BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an article handling apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to an apparatus for transporting an article, such as, but not limited to a wheel or other spare part, and for handling the article in a replacement or installation process. The invention has particular application in the mining and earthmoving fields.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or admission or any form of suggestion that that- prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Large earthmoving vehicles, for example those used in mining, typically have correspondingly large tyres. Replacing these oversized tyres can be an onerous task requiring multiple staff, and in most cases, the assistance of bulky machinery that is often difficult to manoeuvre within the workshop or other space-limited environment. Such lifting equipment is generally not compact and easily transportable. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an article handling device for handling articles such as tyres or other spare parts, within a workshop environment or other confined space where a small device foot print is required.

In one broad form the present invention provides, an article handling apparatus including:

a frame adapted to receive the article on a support means; a plurality of wheels attached to said frame for movement of said frame over a substrate surface; and

at least one retaining arm operatively coupled to the frame and adapted to releasably secure the article to the frame,

wherein the secured article is movable in a controlled manner with respect to the frame by movement of the support means and the retaining arm.

In one form the support means includes a pair of supporting arms extending from the frame.

In one form, the article handling apparatus includes a plurality of retaining arms.

In a further form, the retaining arms extend substantially Upwardly from the frame and claw-like end portions of the retaining arms are configured to extend over the article and clamp the article securely to the frame.

In one form, the claw-like end portions are retractable or rotatable to permit the article to be removed. In one form, the retaining arms are hingedly connected to the frame.

In one form, the retaining arms are adapted to tilt relative to the frame.

In one form, the retaining arms are adjustable to accommodate articles of different sizes.

In one form, the apparatus includes three wheels.

In one form, the apparatus includes two front wheels and a rear wheel, the rear wheel being movable independent of the two front wheels. In one form, the retaining arms and/or the supporting arms- include rollers to allow rotation of the secured article.

In a further form the article handling apparatus includes at least one tilting arm operatively coupled to the rear wheel, the tilting arm operating to tilt the secured article forward and rearward.

In one form the article handling apparatus is configured to handle a tyre. In a further form the retaining arm to contactingly engages both walls of the tyre to securely clamp the tyre.

In a further form the rollers contact the tyre tread to rotate the tyre. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one example of the article handling apparatus handling a large tyre (frame not shown);

Figure 2 is perspective view of one example of the article handling apparatus handling a small tyre (frame not shown;

Figure 3 is a rear view of one example of the article handling apparatus retracted to fit in a standard shipping container envelope;

Figure 4 is a side view of one example of the article handling apparatus retracted to fit in a standard shipping container envelope;

Figure 5 is a table indicating different modes of operation of one example of the article handling apparatus;

Figure 6 is a side view of one example of the article handling apparatus showing article tilted forward;

Figure 7 is a side view of one example of the article handling apparatus showing article tilted rearward;

Figure 8 is a front view of one example of the article handling apparatus handling a large tyre;

Figure 9 is a is a front view of one example of the article handling apparatus handling a small tyre; Figure 10 is a rear view of one example of the article handling apparatus handling a small tyre;

Figure 11 is a rear view of one example of the article handling apparatus handling a large tyre;

Figure 12 is a side view of one example of the article handling apparatus handling a large tyre;

Figure 13 is a side view of one example of the article handling apparatus handling a small tyre;

Figure 14 is a rear view of one example of the article handling apparatus having claw-like end portions retracted; Figure 15 is a rear view of one example of the article handling apparatus with clawlike end portion extended and securing a tyre. Figure 16 is perspective view of one example of the article handling apparatus;

Figure 17 shows a front perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the article handling apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 18 illustrates a rear perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 17;

Figure 19 shows an alternative rear perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 17;

Figure 20 shows a front view of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 17;

Figure 21 illustrates a rear view of the embodiment shown in Figure 17;

Figure 22 illustrates a side view of the embodiment shown in Figure 17;

Figure 23 illustrates a top view of the embodiment shown in Figure 17;

Figure 24 illustrates a front perspective view of the article handling apparatus, shown in the embodiments illustrated in Figures 17 to 23, but with a large tyre shown being handled by the apparatus;

Figure 25 shows a rear perspective view of the apparatus shown in Figure 24;

Figure 26 shows a front perspective view of the apparatus shown in Figure 24;

Figure 27 illustrates a top view of the apparatus shown in Figures 24;

Figure 28 illustrates a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in Figure 24;

Figure 29 illustrates a smaller tyre being handled by the article handling apparatus of gures 17 and 24; Figure 30 illustrates a rear perspective view of the apparatus shown in Figure 29; Figure 31 illustrates a front perspective view of the apparatus shown in Figure 29;

Figure 32 illustrates a top view of the apparatus shown in Figure 29.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Throughout the drawings, like numerals will be used to identify similar features, except where expressly otherwise indicated.

