GB2327068A

GB2327068A - Assembling vehicle wheels to hubs

Info

Publication number: GB2327068A
Application number: GB9710776A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathon George Dean; Kevin John Cusak; Neil Kenneth Williams Purssey
Original assignee: Dorgard Ltd
Current assignee: Dorgard Ltd
Priority date: 1997-05-23
Filing date: 1997-05-23
Publication date: 1999-01-13
Also published as: GB9710776D0

Abstract

A stud 10 for temporarily fitting in a bolt receiving hole in a vehicle hub to assist in mounting a wheel thereto has a screw-threaded portion 14 for engaging the bolt receiving hole, and a tapering portion 18. The screw-threaded portion may be cylindrical, stepped or tapered. The portion 18 may have a narrow projection 28 and a recess or hole 30 which is complementary to the projection to enable one stud to be used to turn another. In use at least one stud 10 is inserted into a bolt receiving hole of the hub, the wheel is engaged with the hub such that the or each stud engages in a respective one of the wheel holes; at least one of the wheel bolts is inserted through a wheel hole and screwed into a bolt receiving hole; the or each stud is removed, and the or each remaining bolt is fitted.

Description

TITLE Assembling Vehicle Wheels and Hubs DESCRIPTION This invention relates to assembling vehicle wheels and hubs. More specifically, various aspects of the invention relate to: a method of assembling a vehicle wheel and hub; a combination of a vehicle wheel and hub and an assembly device; a device for use in such a method or combination; and a kit of such devices.

There are two common methods of attaching a vehicle wheel to its hub. With the first method, a plurality of screw-threaded studs (for example four studs) project from the hub and are inserted through respective holes in the wheel. A corresponding number of nuts are fitted to the studs to hold the wheel in place. With the second method, the hub has a plurality of screw-threaded holes (for example four holes). A corresponding number of headed screw-threaded bolts are inserted through respective holes in the wheel and screwed into the hub holes to hold the wheel in place.

It is easier to fit a wheel to its hub using the first method, because the wheel can be offered up to the hub with the studs projecting through the wheel holes, and this is sufficient to hold the wheel roughly in place while the nuts are being fitted. With the second method, there are no studs to hold the wheel roughly in place. Some hubs have a central boss which engages in a corresponding central hole or recess in the wheel, and this can help to align the axes of the hub and the wheel, but it does not help with the required rotational alignment of the hub and wheel. Indeed, it can hinder it if the boss grips in the central hole or recess, because any attempt to turn the wheel will also tend to cause the hub to turn. This second type of wheel fixing method is becoming more popular with vehicle designers, possibly because of the reduced number of parts required or the reduced number of manufacturing operations required. The present invention is concerned with facilitating the fitting of a wheel to a hub using the second type of wheel fixing method and is primarily intended for use by motorists when attending to a roadside puncture, but is not limited to such use and can of course be used in the tyre-fitting industry, by garage mechanics, and even by vehicle manufacturers.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of assembling a vehicle wheel and hub of the type in which the wheel is normally held to the hub by a plurality of headed screw-threaded bolts passing through respective holes in the wheel and screw-threaded into respective screw-threaded holes in the hub, the method comprising the steps of: inserting at least one spigot into one of the hub holes, or respective ones of the hub holes, so that the or each spigot projects from the respective hole; engaging the wheel with the hub such that the or each spigot engages in a respective one of the wheel holes; inserting at least one of the bolts through a respective one of the wheel holes and screwing that bolt into a respective one of the hub holes; removing the or each spigot; and inserting the or each remaining bolt through a respective one of the wheel holes and screwing that bolt into a respective one of the hub holes.

Accordingly, the spigot or spigots can be temporarily used to assist in aligning a wheel hole and a hub hole into which a bolt can be fitted, before the or each spigot is removed and replaced with the remaining bolt or bolts. In the case of a hub which has a central boss for engaging a corresponding central recess or hole in the wheel, the use of only one such spigot may be all that is required to overcome completely the problem set out above. In the case of a hub and wheel which do not have this feature, then preferably at least two such spigots are used.

Preferably, the or each spigot is screw-threaded adjacent one end thereof to complement the screw-threading of the hub holes, and wherein, in the spigot insertion step, the or each spigot is screwed into its respective hub hole. Accordingly, there is less risk of a spigot coming loose and the wheel falling and possibly causing damage.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a combination of: a vehicle wheel and hub of the type in which the wheel is normally held to the hub by a plurality of headed screw-threaded bolts passing through respective holes in the wheel and screw-threaded into respective screw-threaded holes in the hub; and at least one spigot engaged in a respective one of the hub holes and projecting therefrom through a respective one of the wheel holes, the maximum cross-sectional size of the spigot being less than the diameter of the respective wheel hole.

