GB2288163A

GB2288163A - Road wheel elevation and alignment device

Info

Publication number: GB2288163A
Application number: GB9406731A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher James Gurney
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-04-05
Filing date: 1994-04-05
Publication date: 1995-10-11
Also published as: GB9406731D0

Abstract

The device for use when changing vehicle road wheels comprises a lever mechanism for lifting the wheel by hand or foot pressure on pad 12, which causes a lifting frame 2 to be raised on a parallelogram linkage to the desired height and then held in place by a pawl (14) and ratchet (15) (Fig 2, not shown). A pair of rollers 4 on slides 3 mounted on the frame 2 support the road wheel, allow it to be rotated and moved forward and backward thus ensuring precise alignment of the road wheel with the hub of the vehicle. Preferably the rollers 4 are prevented from rotating when slid to the withdrawn position shown in the figure to facilitate rolling of a wheel off or on to the device. The device will fold down flat for ease of storage and has wheel nut storage recesses 16. <IMAGE>

Description

ROAD WHEEL ELEVATION AND ALIGNMENT DEVICE This invention relates to a road wheel elevation and alignment device. Such a device will be used when changing vehicle road wheels, for instance when a tyre has been punctured and enables the person changing the wheel to both remove the wheel easily and fit the replacement without physically lifting the wheel by hand. If such a device is not available it is the fitting of a replacement wheel which is the most strenuous operation, as the wheel has both to be lifted and rotated so that the set of holes around the centre of the wheel hub flange align with matching threaded studs which project from the axle hub. This is a difficult procedure made worse because the person engaged on the operation has to do so whilst in a crouching position.The larger the diameter of the wheel and the wider the tyre, the greater the weight of the wheel and the more difficult and strenuous is the task. Understandably many less physically able drivers find this beyond their capability.

Most road vehicles will carry in addition to a spare wheel, a jack to lift part of the vehicle so that the wheel to be changed can be raised clear of the ground, a suitable spanner to remove the wheel retaining nuts and a pump to adjust the air pressure of any tyre. Few vehicles however carry a device to aid the driver to remove and refit a road wheel with minimal physical effort, nor are simple low cost wheel elevation and alignment devices available for the general motorist. Such devices which are marketed usually incorporate hydraulic means for raising the wheel and are both bulky and expensive.

According to the present invention there is provided a wheel elevation and alignment device for vehicle road wheels which comprises of a frame designed to accomodate a vehicle road wheel which can be elevated by the user applying their body weight to a lever. The wheel is positioned onto a pair of rollers which are supported by the frame. These rollers can both rotate and slide forward and backward on spindles enabling the wheel to be slipped over the threaded studs on the axle hub once elevated and aligned with the axle. A simple ratchet may be incorporated into the mechanism for raising the wheel, so that once the desired height has been achieved, the wheel will remain in position allowing the person using the wheel elevation and alignment device to move freely, rather than remaining in a set position.

The users body weight is applied to the wheel elevation lever either via the users foot, knee or hand, whichever is the most convenient. When not in use the road wheel elevation and alignment device folds into a rectangular form, typically 300-400mm long, 200-300mm wide and 40-70mm thickness which will take up very little space when stored in the boot of the vehicle or in the space alloted for the jack, tools, tyre pump etc.

This feature will also be advantageous when the devices are packaged and distributed for sale.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective the road wheel elevation and alignment device in the position it will be used, with the rollers on which the wheel will be positioned at their maximum elevated position, whilst that end of the wheel elevation lever onto which body weight is applied is at its lowest position.

Figure 2 shows for clarity a perspective view of the wheel elevation lever, the lifting arm and ratchet mechanism as these parts are not clearly shown on either Figures 1,3 or 4.

Figure 3 shows a side elevation of the road wheel elevation and alignment device ready for storage with the wheel support rollers in their lowest position and the wheel elevation lever folded back inside the main frame of the device.

Figure 4 shows in perspective the road wheel elevation and alignment device ready for storage with the wheel support rollers in their lowest position and the wheel elevation lever folded back inside the main frame of the device.

Referring to Figure 1 the road wheel elevation and alignment device comprises of a main frame 1 manufactured from aluminium or a rigid plastics material such as PVC, ABS or the like which will be positioned on the ground surface in front of the road wheel which is to be removed from a vehicle.

A lifting frame 2 which will fit inside of the main frame 1 incorporates a pair of spindles 3 upon which rollers 4 are mounted. The rollers 4 will rotate freely on the spindles 3 and also slide backwards and forwards along the spindles 3. The rollers 4 serve to support the vehicle road wheel when it is either being fitted to or removed from the vehicle axle. The rollers 4 will be manufactured from a material such as PTFE or Nylon so that when the vehicle road wheel is resting on the rollers 4, forward or backward pressure on the wheel will cause the rollers 4 to slide forward or backward along the spindles 3 thus moving the wheel either towards or away from the axle hub. The diameter of the rollers 4 at each end may be greater than at the centre (not shown) to prevent the wheel from being dislodged from the rollers 4 when it is pushed forward or pulled backwards.Alternatively the surface of the rollers 4 may be deeply knurled or grooved. The rollers 4 also allow the road wheel to be rotated.

Should it be desirable to manufacture the rollers 4 from metal such as aluminium, it would be preferable to sleeve the rollers 4 with PTFE in order to ensure the rollers 4 will slide smoothly on the spindles 3, which preferably will be manufactured from polished stainless steel. Typically the rollers 4 will be 30-60mm diameter and 100-150mm long. Typically the spindles 3 will be 8-12rrrm diameter and 200-300 mm long.

The lifting frame 2 is linked to the main frame 1 by means of a lifting arm 5 and a support arm 6 via pairs of pivots 7 (not all of which are shown) at the lower edge of each arm 5 and 6 which fit into bearings 8 (not all of which are shown) in the main frame 1. Similarly the lifting arm 5 and the support arm 6 are linked to the lifting frame 2 by means of pairs of pivots 9 (not all of which are shown) at the upper edge of each arm 5 and 6 which fit into bearings 10 (not all of which are shown) in the lifting frame 2.

Thus the main frame 1, the lifting frame 2, the lifting arm 5 and the support arm 6 take the form of a parallelogram such that when the lifting frame 2 is elevated, the top of the lifting frame 2 will always be parallel with the main frame 1. Elevation of the lifting frame 2 is achieved by means of pressure applied to the soft pad 12 at the end of the elevation lever 11, which is coupled to the lifting arm 5 by means of pairs of pivots 13 which have restricted angular movement. In the position of the elevation lever 11 as shown in Figure 1, any pressure on the end of the elevation lever 11 via the soft pad 12 will be transmitted to the lifting arm 5, thus causing the lifting frame 2 and hence the road wheel to be raised. The soft pad 12 will be a pad of foam rubber or plastic material which will cushion the users foot, knee or hand when they apply their body weight to elevate the wheel.

Typically the lifting frame 2 will elevate 80-120mm from its lowest to its highest position.

Means will be provided (not shown) to lock the rollers 4 and thus prevent them from rotatating on their spindles 3 when the rollers 4 are slid backwards to their furthest position as shown in Figure 1. This is necessary so that the road wheel can be rolled onto the rollers 4 from either the right hand or left hand side without them rotating. Similarly it will enable the road wheel to be rolled off the device once it has been removed from the vehicle.

A simple ratchet mechanism (not shown in Figure 1) may be incorporated into the wheel elevation and alignment device in order that the lifting frame 2 will remain at the height chosen by the user of the device, thus allowing the user to remove their body weight from the elevation lever 11 and move to a more comfortable position to proceed with the task of removing or re-fitting the road wheel.

For the sake of clarity Figure 2 shows in detail the lifting arm 5 and the means by which the elevation lever 11 is coupled to the lifting arm 5 by means of the pivots 13, which project from the elevation lever 11 and which will locate into bearings 18 on the lifting arm 5 when the two parts 11 and 5 are assembled together. Pressure on the soft pad 12 will cause the lifting frame 2 to be raised due to the angular movement of the lifting arm 5, by means of the pivots 7, when the angled face 17 of the elevation lever 11 presses up against a mating face on the underside of the lifting arm 5 (not shown).

By way of example Figure 2 shows also a simple ratchet 14 and pawl 15 mechanism which will enable the lifting frame 2 to be locked at any desired height as chosen by the user of the device. The upper edge 19 of the pawl 15 is split so that it will clip loosely around the spindle 20 which is attached to the lifting arm 5, such that the pawl 15 hangs down with its free end dropping notch by notch into the ratchet 14 as the lifting frame 2 is raised. Full location of the pawl 15 into the ratchet 14 will be achieved when pressure is removed from the elevation lever 11 The lifting frame may only be lowered by the application of pressure to the soft pad 12 and by holding the pawl 15 away from the ratchet 14. The lifting frame 2 may then be lowered. The ratchet 14 may be an integral part of the main frame 1 or a separate 'clipped on' part.Several sites for such a ratchet 14 and pawl 15 mechanism are possible, the most suitable being dependant on ease of access by the user, safety and manufacturing considerations.

Figure 3 shows a side elevation of the road wheel elevation and alignment device ready for storage with the wheel support rollers 4 in their lowest position and the wheel elevation lever 11 folded back inside the main frame 1. This side elevation also shows the position of the support pawl 15 and the mating ratchet 14. Additionally, two of four feet 21 are shown projecting fram the underside of the lifting frame 2, which serve to prevent the bearings 9 fram being pressed over-centre when the road wheel is positioned onto the rollers 4. In such an over-centre condition it would not be possible to raise the lifting frame 2.

It is envisaged that all of the main component parts of the road wheel elevation and alignment device excepting the spindles 3, rollers 4 and the soft pad 12 could be moulded in rigid plastics material such as PVC, ABS or the like for a device which will be suitable for most cars.

In this case the component parts could be designed to clip together without the need for nuts, bolts, pins etc., thus ensuring manufacturing costs would be kept as low as possible.

In a further embodiment of the invention a road wheel elevation and alignment device suitable for heavier vehicles such as vans, jeep type vehicles, lorries, tractors etc., may need to be manufactured mainly or entirely from metals such as aluminium or steel, in which case the device may be constructed in a similar manner to the device illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 but the pivots 7,9, and 13 may need to be rods of steel or stainless steel.

Two receptacles 16 are provided in the main frame 1 in which the user may safely keep the wheel nuts once these have been removed.

When the wheel elevation and alignment device is used to remove a road wheel, the wheel nuts are firstly loosened and then the vehicle is jacked up so that the lower part of the tyre of the wheel to be changed which was in contact with the road surface or the ground, is clear of the ground preferably by 50-80mm. The road wheel elevation and alignment device is then positioned in front of and square with the wheel, with the elevation lever 11 furthest away from the wheel. Both rollers 4 are pushed fully forward on their spindles 3 and then the main framework 1 is pushed forward so that the rollers 4 are then centrally beneath and square to the wheel.

Bodyweight is then applied to the soft pad 12 thus causing the wheel elevation lever 11 to raise the lifting frame 2 via the pivoted lifting arm 5. The lifting frame 2 is raised until the wheel is well supported when the wheel nuts may be removed. The wheel is then pulled backwards from the vehicle axle until the rollers 4 are fully back into the position shown in Figure 1 and then the wheel is raised slightly by the application of body weight to the soft pad 12. The pawl 15 is detached from the ratchet 14 and the wheel lowered by gradually reducing the body weight applied to the wheel elevation lever 11 via the soft pad 12. The wheel may then be rolled off the lifting frame 2.

Fitting a spare or replacement wheel will follow the reverse order of events. The rollers 4 will firstly be pulled backwards to their furthest position. The road wheel is then rolled onto the rollers 4 either from the right hand or left hand side of the device. Once in position and held there, body weight is applied to the wheel elevation lever 11, via the soft pad 12 so that the wheel will be elevated. When the desired height has been reached, the wheel is rotated until the set of holes around the centre of the wheel hub flange align with the matching threaded studs which project from the vehicle axle hub. The wheel is then moved forward by hand pressure which causes the rollers 4 to slide forward on the spindles 3 so that the threaded studs on the axle pass through their matching holes in the wheel hub flange. The wheel nuts are then fitted and tightened. The elevation and alignment device is then pulled back, the lifting frame 2 is lowered and the wheel elevation lever 11 folded forward ready for the device to be stored.

The vehicle is then jacked down until the tyre of the newly fitted wheel contacts the ground when the wheel nuts are fully tightened. The jack is then lowered fully and removed.

For the sake of clarity Figure 4 shows in perspective the road wheel elevation and alignment device ready for storage with the wheel support rollers 4 in their lowest position and pulled backwards. The wheel elevation lever 11 is shown folded back into the main frame 1.

Claims

CLAIMS CLAIMS

1. A roadlelevation and alignment device comprising a mechanism tor lifting a wheel by means of the body weight of the user applied via a lifting arm which causes a lifting frame to be raised, on which is supported the vehicle wheel such that the wheel may be rotated and moved freely towards and away from the vehicle.

2. A road wheel elevation and alignment device as outlined in Feature 1 which incorporates a pair of rollers mounted freely to rotate and slide on spindles attached to the lifting frame such that a vehicle road wheel placed onto the rollers may easily be both rotated and moved by means of the rollers backwards and forwards as the rollers slide on the spindle.

3. A road wheel elevation and alignment device as outlined in Features 1 and 2 which will fold into a rectangular shape for easy storage and packaging.

4. A road wheel elevation and alignment device as outlined in Features 1 and 2 which incorporates a pawl and ratchet to hold the lifting frame at the height selected by the user. The pawl must be released from the ratchet before the lifting frame can be lowered.

5. A road wheel elevation and alignment device as outlined in Features 1 and 2 in which the lifting frame will at all times remain parallel with the surface on which the device is placed as it is moved up and down.

6. A road wheel elevation and alignment device as outlined in Features 1 and 2 which incorporates means by which the rollers are prevented from rotating when the rollers are moved backwards to their furthest position, thus aiding the action of rolling the road wheel onto or off the rollers.

7. A road wheel elevation and alignment device as outlined in Features 1 and 2 the main component parts of which can be moulded in a rigid plastics material or constructed from metal.

8. A road wheel elevation and alignment device as outlined in Features 1 and 2 which incorporates a soft pad on the end of the lever used to elevate the wheel to cushion the users hand, knee or foot when body weight pressure is applied to the lever.

9. A road wheel elevation and alignment device as outlined in Features 1 and 2 which incorporates into its main frame storage recesses in which the wheel nuts can be safely kept whilst the wheel is being changed.