Method and apparatus for assembling/disassembling a flexible ring to in or from a tired wheel

1. A method of fitting a resilient ring substantially circular in shape into a tire, and removing it therefrom which comprises the following steps in sequence:

first deforming of the resilient ring by slightly extending or stretching it along one diameter thereof so as to cause it to change from a circular to an elliptical shape;

fitting the thus deformed resilient ring lengthwise into the light of a tire in which the ring is to be assembled;

first releasing of the resilient ring whereby it tends to resiliently regain its initial circular shape while remaining engaged in the tire light;

rotating the resilient ring tire relative to the resilient ring through approximately 90 degrees about an axis coinciding with said radial direction with respect to the tire normal to a plane containing the resilient ring;

second deforming of the resilient ring by stretching or extending it in a radial direction in the tire-wherein said second deforming Is preceded by a relative angular movement of about 90 degrees between tire and resilient ring in its circular configuration thereby establishing a stretching diameter;

rotating the resilient ring through 90 degrees about an axis coinciding with said stretching diameter; and

final releasing of the deformable ring whereby it regains its circular shape within the tire.

2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the steps are carried out using a stretching apparatus, comprising:

a widening device arranged to act substantially along a diameter within said resilient ring thereby deforming said resilient ring to take a substantially elliptical or flattened shape, and

a drive for the widening device.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein said widening device comprises a pantograph or an articulated parallelogram.

4. A method according to claim 2 , wherein said widening device comprises the drive.

5. A method according to claim 2 , wherein said drive comprises a linear actuator.

6. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:

a support frame for said widening device and said drive and

a control unit for said drive.

7. A method of fitting a resilient ring substantially circular in shape into a tire, and removing it therefrom, which comprises the following steps in sequence:

first deforming of the resilient ring by slightly extending or stretching it along one diameter thereof so as to cause it to change from a circular to an elliptical shape;

fitting the thus deformed resilient ring lengthwise into the light of a tire in which the ring is to be assembled;

first releasing of the resilient ring whereby it tends to resiliently regain its initial circular shape while remaining engaged in the tire light,

second deforming of the resilient ring by stretching or extending it in a radial direction in the tire;

angularly rotating the resilient ring in its deformed state about 90 degrees with respect to said tire; and

final releasing of the resilient ring whereby it regains its circular shape within the tire.

8. A method according to claim 7 , wherein said second deforming is preceded by an angular rotation of about 90 ° of said resilient ring relative to said tire about an axis of rotation coinciding with a radial direction with respect to the tire.