GB2151748A

GB2151748A - Wheel retaining device

Info

Publication number: GB2151748A
Application number: GB08426401A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jean-Pierre Dumonteil
Original assignee: Guitel Etienne Mobilor SA
Current assignee: Guitel Etienne Mobilor SA
Priority date: 1983-10-28
Filing date: 1984-10-18
Publication date: 1985-07-24
Also published as: GB8426401D0; FR2554057A1; GB2151748B; FR2554057B1

Abstract

A wheel (3) is retained on a hollow axle (1) by a retaining device (5) comprising a cylindrical body (6) which fits into the axle at one end so that a radially flanged head (7) at the outer end of the body abuts the end of the axle and the hub (4) of the wheel to block the wheel from moving axially off the axle. Extending from the inner end of the body (6) is a resilient tongue (8) carrying a stud (9) which projects into a slot (10) in the axle (1) to secure the device (5) to the axle. Preferably the stud (9) projects through the slot (10) to engage the hub to also block the wheel from moving axially inwards along the axle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Wheel retaining device The present invention relates to a device for retaining a wheel on an axle.

In light trolleys, mobile dustbins, and many other wheeled carriers it is common to mount the wheels rotatably at the ends of one or more solid axles which is or are fixed or otherwise mounted on the frame of the carrier. Each wheel is secured axially on its axle by means of a radially inwardly spring loaded member, such as a ball, which is mounted in the hub of the wheel and which engages in an annular groove in the surface of the axle. This arrangement has various drawbacks in that it utilises a solid axle which is therefore heavy and expensive, it requires relatively expensive machining of the axle, and it utilises non-standard wheels.

According to the invention, it is proposed to use hollow axles and to retain each wheel on its axle by means of a device comprising a body which is fitted into one end of the axle, a resilient stud carried by the body and engaging in an aperture in the axle at a distance from the end thereof to secure the device to the axle, and an end portion fixed to the body and projecting radially outwards of the axle adjacent the end thereof to block the hub of the wheel from moving axially off the axle.

With this arrangement a hollow axle is used, which is therefore light and less expensive than a solid axle, machining is reduced to a simple piercing operation, and standard wheels may be used if desired.

The stud preferably extends through the aperture and projects radially outwards of the axle to form a block which limits axial movement of the wheel towards the other end of the axle. Alternatively, such a block may be formed in certain cases simply by using a spacer sleeve disposed on the axle between the hub of the wheel and the frame which carries the axle. If standard wheels are to be used, the stud preferably engages the inner end face of the hub to block the wheel, but if standardization is not imperative the stud may instead engage in a notch in the inner surface of the hub to block the wheel.

The end portion of the device preferably comprises a flange which covers the end of the axle and the outer end of the hub, and if desired the flange may extend further to cover the web of the wheel also.

The body of the device, which is preferably cxylindrical and matches the bore of the hollow axle, may also carry a second resilient stud which projects through a second aperture in the axle at a distance further from the end of the axle than the first aperture to form a spacer stop.

The resilient stud may be protectively covered radially outwardly thereof by a member having a frangible portion in the region of the stud, so that the wheel can be removed from the axle only if the need arises.

Examples of the device in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a hollow axle and a wheel retained on the axle by a first example of the device, and showing two alternative forms of the end portion of the device; Figure 2 is part of a sectional view similar to Figure 1 but showing a second example of the device; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is part of a sectional view similar to Figure 1 but showing a third example of the device; Figure 5 is a perspective view of the device shown in Figure 4; and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a spacer sleeve which forms part of the assembly shown in Figure 1.

In the drawings, a hollow axle 1, which will usually be made of metal, is shown projecting laterally from the frame 2 of a dustbin trolley, hand truck, or the like, and a wheel 3 is rotatably mounted on the end of the axle 1 by means of its hub 4, which will usually be made of plastics material, and is secured axially thereon by a retaining device 5 in accordance with the invention.

The retaining device 5 may be made of plastics material and comprises a cylindrical body 6 adapted to fit, virtually without clearance, in the axle 1. Integral with the body 6 at one end is a head having a radially projecting circular flange 7,7' which abuts the end of the axle 1 and also the outer end of the hub 4. As shown in the top halfsection of Figure 1, the flange 7 may simply cover the end of the hub 4. Alternatively, as shown in the lower half-section of Figure 1, the flange 7' may extend radially beyond the hub to serve as a protective cover for the web and/or the spokes of the wheel as well.

