FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION Spare Wheel Carrier Assembly for Heavy Vehicles
APPLICANTS
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, an Indian company
having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, india
INVENTORS
Ashwani Garg, Satish Kakade, Devikar Umesh
and Lakheri Rahul
all are Indian nationals
of TATA MOTORS LIMITED an Indian company
having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to heavy vehicles and more particularly relates to a device used for carrying and holding spare-wheels on the heavy vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicles are typically equipped with a spare-wheel which is to be used when a tire gets flat or is otherwise unfit for further use. Conventionally, in order to replace a flat tire with a spare-wheel, the spare-wheel is required to be demounted from the vehicle. Subsequently, the flat tire is disassembled and the spare-wheel is mounted in place of the disassembled flat tire. In heavy vehicles such as trucks, were the spare-wheels are heavy and big in size, the demounting of the spare-wheel usually consumes an appreciable amount of time and space. Further, also because of the weight and size of the spare-wheel of the heavy vehicles, the operation of replacing a flat tire becomes physically difficult for an operator. Therefore the operator often requires assistance to carry out the work. Further, the conventional spare-wheel carriers are not properly equipped to support other important vehicle aggregates such as, but not limited to, a hydraulic tank, an exhaust system, an air intake system, block heaters, a battery cut-off switch and the like.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The objective of the present invention is to obviate the abovementioned drawbacks by providing a spare-wheel carrier assembly for vehicles.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a spare-wheel carrier assembly which also provides a rigid structure for mounting of vehicle aggregates such as hydraulic tank, exhaust system, air intake system, block heaters & battery cut-off switch, within less space.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a spare-wheel carrier assembly for vehicles which is rugged in construction, reliable in operation and requires very little physical effort and time.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a spare-wheel carrier assembly which enables the unloading of a heavy spare-wheel easily at certain depth below a road surface, in difficult situations when the vehicle is punctured in off-road conditions.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a spare-wheel carrier which may securely hold a spare-wheel for preventing the spare-wheel from tilting and wobbling. Advantageously, the vehicle may be conveniently maneuvered in different road conditions and at any speed.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a spare-wheel carrier assembly which may be easily mountable on a vehicle chassis.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a spare-wheel assembly which may hold electrical switches like cut-off switch, main fuses and the like, to enable the vehicle to pass though the water without electrical system damage.
Further objects and features of the invention will become apparent from- the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The various embodiments of the present invention disclose a spare-wheel carrier assembly for heavy vehicles. The spare-wheel carrier assembly includes a horizontal member carried by the heavy vehicle and a vertical member extending upwardly from the horizontal member. An actuator is hingedly connected to the vertical member. The actuator includes a telescopically movable arm. A shaft is rotatably attached to the horizontal member. The shaft has a link connected to the arm of the actuator such that telescopic movement of the arm rotates the shaft about

a longitudinal axis thereof. The spare-wheel carrier assembly further includes a rotating arm having a pendulum link configured to carry a spare-wheel. The rotating arm is connected to the shaft such that the rotating arm rotates with the rotation of the shaft, thereby raising and lowering the pendulum link.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a heavy vehicle with a spare-wheel carrier assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 2 illustrates another perspective view of the heavy vehicle with the spare-wheel carrier assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the spare-wheel carrier assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the spare-wheel carrier assembly of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the spare-wheel carrier assembly with a first support structure, according to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a hydraulic tank mount of the spare-wheel carrier assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a second support structure of the spare-wheel carrier assembly, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same.

A spare-wheel carrier assembly 100, in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7. The spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 may be mounted on a heavy vehicle 200. The heavy vehicle 200 may be any commercial vehicle with high load carrying capacity, such as, but not limited to, a dump truck, a ballast truck, a trailer truck and the like. Particularly, the spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 may be mounted on a chassis 202 of the heavy vehicle 200. In an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1 and 2, the spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 may be removably mounted on the chassis 202 and behind a cab 204 of the heavy vehicle 200.
The spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 includes a frame defined by a horizontal member 104 and a vertical member 106. The horizontal member 104 is carried by the heavy vehicle 200(hereinafter also referred to as "vehicle 200"). The vertical member 106 extends upwardly from the horizontal member 104. A spare-wheel platform 108 (best shown in FIG. 4) may be provided on the horizontal member 104 to support a spare-wheel 206 when the spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 is in a raised position, best shown in FIG. 1.
An actuator 110 is hingedly connected to the vertical member 106, at an end portion thereof. The actuator 110 may include a telescopically movable arm 112, at an opposite end thereof. In an embodiment of the present invention the actuator 110 and arm 112 may for a hydraulic cylinder and piston arrangement such that the piston may move linearly with respect to the cylinder. It may herein be apparent to those skilled in the art that the actuator 110 may be operated from a remotely located lever (not illustrated) to linearly extend and retract the arm 112 with respect to the actuator HO.The actuator 110 may be a hydraulic actuator. In alternative embodiments the actuator 110 may be a pneumatic actuator, mechanical actuator or the like, with deviating from the spirit of the present invention.
The spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 further includes a shaft 300. The shaft 300 may be rotatably attached to the horizontal member 104. As best shown in FIG. 5, which illustrates an exploded perspective view of the spare-wheel carrier assembly

