Description of Invention

This invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning the rim of a rounded object such as a wheel.

It will be appreciated by those involved in changing tyres for automotive wheels, that the internal surfaces of the rim can become pitted and rusty and thus it is difficult to achieve sealing between the tyre and the rim.

Conventionally an inner tube then has to be used, but with modern low profile tyres it is not feasible or safe to use inner tubes. Thus the rims have to be cleaned.

According to one aspect of the invention we provide an apparatus for cleaning the rim of a rounded object comprising means to support the object, a cleaning tool movable into engagement with the rim of the object and means to cause relative rotation between the rounded object and the cleaning tool , the support means comprising a pair of rollers, one being mounted generally above the other, and a third rol ler carried by a movable arm which is movable from a first position in which the object is out of engagement with the pair of rollers, to a second position when the object is engaged with the pair of rollers and the third roller and supported in a generally upright orientation with its central axis located in a generally horizontal plane.

It will be appreciated that the rounded object may be maintained out of engagement with the pair of rol lers, by gravity, the movable arm moving the object against gravity when moving from its first to its second position.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a method of cleaning a rounded object using an apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising placing the object on the movable arm with the movable arm in the first position, moving the movable arm to the second position to urge the rounded object towards and into engagement with the two rollers of the pair of rollers, moving the cleaning tool into engagement with a rim of the object, and causing relative rotation between the rounded object and the cleaning tool.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :

FIGURE I is a side illustrative view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention in one condition, partially cut away.

FIGURE 1 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the apparatus in a second condition.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a rounded object for cleaning.

Referring to the drawings, an apparatus 10 for cleaning the rim of a wheel 1 1 is shown which comprises a housing 12 which includes a visor 13 which permits an operator to see inside the housing 12.

The wheel I 1 may be inserted in the housing 12 through an opening in the side of the housing 12 or otherwise as required.

The .housing 12 is mounted on a base 14.

The apparatus 10 includes a movable support arm 15 which is pivotable about an #xis 16 from a first position shown at A in figure I when the wheel I I may be' received in the housing 12, to a second position shown at B in figure 2 when the arm 15 urges the wheel 1 1 towards a pair of rollers 16, 17, mounted by the housing 12.

The arm 15 itself carries two rollers 18 and 19 which are rotatable so that as the arm 15 is pivoted to position B, the wheel 1 I is supported on the rollers 18 and 19. However when the arm 15 is in position B, there is a three point support only by the pair of rollers 16, 17 of the housing 12 and a third roller, i.e. roHer 19 of the two rollers 18, 19, carried by the arm 15.

Movement of the arm 15 is achieved by a linear actuator 20 which in this example is pneumatically operated, although any other drive means for moving the arm 15 between the positions A and B could alternatively be employed.

A motor ^' 21', in this example an electrical motor, is mounted in the housing 17 and is connected via a transmission belt or chain 22 to roller 16 mounted on the housing I 2'so that drive can be imparted from the motor 21 via the rσller 16 to the wheel 1 1 , at least when the arm 15 is in position B, so that the wheel I I will rotate about its own central axis 24.

It wϊtl Be ^' appreciated that wheels 1 1 of many varied diameters can be supported in the housing 12 by the rollers 16, 17, and 18 or 19, but in each

case, when the arm 15 is in position B, the central axis 24 of the wheel I I will lie between the rollers 16, 17, in a plane indicated at 25 which is generally halfway between the rollers 16, 17.

The rollers 16, 17, 18 and 1 each have end stops (not seen) to prevent sideways movement of the wheel 1 1 along the rollers, and to maintain the wheel 1 1 in the upright orientation shown when the central axis 24 of the wheel I I is in a horizontal or near horizontal plane 25.

The apparatus 10 further comprises a cleaning tool 30 which comprises an abrasive cleaning head 31 of circular configuration, and a pneumatic motor carried in a body 32 which provides a handle 33 to facilitate manual use of the tool 30.

The head 3 1 is preferably a plastic/foam abrasive such as is made by 3M as part of their Roloc+ abrasive system range, which has been found efficiently to clean the rim of the wheel 1 1 without removing excess metal.

The tool 30 is mounted on a generally horizontal support surface comprising a table 33, for linear movement towards and away from the wheel I I by an operator, over the surface of the table 33 i.e. in a direction generally parallel with plane 25 containing the central axis 24 of the wheel (when the arm 15 is in its second position B).

In fact, in the arrangement shown, the axis of rotation of the cleaning head 31 is coincident with plane 25.

Air for the tool 30 may be provided via a hose 34 from a compressor within the housing as shown at 12, or from external air supply as desired.

Referring to figure 3, it will be appreciated by those involved in changing tyres on vehicle wheels that internal surfaces 40 and 41 of the wheel rim, in use, become corroded and pitted.

When it is desired to replace a tyre on the wheel I I , it is then difficult to achieve a seal between walls of the tyre and the surfaces 40 and 41 , to enable the tyre to be inflated.

Various sealing solutions can be applied to the surfaces 40,41 , in an attempt to improve the position but these are not very successful.

With a conventional tyre, an inner tube can be inserted between the wheel rim and the tyre, but with modern low profile tyres, this is not possible.

Accordingly, it is necessary to clean the surfaces 40 and 41 to remove corrosion and pitting so that a seal can be achieved when a tyre is replaced on the wheel I I .

Utilising the apparatus 10 of the present invention, the wheel 1 I is inserted into the housing 12. The wheel 1 1 is placed on a generally horizontal support strut 42 shown in figure I .

The arm 15 is then moved from position A to position B when the wheel 1 1 will be urged upwardly by the rollers 18, 19, carried by the arm 15, towards the rollers 16 and 17 mounted on the housing 12.

When the wheel I I is in position B shown in figure 2 of the drawings, the tool 30 can be moved linearly across the surface of the table 33 until the head 31 engages with one or other of the surfaces 40/41 of the wheel rim. Thus the surfaces 40 and 41 of the wheel rim are cleaned by the abrasive head 31. The wheel I I is rotated by virtue of being engaged with roller 16 which is rotated by the motor 21.

Preferably, the motor 21 is caused to rotate to move roller 1 only when the arm 15 reaches position B.

By virtue of the visor 13, an operator can observe inside the housing 12 and in particular can safely observe the point of contact between the abrasive head 31 and the wheel.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the housing 12 could be of any other desired shape and configuration.

Instead of an air powered tool 30, a tool driven by electrical, or any other power means, may instead be provided.

Any alternative means for causing the wheel 1 1 to rotate when the arm is in position B may be employed. For example instead of a belt or chain transmission, any other suitable transmission between a motor and a roller 16 could be provided.