At the other end of the cylindrical body 6 from the head, the retaining device 5 has a tongue 8 extending longitudinally from the body 6 and carrying at its end a retaining stud 9 which projects radially outwards through a slot 10 in the axle 1 so that it holds the device 5 in the axle and also forms an axial stop for blocking axial movement of the wheel inwardly along the axle. In the examples of Figures 1 and 2 the slot 10 is located axially beyond the inner end of the wheel hub 4 so that the stud 9 projects adjacent the inner end of the hub.

Due to the shape and material of which the tongue 8 and the stud 9 are made the tongue is able to flex resiliently to allow the stud and the body 6 to be inserted into the axle when fitting the device 5, and the stud to snap into position through the slot 10 upon reaching the slot.

In the first example a spacer sleeve 11 is provided around the axle 1 between the frame 2 and the hub 4 so as to maintain the axle 1 and the wheel 3 in the correct position with respect to the frame. At its end adjacent the hub 4 the sleeve 11 is provided with a recess to accommodate the retaining stud 9. This recess may be open so that the stud 9 can be reached from the outside and pushed into the axle 1 in order to release the retaining device 5 and remove the wheel. Alterna tively the sleeve may be constructed as shown in Figures 1 and 6 with a thin zone 12 in the recess and covering the stud 9 so as to provide protection against untimely release of the stud. The thin zone 12 is however made fairly easy to break so that the wheel can be removed if necessarv.

In the second example shown in Figures 2 and 3, the device 5 has a second longer tongue 14 extending longitudinally from the inner end of the body 6 and carrying at its end a second stud 13 projecting through a second slot 15 in the axle 1 which is level with the outside of the frame 2 when the axle 1 is in its desired position. The stud 13 thus forms a spacer stop which abuts the frame 2 to hold the axle 1 in the desired position, and there is no need for a spacer sleeve 11 as in the first example.

In the third example shown in Figures 4 and 5, the retaining stud 9' projects through the slot 10 in the axle 1 between the ends of the hub 4 of the wheel and engages in an annular groove 16 in the inner surface of the hub to axially block the wheel.

As shown, the hub 4 may be provided with a local weak part 17 in the region of the groove 16 which is easy to break so as to allow access to the stud 9' in order to release it if the need arises. If the ability to remove the wheel is not required, and if axial blocking of the wheel at its inner end is effected by a spacer sleeve, it is possibie to dispense with the groove 16 in the hub so that the stud 9' engages only in the slot 10 in the axle to secure the retaining device for axially blocking the outer end of the wheel at the end of the shaft.

When, as in the example of Figure 4, the stud 9' and the flange 7 are relatively close together, the tongue 8' bearing the stud 9' may be cut out of the cylindrical body 6 as shown in Figure 5.

In the exampies of Figures 1 and 2, the stud 9 may co-operate with a washer (not shown) interposed between the stud and wheel hub 4 (particularly if the assembly includes roiler bearings), although this may be unnecessary if there is a spacer sleeve 11 since this may be arranged to perform the same role.

Claims

1. A device for retaining a wheel on a hollow axle, the device comprising a body which is arranged to fit into one end of the axle and which carries a resilient stud for engaging in an aperture in the axle at a distance from the end thereof to secure the device to the axle, and an end portion fixed to the body so that, in use, it projects radially outwards of the axle adjacent the end thereof to block the hub of the wheel from moving axially off the axle.

2. A device retaining a wheel on a hollow axle and comprising a body which is fitted into one end of the axle, a resilient stud carried by the body and engaging in an aperture in the axle at a distance from the end thereof to secure the device to the axle, and an end portion fixed to the body and projecting radially outwards of the axle adjacent the end thereof to block the hub of the wheel from moving axially off the axle.

3. A device according to Claim 2, in which the stud extends through the aperture and projects ra diaily outwards of the axle to form a block which limits axial movement of the wheel towards the other end of the axle.

4. A device according to Claim 2, in which the stud engages the inner end of the wheel hub to block the wheel.

5. A device according to Claim 3, in which the stud engages in a notch in the inner surface of the wheel hub to block the wheel.

6. A device according to any one of Claims 2 to 5, in which the end portion comprises a flange which covers the end of the axle and the outer end of the wheel hub.

7. A device according to Claim 6, in which the flange also covers the web or spokes of the wheel.

8. A device according to any one of Claims 2 to 7, in which the body is cylindrical.

9. A device according to any one of Claims 2 to 8, in which the resilient stud is protectively covered radially outwardly thereof by a member having a frangible portion in the region of the stud.

10. A device according to any one of Claims 2 to 9, in which the body carries a second resilient stud which projects through a second aperture in the axle at a distance further from the end of the axle than the first aperture to form a spacer stop.

11. A device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 6, Figures 2 and 3, or Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.