GB2328633A

GB2328633A - Wheelbrace

Info

Publication number: GB2328633A
Application number: GB9718449A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael John Boswell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-09-02
Filing date: 1997-09-02
Publication date: 1999-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2017-09-02
Also published as: GB2328633B; GB9718449D0

Abstract

A device for tightening or loosening vehicle wheel nuts comprises a carrier member 11 and a engaging member 14 for rotational movement relative thereto. The carrier member 11 has means 23 to prevent or limit movement of the carrier member relative to the nut when the nut is being tightened or loosened. The carrier member is further provided with operating means 22 to enable rotation of the nut engaging member 14 through a mechanical advantage system such as a gear arrangement 16. The means to prevent movement of the carrier member may comprise a further engaging member 23 which slides in an elongate slot 27 and which locates on a further nut.

Description

Title: Wheelbrace DescriDtion of Invention This invention relates to a device for tightening or loosening fastenings and primarily but not exclusively to a device for tightening or loosening threaded fastenings such as vehicle wheel nuts.

Tightening or loosening fastenings such as vehicle wheel nuts or bolts generally requires considerable torque to be applied to the fastening so that the fastening may be securely fastened. When removing such fastenings, an approximately equivalent force is required in an opposite direction.

A number of devices are known for facilitating such movements, for example, at a simple level, spanners with extended handles for extra leverage, through to electric or pneumatic nut tighteners as commonly used in garages and by vehicle recovery services.

However, in the former case, these often prove unsatisfactory since a considerable amount of effort can still be required to loosen a fastening, and in the latter case, such devices are not usually available to, for example, a motorist on the road.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for tightening or loosening fastenings which overcomes or minimises the problems outlined above.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a device for tightening and/or loosening fastenings, the device comprising a carrier member having a fastening engageable member or fastening engageable member drive means mounted thereon for rotational movement relative thereto, the carrier member having means to prevent or limit movement of the carrier member relative to the fastening, the carrier member being provided with operating means to enable rotation of the fastening engageable member or fastening engageable member drive means through a mechanical advantage system.

In the case where there is provided a fastening engageable member, the fastening engageable member preferably comprises a receiving formation adapted for releasable engagement with the fastening.

Conveniently, the fastening engageable member comprises a socket for releasable engagement with the fastening. The fastening may be, for example, a nut on a vehicle wheel.

Preferably the fastening engageable member has a shaft attached to and extending from the base of the receiving formation which passes into the carrier member.

Conveniently, the shaft may pass through the carrier member and protrude at an opposite side thereof.

The carrier member preferably comprises an elongate housing with at least one aperture therein, the aperture permitting of attachment of the fastening engage able member to the carrier member.

In the case where there is provided a fastening engageable member drive means, the fastening engageable member drive means preferably comprises means for attaching a fastening engageable member intermediate the drive means and fastening, for transmitting rotational movement from the drive means to the fastening.

Conveniently, the fastening engageable member drive means comprises a spigot rotatable by the operating means. Conveniently, the fastening engageable member comprises a socket provided at one end with a formation adapted for cooperation with the spigot and provided at its other end with a receiving formation adapted for releasable engagement with the fastening.

There may be provided a plurality of different sockets so as to provide a device suitable for tightening and/or loosening a variety of different fastenings.

Preferably the fastening engageable member drive means has a shaft attached to and extending from the drive means and which passes into the carrier member.

The means to prevent or limit movement of the carrier member relative to the fastening may be an elongate member attached to or integral with the carrier member. Such an elongate member may permit of slight initial rotation of the carrier member but may be disposed so as to engage with a wheel arch, or the ground, when the device is used to tighten or loosen vehicle wheel nuts.

Alternatively, the carrier member may be of sufficient length such that it itself may comprise the elongate member.

The means to prevent or limit rotation of the carrier member relative to the fastening may alternatively comprise a further fastening engageable member engageable with a further fastening.

The further fastening engageable member may be positionally adjustable relative to the carrier member. Conveniently, the further fastening engageable member may be positionally adjustable longitudinally of the carrier member.

Such longitudinal positional adjustment may be by virtue of the further fastening engageable member being located in an elongate aperture. The further fastening engageable member may be slidable within the elongate aperture.

Conveniently, the further fastening engageable member also has a receiving formation similar if not identical to that of the fastening engageable member.

Further still, the further fastening engageable member may have a shaft extending into the carrier member through the elongate aperture. The shaft may be provided at its remote end with a radially outwardly extending formation to enable the further fastening engageable member to be retained in the elongate aperture. Conveniently, the radially outwardly extending formation is a flange.

Preferably, the flange has a diameter greater than the width of the elongate aperture.

The operating means may comprise an input fitting provided on the carrier member in driven relationship with the fastening engageable member or fastening engageable member drive means and an operating member adapted for engagement with the input fitting. Such an arrangement permits of rotational movement of the operating member being transmitted to the fastening engageable member.