The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention, and modifications and/or changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, the embodiments being illustrative and not restrictive.

In the context of this specification, the word "comprising" means "including principally but not necessarily solely" or "having" or "including", and not "consisting only of. Variations of the word "comprising", such as "comprise" and "comprises" have correspondingly varied meanings.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an article handling apparatus including frame adapted to receive the article on a support means. A plurality of wheels are attached to the frame for movement of the frame over a substrate surface. At least one retaining arm is operatively coupled to the frame and adapted to releasably secure the article to the frame. The secured article is movable in a controlled manner with respect to the frame by movement of the support means and the retaining arm.

One embodiment of certain aspects of the invention is shown by the article handling apparatus (1) illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, but without the frame of the apparatus, for ease of understanding the other components. An embodiment of the invention, including the frame, is then shown in Figures 17 to 32. In the embodiment shown, the article (7) being handled is a tyre. The article handling apparatus (1) includes a support means in the form of a pair of supporting arms (2) extending from a frame (3).

Two retaining arms (4) extend substantially upwardly from the frame (3) and clawlike end portions (5) of the retaining arms (4) are configured to extend over the article (7) and clamp the article (7) securely to the frame (3). The claw-like end portions (5) are retractable to permit the article to be removed.

The claw-like end portions (5) span the tyre width to provide opposing clamp support to upright portions (8) of the retaining arms. The span length (9) of the claw-like end portions (5) is adjustable to accommodate tyres of different sizes and may be controlled on each side by a set of parallel arms (15) attached to a hydraulic cylinder. As these parallel arms (15) rotate the horizontal portion of the claw portion (10) extend both upwards and inwards towards the tyre.

This extension in length also gives a wide range of higher clamping positions for the larger tyres. Figure 12 shows the claw spanning a larger tyre whilst Figure 13 shows the claw-like portions spanning a relatively smaller tyre.

The claw-like end portions (5) are able to rotate from an approximate position parallel to the upright portions (8) of the retaining arms (4) to a position greater than 90 degrees from the upright portions (8). This enables positioning of the claw-like end portions (5) behind the tyres. Figures 14 and 15 show the claw in both retracted, and extended/engaging positions.

In one example this is achieved by attaching the claw to an extended shaft and then connecting the shaft to a dog-bone arm attached to a hydraulic cylinder.

The retaining arms (4) are hingedly connected to the frame and, thereby tilt relative to the frame (3) to accommodate articles of different sizes. The two uprights portions (8) act as the rear half of a tyre support clamp, the claw-like end portions providing the front half. Thus the retaining arm (4) contactingly engages both walls of the tyre to securely clamp the tyre. The upright portions (8) tilt with respect to the frame (3) to provide support for different tyre sizes. The left and right upright portions can function independently as the upright portions (8) might need to be set at different angle configurations to avoid interference with different components on some vehicles. On smaller tyres the upright portions (8) will need to tilt inwards (Figure 10), while on larger vehicles the upright portions (8) of the retaining arms (4) will need to tilt outwards (Figure 1 1 ).

In one example the tilt is controlled by a hydraulic cylinder. Motors, pneumatics or other alternative means may instead be used, as will be understood by a person skilled in the art.

The apparatus (1 ) has two front wheels (1 1) and a rear wheel (12), the rear wheel (12) capable of moving independent of the two front wheels (1 1). For example, the apparatus has the option to have rear drive only and also the option of combined full drive where all 3 drive wheel can act in unison. By turning front and rear to the steering limits (ie 90 deg) side shift travel may be achieved by driving all 3 wheels at the same rate. Thus the apparatus (1) may be driven with all wheels in a parallel direction allowing side travel or alternatively the rear may be steered independently allowing the vehicle to turn in a tight circle for its footprint. In one example a turntable and dog bone attached to a cylinder (or slew drive) is to be connected to each drive yoke allowing horizontal rotation about its vertical centre axis. The rotation of this arrangement may be 135 deg (nom).

The supporting arms (2) include rollers to allow rotation of the secured article (7). The rollers (13) contact the tyre tread and the rotation of the roller against the tyre (7) causes the tyre (7) to rotate about its centre. The roller allows rotation of tyre assemblies for alignment onto flange supports. The roller length is sufficiently long to support the full length of a Cat777 tyre (OD 2340mm, width 750mm) and may be repositioned to support wider or narrower tyres. This may be achieved by the supporting arms (2) including telescopic tubing, thereby allowing manual extension or retraction along the length of the telescopic tube.

