GB2337954A

GB2337954A - Combined wheel brace and wheel alignment aid

Info

Publication number: GB2337954A
Application number: GB9913103A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Heinrich Rudolph
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-06-04
Filing date: 1999-06-04
Publication date: 1999-12-08
Anticipated expiration: 2019-06-04
Also published as: GB2337954B; GB9913103D0; DE19925045A1; DE29810003U1; DE19925045B4; FR2779384A1

Abstract

An apparatus to aid in fitting or removing a vehicle wheel comprises at least one fitting pin 1, which can be passed through the bolt holes of the wheel, having a threaded section 4, at one end 3, complementary to the fixing threads on the wheel hub and a turning tool (wheel brace) 7 comprising an element 8, which co-operartes with a turning means 6 on the fitting pin 1, and a receptacle 9 for co-operating with the heads of the fixing elements (wheel nuts). The apparatus preferably comprises two fitting pins 1, one of which may be much longer than the other. The threaded section 4 of the fitting pin(s) 1 can be a male or female thread. The receptacle 9 on the turning tool 7 is preferably a socket wrench. The turning tool 7 may further comprise a hook (17, Figure 6) on one end to aid removal of hub caps and the shaft 12 of the turning tool 7 may have a grip 14 attached thereto.

Description

2337954 1 - Auxiliary device for fitting and removing vehicle wheels This

invention relates to an auxiliary device for fitting and removing vehicle wheels.

Fixing a vehicle wheel on the wheel hub of a vehicle, especially a private car is effected as a rule by tightening up fixing elements with the aid of a wheel spider. The fixing elements can be either wheel bolts or wheel nuts, which are screwed into corresponding threaded bores in the wheel hub or onto corresponding threaded studs projecting from the wheel hub. When changing a wheel the wheel bolts or wheel nuts have to be released, the wheels taken off, the new wheels to be fitted put in place and the wheel bolts or wheel nuts tightened up again. These mechanical operations, simple in themselves, are made difficult in that the vehicle wheels have a non-negligible mass and have to be positioned accurately during the fitting. In the case of a wheel hub with threaded bores for example the wheel must be so placed on the hub when fitting that the bolt holes in the wheel are coaxial with the threaded bores, so that correct screwing in of the wheel bolts is ensured.

If the bolt holes are not accurately located over the threaded bores, when screwing in the wheel bolts, insofar as this is even possible, the threads of the parts to be connected can be damaged at the least. If the wheel hub has threaded studs, there is the dancer both during fitting and removal that the edges of the bolt holes scrape along the threads of the threaded studs with incorrect mounting or pulling off of the wheel, and thus damage these. Furthermore it often happens that the wheel only hangs with one bolt hole on one of the threaded studs during fitting or removal, which then has to carry the whole mass of the wheel and can be bent. Damage to the thread is also possible here.

In order to avoid these difficulties auxiliary devices of the kind initially referred to are known, which each include at least one fitting pin in the form of an elongated, rod-shaped body, which is provided at one end with a threaded section complementary to the fixing threads of the wheel hub. This fitting pin is screwed into one of the fixing threads of the wheel hub during wheel fitting. The wheel is 2 - then offered up in the direction of the wheel hub with one of its bolt holes over the fitting pin and can therefore easily be so aligned that all the other bolt holes are in the right position relative to the fixing threads in the wheel hub, before the fixing elements are screwed on. Conversely the fitting pin can also serve as a guide aid when removing a wheel. Moreover the fitting pin has either knurling at its other end, which is intended to facilitate non-slip engagement of a hand or some fingers of a hand when screwing in or releasing the fitting pin (DE 93) 19 476 U 1), means for fitting a turning tool (DE J3 906 505 AI) or a conically tapering tip, which assists pushing on one of the bolt holes of the wheel (EP 0 609 166 AI).

A disadvantage of the known auxiliary devices consists in that the fitting pins have as a rule to screwed in manually with some trouble and expenditure of much force, since the turning tool which can optionally be used, e.g. a screwdriver or an Allen key, is not a part of the auxiliary device and therefore is mostly not to hand, at least in the case of a puncture or the like. The use of the fitting pin is therefore not readily possible, especially for older men or ladies. It is moreover a disadvantage that the heads of the wheel bolts or nuts themselves frequently still lie so unfavourably in the bolt holes of the wheels after the initial slackening turn, that they cannot be grasped or properly grasped with the hand.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are therefore based on the object of so forming the auxiliary device for fitting and removing vehicle wheels according to the kind initially referred to that it is easy to handle and further simplifies the fitting or removal of a wheel.

