Method and apparatus for checking the concentricity of a pneumatic vehicle tire
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for receiving a tire, especially for measuring or checking the concentricity of a pneumatic vehicle tire that during operation has its bead portions mounted on the radially inner periphery of a wheel rim. A test rim is provided that comprises two axially movable rim ring sections that have a common rim ring and against which is disposed a tire that is to be checked, with the tire being manufactured with trapezoidally axially outwardly directed sidewalls, and with the tire being disposed against the rim ring sections in this trapezoidal form. 
     The concentricity of conventional tires, the beads of which are disposed on the radially outer periphery of a rim, is checked by means of a two-part test rim that is disposed against the tire from the outside. In so doing, the two test rim parts that are axially movable relative to one another receive the tire in bead-seating surfaces in the same manner as the vehicle tire is mounted during driving operation. With the newly developed tire/rim system, such as disclosed in German Offenlegungsschrift No. 30 00 428, where the beads of the tire are disposed on the radially inner periphery of the rim, the problem exists that the test rim must be introduced into the interior of the tire, although it has a greater diameter than the inner diameter of the tire. 
     To accomplish this, it was proposed in German Offenlegungsschrift No. 35 41 188 to construct the axially displaceable rim ring sections of several radially adjustable rim segments. In the radially drawn-together state, i.e. with a reduced diameter, such a test rim can be introduced into the tire, which has a small inner diameter, and can then be moved apart into the checking position. However, the problem with this is that the interior of the tire must be sealed off and the sidewalls of the tire must be moved out of their trapezoidal form, in which they are heated, into the mounting state. 
     For this reason, German patent application No. P 36 04 023.1 proposes checking the concentricity of such a tire in the position where its sidewalls and bead regions are folded laterally outwardly, i.e. in the position in which the tire is heated. However, with such an apparatus the actual operating conditions can be reproduced only to a limited extent, and one is still left with the desire to be able to check tires in their actual mounting position. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus with which tires of the aforementioned type can be checked. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     This object, and other objects and advantages of the present invention, will appear more clearly from the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying schematic drawing, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of one exemplary embodiment of the inventive concentricity-checking apparatus with the rim ring sections moved together and the bead-receiving rings separated or moved apart, and with a trapezoidally shaped tire; 
     FIG. 2 shows the concentricity-checking apparatus of FIG. 1 with both the rim ring sections and the beadreceiving rings moved together, and with a tire that has been folded-over into the mounting position; 
     FIG. 3 shows the concentricity-checking apparatus of FIG. 1 with the rim ring sections moved apart and the bead-receiving rings moved together, with a tire that is folded-over in the mounting position; 
     FIG. 4 shows the concentricity-checking apparatus of FIG. 1 with the rim ring sections moved apart and the bead-receiving rings moved together, with a tire being secured in position in the mounting position; and 
     FIG. 5 is a partial, detailed, crosssectional view of the concentricity-checking apparatus of FIG. 1 with the rim ring sections moved apart and the beadreceiving rings moved together, with a tire that is secured in the mounting position between the shoulder of a rim ring and bead support. 
    
    
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The method of the present invention is characterized primarily in that bead-receiving rings are moved axially from the outside against the axially moved-apart rim ring sections, with the bead-receiving rings folding-over the tire sidewalls and bringing them into the rim-seating position for contact against the rim ring sections, whereby the tire that is to be checked is secured in position between the rim ring sections and the bead-receiving rings. 
     As a result of these measures, a method is provided with which tires of the aforementioned type can be quickly and rapidly brought into their mounting position and can be checked. 
     The apparatus of the present invention for carrying out the inventive method is characterized primarily in that: the rim ring sections, in the region of their rim ring, are provided with laterally and axially outwardly projecting rim ring edges that have no rim flange and that merge radially inwardly via shoulder portions with inboard members; and in that inner faces of the bead-receiving rings, which faces are directed toward the rim ring sections, are provided with radially outwardly directed, circumferential retaining ribs that are adapted to be introduced axially into the regions where the shoulder portions merge with the inboard members. 
     As a result of these measures, an apparatus is provided with which a trapezoidally heated tire can be rapidly and easily brought into the rim-seating position. This apparatus is easy to seal off, and it can be used to check a large number of tires within a very short period of time. 
     Further specific features of the present invention will be described in detail subsequently. 
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawing in detail, the concentricity-checking apparatus 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4 essentially comprises a test rim 11 that has two rim ring halves or sections 12 and 13 that can be shifted axially relative to one another. In the moved-together state illustrated in FIG. 1, the radially outer surface of the rim ring sections 12 and 13 are provided with a common cylindrical rim ring 14. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the rim ring sections 12 and 13 can also be moved axially to provide different open rim widths. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, in order to perform a check the tire 17 is placed in its trapezoidal form over the concentricity-checking apparatus 10. When the rim ring sections 12 and 13 are moved apart to the desired open rim width, as shown in FIG. 3, bead-receiving rings 15 are moved axially from beyond the tire 17 against the bead portions 18. In so doing, as shown in FIG. 2, the bead portions 18 are flipped over axially inwardly by the beadreceiving rings 15, and are pressed into their rimseating position. 
     As shown particularly clearly in FIG. 5, the bead-receiving rings 15 are provided with beadseating surfaces 16 for receiving the bead portions 18 of the tire 17. The rim ring section 12 and 13 are provided with inboard members 25 that are disposed at essentially right angles to the axisparallel cylindrical rim ring 14. The rim ring 14 has laterally projecting rim ring edges 21 via which the rim ring 14 can be brought into operative connection with the tire 17 that is to be checked. Each of the laterally projecting rim ring edges 21 is provided in the transverse direction with a radially inwardly directed slope or inclination 19 of five to fifteen degrees that merges axially inwardly with a shoulder 24 that in turn is recessed relative to the associated inboard member 25. 
     Each bead-receiving ring 15 is provided axially inwardly with a circumferential, radially outwardly directed retaining rib 22, the outer diameter 26 of which is such that the beadreceiving ring 15, with its retaining rib 22, can be introduced into the associated shoulder 24 and can be brought into contact with the inboard member 25. 
     The retaining ribs 22 are provided with inclined demounting portions 20 that are directed axially inwardly and radially outwardly from the bead-receiving rings 15. The radially outer diameter 26 of the inclined demounting portions 20 is such that these demounting portions 20, and hence the retaining ribs 22, can pass the bead portions 28 of the tire 17 when the bead-receiving rings 15 are moved together. These bead-receiving rings 15 merge axially outwardly into outboard portions 23, the diameter 28 of which is greater than the diameter 27 of the tire 17 in the region of the trapezoidal layout of the bead portions 18. As a result, when the bead-receiving rings 15 are moved together, the bead portions 18 are folded over inwardly into their rim-seating positios, and are brought into operative connection with and are secured in position by the laterally projecting rim ring edges 21 of the rim ring sections 12 and 13. Sealing members 29, which seal the interior of the tire 17 from the outside, can be provided between the bead-receiving rings 15 and the inboard members 25 of the rim ring sections 12 and 13. 
     The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to the specific disclosure of the specification and drawing, but also encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.