In some examples the retaining arms (4) may also include rollers to facilitate rotation of the tyre (7). In one example the rollers are controlled by a hydraulic motor and gearbox assembly attached to the roller. The left and right supporting arms (2), complete with rollers (13), are able to raise and support the tyre assemblies. This lift function may be separated by left and right lift or a combined lift by using both controls in unison. These supporting arms may be raised by a hydraulic cylinder. In one example the travel of the supporting arms needs to be low enough to clear under a large tyre (for example a Letorneau LI 850, OD:4200mm, width: 1500mm) when it is on the ground (Figure 8) but travel high enough to raise a small tyre (eg: Cat777, OD:2340, width 750mm) tyre to a reasonable working height (Figure 9). The article handling apparatus (1) includes at least one tilting arm (14) operatively coupled to the rear wheel, the tilting arm operating to tilt the secured article forward and rearward. For example when the article is a tyre as in figures 1 to 15, front to rear tilt may be required to align the tyre to a wheel axis' that may not be parallel to the horizontal. Figures 6 and 7 show forward and rearward tilting.

In one example frontward and rearward tilt is to be achieved by a set of trailing arms attached to the rear wheel. These trailing arms are attached to a hydraulic cylinder that will typically raise the chassis +4/-2 deg (nom) from horizontal. According to one example, the present invention provides a 3 driven wheel vehicle that will consist of a range of hydraulic arms and components that will raise and lower tyres, rotate secured tyres about their axis by a driven roller; stabilise the front and rear of the tyre by a hydraulic clamp support mechanism and tilt forward or backward by raising and lowering a set of rear trailing arms to allow parallel alignment with the tyres axle. In addition to these requirements the tyre handler is able to retract so that it can fit within a standard shipping container. The tyre handler has the functionality of drive, steer, tilt, rotate, lift, upright tilt, claw retract, claw rotate. These functions can be broken down further to separate left and rear or front and rear to present a control panel similar to the one represented in Fig. 5. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the tyre handler may be retracted within the 2330 x 2280 shipping container envelope. Figures 17 to 32 illustrate another embodiment of the invention. Specifically,

Figures 17 to 23 show the article handling apparatus in various views, without showing the article itself being supported, whilst Figures 24 to 28 show a large tyre being handled, and Figures 29 to 32 show a smaller tyre being handled by the same apparatus. Referring to the embodiment shown in Figures 17 to 32, the article handling apparatus 1 includes a support means in the form of a pair of supporting arms 2 extending from a frame 3, two retaining arms 4 extending upwardly from the frame 3 having claw like end portions 5 which are configured to extend about the article 7 shown in Figures 24 to 32. It will be understood that the article 7 is thereby able to be securely clamped to the frame 3. To remove the article 7, the claw like end portions 5 may be retracted/rotated, as desired.

It will be appreciated from viewing Figures 17 to 32 that either extremely large tyres, such as shown in Figures 24 to 28, or smaller tyres such as shown in Figures 29 to 32 may be supported by the apparatus 1. In the embodiment shown in Figures 17 to 32, as opposed to the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 16, the article does not necessarily need ^' to be tilted in the event that the frame is stable by the provision of the wheels extending on either side of the apparatus. The apparatus 1 has three wheels for movement of the apparatus over a substrate surface. Each wheel may be independently driven, by a controller. The controller may be either provided in situ on the apparatus, or, may be remotely controlled. Suitable electronic and/or hydraulic cylinders or other drive means may be utilised for movement of each of the component parts, rotation of the wheels, etc. It will be appreciated by the provisional of the three wheels, the apparatus 1 may be moved on a very small footprint. The supporting arms 2 include rollers which allow for rotation of the tyre 7 or other article. Rotation of the rollers 13 by their contact with the tyre tread permit the tyre to rotate. This is useful in servicing and in installation removal of the tyre from a vehicle. The rollers may be controlled by hydraulic or electric motors. The left and right supporting arms, together with their rollers 13 are adapted to raise and support the tyre. This lift function may be performed separately on the left and right supporting arms, or, they may be controlled in unison to raise, lower, rotate and reangle the article supported. It will be appreciated that the article handling apparatus of the present invention has a number of unique advantages over the known prior art which facilitates easy removal or installation of a tyre from a vehicle. The type may be easily manipulated in a wide variety of angles, elevations, etc which facilitate servicing of the tyre and its associated vehicle. The apparatus of the present invention may be positioned adjacent the wheel of a vehicle to be serviced. The wheel may be secured or clamped by the apparatus, then detached from the vehicle to be serviced, without requiring any physical interaction by a person. The apparatus, containing the wheel may then be repositioned for servicing the wheel, and then the wheel, or a new wheel, may be replaced on the vehicle by simply repositioning the apparatus and resecuring the wheel. The low slung configuration of the article handling apparatus 1 of the present invention permits its provision and removal in a tightly confined space for example, in a mining situation. As shown in Figures 17 to 32, the apparatus may further include a working platform together with access ladders which enable service personnel good access to the article being handled.

Finally, it can be understood that the inventive concept in any of its aspects can be incorporated in many different constructions so that generality of the preceding description is not superseded by the particularity of the attached drawings. Various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the various constructions and arrangements of parts without departing from the spirit or ambit of the present invention.