Conveniently, the input fitting is substantially equally shaped and sized to the fastening to be tightened and/or loosened.

There may conveniently be provided on the end of the shaft of the fastening engageable member an additional input fitting, similar or identical to that described above. Such an additional fastening provides that the fastening engageable may be driven directly by the operating member.

Conveniently, the mechanical advantage of the system provides a positive mechanical advantage having a ratio greater than 1:1.

Preferably the mechanical advantage system comprises gearing means.

The gearing means may comprise an arrangement of gears, comprising at least two gearwheels. Preferably the gear arrangement has three gearwheels.

Preferably the shaft of the fastening engageable member passes through a first gearwheel and rotates directly therewith, and a third gearwheel has associated therewith a further shaft which is associable with the operating member. Preferably, the first gearwheel is greater in size and has more teeth than the third gearwheel. The first and third gearwheels may be meshed together for direct torque transmission.

Preferably, however, there is provided a second gearwheel intermediate and in driven relationship with the first and third gearwheels. The second gearwheel may be of any suitable size relative to the first and third gearwheels, but is preferably substantially equal in size to the third gearwheel. The second gearwheel serves to ensure that rotation of the third gearwheel in a given angular direction causes rotation of the first gearwheel in the same angular direction.

Preferably the gear ratio between the first and third gearwheels is 5:2.

Preferably the gear ratio between the first and second gearwheels is also 5:2.

Accordingly, the gear ratio between the second and third gearwheels is preferably approximately 1:1.

It will be appreciated that the gear ratios above may be chosen so as to be suitable for use on a variety of different fastening. Accordingly, different ratios may be used in different circumstances depending on the torque required to tighten or loosen the fastening.

A gear arrangement as described in the preceding four paragraphs provides that the device may be operated manually without the requirement of excessive force to be applied on the operating member by a user of the device.

As a further alternative, the gearing means may comprise an epicyclic gear arrangement.

It will be appreciated that the operating member could be one of a variety of suitable tools, for example a bar, spanner or wrench.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a device according to the invention, and FIGURE 2 is a side sectional view of the device.

Referring to the figures, a device for tightening or loosening fastenings generally indicated at 10 is shown comprising a carrier member 11 which in this example is elongate metal housing with an aperture 12 therein, in which is located a shaft 13 of a fastening engageable member 14. The fastening engageable member 14 comprises a receiving formation 15 which is suitable for releasable engagement with the fastening, for example a nut, which is to be tightened or loosened. The shaft 13 is attached to and rotates with a first gearwheel 16 which is meshed with a second wheel 17 on a shaft 18 which in turn is meshed with a third wheel 19 mounted on a shaft 20. An input fitting 21 is attached to the shaft 20 and is thus in driven relationship with the first and second gearwheels 16 and 17. The input fitting is adapted for engagement with an operating member 22 which in this example is an elongate metal handle. The three gearwheels provide a gearing means whereby input torque from the handle 22 is transmitted to output torque at the fastening engageable member 14. The gearwheels are sized so as to provide a positive mechanical advantage having a ratio greater than 1:1.

The provision of the second gearwheel 17 ensures that input movement in a given angular direction is converted to output movement in the same angular direction.

As an alternative to the fastening engageable member 14, there may be provided a spigot in driven relationship with or attached to the shaft 13.

Accordingly, in such a case there are provided one or more sockets provided at one end with a formation adapted for cooperation with the spigot and provided at the other end with a receiving formation adapted for releasable engagement with the fastening to be tightened or loosened. This arrangement provides a device suitable for tightening and/or loosening a variety of different fastenings.

The means to prevent or limit movement or the carrier member relative to the fastening in this example is a further fastening engageable member 23 comprising a receiving formation 24, a shaft 25 extending into the carrier member and a flange 26 located within the carrier member which holds the further fastening engageable member relative to the carrier member. There is provided an elongate aperture 27 extending longitudinally of the carrier member in which the further fastening engageable member may slide. During use, the further fastening engageable member locates with a further fastening. In such a situation, the device is attached to the fastenings at two positions along its length, and accordingly rotational movement of the device is impeded. By virtue of the elongate aperture 27, the further fastening engageable member may be attached to an adjacent fastening, for example an adjacent wheel nut, or any other convenient fastening by slid able movement of the further fastening engageable member in the aperture.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. A device for tightening and/or loosening fastenings, the device comprising a carrier member having a fastening engage able member or fastening engageable drive means mounted thereon for rotational movement relative thereto, the carrier member having means to prevent or limit movement of the carrier member relative to the fastening, the carrier member being provided with operating means to enable rotation of the fastening engageable member or fastening engageable member drive means through a mechanical advantage system.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the fastening engage able member comprises a receiving formation adapted for releasable engagement with the fastening.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the fastening engageable member comprises a socket for releasable engagement with the fastening.

