GB2437092A

GB2437092A - Wheel nut locking device

Info

Publication number: GB2437092A
Application number: GB0607329A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Craig Ross
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-04-12
Filing date: 2006-04-12
Publication date: 2007-10-17
Also published as: GB0607329D0

Abstract

A wheel nut locking device (30) comprises an annular member (32) in which are defined a plurality of interlocking bores (34). Each of the interlocking bores (34) defines a corrugated profile (36). In use, the corrugated profiles(36) engage wheel nuts mounted on a vehicle wheel in order to resist rotation and thereby prevent loosening of the wheel nuts.

Description

1 2437092 Vehicle Wheel Apparatus

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to vehicle wheel apparatus.

Background to the Invention

Figure 1 provides a perspective view of a known vehicle wheel arrangement 10, such as is typically found on an automobile, in which a wheel 12 is removably secured to a vehicle axle 14.

In the vehicle wheel arrangement 10 of Figure 1 a disc 16 is provided on the end of the vehicle axle 14.

The disc 16 has a cylindrical protrusion 18, which is centrally located on an outward face 20 of the disc, and a number of threaded bolts 22 that project from the outward face 20 of the disc 16. The threaded bolts 22 are equidistantly spaced apart from each other and together describe a circular path around the outward face of the disc. The vehicle wheel 12 has a centrally located collar 24, which is shaped to receive the cylindrical protrusion 18, and a number of apertures 26, which describe a circular path and are spaced apart from each other such that they match the threaded bolts projecting from the disc 16.

The wheel 12 is attached to the vehicle axle 14 by bringing the wheel into engagement with the disc 16 such that the cylindrical protrusion 18 is received in the collar 24 and the threaded bolts 22 are received in their respective apertures 26. Then the wheel 12 is secured to the disc 16 by threading wheel retaining nuts (not shown) onto the threaded portions of the threaded bolts 22 that protrude through the apertures 26 in the wheel 12. The wheel retaining nuts are then tightened on the threaded portions typically by means of a torque wrench to ensure proper tightening.

In use, the wheel retaining nuts of vehicle wheel arrangements such as that shown in Figure 1 tend to loosen. This problem is often particularly evident during the first few hundred miles of travel after a wheel has been fitted. This necessitates the re-tightening of the wheel retaining nuts to provide for continued safe use of the wheel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide vehicle wheel apparatus that addresses the above noted problem.

Summary of the Invention

The aforementioned object is addressed by a first aspect of the present invention according to which there is provided vehicle wheel apparatus comprising: an interlocking portion configured to interlock with a wheel retaining nut, which is threadedly received on a threaded member of a vehicle wheel, and a retaining member mechanically coupled at a first location on the vehicle wheel apparatus to the interlocking portion and configured to mechanically couple to the vehicle wheel at a second location on the vehicle wheel apparatus, the first and second locations being spaced apart from each other, the interlocking portion and retaining member being cooperative when the vehicle wheel apparatus is in use on the wheel to resist rotation of the wheel retaining nut on the threaded member, thereby resisting loosening of the wheel retaining nut.

In use, the present invention can obviate or at least mitigate the need to re-tighten the wheel retaining nut to provide for continued safe use of the wheel. The retaining member can be operative to brace the interlocking portion against forces which would tend to cause the interlocking portion to rotate with the wheel retaining nut.

More specifically, the retaining member may be configured to mechanically couple at the second location to a part of the vehicle wheel that is accessible when the vehicle wheel is in situ on a vehicle axle.

More specifically, the apparatus may comprise a further interlocking portion at the second location, the further interlocking portion being configured to interlock with a further wheel retaining nut.

Alternatively or in addition, the interlocking portion may be configured to be brought into use with the wheel retaining nut when the wheel retaining nut has already been received and tightened on the threaded member.

More specifically, the apparatus may be configured to be brought into use on the wheel retaining nut by moving the vehicle wheel apparatus towards the vehicle wheel in a direction substantially along a longitudinal axis of the wheel retaining nut.

Alternatively or in addition, the interlocking portion may comprise an interlocking body defining an interlocking bore, the interlocking bore being configured to receive and interlock with a distal portion of the wheel retaining nut.

More specifically, a wall of the interlocking bore along at least a part of its length may be of an irregular profile, the irregular profile being configured to interlock with a surface of irregular profile on the wheel retaining nut.

More specifically the irregular profile may be configured to interlock with a surface of hexagonal profile on the wheel retaining nut.

In a form of interlocking bore, the wall of the interlocking bore may have a corrugated profile, the corrugations extending along at least a part of the length of the interlocking bore.

Alternatively or in addition, the vehicle wheel apparatus may comprise a plurality of interlocking portions configured and spaced apart from each other such that they can be brought into engagement with a plurality of corresponding wheel retaining nuts on a vehicle wheel.

More specifically, the plurality of interlocking portions may define a circular path on the vehicle wheel apparatus.

Alternatively or in addition, the vehicle wheel apparatus may comprise an annular member in which at least one interlocking portion is formed.

More specifically the retaining member may be constituted as at least part of the annular member.

