GB2068862A

GB2068862A - Spare wheel carrier

Info

Publication number: GB2068862A
Application number: GB8004248A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Ford Motor Co Ltd; Ford Motor Co
Current assignee: Ford Motor Co Ltd; Ford Motor Co
Priority date: 1980-02-08
Filing date: 1980-02-08
Publication date: 1981-08-19
Also published as: GB2068862B

Abstract

A spare wheel carrier for a truck comprises a bracket (3) mounted on the truck, a threaded supporting rod (5) threadedly connected to a bearing 4 in the bracket for movement along an upper part (5a) of the rod (5) between raised and lowered positions relative to the bracket (3). A wheel 11 is connected to the lower part (5b) of the rod (5) by a nut assembly (10) comprising a threaded part (12) and a disconnectable spider 13 which can be bolted to the bracket (3). To remove the wheel the nut assembly is lowered along the lower part (5b) of the rod (5). Continued rotation lowers the rod from the bracket (3) and brings the wheel into contact with the ground (20). Continued rotation releases the spider (13) from the threaded part (12) and allows it to be withdrawn through the wheel centre. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Spare wheel carrier This invention relates a spare wheel carriers for motor vehicles, especialiy trucks.

Conventional spare wheel carriers are relatively complicated devices including, for example, winch arrangements for lowering the wheel from beneath the vehicle.

According to the present invention, there is provided a spare wheel carrier for a motor vehicle comprising a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to the vehicle; a threaded supporting rod mounted in the bracket for movement along an upper part of its length between a raised and a lowered.

position relative to the bracket; and a nut adapted for connection to a vehicle wheel threadedly mounted on a lower part of the length of the supporting rod for movement between a raised and a lowered position relative to the rod.

The use of a threaded supporting rod represents a substantial. simplification of the construction.

Any suitable device may be used to connect the wheel to the nut. In its simplest, and preferred, form, the nut comprises a threaded portion threadedly connected to the supporting rod, and a spider mounted on the threaded portion for movement between a radially disposed position, in which the spider may be connected to the under surface of a radially disposed wheel hub, and a tilted position, in which the spider can be passed through the centre of the wheel hub.

The supporting rod may be threaded continuously along the whole of its length. Alternatively, the rod may be threaded in two sections separated by a discontinuity in the thread in the middle region of the rod.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic cross section of a wheel carrier in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of part of the wheel carrier of Fig. 1; and Figures 3 to 5 are similar to Fig. 1 showing the wheel carrier in different positions.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a truck having main chassis members 1, 2, carries a spare wheel mounting which comprises a transverse mounting bracket 3 secured to the chassis members 1, 2 and incorporating a threaded bearing 4. A support rod 5 is mounted in the bearing 4. The support rod 5 is threaded along its length, the thread being divided into two sections by a discontinuity 6 (Fig. 3) in the region of the midpoint of the rod 5, and terminating at end stops 7, 8.

The thread along the upper part 5a of the rod 5 is engaged in the bearing 4 so that the rod 5 can be moved relative to the bearing 4 between a raised position (Fig. 1) and a lowered position (Fig. 4). The length of the upper part 5a of the rod 5 is such that, in its raised position, the upper end of the rod 5 does not project above the chassis members 1, 2, when the discontinuity abuts the bearing 4.

The thread on the lower part 5b of the rod is engaged in a nut assembly 10 which carries a spare wheel 11. As best seen in Fig. 2, the nut assembly 10 comprises a threaded part 1 2 which allows the assembly 10 to move along the lower part 5b of the rod between raised and lowered positions. The threaded portion is square in plan and carries a spider 1 3 of generally U-shaped cross section and having a central region of enlarged cross section for receiving the threaded part 12.The spider 13 includes a central slot 18 which allows the spider 1 3 to be moved radially with respect to the support rod 4 when the spider is out of engagement with the threaded part 1 2. In the position illustrated in Fig. 1, the wheel 11 is secured to the mounting bracket 3 by two bolts 15, 1 6 which pass through holes 17, 1 9 in the spider 1 3 and which register with two diametrically-opposed stud holes in the hub of the wheel 11. The bolts 15, 1 6 are received in threaded bosses in the bracket 3.

In order to remove the wheel, the two bolts 1 S, 1 6 are removed, and the wheel 8 is rotated so that the nut assembly 10 moves down the lower part 7 of the rod 5 towards the lower end of the rod 5, as illustrated in Fig. 3. When the nut assembly encounters the end stop 7 on the lower end of the rod 5, continued rotation of the wheel 8 will cause the rod 5 itself to rotate relative to the bearing 4 in the bracket 1 so that the upper part of the rod moves through the bearing 4 towards a lowered position, as illustrated in Fig. 4. As the rod 5a approaches the lowered position, the wheel engages the ground 20.Continued rotation of the rod 5 will cause the spider 1 3 to disengage from the under-surface of the hub of the wheel 11, eventually allowing the spider 1 3 to be raised sufficiently to disengage it from the threaded part 1 2. The slot 1 8 allows the spider 1 3 to be moved radially and to be tilted relative to the rod 5, thereby disengaging it from the hub of the wheel 11.

The rod 5 is then rotated in the reverse direction to remove the lower end of the rod 5 from the hub of the wheel, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The wheel 11 is then free for use. It will be appreciated that the lower part 5b of the rod 5 must be of a length sufficient to be near enough to the ground 20 when the rod 5 is lowered to permit the disengagement of the spider 1 3.

In order to install the wheel 11 on the wheel carrier, the wheel is positioned beneath the rod 5, and the rod 5 is again rotated towards its lowered position relative to the bearing 4, so that its lower end enters the centre hole of the wheel 11. The spider 1 3 is then manipulated through the centre hole to engage the under surface of the wheel 11.

Rotation of the rod 5 in the opposite direction will then bring the spider 1 3 into engagement with the wheel 11 and, as the upper part of the rod 5 moves upwardly relative to the bearing 4 towards its raised position, the wheel 11 will be lifted from the ground 20.

Since wheels of large vehicles are relatively heavy, it may be necessary to provide diametrically-disposed holes in the rod 5 for receiving a tommy bar (not shown) which can then be used to exert sufficient force on the rod 5 to lift the wheel 11 from the ground. Once the wheel 11 has been raised from the ground, the rod 5 can be rotated by manipulation of the wheel 11 itself.

Rotation of the wheel 11 is continued until the nut assembly 10 has moved into its raised position relative to the rod 5, and the rod has moved into its raised position relative to the bearing 4, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The bolts 15, 1 6 are then replaced, thus securing the wheel 11 to the vehicle.

The embodiment of the invention described therefore provides a simple, cheap and easily operated arrangement for carrying a spare wheel on a vehicle.

Claims

1. A spare wheel carrier for a motor vehicle comprising a mounting bracket adapted to be secured to a vehicle; a threaded supporting rod mounted in the bracket for movement along an upper part of its length between raised and lowered positions relative to the mounting bracket; and a nut adapted for connection to a vehicle wheel threadedly mounted on a lower part of the length of the supporting rod for movement between a raised and a lowered position relative to the supporting rod.

2. A spare wheel carrier according to Claim 1 wherein the nut comprises a threaded portion threadedly connected to the supporting rod and a spider mounted on the threaded portion for movement between a radially disposed position, in which the spider can engage the under surface of a radially disposed wheel hub, and a tilted position, in which the spider can be passed through the centre of the wheel hub.

3. A spare wheel carrier substantially as hereinbefore described, and as illustrated in the drawings.

4. A motor vehicle having a spare wheel carrier according to any one of Claims 1 to 3.