WO2000079140A1

WO2000079140A1 - Wheel nut locking assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2000079140A1
Application number: PCT/GB2000/002345
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael Marczynski; John Marriott
Original assignee: Business Lines Limited
Priority date: 1999-06-18
Filing date: 2000-06-15
Publication date: 2000-12-28
Also published as: GB2351134B; GB9914169D0; GB2351134A; AU5415200A

Abstract

To prevent loosening, by unscrewing of nuts (30) which secure a wheel to a vehicle, a base member (10) having upstanding abutment means, such as peripheral wall (22), is fitted over the relevant bolts or studs (34), e.g. by having apertures or recesses to accommodate the bolts (34), so as to link them together, and is secured in position by the nuts (30) themselves. Respectively wheel nut engagement devices (14) are then fitted non-rotatably onto each of the nuts (30). In this respect each device (14) has a grooved or angled aperture to fit over the nut (30) and a projecting lug which is disposed so as to abut the upstanding means (22) and thus prevents the turning of the device (14) and the nut (30) on which it is located. A cover (12) may optionally be provided, e.g. to clip onto the base member (10) with interengaging flanges (24, 38).

Description

WHEEL NUT LOCKING ASSEMBLY

This invention concerns an assembly for preventing the loosening, by unscrewing, of wheel nuts which secure a wheel to a vehicle - hence, a wheel nut locking assembly.

Wheel nuts often loosen off over time due to a number of causes, some of which are poorly understood. These causes include human errors through to severe wheel rim flexing over poor condition off road surfaces, road camber and vehicle loading.

It is known for wheel nuts to work loose to such an extent that the wheel they had secured becomes detached during motion of the vehicle. Clearly such incidents are highly dangerous for the driver, any passengers and other road users. Damage and fatalities can occur and the driver and/or vehicle owner is likely to face prosecution for use of a vehicle in an unroadworthy condition.

It is therefore necessary for frequent checks to be carried out on the degree of tightness of wheel nuts, and devices indicating any rotation of a wheel nut relative to an underlying stud can be fitted thereto. Nevertheless, checks are time consuming and can be overlooked. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide means whereby loosening of wheel nuts can be altogether prevented.

With this object in view, the invention provides a wheel nut locking assembly comprising a base member having upstanding abutment means, said member being adapted so as to be secured in a position, linking an array of wheel nuts to be locked, by said wheel nuts themselves, and a plurality of wheel nut engagement devices, each having a collar portion formed with internal grooves or angled surfaces for fitting non-rotatably on a respective wheel nut and, extending therefrom, a projecting portion which in use is arranged adjacent to or in contact with the upstanding abutment means of the base member whereby the wheel nut engagement device and the nut on which it is located is prevented from rotating.

Most conveniently, the base member is substantially annular and is formed with apertures positioned to fit over bolts or studs and be secured thereon by the wheel nuts which are to be locked. However, in alternative embodiments the base member may be polygonal and/or may be formed with recesses or notches instead of apertures.

The upstanding abutment means may conveniently extend around the periphery of the base member in the manner of a rim. It may then advantageously have a secondary function serving as a step to facilitate climbing up into a cab of a lorry or truck. However, in alternate embodiments the abutment means may be discontinuous and/or it may extend around an inner periphery of the base member, or be provided in some other configuration relative to the base member. In this respect the abutment means may either be provided integrally on the base member, or it may be attached thereto.

Advantageous embodiments of the wheel nut locking assembly of the invention also include a cover member which is engageable relative to the base member to provide a further secondary function serving as a wheel nut shield to prevent accidental damage to or by the wheel nuts/bolts and to prevent mischievous access to the wheel nut engagement devices.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a general plan view of a preferred practical embodiment of a wheel nut locking assembly of the invention when fitted onto a wheel hub;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a single nut engagement device of the assembly, shown fitted onto a respective wheel nut;

Figure 3 is a half sectional view of a modified embodiment of nut engagement device; Figure 4 is an enlarged detail of an upper portion of the assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view along line A-A in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 5, but showing the cover and the base member prior to engagement; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a small part of the cover and base member of a modified embodiment of the assembly of the invention.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 4 to 6 of the drawings, a preferred practical embodiment of the wheel nut locking assembly of the invention comprises an annular base member (10), an annular cover member (12) and a plurality of wheel nut engagement devices (14) . The latter are not visible in Figure 1 , but their position can be understood by reference to the enlarged view of Figure 4 as well as Figures 5 and 6.

The respective components (10, 12, 14) can be made of metal or any suitable plastics material.

The base member (10) comprises an annular base plate (16) formed with a series of spaced apart apertures (18, 20) and with a peripheral, upstanding rim (22), which serves as an abutment means in the locking mechanism of the assembly. The rim (22) is a shallow, cylindrical wall and extends substantially perpendicular to the base plate (16) . The rim (22) carries a plurality of spaced apart, inturned flanges (24) which serve as engagement means for the cover member (12) . As is apparent in Figure 1, each of these flanges (24) has a semi-circular notch or recess (26) in its edge facing in the clockwise direction in that drawing.

Each of the wheel nut engagement devices (14), one of which is shown in Figure 2, comprises a collar portion formed with a toothed or grooved opening (28), sized to fit over a wheel nut (30), and a laterally projecting portion in the form of a locking lug (32) . Figure 2 shows a threaded axle stud (34) , and one type of nut (30) which is threadably engaged to and tightened on the stud (34) and the device (14) located on the nut (30) . There are various other styles and designs of wheel nuts (30) in use on which the device (14) can be located.

The cover member (12) is also annular in form and is adapted for mounting inwardly of the rim (22) and inturned flanges (24) of the base member (10) . It comprises an inner ring carrying a plurality of radially outwardly projecting tabs (38) . The number of tabs (38) are equal to the number of flanges (24) and the former are intended to fit between and then engage with the latter in use of the assembly. Each tab (38) has a semi-circular notch or recess (40) in its edge facing the anti-clockwise direction in Figure 1. Adjacent this recess (40), the outer edges of the tab (38) which straddle the recess (40) are formed with wedge-shaped engagement means (42) .

Each tab (38) also carries a springloaded location pin (46) .

In use, the base member (10) is fitted onto a vehicle wheel axle hub such that the studs (34) project through the apertures (18) in the base plate (16) . It is secured in place by the screwing of the nuts (30) onto the studs (34) . The nuts (30) should be tightened to the torque recommended by the vehicle manufacturers. Onto each nut (30), an engagement device (14) is then fitted. This is possible because the nuts (30) are accessible from inwardly of the base member (10) and also between the inturned flanges (24) . The semi-circular notches (26) only partially surround the nuts at a spacing thereabove. The engagement devices (14) must be positioned on the nuts (30) such that their respective lugs (32) are directed obliquely towards the annular rim (22) of the base member, and they may, if appropriate abut said rim. The lugs (32) are sufficiently long that they would not be able to swing or rotate beyond the rim (22), which thus forms an effective stop to prevent movement of the lugs (32) . Since the collar portions of the engagement devices (14) are a non-rotatable fit over the nuts (30), by virtue of the teeth (28) engaging over the hexagonal shape of the nuts, this very effectively also prevents any rotation of the nuts themselves. The outer rim (22) of the base member (10) can also serve most effectively as a step to assist climbing up into a high level cab of a HGV or similar vehicle.

The inner ring (12) is then offered up to the inside of the annular base member (10), with the tabs (38) fitting between the respective flanges (24) of the base member. The inner ring (12) is then rotated slightly so that the wedge shaped engagement forks (42) slide below and engage with complementary wedge shaped catch means (44) provided on the flanges (24) adjacent the notches (26). As this happens, the location pins (46) also engage into the apertures (20) in the base plate (16) . In this engaged position of the inner ring, each of the nuts (30) is still visible below the circular apertures defined between the notches (26, 40) of the outer and inner rings (10, 12) . Thus the nut (30) and the stud (34) threads projecting above the nut (30) can be observed if checking or attention is required.

The purpose of the cover ring (12) is multi fold:

(i) to prevent ready access to the nut engagement devices (14) and the consequent risk of removal or tampering with same

(ii) to prevent axial movement of the engagement devices (14) along and off the nuts (30) (iii) to afford damage protection to and from the nut (30) .

These devices (14) mechanically constrain the nuts (30) from loosening by their abutment with the annular rim (22) . In this respect, a special tool has to be employed to effect removal of the cover ring (12) once the catch means (42, 44) have engaged and the location pins (46) are engaged into their holes (20) .

The foregoing is, of course, only illustrative of the invention. Many variations are possible. For example, location pins (46) are not essential and springs (48) alone can be employed, as shown in Figure 7. These springs (48) have to be compressed upon rotation of the inner ring (12) in order to ensure that the catch means (42, 44) will engage. There may be a spring (48) adjacent each nut (30) i.e. each tab (38) or just two or three such springs spaced around and mounted upon the inner ring (12) or the outer ring (10) . Also in respect of the nut engagement devices (14) a cylindrical security shield (50) may be incorporated upon the collar, as shown in Figure 3, to prevent tampering.

Claims

1. A wheel nut locking assembly comprising a base member having upstanding abutment means, said member being adapted so as to be secured in a position, linking an array of wheel nuts to be locked, by said wheel nuts themselves, and a plurality of wheel nut engagement devices, each having a collar portion formed with internal grooves or angled surfaces for fitting non-rotatably on a respective wheel nut and, extending therefrom, a projecting portion which in use is arranged adjacent to or in contact with the upstanding abutment means of the base member whereby the wheel nut engagement device and the nut on which it is located is prevented from rotating.

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the base member is formed with apertures positioned to fit over bolts or studs and be secured thereon by the wheel nuts which are to be locked.

3. An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the upstanding abutment means extends around the periphery of the base member in the manner of a rim.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the upstanding abutment means also serves as a step to facilitate climbing up into a cab of a lorry or truck.

5. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a cover member which is engageable relative to the base member to prevent access to the wheel nut engagement devices.

6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein the base member has inturned engagement means on the upstanding abutment means and the cover member is engageable relative to said inturned means.

7. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the cover member carries spring loaded locking pins which are engageable with the base member to hold the cover member in position relative thereto.

8. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the cover member carries fixed springs (without locating pins) which apply a spring loading to the cover member when engaged with the base member to hold the cover member in position relative thereto.

9. An assembly as claimed in claim 6 or 7 or 8 wherein the inturned engagement means of the base member is formed with notches or recesses and the cover member is formed with complementary notches or recesses and the means of engagement between these members is positioned so that these complementary recesses overlie and allow visual inspection of the wheel nuts when the members are thus engaged.

10. A wheel nut locking assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings .