheel is to be mounted. The frame is provided with an elevating mechanism for permitting the wheel to be elevated so as to be aligned with the support hub. When wheels are supported by the handler, the elevating mechanism is preferably retractable to permit the wheels to rollingly engage the ground.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert J Depierre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 16:57
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60B; B60B35/00; B60B35/02; B60B35/10; B60B35/1072; B60B35/109; B60B29/00; B60B29/002; B60B35/1036; B60B35/1054; B64; B64F; B64F5/00; B64F5/50; B60B2310/00; B60B2310/30; B60B2310/302; B60B2310/306; B60Y; B60Y2200/00; B60Y2200/10; B60Y2200/14; B60Y2200/147; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53796; Y10T29/5383
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for handling and/or transporting large diameter and/or heavy wheels, comprising: frame means including cantilevered shaft means, said shaft means extending substantially horizontally; roller means mounted on said frame means and adapted for rolling engagement with a support surface for permitting said apparatus to be rollingly moved about; a wheel support device adapted to have at least one wheel removably mounted thereon, said support device being movably mounted on said shaft means for movement relative thereto in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of said shaft means; and movement means mounted on said frame means and coacting with said support device for selectively causing linear movement of said support device in said direction.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
An apparatus for handling and/or transporting large diameter and/or heavy wheels, comprising: frame means including cantilevered shaft means, said shaft means extending substantially horizontally; roller means mounted on said frame means and adapted for rolling engagement with a support surface for permitting said apparatus to be rollingly moved about; a wheel support device adapted to have at least one wheel removably mounted thereon, said support device being movably mounted on said shaft means for movement relative thereto in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of said shaft means; and movement means mounted on said frame means and coacting with said support device for selectively causing linear movement of said support device in said direction.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for handling and/or transporting large diameter and/or heavy wheels, comprising: frame means including an elongated tubular axle member; roller means mounted on said frame means and adapted for rolling engagement with a support surface for permitting said apparatus to be rollingly moved about; first and second wheel support means each adapted to have a wheel removably mounted thereon, said first and second support means being movably mounted on said axle member adjacent the opposite end thereof for movement relative thereto in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said axle member; and movement means mounted on said frame means and coacting with said first and second support means for selectively effecting linear movement of onE of said support means relative to said axle member in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, thereby facilitating the mounting or removal of a wheel from said apparatus.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for handling and/or transporting large diameter and/or heavy wheels, comprising: frame means including an elongated tubular axle member; roller means mounted on said frame means and adapted for rolling engagement with a support surface for permitting said apparatus to be rollingly moved about; first and second wheel support means each adapted to have a wheel removably mounted thereon, said first and second support means being movably mounted on said axle member adjacent the opposite end thereof for movement relative thereto in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said axle member; and movement means mounted on said frame means and coacting with said first and second support means for selectively effecting linear movement of onE of said support means relative to said axle member in a direction substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis, thereby facilitating the mounting or removal of a wheel from said apparatus.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
214 words
An apparatus for handling and/or transporting large diameter and/or heavy wheels, comprising: frame means including cantilevered shaft means, said shaft means extending substantially horizontally and having a substantially cylindrical hub portion adjacent the free end thereof adapted to support thereon a wheel hub; roller means mounted on said frame means and adapted for rolling engagement with a support surface for permitting said apparatus to be rollingly moved about; removable holding means secured to said shaft means adjacent the free end thereof, said holding means including means extending radially outwardly beyond the periphery of said cylindrical hub portion for defining a first abutment; transfer means slidably supported on said shaft means at a location spaced inwardly from the free end thereof, said transfer means extending radially outwardly of said cylindrical hub portion and defining a second abutment disposed opposite and axially spaced from said first abutment, whereby a wheel hub supported on said cylindrical hub portion is axially confined between said first and second abutments; and drive means mounted on said frame means and coacting with said transfer means for selectively causing slidable linear movement of said transfer means toward and away from the free end of said hub portion for causing a wheel to be pushed off or pulled onto said cylindrical hub portion.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
214 words
