LIFTING SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF
A lifting system operably associable with a tire changing machine having a rotatable wheel holder and an arm, the arm having an implement disposed at a distal end thereof. The lifting system comprising first and second selectively extendable actuators configured for placement below the rotatable wheel holder of the tire changing machine and a controller communicatively coupled to the first and second actuators. When the lifting system is operably associated with the tire changing machine having a wheel mounted to the rotatable wheel holder and a tire disposed about the wheel, the controller is configured to extend the first actuator such that at least a portion of the tire is lifted relative to the wheel and the implement of the tire changing machine engages at least a portion of the tire.
1 . A lifting system operably associable with a tire changing machine having a rotatable wheel holder and an arm, the arm having an implement disposed at a distal end thereof, the lifting system comprising:
first and second selectively extendable actuators configured for placement below the rotatable wheel holder of the tire changing machine;
a controller communicatively coupled to the first and second actuators;
wherein when the lifting system is operably associated with the tire changing machine having a wheel mounted to the rotatable wheel holder and a tire disposed about the wheel, the controller is configured to:
extend the first actuator such that at least a portion of the tire is lifted relative to the wheel and the implement of the tire changing machine may selectively engage at least a portion of the tire.
2 . The lifting system of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is configured to extend the second actuator such that at least a portion of the tire is lifted relative to the wheel.
3 . The lifting system of claim 2 , wherein:
the portion of the tire the first actuator is configured to engage is substantially diametrically opposite of the portion of the tire the second actuator is configured to engage.
4 . The lifting system of claim 2 , wherein:
the controller is configured to extend the second actuator such that at least a portion of the tire is lifted relative to the wheel before extending the first actuator.
5 . The lifting system of claim 4 , wherein:
the controller is configured to retract the second actuator such that the second actuator no longer engages the tire after the implement of the tire changing machine engages at least a portion of the tire.
6 . The lifting system of claim 4 , wherein:
the implement is configured to decouple at least a portion of the tire from the wheel while the first actuator is extended such that at least a portion of the tire is lifted relative to the wheel.
7 . The lifting system of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the controller, the one or more sensors configured to at least detect a position of a one of the first and second actuators relative to the tire and/or wheel.
8 . The lifting system of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the controller, the one or more sensors configured to at least detect a position of the implement relative to the tire and/or wheel.
9 . The lifting system of claim 1 , wherein:
when the lifting system is operably associated with the tire changing machine, the first actuator is substantially colinear to the implement.
10 . The lifting system of claim 1 , wherein:
when the lifting system is operably associated with the tire changing machine, the first and second actuators are mounted to a chassis of the tire changing machine.
11 . The lifting system of claim 1 , wherein:
when the lifting system is operably associated with the tire changing machine, the first and second actuators are mounted to a substantially flat surface separate from the tire changing machine.
12 . A method of manipulating a tire relative to a wheel wherein the wheel is mounted to a rotatable wheel holder of a tire changing machine, the tire changing machine including an arm having an implement disposed at a distal end thereof, the method comprising:
providing a lifting system operably associable with the tire changing machine, the lifting system including first and second selectively extendable actuators and a controller communicatively coupled to the first and second actuators, the first and second actuators configured for placement below the rotatable wheel holder of the tire changing machine;
extending the first actuator such that at least a portion of the tire is lifted relative to the wheel and the implement of the tire changing machine may selectively engage at least a portion of the tire.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
extending the second actuator such that at least a portion of the tire is lifted relative to the wheel.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the portion of the tire the first actuator is configured to engage is substantially diametrically opposite of the portion of the tire the second actuator is configured to engage.
15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
retracting the second actuator such that the second actuator no longer engages the tire.
16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
via the implement, decoupling at least a portion of the tire from the wheel while the first actuator is extended such that at least a portion of the tire is lifted relative to the wheel.
17 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
via one or more sensors communicatively coupled the controller, detecting a position of a one of the first and second actuators relative to the tire and/or wheel.
18 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
via one or more sensors communicatively coupled to the controller, detecting a position of the implement relative to the tire and/or wheel.
19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein:
when the lifting system is operably associated with the tire changing machine, the first actuator is substantially colinear to the implement.