The interlocking portion may be configured such that when the vehicle wheel apparatus is brought into use on a wheel there is play between the interlocking portion and the wheel retaining nut. Thus, the vehicle wheel apparatus can more readily be brought into use on the vehicle wheel. The amount of play can be determined to provide for ease of bringing the vehicle wheel apparatus into use on the one hand and limitation of the extent to which the wheel retaining nut can rotate on the threaded member before interlocking with the interlocking portion on the other hand.

Alternatively or in addition, the interlocking portion may be configured to interlock with at least one of a wrench engaging surface of the wheel retaining nut and a washer forming part of the wheel retaining nut. A washer forming part of a wheel retaining nut normally has an irregular outer periphery and, in use, is located between a wrench engaging portion of a wheel retaining nut and a vehicle wheel.

Alternatively or in addition, the retaining member may be configured to provide a rigid connection between the interlocking portion and the second location at which the retaining member mechanically couples to the vehicle wheel.

More specifically the interlocking portion and the second location may be connected by a rigid connecting member.

In one form the vehicle wheel apparatus may further comprise at least one apparatus holding portion configured to hold the vehicle wheel apparatus on the wheel when the wheel is in use.

More specifically the apparatus holding portion may be configured to be gripped by a part of the vehicle wheel.

More specifically, the apparatus holding portion may comprise a locking portion configured to be gripped between two parts of the vehicle wheel.

More specifically, the locking portion may be configured to be held between a part of a wheel retaining nut and a part of the wheel. For example, the interlocking portion might engage with one wheel retaining nut and the locking portion might engage with another wheel retaining nut.

Alternatively or in addition, the apparatus holding portion may define an apparatus holding bore configured to receive a wheel retaining nut.

More specifically, the apparatus holding bore may defined in part by a holding shoulder configured to cooperate with a head of a wheel retaining nut.

More specifically, the holding shoulder may be configured such that in use the holding shoulder is held between the head of the wheel retaining nut and the wheel.

The vehicle wheel apparatus may be formed integrally.

The vehicle wheel apparatus may be formed at least in part of a plastics material.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a vehicle having at least one wheel in which vehicle wheel apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is in use on the at least one wheel.

Brief Description of Drawings

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a conventional wheel arrangement.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a cross section through a part of Figure 2; Figure 4 shows a cross section through a conventional wheel retaining nut; Figure 5 shows a plan view of the conventional wheel retaining nut of Figure 4; Figure 6 shows a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 2 when in use; Figure 7 shows a cross section through part of Figure 6; Figure 8 shows a plan view of another embodiment of the present invention when in use; and Figure 9 shows a cross section through part of Figure 8.

Description of the Invention

An embodiment of the vehicle wheel apparatus 30 of the present invention is shown in Figure 2. The vehicle wheel apparatus 30 comprises an annular member 32 in which are defined a plurality of interlocking bores 34.

The plurality of interlocking bores 34 are equidistantly spaced apart from each other and are located mid-way between the internal outer and inner peripheries of the annular member 32 such that they define a circular path.

The wall of each of the interlocking bores 34 is shaped to define a corrugated profile 36 (which constitutes an interlocking profile) , which extends along a part of the bore. The corrugated profile 36 is defined by a series of alternating ridges and troughs that extend around the bore.

An interlocking bore 34 is shown in more detail in Figure 3. The interlocking bore is defined by a wall 38 extending through the annular member 32. The wall 38 is shaped to define a first shoulder 40. As described above with reference to Figure 2, a series of alternating ridges 42 and troughs 44 formed in the wall 38 define a corrugated profile 36.

Figures 4 and 5 respectively show sectional and plan views of a conventional wheel retaining nut 60. The wheel retaining nut 60 has a substantially cylindrical body 62, which defines a bore 64 having screw threads 66.

At one end the wheel retaining nut 60 has a head 68 that is concentric with the cylindrical body 30. The head 68 extends radially of the cylindrical body 30 to form a second shoulder 70. The head 68 further defines a chamfer 72 adjacent the second shoulder 70. As can be seen from Figure 5 the head 68 is of a regular hexagonal shape.

The use of the vehicle wheel apparatus of Figures 2 and 3 will now be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. In Figures 6 and 7 details of the vehicle wheel arrangement shown in Figure 1 have been omitted to provide for clarity. A wheel is secured to a vehicle axle as described above with reference to Figure 1. Then the vehicle wheel apparatus 30 is moved towards a vehicle wheel and the interlocking bores 34 are aligned with the wheel retaining nuts 60 on the wheel such that the wheel retaining nuts are received in respective interlocking bores 34. Each wheel retaining nut 60 is received in its respective interlocking bore 34 such that the head 68 of the wheel retaining nut 60 is received within the corrugated profile 36 of the bore. There is some play between the corrugated profile 36 and the head 68 to make the wheel retaining nuts 60 more readily receivable in the bores 34. As can be seen from Figure 6 edges of the hexagonal heads 68 are received in troughs 44 of the corrugated profile 36. In addition and as illustrated by Figure 7, the chamfer 72 on each head 68 minimises the likelihood of the vehicle wheel apparatus snagging on the heads 68 as the wheel retaining nuts 60 are being received in the bores 34. The vehicle wheel apparatus 30 is then held in place by means of plastics cable ties (riot shown) or similar such means. The vehicle can now be driven with the vehicle wheel apparatus 30 in place.