100, a set of support members, such as bearings (not numbered) may be disposed on a top surface of the horizontal member 104. The shaft 300 may be supported by the set of support members such that the shaft 300 is allowed to rotate therewithin.
An end of the shaft 300 includes a link 302. In an embodiment of the present invention, the link 302 may be integral to the shaft 300. Further, a free end of the arm 112 is connected to the link 302. In an embodiment of the present invention, the free end of the arm 112 is connected to the link 302 at a point which is offset from a longitudinal axis X-X' of the shaft 300. Therefore, the extension and retraction of the arm 112 causes the shaft 300 to rotate about the longitudinal axis X-X' in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction.
The spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 furthermore includes a rotating arm 304. The rotating arm 304 is connected to the shaft 300 at an opposite end thereof. In an embodiment of the present invention, the rotating arm 304 is integral to the shaft 300. Further, the rotating arm 304 may have a hollow configuration. A pendulum link 306 is attached to the rotating arm 304. Specifically, the pendulum link 306 is hingedly attached to a free end of the rotating ami 304. Further, the pendulum link 306 is configured to removably carry the spare-wheel 206. Particularly, the spare-wheel 206 may be bolted to the pendulum link 306, in a known manner, the In the raised position of the spare-wheel carrier assembly 100, best shown in FIG. 1, the pendulum link 306 may be locked to the horizontal member 104, by means of a conventional nut and bolt arrangement. Advantageously, such locking of the pendulum link 306 also prevents the spare-wheel 206 from tilting, and wobbling.
Referring now to FIG. 5 and 6, in which portions of spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 along with a first support structure 350 are illustrated. In an embodiment of the present invention the first supported structure 350 is directly mounted on the chassis 202 while the horizontal member 104 is mounted on the first supported structure 350. The first supported structure 350 includes one or more muffler mounting straps 352 and one or more muffler mounting brackets (not numbered), shown in FIG. 7. The one or more muffler mounting straps 352 of the first support

structure 350 support an exhaust system, particularly an exhaust muffler 356 of the exhaust system, on the chassis 202. It may herein be apparent to those skilled in the art that the one or more muffler mounting straps 352 may also enable the first support structure 350 to support exhaust muffler of various sizes on the chassis 202.
Referring now to FIG. 6, a hydraulic tank mount 360 may be bolted atop the horizontal member 104, opposite to the first support structure 350. The hydraulic tank mount 360 holds a hydraulic tank (not numbered). One or more vertically extending strap members may be provided on the hydraulic tank mount 360 to securely hold the hydraulic tank. As shown in FIG. 8, the spare-wheel carrier assembly furthermore includes a second support structure 400. In the embodiment defined herein, the second support structure 400 is mounted on a side of the chassis 202, which is opposite to the side where the first support structure 350 is mounted. The horizontal member 104 is also mounted on the second supported structure 400. The second support structure 400 may be configured to support a plurality of elements, such as but not limited to, a battery cut-off switch, a relay and a maxi cutoff switch and the like.
During operation of the spare-wheel carrier assembly 100, when the spare-wheel 206 is to be accessed for the purpose of removing it from the spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 or when the spare-wheel 206 is to be installed on the spare-wheel carrier assembly 100, an operator may operate the actuator 110. With the actuation of actuator 110, the arm 112 may move i.e. extend or retract, linearly with respect to the actuator 110. Based on the operators input, the movement of the arm 122 may be controlled. Since the arm 112 is connected to the link 302 of the shaft 300, the linear movement of the arm 112 is converted into rotating movement of the shaft 300. Obviously, since the rotating arm 304 is also connected to the shaft 300, the rotating arm 304 also rotates with the shaft 300. The movement of the rotating arm 304 also raises or lowers the pendulum link 306.
Specifically, as per one illustrative embodiment of the present invention, when the arm 112 retracts, the shaft 300 and the rotating arm 304, rotate in clockwise