An apparatus for handling and/or transporting large diameter and/or heavy wheels, comprising: frame means including cantilevered shaft means, said shaft means extending substantially horizontally and having a substantially cylindrical hub portion adjacent the free end thereof adapted to support thereon a wheel hub; roller means mounted on said frame means and adapted for rolling engagement with a support surface for permitting said apparatus to be rollingly moved about; removable holding means secured to said shaft means adjacent the free end thereof, said holding means including means extending radially outwardly beyond the periphery of said cylindrical hub portion for defining a first abutment; transfer means slidably supported on said shaft means at a location spaced inwardly from the free end thereof, said transfer means extending radially outwardly of said cylindrical hub portion and defining a second abutment disposed opposite and axially spaced from said first abutment, whereby a wheel hub supported on said cylindrical hub portion is axially confined between said first and second abutments; and drive means mounted on said frame means and coacting with said transfer means for selectively causing slidable linear movement of said transfer means toward and away from the free end of said hub portion for causing a wheel to be pushed off or pulled onto said cylindrical hub portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, further including elevating means mounted on said frame means and adapted to coact with said support surface for selectively effecting the elevation of said shaft means relative to said support surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, further including elevating means mounted on said frame means and adapted to coact with said support surface for selectively effecting the elevation of said shaft means relative to said support surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, further including elevating means mounted on said frame means and adapted to coact with said support surface for selectively effecting the elevation of the longitudinal axis of said axle member relative to said support surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said roller means includes first and second support rollers, and said elevating means being disposed between said first support roller and said frame means whereby extension of said elevating means causes said first support roller to contact said support surface for causing the longitudinal axis of said axle member to be raised relative to said support surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said movement means includes fluid pressure cylinder means operably interconnected to said first and second support means for effecting selected linear movement of one of said support means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said cylinder means includes first and second fluid pressure cylinders disposed within said axle member, said first and second cylinders respectively having first and second extendable piston rods interconnected to said first and second support means, respectively; pump means mounted on said frame means for supplying pressurized fluid to said first and second cylinders; and valve means disposed between said pump means and said first and second cylinders for selectively controlling the flow of fluid to said cylinders.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said first and second cylinders are each of the double-acting type for permitting the respective support means to be selectively moved either axially outwardly or axially inwardly relative to said axle member for causing a wheel to be removed from or mounted on the axle member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first support roller is swingably mounted on saiD frame means for swingable movement within a substantially vertical plane; and said elevating means including a fluid pressure cylinder coacting between said frame means and said swingable support roller for selectively causing said first support roller to vertically swing relative to said frame means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
103 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each said wheel support means includes a sleeve portion slidably mounted on said axle member for linear movement in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of said sleeve portion and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said axle member, each said sleeve portion being interconnected to and selectively linearly movably by said movement means; each said support means further including a transversely extending mounting plate means mounted on said sleeve portion and a plurality of releasable wheel engaging devices mounted on said plate means and disposed for gripping the web plate of a wheel hub.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said movement means includes a fluid pressure cylinder mounted on said frame means and having a reciprocating piston rod disposed for linear movement in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of said sleeve portion, said piston rod being interconnected to said sleeve portion for causing linear movement thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus according to claim 12, further including means for rotatably supporting a wheel upon said frame means whereby said wheel can be disposed for rolling engagement with said support surface when being transported from one location to another.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
89 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said frame means includes an elongated draw bar having coupling means disposed adjacent the forward end thereof for permitting said apparatus to be releasably connected to a suitable tow vehicle, said elongated axle member being fixedly secured to and extending transversely outwardly from opposite sides of said draw bar; said roller means including first and second pairs of support rollers mounted on said frame means and disposed in laterally spaced relationship from one another along the longitudinal direction of said draw bar.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein at least one of said pairs of support rollers comprises a pair of swivel casters.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 15, further including jack means mounted on said frame means and adapted to coact with said support surface for selectively effecting the elevation of said axle member relative to said support surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said first and second pairs of support rollers are horizontally laterally positioned on opposite sides of said axle member, and wherein said jack means is disposed between said frame means and one of said pair of rollers for effecting selective vertical movement of said one pair of rollers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-22 | 1976-02-21 | 1976-08-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-22 | 1980-02-21 | 1980-08-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-22 | 1984-02-21 | 1984-08-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |