GB2102362A - Vehicle wheel hub support stand - Google Patents

Abstract

A hub plate in the form of a support stand is bolted onto a wheel hub of a vehicle, in place of the road wheel to support the vehicle for maintenance clear of the ground in a static position. The hub plate has bolting holes to permanently fix to a concrete hardstanding. Two hub plates may be bolted back to back to form an adjustable or non-adjustable axle stand. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Hub plate/axle stand This hub plate for use on cars, caravans and light commercial vehicles, has been developed to provide a multi-purpose stand that is securely bolted to the vehicle, for extra rigidity and safety in operation. It is therefore a completely new inovation that fulfills the original practical concept of an axle stand, together with the oeed for increased versatility and uses.

The hub plate is bolted on to the axle hub of any vehicle in place of the road wheels to provide a full workable area around the wheel arches, for servicing, repairs, undersealing, respraying, bodywork, accessorie fitting etc. This in itself is a justifiable reason for its developement, but it was further designed to be converted into an independent stand by placing two units back to back and bolting together. When also in this conversion position with two lower bolts only, it becomes a heavy duty hub plate for use on high sided vehicles such as caravans that are subject to wind conditions that would increase the strain on the hub plate.

A futher developement was tha addition of a conversion kit to assemble two hub plates into a conventional adjustable axle stand. Area plates were added to the bottom of the support legs to prevent the stand sinking in tarmac and other lighter ground surfaces, also to make the hub plate/axle stand suitable for use in other countries with a higher standard of requirements for such equipment.

When the hub plates are assembled into an axle stand it has four support legs instead of the conventional three, which reduces the weight loading on each leg in comparison.

The hub plates can be extended in height by fixing two extension blocks to the bottom of the plate this will allow for a greater ground clearance for increased access to the underside of the vehicle.

The main uses of the hub plate/axle stand are as follows:~ To support the vehicle after the road wheels have been removed.

To lay up a vehicle when not in use.

To support the vehicle high off the ground when used as an adjustable axle stand.

To replace a wheel in a possible vehicle theft area. (security device) To support the vehicle when a wheel is punctured or unstable on the jack only.

To allow full removal of all wheels as when being resprayed etc.

To support a caravan when not in use or in residential use.

To support a boat trailer or normal trailer when not in use, or as a security device to prevent theft.

To secure a caravan onto a concrete hardstanding by use of latest type fixing bolts through holes in bottom of plate.

(note, it is often an insurance condition that caravans are secured by guy ropes to prevent them being overturned during high winds. This hub plate can be used to great advantage in this situation.) The hub plate can also be fixed to the vehicle by a lesser competent person, who would not realise the essential careful placing of an axle stand to prevent damage or firmly support the vehicle. The hub plate will also be more acceptable for use by women in puncture situations.

From a storage view point the hub plates are nearly flat without protruding legs, they also fit reasonably well into each other in a stacking formation.

As above the stacking ability of the hub plates will allow for easy packing and transportation, usually in units of 12 which is 3 sets of 4 hub plates as required by one vehicle.

The hub plate can also be easily displayed on peg board or on tool bars, thus requiring no extra stands or display material for sales.

Construction:~ The hub plate is manufactured from sheet steel of 4 or 5 mm thickness. The shape outline can be cut with an angle grinder with metal cutting wheel fitted or by flame cutting or by guillotine action in a press brake or similar machine.

The base area plates and side plate strengtheners can be made separately and welded into position or folded on a folding machine or press brake.

The elongated fixing holes and four bolt holes can be drilled or pressed out. If pressed out then this operation can be carried out simultaneously with the first step of pressing out the hub plate prior to folding.

Where the base area plate and side strengthener plate meet and the side strengthener plate attaches the upper part of the hub plate, these are welded at the produced corners as shown in drawing No. 1.

The plate separating barrel is made of round steel tube, the wall thickness of the tube being 1 to 2 mm thick approximately, inside diameter of tube 10 mm diameter and four barrels are needed to separate two hub plates together with four suitable bolts with nuts plain and spring washers. The length of each barrel is 26 mm or the width of the Stand Height Adjuster plus one mm clearance as shown on drawing No. 2.

The stand height adjuster is made from 50 mm x 25 mm approximately box section steel tubing welded to an upper support flange, folded as in drawing No. 2. The holes for adjusting the stand are drilled at intervals and a steel pin made from round section bar of 8 mm diameter approximately to fit the adjusting holes.

Operating Instructions:~ 1. Place vehicle on level ground, jack up and remove road wheel, check brake drum rim does not protrude past the hub or brake drum centre where the wheel studs are located.

2. If drum rim does protrude then fit flat washers provided to the two lower studs until hub plate is level or clears drum rim.

3. Place the two lower studs in horizontal position as indicated in Fig. A.

On rear, handbrake may require releasing and resetting. Note: opposite wheel should be chocked to prevent vehicle moving.

4. Place hub plate over studs and fit two more washers over elongated holes of hub plate.

5. Fit two wheelnuts onto studs with their flat end towards the hub plate and lightly tighten nuts.

At least threequarters of the wheelnut must locate on the threads of the wheel stud.

6. Partly lower jack and let hub plate settle into position, then fully tighten wheelnuts and remove jack.

A heavier duty application can be achieved by bolting two hub plates back to back by the two lower holes, then fitting as above.

A non adjustable axle stand can be assembled by bolting two hub plates back to back by the four bolting holes as shown on drawing No. 1.

An adjustable axle stand can be assembled by bolting two hub plates back to back with separating barrels, nuts and bolts by the four bolting holes. Then inserting the stand height adjuster and pin as shown in drawing No. 2.

Claims (6)

1. A hub plate being a fabricated bracket that when bolted onto the wheel hub of a vehicle, where vehicle includes: caravan, lorry, motor car, omnibus and trailer, in place of the road or transportation wheel, will support that vehicle clear of the ground in a static position.

2. A hub plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein bolting holes are provided to assemble two hub plates back to back to provide a heavy duty application of the hub plate.

3. A hub plate as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, wherein bolting holes are provided in the area plates on the legs of the hub plate, to allow the hub plate to be bolted to a hardstanding, concrete slab or garage floor.

4. A hub plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein bolting holes are provided to assemble two hub plates back to back, to provide a non adjustable axle stand.

5. A hub plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein bolting holes are provided to assemble two hub plates back to back using separating barrels, to allow a stand height adjuster and pin to be inserted to provide an adjustable axle stand.

6. A hub plate as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, wherein bolting holes are provided to allow, adjustable feet, extension blocks or castors to be fitted to the base of the hub plate.