4. A device according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the fastening engageable member has a shaft attached to and extending from the base of the receiving formation which passes into the carrier member.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the shaft passes through the carrier member and protrudes at an opposite side thereof.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the carrier member comprises an elongate metal housing with at least one aperture therein, the aperture permitting of attachment of the fastening engageable member to the carrier member.

7. A device according to claim 1 wherein the fastening engageable member drive means comprises means for attaching a fastening engageable member intermediate the drive means and fastening, for transmitting rotational movement from the drive means to the fastening.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the fastening engageable member drive means comprises a spigot rotatable by the operating means.

9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the fastening engageable member comprises a socket provided at one end with a formation adapted for co-operation with the spigot and provided at its other end with a receiving formation adapted for releasable engagement with the fastening.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein there are provided a plurality of different sockets so as to provide a device suitable for tightening and/or loosening a variety of different fastenings.

11. A device according to any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein the fastening engageable member drive means has a shaft attached to and extending from the drive means and which passes into the carrier member.

12. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means to prevent or limit movement of the carrier member relative to the fastening is an elongate member attached to or integral with the carrier member.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the elongate member permits of slight initial rotation of the carrier member but is disposed so as to engage with a wheel arch, or the ground, when the device is used to tighten or loosen vehicle wheel nuts.

14. A device according to claim 12 or 13 wherein the carrier member is of sufficient length such that it itself comprises the elongate member.

15. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the means to prevent or limit rotation of the carrier member relative to the fastening comprises a further fastening engageable member engage able with a further fastening.

16. A device according to claim 15 wherein the further fastening engageable member is positionally adjustable relative to the carrier member.

17. A device according to claim 16 wherein the further fastening engageable member is positionally adjustable longitudinally of the carrier member.

18. A device according to claim 17 wherein such longitudinal positional adjustment is by virtue of the further fastening engageable member being located in an elongate aperture.

19. A device according to claim 18 wherein the further fastening engageable member is slidable within the elongate aperture.

20. A device according to any one of claims 15 to 19 wherein the further fastening engageable member has a receiving formation similar if not identical to that of the fastening engageable member.

21. A device according to any one of claims 18, 19 or 20 wherein the further fastening engageable member has a shaft extending into the carrier member through the elongate aperture.

22. A device according to claim 21 wherein the shaft is provided at its remote end with a radially outwardly extending formation to enable the further fastening engageable member to be retained in the elongate aperture.

23. A device according to claim 22 wherein the radially outwardly extending formation is a flange.

24. A device according to claim 23 wherein the flange has a diameter greater than the width of the elongate aperture.

25. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the operating means comprises an input fitting provided on the carrier member in driven relationship with the fastening engageable member or fastening engageable member drive means and an operating member adapted for engagement with the input fitting.

26. A device according to claim 25 wherein the input fitting is substantially equally shaped and sized to the fastening to be tightened and/or loosened.

27. A device according to claim 25 or claim 26 wherein there is provided on the end of the shaft of the fastening engageable member an additional input fitting, similar or identical to that described in claims 25 and 26.

28. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mechanical advantage of the system provides a positive mechanical advantage having a ratio greater than 1:1.

29. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the mechanical advantage system comprises gearing means.

30. A device according to claim 29 wherein the gearing means comprises an arrangement of gears, comprising at least two gearwheels.

31. A device according to claim 30 wherein the gear arrangement has three gearwheels.

32. A device according to claim 31 wherein the shaft of the fastening engageable member passes through a first gearwheel and rotates directly therewith, and a third gearwheel has associated therewith a further shaft which is associable with the operating member.

33. A device according to claim 31 or 32 wherein the first gearwheel is greater in size and has more teeth than the third gearwheel.

34. A device according to claim 31, 32 or 33 wherein the first and third gearwheels are meshed together for direct torque transmission.

35. A device according to any one of claims 31 to 33 wherein there is provided a second gearwheel intermediate and in driven relationship with the first and third gearwheels.

36. A device according to claim 35 wherein the second gearwheel is of any suitable size relative to the first and third gearwheels.

37. A device according to claim 36 wherein the second gearwheel is substantially equal in size to the third gearwheel.

38. A device according to any one of claims 31 to 37 wherein the gear ratio between the first and third gearwheels is 5:2.

39. A device according to any one of claims 31 to 38 wherein the gear ratio between the first and second gearwheels is 5:2.

40. A device according to any one of claims 31 to 39 wherein the gear ratio between the second and third gearwheels is approximately 1:1.

41. A device according to claim 29 wherein the gearing means comprises an epicyclic gear arrangement.

42. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

43. Any novel feature or novel combination of features hereinbefore described and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.