GB2468032A

GB2468032A - Machine for Cutting Tyres in Half

Info

Publication number: GB2468032A
Application number: GB1002761A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Peter Dunn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-19
Filing date: 2010-02-18
Publication date: 2010-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 2030-02-18
Also published as: GB201002761D0; GB2468032B

Abstract

Tyre cutting machinery and method for cutting used tyres in half comprising a support frame 13, 14 with a roller or strut assembly (e.g. pneumatic or hydraulic struts) 6, 7 for supporting the tyre 1, a drive wheel assembly 9, 10 incorporating the blade rotates the tyre such that the tyre is cut in half circumferentially. The drive assembly may include an electric motor 11 and gearbox 12 and be controlled by a control box 16, 17. A safety guard may be provided. The invention reduces the space taken for storage and transport and reduces the risk of fire and rodent infestation. The half tyres can be coated in protective paint and re-used as food or water containers for pets and wildlife.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CU1TING MOTOR VEHICLE 1YRES.

The present invention relates to apparatus (now referred to, as a machine) and a method of cutting motor vehicle tyres, to be located preferably at tyre depots and other premises where tyres and changed, replaced, or stored.

Motor vehicle tyres, when the tread has been worn to the legal limit or if they are damaged, need to be replaced for safety reasons and this is preferably carried out at a tyre depot or car dealership. The used motor vehicle tyres are generally stored in an designated area and collected by a specialist firm at agreed intervals, when they are loaded onto the collection vehicle. To ensure that the maximum number of tyres are collected from the various customers, the motor vehicle tyres are generally hand packed on the vehicle, which is time consuming, tedious and labour intensive.

The transporting of used motor vehicle tyres is a costly procedure because of the space each tyre occupies and the loading time taken, according to the present invention a means is provided of reducing the space taken by the tyres and a reduction in the loading time, and consequently a reduction in the cost of collecting tyres and transporting them to another premises for the next process to be carried out.

The present invention relates to a machine that can be operated with minimal re-training by the tyre fitters at the tyre depots, for instance and is capable of cutting the tyres into two parts around the circumference and aims to improve on existing apparatus. (1)

In operation, the motor vehicle tyre is placed flat onto the tyre support frames of the machine, preferably with the rollers tight against the inside of the tyre. The starter button is pressed by the operator, activating the electric motor, which rotates the cutting blade/drive wheel assembly.

Immediately afterwards, the starter button, or foot peddle for the pneumatic strut assembly is pressed by the operator and the strut pushes the rollers and tyre towards the cutting blade /dnve wheel assembly, first piercing the tyre tread and then cutting the tyre tread as the tyre is rotated.

When the tyre has completed the full circle, it is separated into two parts and the operator then stops the electric motor, switches off pneumatic system and the strut assembly/ roller is de-activated, returning it to the position to receive the next tyre for cutting. The two parts of the cut tyre may then be removed and placed into the storage area, or preferably in a skip ready for collection at a pre-arranged time.

To comply with Health and Safety Regulations, the two starter buttons are located at the end of the machine so that the operator will first place the tyre on the tyre support frames and then move away from the tyre to activate the buttons.

A safety shield may be provided to further protect the operator from the cutting blade and the rotating tyre and if this is provided, the above procedure would include the safety shield being used. The tyre rotates very slowly and presents no practical hazard. (2)

In an other embodiment of this invention, the procedure would be to place the tyre on the tyre support frames and when the safety shield is closed, an electric circuit is completed and the electric motor and pneumatic system will preferably automatically start automatically stop when the tyre has been separated into two parts.

To accommodate tyres of different sizes, a means of adjusting the inner tyre support frame and/or outer tyre support frame may be provided, preferably to centralise the alignment of the tyre in relation to the cutting blade. In some circumstances, the tyres may be required to be cut in unequal parts, in which cases the depth mechanism will be adjusted accordingly by the operator..

The first embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrammatic figures in which are shown:-Figure 1. Motor vehicle tyre which is cut away to show its construction.

Figure 2. Motor vehicle tyre cut in two parts along the circumference Figure 3. Side view of the machine ready to receive a tyre, the tyre shown in dotted lines.

Figure 4. Side view of the machine in the cutting position, the tyre shown in dotted lines.

Figure 5. End view of the machine, facing the control boxes.

Figure 6. End view of the machine, facing the drive wheel/cutting blade assembly Figure 7. Top view of the machine ready to receive a tyre, the tyre shown in dotted lines.

Figure 8. Top view of the machine in the cutting position, the lyre shown in dotted lines (3) Refening to the first embodiment of the present patent:-Figure 1, Tread (2), sidewall (3), beads (4).

Figure 2, Motor vehicle tyre cut in two parts, . Tread (2), sidewalls (3).

Figure 3. Side view of the machine ready to receive a motor vehicle tyre, in which roller carriage (6), rollers assembly (7), drive wheel /cutting blade assembly (9) cover to drive wheel/ cutting blade assembly (10), electric motor (11), gearbox (12), inner tyre support frame (13), outer tyre support frame (14), machine support legs (15), electrical control box (16), pneumatic control box (17).

Figure 4, Side view of the machine, the component parts are the same as Fig. 3.

Figure 5, End view of the machine, the component parts are the same as Figs. 3 and 4.

Figure 6, Reverse end view of the machine, the component parts are the same as Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

Figures 7. Top view of the machine, ready to receive the motor vehicle tyre, the tyre shown dotted line, the component parts are the same as Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6.

Figure 8. Top view of the machine, in the cutting position, the tyre shown dotted lines, the component parts are the same as Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

In another embodiment of the invention, the machine described above may be fitted with wheels at one end and a lifting handle at the other end (4) In a further embodiment of the invention, the pneumatic components may be replaced with hydraulic components.

In another embodiment of the invention, the machine support legs may be covered to enclose the machine below the inner and outer tyre supporting frames.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the size and specification of the machine may be changed to permit the cutting of larger motor vehicle tyres, such as used on larger commercial vehicles. (5)

Claims

CLAIMS.1. A machine and method of cutting motor vehicle tyres into two parts along the circumference by rotating the tyre on one or more tyre support frames by means of a drive wheel assembly that incorporates a cutting blade.The tyre is placed over the roller assembly and when the pneumatic, or similar strut assembly is activated, the tyre is pushed against the cutting blade by the roller assembly connected to the pneumatic strut assembly..The tread of the tyre is pierced by the cutting blade and the drive wheel rotates the tyre, until it is cut into two separate parts, to the requirements of the operator.
2. The use of the machine at tyre depots or other premises where motor vehicle tyres are replaced, will reduce the area of space required to store the used tyres, permit the use of skips for storage and increase the intervals at which the used tyres are collected.
3. Collection costs of transporting the used tyres between the tyre depots, the used tyre collection company premises and the end user will be reduced, loading and unloading the used tyres will be made easier and the space where the used tyres are stored will be reduced in capacity.A part of this reduction in costs may allow the collection company to reduce the cost of collecting the used tyres.
4. The wear and tear on equipment used for shredding tyres will be reduced because most of the structural strength of the tyres is due to the tread area of the tyres and when the tyres are, cut the strength of the tyre is reduced (6)