direction (when seen from a front of vehicle 200) and the pendulum link 306 moves the spare-wheel 206 from a raised position to a lowered position, with respect to a ground surface. In the raised position the spare-wheel 206 rests on the spare-wheel platform 108 provided on the horizontal member 104 wherein as in the lowered position the spare-wheel 206 may rest on the ground surface to facilitate removal of the spare-wheel 206 from the pendulum link 306. The raised position and the lowered position of the pendulum link in illustrated in FIG 1 and 2, respectively. Further, the retraction of the arm 112 may be stopped at any instant to cease movement of the pendulum link 306 at any intermediate position between the raised position and the lowered position.
Similarly, when the arm 112 extends, the shaft 300 and the rotating arm 304, rotate in anti-clockwise direction (when seen from a front of vehicle 200) and the pendulum link 306 moves the spare-wheel from the lowered position to the raised position. The extension of the arm 112 may be stopped at any instant to cease the movement of the pendulum link 306 at any intermediate position between the raised position and the lowered position.
In light of the above, the spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 of the present invention enables the unloading of a heavy spare-wheel easily even at certain depth below a road surface, in difficult situations when the vehicle 200 is punctured in off-road conditions. Further, the spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 of the present invention is rugged in construction, reliable in operation and requires very little physical effort and time. Moreover, the spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 securely holds the spare-wheel for preventing the spare-wheel from tilting and wobbling, thus the vehicle may be conveniently maneuvered in different road conditions and at any speed.
The foregoing description provides specific embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated that these embodiment are described for purpose of illustration only, and that numerous other alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of

the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalents thereof.

WE CLAIM
1. A spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 for heavy vehicles, the spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 comprising:
a horizontal member 104 carried by the heavy vehicle;
a vertical member 106 extending upwardly from said horizontal member 104;
an actuator 110 hingedly connected to said vertical member 106, the actuator 110 having a telescopically movable arm 112;
wherein a shaft 300 rotatably attached to said horizontal member 104, said shaft 300 having a link 302 connected to said arm of said actuator 110 such that telescopic movement of said arm 112 rotates said shaft 300 about a longitudinal axis thereof; and,
a rotating arm 304 having a pendulum link 306 configured to carry a spare-wheel, said rotating arm 304 being connected to said shaft 300 such that said rotating arm 304 rotates with the rotation of said shaft 300, thereby raising and lowering said pendulum link 306.
2. The spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pendulum link 306 is hingedly connected to the rotating arm 304.
3. The spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator 110 is configured to be remotely operated for telescopically moving the arm 112.
4. The spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 as claimed in claim 3, wherein the actuator 110 is a hydraulic actuator.
5. The spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 as claimed in claim 3, wherein based on movement of the arm 112 the pendulum link 306 may be stopped at a raised

position, a lowered position and an intermediate position thereof, with respect to a ground surface.
6. The spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 as claimed in claim 5 comprising a spare-wheel platform 108 provided on the horizontal member 104, the spare-wheel rests on the spare-wheel platform 108 when the pendulum link 306 is in raised position.
7. The spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 as claimed in claim 6 wherein the pendulum link 306 is capable of being bolted to the horizontal member 104 in the raised position thereof to lock the spare-wheel.
8. The spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 as claimed in claim 5, wherein in the lowered position of the pendulum link 306 the spare-wheel rests on the ground to facilitate removal of the spare-wheel from the pendulum link 306.
9. The spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1 comprising a first support structure 350 configured to support an exhaust system of the vehicle, the first support structure 350 being mounted on a chassis of the vehicle and the horizontal member 104 being mounted on the first support structure 350.
10. The spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1 comprising a hydraulic tank mount 360 supported on the horizontal member 104.
11. The spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1 comprising a second support structure 400 mounted on the chassis of the vehicle.
12. The spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1 comprising a third support structure configured to support one or more of a battery cut-off switch, a relay and a maxi cut-off switch.

13. The spare-wheel carrier assembly 100 as herein described with reference to accompanying drawings.