GB2511299A

GB2511299A - Indicator swinging moisture out

Info

Publication number: GB2511299A
Application number: GB1303257.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Albertus Abraham Petrus De Groot
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-01
Filing date: 2013-03-01
Publication date: 2014-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-01
Also published as: GB201303257D0; GB2511299B

Abstract

A safety device for indicating relative rotational displacement between a fixed first member-and a second member which is rotatable engaged with the first member in axial direction to secure a wheel to a vehicle, comprises a body 7 with a pointer 1 for indicational means, containing on one side in axial direction a bore, at least formed with equispaced grooves enabling the device to be releasable secured to the second member. In an area towards the end of the bore there is provided at least one small opening 3 located at the periphery of the bore, allowing to swing moisture out by the centrifugal forces as the wheel is rotation.

Description

An indication device particularly for wheel nuts, focused on the control of the entrance and exit of moisture in service of a vehicle.

It is well known that wheel nuts are loosening specific with buses, trucks and trailers. For that reason there are devices to indicate the relative displacement between the wheelnut and the stud.

Many solutions are known for indicational means such as for example patent GB2242720.

Also known are solutions having a combination of devices with indicational means and also a cap to exclude or limit the access of moisture and dust to the fixed wheel nuts, such as GB2325505, GB2393488, GB2343726, US6158933, D[7916057.

Within the automotive industry it is a serious problem to keep moisture out of systems.

Wheel nuts are meant to be in the out and open and to be checked, but also for aesthetic reasons, it is common to put a cover on wheel nuts. The negative side is that the state of the rust of the wheel nut and stud cannot easily be physical checked.

Even for specific seals in the area where the temperature is changing, as a result of the brake friction specific with commercial vehicles, does make it very complicated to seal the wheel nuts just with a -in most cases polymer -cover from entering moisture. Also where the required multi positioned and therefore equispaced grooves to fit an indicator, makes the entrance of moisture during the service, maintaining, raining and cleaning -with high pressure -circumstances very hard to exclude or limit. Even a closed device on one end cannot guarantee the entrance of moisture. As the studs, wheel nuts and cover are placed horizontally, the moisture doesn't leave the cover by gravity only, so the circumstances not having moisture locked in the cap having access to the wheel nut and stud combination, cannot be guaranteed.

Invention This device is focused on the control of the entrance and even more focused on the exit of the moisture.

The current invention will be preferable made out of a one piece of polymer, such as polyethylene or polypropylene. One of the preferred designs of the openings are relative long in radial direction -covering several applications of wheels -but with a limited height located at the periphery of the internal bore. As the vehicle stands still water drops -as rain -from the outside formed by cohesive principles, won't easily enter as these openings are designed that the gravity forces to enter these openings are smaller as the cohesive forces of the drops. In fitted position preferable non horizontal flatness sides of the device will direct the drops to follow the easy route, and fall of the device. Nevertheless it is expected that water will enter, for example during the high pressure cleaning of the wheels, during the service -where the combination of speed of the vehicle and wind will force the drops through the opening(s) -or drops entering from the side of the wheel nut, in such the device is not sealing the wheel completely, as expected with the other polymer products in the market-place.

During service as the wheels are rotating with speed, the centrifugal forces are large, at least larger as the cohesive forces of the moisture in the device and forces the drops through the opening(s) and swing out the of the device.

The device has at least one opening in line with the centre of the wheel, on the outside and away from the centre of the wheel. An opposite radial opening is preferred, such that the pointer of the device can be pointed clockwise and anti clockwise, and still having an opening away from the centre of the wheel and at the outer side of the wheel nut It is common practice that the pointers are fitted such that the pointer for indication means, and pointed at the nearest next wheel nut. Exploring the specifications of wheels, and the positioning and amounts of wheels nuts, the openings with a wide of 40 centigrade's do fit the requirement to have an opening in line starting from the centre of the wheel, through the centre of the wheel nut and the opening of the device, fitted such that the pointer with indication means is pointing at the nearest next wheel nut.

Figure 1.

This figure shows a device (7) with a pointer (1) on top of the device. The grooves(2) in the bore to accommodate the multiple fitting are shown.

At the periphery of the bore the opening (3) is shown.

Figure 2 This figure shows a alternative device with a point (1) on the bottom, and the opening (3) at the periphery of the bore Figure 3 This figure shows an alternative with the opening(3) at the periphery of the bore.

Figure 4.

This figure shows a projection of a wheel (9) with the centre point of the wheel nut (6), including a projected device(7). Also is drawn a line the starting at the centre of the wheel(4) indication the direction (5) of the centrifugal forces, and a preferred opening(3) position of the device.

Claims

Claims.1. A safety device for indicating relative rotational displacement between a fixed first member and a second member which is rotatable engaged with the first member in axial direction to secure a wheel to a vehicle, the device comprising a body with a pointer for indicational means, containing on one side in axial direction a bore, at least formed with equispaced grooves enabling the device to be releasable secured to the second member, and in the area towards the end of the bore at least one small opening located at the periphery of the bore, allowing to swing moisture out by the centrifugal forces as the wheel is rotation.
2. As in 1, having one opening in line with and away from the centre of the wheel, as the device is positioned and fixed to the second member pointing with the pointer at the nearest next second member 3. As in 1 and 2, having at least 2 opposite openings at the periphery of the bore in radial direction.4. As in 1, 2 and 3, where the body, the pointer are formed integrally.5. As 1, 2, and 3, in which the body and the pointer are formed separately 6. As in 1, 2, 3 and 5, where the body is formed out of more than one piece.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows: Claims.1. A safety device for indicating relative rotational displacement between a fixed first member and a second member which is rotatable engaged with the first member in axial direction to secure a wheel to a vehicle, the device comprising a body with a pointer for indicational means, containing on one side in axial direction a bore, at least formed with equispaced grooves enabling the device to be releasable secured to the second member, characterized in that, in the area towards the end of the bore at least one small opening is located at a periphery of the bore, which opening is at least partially radially directed, wherein the at least one opening is designed such small that, as the wheel is at a standstill, gravity forces for water drops formed outside the device to enter the opening are smaller than cohesive forces of those drops, and wherein the at least one opening is designed such small that, as the wheel is in rotation, C') centrifugal forces for moisture present inside the device to exit the opening are larger than cohesive forces of this moisture, allowing to swing the moisture through the opening out of o the device by the centrifugal forces as the wheel is rotation. a)O 2. A safety device according to claim 1, having the at least one opening in line with and away from a centre of the wheel, as the device is positioned and fixed to the second member pointing with the pointer at a nearest next second member.
3. A safety device according to one of the preceding claims, having at least 2 opposite openings at the periphery of the bore in radial direction.
4. A safety device according to one of the preceding claims, where the body and the pointer are formed integrally.
5. A safety device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the body and the pointer are formed separately.
6. A safety device according to one of the preceding claims, where the body is formed out of more than one piece.
7. A safety device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the body is made out of one piece of polymer, such as polyethylene or polypropylene.
8. A safety device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one opening has an elongate shape, in particular with a long side extending in a tangential direction around a part of the periphery of the bore, and with a short side extending parallel to an axial direction of the bore.
9. A safety device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one opening has a width of around 40 centigrade.C')
10. A safety device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is closed on one end. a,11. A safety device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one opening is positioned 0 at or near a transition of the periphery of the bore and the closed end.12. A safety device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one opening extends fully radially outwards through the periphery of the bore.13. A safety device according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the at least one opening extends partially radially outwards through the periphery of the bore and partially axially outwards through the closed end.14. Assembly of a wheel mountable with first and second members to a vehicle and at least one safety device according to one of the preceding claims, the safety device being fitted over the first and second members, wherein the device has its at least one opening directed away from a centre of the wheel at a radial outer side of the first and second members.