Such a combination may further include at least one headed screw-threaded wheel bolt extending through another respective one of the wheel holes and screwed into another respective one of the hub holes.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for use in the method of the first aspect of the invention or the combination of the second aspect of the invention, comprising an elongate stud, the stud having: a screw-threaded portion adjacent one end thereof for screw-threadedly engaging such a hub hole; and a portion which tapers towards the other end thereof to assist in engaging the wheel with the hub with the stud engaged in a respective one of the wheel holes. The tapered portion therefore makes it easier initially to locate the stud in the wheel hole.

Preferably, at least part of the tapered portion has surface formations to hinder slipping of the wheel from the stud.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for use in the method of the first aspect of the invention or the combination of the second aspect of the invention, comprising an elongate stud, the stud having: a first screw-threaded portion adjacent one end thereof and of a relatively small nominal diameter for screw-threadedly engaging such a hub hole having that nominal diameter; a second screw-threaded portion adjacent said first screw-threaded portion and of a relatively larger nominal diameter for screw-threadedly engaging such a hub hole having that nominal diameter; and a further portion towards the other end of the stud for engaging in such a wheel hole. Accordingly, the device can be used with hubs having different hub hole sizes.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for use in the method of the first aspect of the invention or the combination of the second aspect of the invention, comprising an elongate stud, the stud having: a screw-threaded portion adjacent one end thereof, the screw-threaded portion tapering towards said one end from a relatively large nominal diameter for screw-threadedly engaging such a hub hole having that nominal diameter to a relatively smaller nominal diameter for screw-threadedly engaging such a hub hole having that nominal diameter; and a further portion towards the other end of the stud for engaging such a wheel hole. Accordingly, the device can be used with hubs having hole sizes ranging between the smaller and larger nominal diameters.

Preferably, the smaller nominal diameter is 12 millimetres and the larger nominal diameter is 14 millimetres. With these sizes, the device can be used with many hubs which are commonly in use.

In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for use in the method of the first aspect of the invention or the combination of the second aspect of the invention, comprising an elongate stud, the stud having: a screw-threaded portion adjacent one end thereof for screw-threadedly engaging such a hub hole; and a portion towards the other end of the stud for engaging in such a wheel hole, the latter portion having a narrow projection at said other end of the stud and a recess or hole which is complementary to the projection. A tool may be inserted into the recess or hole to assist in turning the stud when it is being engaged with and disengaged from the hub hole, and in particular the tool may be provided by the projection of a similar such device.

Preferably, the pitch of the or each screw-threaded portion is 1.5 millimetres. With this size, the device can be used with many hubs which are commonly in use.

The device is formed preferably of plastics material and/or preferably by injection moulding.

It should be noted that the features of any combination of the third to sixth aspects of the invention may be employed in a single device.

In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a kit containing at least two devices each in accordance with any of the third to sixth aspects of the present invention.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of one embodiment of the device; and Figure 2 is a side view of the device of figure 1 in the direction II.

Referring to the drawings, the device is in the form of an elongate stud 10, which is a one-piece injection moulding of plastics material. The stud 10 has a central, generally cylindrical portion 12, a generally tapering portion 14 extending between the generally cylindrical portion 12 and one end 16 of the stud, and another generally tapering portion 18 extending between the generally cylindrical portion 12 and the other end 20 of the stud 10.

The generally tapering portion 14 is screw-threaded and has a first threaded portion 22 adjacent the generally cylindrical portion 12 with a metric thread of nominal diameter of about 14 millimetres and a thread pitch of 1.5 millimetres. The portion 14 also has a second threaded portion 24 adjacent the end 16 with a metric thread which tapers from a nominal diameter of about 12 millimetres to about 11 millimetres towards the end 16 and has a thread pitch of 1.5 millimetres. The threaded portions 22, 24 are joined by a third, more steeply tapered, threaded portion 26 whose nominal diameter tapers from about 14 millimetres to about 12 millimetres and which has a thread pitch again of 1.5 millimetres. The thread of these three threaded portions is continuous between them.

The generally tapering portion 18 is not threaded and is thinned at the end 20 so as to form a blade 28. The portion 18 also has a rectangular hole 30 extending transversely therethrough which is sized such that the blade 28 of a similar such stud 10 can be inserted into the hole 30 and used to assist in turning the stud 10 about its axis.

The generally cylindrical portion 12 has a number of annular ridges 32 formed on it which assist in preventing a wheel from accidentally falling off the stud 10. The ridges may be angled towards the generally tapering portion 14 to enhance this effect.

The stud 10 is supplied in a kit of three such studs, and they may be joined together by a spider which frangible connections to the studs. Although no more than two of the studs will normally be used for fitting a wheel to a hub, the third stud is provided to act as a handle for tightening up and releasing the other two studs. Should the thread of one of the studs become damaged so that it is unusable, then the damaged stud may still be used as the handle for the other two studs.

The studs described above are used in the manner set out in the introduction to this specification.

It will be appreciated that many modifications and developments may be made to the embodiment of the invention described above. For example, the screw-threaded tapering portion 14 may have a constant diameter, for example 12 millimetres or 14 millimetres. Alternatively, it may be stepped, rather than tapered, having two screw threads of 12 millimetres and 14 millimetres diameter.

It will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Each feature disclosed in the description, and (where appropriate) the claims and drawings may be provided independently or in any appropriate combination.

Reference numerals appearing in the claims are by way of illustration only and shall have no limiting effect on the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of assembling a vehicle wheel and hub of the type in which the wheel is normally held to the hub by a plurality of headed screw-threaded bolts passing through respective holes in the wheel and screw-threaded into respective screw-threaded holes in the hub, the method comprising the steps of: inserting at least one spigot into one of the hub holes, or respective ones of the hub holes, so that the or each spigot projects from the respective hole; engaging the wheel with the hub such that the or each spigot engages in a respective one of the wheel holes; inserting at least one of the bolts through a respective one of the wheel holes and screwing that bolt into a respective one of the hub holes; removing the or each spigot; and inserting the or each remaining bolt through a respective one of the wheel holes and screwing that bolt into a respective one of the hub holes.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the or each spigot is screw-threaded adjacent one end thereof to complement the screw-threading of the hub holes, and wherein, in the spigot insertion step, the or each spigot is screwed into its respective hub hole.

3. A combination of: a vehicle wheel and hub of the type in which the wheel is normally held to the hub by a plurality of headed screw-threaded bolts passing through respective holes in the wheel and screw-threaded into respective screw-threaded holes in the hub; and at least one spigot engaged in a respective one of the hub holes and projecting therefrom through a respective one of the wheel holes, the maximum cross-sectional size of the spigot being less than the diameter of the respective wheel hole.

4. A combination as claimed in claim 3, further comprising at least one headed screw-threaded wheel bolt extending through another respective one of the wheel holes and screwed into another respective one of the hub holes.

5. A device for use in a method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or in a combination as claimed in claim 3 or 4, comprising an elongate stud, the stud having: a screw-threaded portion adjacent one end thereof for screw-threadedly engaging such a hub hole; and a portion which tapers towards the other end thereof to assist in engaging the wheel with the hub with the stud engaged in a respective one of the wheel holes.

6. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least part of the tapered portion has surface formations to hinder slipping of the wheel from the stud.

7. A device for use in a method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or in a combination as claimed in claim 3 or 4, comprising an elongate stud, the stud having: a first screw-threaded portion adjacent one end thereof and of a relatively small nominal diameter for screw-threadedly engaging such a hub hole having that nominal diameter; a second screw-threaded portion adjacent said first screw-threaded portion and of a relatively larger nominal diameter for screw-threadedly engaging such a hub hole having that nominal diameter; and a further portion towards the other end of the stud for engaging in such a wheel hole.

8. A device for use in a method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or in a combination as claimed in claim 3 or 4, comprising an elongate stud, the stud having: a screw-threaded portion adjacent one end thereof, the screw-threaded portion tapering towards said one end from a relatively large nominal diameter for screw-threadedly engaging such a hub hole having that nominal diameter to a relatively smaller nominal diameter for screw-threadedly engaging such a hub hole having that nominal diameter; and a further portion towards the other end of the stud for engaging such a wheel hole.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the smaller nominal diameter is 12 millimetres and the larger nominal diameter is 14 millimetres.

10. A device for use in a method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or in a combination as claimed in claim 3 or 4, comprising an elongate stud, the stud having: a screw-threaded portion adjacent one end thereof for screw-threadedly engaging such a hub hole; and a portion towards the other end of the stud for engaging in such a wheel hole, the latter portion having a narrow projection at said other end of the stud and a recess or hole which is complementary to the projection.

11. A device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 10, wherein the pitch of the or each screw-threaded portion is 1.5 millimetres.

12. A device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 11, and formed of plastics material.

13. A device as claimed in any of claims 5 to 12, and formed by injection moulding.

14. A kit containing at least two devices each as claimed in any of claims 5 to 13.

15. A method of assembling a vehicle wheel and hub, a combination of a vehicle wheel and hub and at least one assembly device, or a device for use in such a method or combination, substantially as described with reference to the drawings.