Preferred embodiments of the invention contribute the advantage that they include a special turning tool matched to the fitting pin and the fitting pin can therefor be screwed sensitively and with small expenditure of force into the selected fixing thread of the wheel hub. A further advantage consists in that the fixing elements can also be screwed in or screwed out sufficiently with the same turning tool, even in an unfavourable position. The prepared auxiliary device therefore includes all means necessary for simple and rapid wheel changes, so that 0 2 3 an ordinary wheel spider or the like is not needed at a pinch for the initial loosening turn or tightening of the fixing elements effected at the end.

The invention will be explained in more detail below in relation to two embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a fitting pin of an auxiliary device according to the invention forfitting and removing vehicle wheels; Fig. 2 is a front view of the fitting pin according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front view of a ftirther fitting pin of the auxiliary device according to the invention; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a turning tool of the auxiliary device according to the invention; Fig. 5 is a front view of the turning tool according to Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a side view of the tuming tool according to Fig. 4; and Figs. 7 and 8 each show a partially sectioned front view of a second is embodiment of the fitting pin according to the invention.

According to Figs. 1 to 3 fitting pins 1 and 2 of a preferred embodiment of the auxiliary device according to the invention for fitting and removing vehicle wheels consist of elongated rods of different lengths, preferably having a circular cross-section. There is a threaded section 4 on a first end J3) of each of the fitting pins 1, 2, which is complementary to a fixing thread in a wheel hub. If the auxiliary device serves to fit or remove a vehicle wheel on a wheel hub provided with threaded bores, the threaded sections 4 are formed in accordance with Figs. 1 and 2 as male threads. A second end 5 of each fitting pin 1, 2 includes a tuming means 6, which is preferably in the form of a region for fitting on a tool. The auxiliary device farther comprises a turning tool 7 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and associated with the fitting pins 1, 2, this tool comprising an element 8 (Fig. 6) cooperating with the turning means 6 or tool fitting regions of the fitting pins 1, 2. The element 8 is preferably formed as a passage passing transversely through the turning tool 7. The turning tool 7 can therefore be fitted on, with the element 8 or passage on the turning means 6 or the tool fitting region of the fitting pins 1, 2 and matched cl Z:1 - 4 to these. According to the preferred embodiment of the invention the turning tool 7 further comprises a receptacle 10 at one end 9, which serves for fitting on to the heads of the fixing elements serving to fix the wheel, in the manner of a socket wrench. The receptacle 10 is therefore preferably formed like a hexagonal socket wrench and is provided with a cross-section corresponding the heads of normal wheel bolts. The fitting pins 1, 2 and the turning tool 7 consist in accordance with the invention of a hard material, preferably metal.

The ends 5 of the fitting pins 1, 2 preferably taper conically and are so milled off from the end that their periheral surfaces form a turning means 6 with flat outer surfaces 6a, preferably in the form of a square. The end 5 formed all around as a square ends in a rounded tip 11 for example. The passage 8 has such an internal cross-section in this case that it can be fitted over the tip 11 on to the turning means 6 and, on subsequent turning of the turning tool 7, torque is transmitted to the fitting pins 1, 2 essentially through an interlocking connection.

The turning tool 7 is preferably tubular and has the form of a fitting tube.

According to Figs. 4 and 5, the turning tool 7 has a preferably round shank 12, which is surrounded in a middle region by a grip surface 14, which preferably consists of a non-metallic, non-slip material with poor conductivity of heat, e.g. of a rubber-like material. The grip surface 14 is preferably formed by a rubber tube pushed over the turning tool 7, the passage 8 being arranged between one end of the grip surface 14 and the end 9. A hook 17 projects from the end surface 15 at the opposite end of the turning tool 7 and consists of a section 19 running parallel to a longitudinal axis 18 of the turning tool 7 and according to Fig. 6 of a hook section 20 bent away from the longitudinal axis 18. The hook section 20 is preferably bent away from the longitudinal axis 18 at right angles. The element 8 is preferably arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 18 and is formed essentially by two square, coaxial openings 21 in the peripheral surface of the shank 12 (Fig. 6). The cross-section of the openings is so selected in accordance with the invention that, when the passage 8 of the turning tool 7 is pushed on to the fitting pin 1 from the tip 11 in the direction of an arrow v of Fig. 2, the edge of the - opening 21 first pushed over the tip 11 fits closely on the fitting pin 1 at a line 22. If the passage 8 is however correspondingly fitted on the longer fitting pin 2, then the edge of the opening 21 first pushed over the tip 11 fits closely on the fitting pin 2 at a line 23 (Fig. 3)). The spacing of the line 23) from the corresponding end 3 is preferably greater than the length of the fitting pin 1.

In a further embodiment of the present invention seen in Figs. 7 and 8, fitting pins 24, 25 of different lengths each have a threaded bore 26 at one end. The threaded bore 26 serves to receive a threaded stud of a wheel hub, when this is provided with threaded studs instead of threaded bores and the wheel is therefore fixed on the wheel hub by wheel nuts instead of with wheel bolts. The arrangement and design of the fitting pins 24, 25 is otherwise substantially the same as in Figs.

1 to 3.

The function of the auxiliary device for fitting and removing vehicle wheels will now be explained in more detail for the example of changing a wheel of a private car, where the wheels are fixed with the aid of wheel bolts on wheel hubs with threaded bores. The fitting pins 1, 2 according to Figs. 1 to 3 are then used.

The wheel bolts are first slackened with a wheel spider or the like, but can even be slackened with the aid of the turning tool 7 if necessary. For this its receptacle 10 must be fitted on the wheel bolts and preferably the longer fitting pin 2 is so inserted in the openings 21 or the passage 8 of the turning tool 7 that an interlocking rotary connection is ensured between the fitting pin 2 and the turning tool 7.

After slackening all wheel bolts, the vehicle is raised by ajack sufficiently for the vehicle wheel to be removed to be suspended above the ground. On vehicles in which an attachment lug for the vehicle jack is covered by a protective cap flush with the bodywork, this protective cap can be opened using the hook 17 of the turning tool 7, in order to facilitate fitting the jack. Alternatively the hook 17 can also be used to remove hub caps or the like.

A wheel bolt disposed above the wheel hub axis is now screwed right out and then the shorter fitting pin 1 is fitted in the threaded bore thus freed. Then a - 6 wheel bolt disposed below the wheel hub axis is screwed right out and the longer fitting pin 2 is screwed into the threaded bore thus freed. Both fitting pins 1, 2 are preferably tightened in that the turning tool 7 is fitted in each case with its element 8 over the tip 11 on the turning, means 6 and is then turned. There is then the advantage that, on account of the lesser length of the fitting pin 1 or the greater distance of the line 23) (Fig. 3)) from the associated end 3) of the fitting pin 2, the fitting on operation is automatically so limited that the long fitting pin 2 can be tightened without impediment by turning the turning tool 7 with the fitting pin 1 already screwed in, even if the length of at least one section of the turning tool 7 from the passage 8 is greater than the spacing of the two fitting pins 1 and 2 on the wheel hub.

The vehicle wheel can now be pulled off over the fitting pins 1, 2, substantially perpendicular to that bodywork side where the jack is fitted. Damage to the threaded parts cannot occur, especially if the outer cross- sections of the fitting pins 1, 2 correspond substantially to the inner cross-sections of the bolt holes in the wheel.

In fitting a vehicle wheel, the described steps are preferably carried out in reverse order with fitting pins 1, 2 screwed into corresponding threaded bores of the wheel hub. The wheel is first pushed on with one bolt hole on the long fitting pin 2 and then a second bolt hole is pushed on to the short fitting pin 1 by suitable turning and shifting movements. There is then the advantage that the longer fitting pin 2 already largely takes the mass of the wheel, so that this can be moved easily in the further course. Naturally a wheel change can be carried out in another advantageous sequence of the described steps.

The turning tool 7 provides the advantage in the described fitting and removal operations that it can be used both for turning the fitting pins 1, 2 and for screwing in and screwing out the wheel bolts. The latter makes things substantially easier especially when the wheel bolts or their hexagonal heads are disposed so deep in the bolt holes when they are fully or nearly fully screwed up, as is the case especially with aluminium rims, that they cannot be grasped or properly grasped with the fingers. The turning tool 7 then makes it unnecessary to use wheel spiders or other wrenches, which are mostly so designed that they can no longer be turned through 360' with the fitting pin 1 and/or 2 screwed in, so that screwing the wheel bolts out or in is at least made more difficult.

The fitting or removal with wheel hubs which are provided with threaded studs takes place using the fitting pins 24 and 25 according to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In place of the wheel bolts there are wheel nuts to be screwed on to the threaded studs in this case.

The invention is not restricted to the described embodiments, which can be modified in numerous ways. Numerous elements of these embodiments can be altered in many ways. Thus the shank 12 of the turning tool 7 can have a crosssection other than circular. An eight sided or six sided crosssection is conceivable within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore the turning means 6 provided on the fitting pins 1, 2 and correspondingly the openings 21 forming the element 8 of the turning tool 7 can have cross-sections other than square, especially eight sided or six sided for example. The cross-sectional shapes of the fitting pins 1, 2 must naturally always be so selected that they can be inserted through the bolt holes of the wheels, preferably with little play. Furthermore the element 8 can be arranged at a different place along the longitudinal axis 18 in the shank 12 of the turning tool 7. This could be especially advantageous if the turning tool 7 together with one of the two fitting pins 1, 2 or 24, 25 is envisaged as being used for the final tightening or initially slackening of the wheel bolts or wheel nuts. The position of the grip surface 14 can also be altered. In particular the element 8 could be arranged between the grip surface 14 and the end face 15 or in the middle of the shank 12, the grip surface 14 being accordingly divided into two parts. The lengths of the fitting pins 1, 2 or 24, 25 and of the tuming tool 7 can be adapted if desired to the kind of rims of the vehicle wheels to be fitted and removed. Thus, for fitting and removing vehicle wheel with wide aluminium rims, say in sports cars, longer fitting pins 1, 2 and turning tools 7 can be provided than for narrow vehicle wheels on small cars. Furthermore it is possible to form the turning tool 7 as a solid rod instead of a tube or to make it of ring form instead of elongated. Furthermore the matching of the element 8 to the turning means 6 can be selected differently, in that for example the fitting pins 1, 2 have a turning means in the form of bore passing therethrough and the turning tool 7 has the form of a correspondingly adapted rodshaped body which can be inserted in the bore. Apart from this the auxiliary device according to the invention can naturally include only one or the two fitting pins 1, 2 or 24, 25. Finally it will be understood that the individual can also be used in combinations other than those described and shown in the drawings.

Claims

1 A device for fitting and removing vehicle wheels with bolt holes on wheel hubs with fixing threads, with the aid of fixing elements having heads, with at least one fitting pin (1, 2 or 24, 25) which can be passed through the bolt holes and which has a threaded section (4, 26) at one end (3) complementary to the fixing threads and a turning means (6), characterized in that it includes a turning tool (7) associated with the fitting pin (1, 2 or 24, 25), which tool comprises an element (8) cooperating with the turning means (6) and matched thereto and moreover comprises a receptacle (10) adapted to be fitted on to the heads of the fixing elements.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two fitting pins (1, 2 or 24, 25).

A device according to claim 2, characterized in that one of the two fitting pins (2, 25) is so much longer than the other fitting pin (1, 24) that it can be screwed into one of the fixing thread of the wheel hub or screwed out of this, with the turning tool (7), even when the other fitting pin (1, 24) is fixed on the wheel hub.

4. A device according to any of claims 1 to 3), characterized in that the turning tool (7) can have the element (8) so fitted on to the fitting pin (1, 2 or 24, 25) that the longitudinal axes of the turning tool (7) and the fitting pin (1, 2 or 24, 25) make a right angle.

5. A device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the turning, 1 means (6) is a conically tapered polygon formed on one end (5) of the fitting pin (1, 2 or 24, 25).

6. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that the turning tool (7) is a fitting tube in which the element (8) is a passage (8) running perpendicular to its longitudinal axis (18), with its cross-section adapted to receive the polygon.

A device according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the complementary threaded section (4) of the fitting pin (1, 2) is a male thread.

8.

A device according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the complementary threaded section (26) of the fitting pin (24, 25) is a female thread.

A device according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the receptacle (10) at one end (9) of the turning tool (7) is in the form of a socket wrench.

is A device according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the turning tool (7) is provided at one end with a hook (17).

11. A device according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the turning tool (7) is provided with a shank (12) of a material with poor conductivity of heat for grasping.

12. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any of figures 1 to 8.