As the vehicle is driven the wheel retaining nut 60 may be inclined to loosen on its threaded member. Whilst the play between the corrugated profile 36 and the head 68 allows for fractional rotational movement of the wheel retaining nut 60, more significant movement is arrested as the edges of the heads 68 bear against the ridges 42 of the corrugated profile 36. Force exerted against a ridge of a particular interlocking bore 34 is braced by portions of the annular member 32 (each of which constitutes a retaining member) that join adjacent interlocking bores 34, thereby preventing all but fractional loosening of the wheel retaining nut.

A further embodiment 80 of the present invention is shown in Figures 8 and 9. Components of the vehicle wheel apparatus and use thereof in common with the previous embodiment are not described here. Thus, the reader's attention is directed to the description given above with reference to Figures 2 to 7.

The present embodiment differs from the previous embodiment in respect of the provision of two apparatus holding bores 82 (which constitute apparatus holding portions) each configured to receive a wheel retaining nut 84.

An apparatus holding bore 82 and a wheel retaining nut are shown in more detail in Figure 9. The apparatus holding bore is defined in part by a holding shoulder 86.

The wheel retaining nut 84 is different to the wheel retaining nut of the previous embodiment in respect of the provision of a rebate 88 extending around the leading periphery of the head 68.

Use of the vehicle wheel apparatus of Figures 8 and 9 is the same as described above for the previous embodiment with the following exceptions. The wheel is secured to the vehicle with all but the two wheel retaining nuts 84 that are to be used in cooperation with the two apparatus holding bores 82. Then the vehicle wheel apparatus 80 is brought into engagement with the wheel retaining nuts in use on the wheel. As a final step the two remaining wheel retaining nuts 84 are threaded onto their respective threaded members. As each of the two remaining wheel retaining nuts 84 are tightened the holding shoulder 86 is received in the rebate 88 of the wheel retaining nut. This provides for proper registration of the vehicle wheel apparatus 80 with the wheel retaining nuts. Furthermore, the holding shoulder 86 is gripped between the head 68 of the wheel retaining nut, thereby providing resistance to removal of the vehicle wheel apparatus 80 from the wheel. Thus, the use of the plastics cable ties or the like can be dispensed with. The vehicle can now be driven with the vehicle wheel apparatus 80 in place.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. Vehicle wheel apparatus comprising: an interlocking portion configured to interlock with a wheel retaining nut, which is threadedly received on a threaded member of a vehicle wheel, and a retaining member mechanically coupled at a first location on the vehicle wheel apparatus to the interlocking portion and configured to mechanically couple to the vehicle wheel at a second location on the vehicle wheel apparatus, the first and second locations being spaced apart from each other, the interlocking portion and retaining member being cooperative when the vehicle wheel apparatus is in use on the wheel to resist rotation of the wheel retaining nut on the threaded member, thereby resisting loosening of the wheel retaining nut.

2. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the retaining member is operative to brace the interlocking portion against forces which would tend to cause the interlocking portion to rotate with the wheel retaining nut.

3. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the retaining member is configured to mechanically couple at the second location to a part of the vehicle wheel that is accessible when the vehicle wheel is in situ on a vehicle axle.

4. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the apparatus comprises a further interlocking portion at the second location, the further interlocking portion being configured to interlock with a further wheel retaining nut.

5. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the interlocking portion is configured to be brought into use with the wheel retaining nut when the wheel retaining nut has already been received and tightened on the threaded member.

6. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the apparatus is configured to be brought into use on the wheel retaining nut by moving the vehicle wheel apparatus towards the vehicle wheel in a direction substantially along a longitudinal axis of the wheel retaining nut.

7. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the interlocking portion comprises an interlocking body defining an interlocking bore, the interlocking bore being configured to receive and interlock with a distal portion of the wheel retaining nut.

8. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to claim 7 wherein a wall of the interlocking bore along at least a part of its length is of an irregular profile, the irregular profile being configured to interlock with a surface of irregular profile on the wheel retaining nut.

9. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the irregular profile is configured to interlock with a surface of hexagonal profile on the wheel retaining nut.

10. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 9 wherein the wall of the interlocking bore has a corrugated profile, the corrugations extending along at least a part of the length of the interlocking bore.

11. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the vehicle wheel apparatus comprises a plurality of interlocking portions configured and spaced apart from each other such that they can be brought into engagement with a plurality of corresponding wheel retaining nuts on a vehicle wheel.

12. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the plurality of interlocking portions define a circular path on the vehicle wheel apparatus.

13. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the vehicle wheel apparatus comprises an annular member in which at least one interlocking portion is formed.

14. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the retaining member is constituted as at least part of the annular member.

15. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the interlocking portion is configured such that when the vehicle wheel apparatus is brought into use on a wheel there is play between the interlocking portion and the wheel retaining nut.

16. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the interlocking portion is configured to interlock with at least one of a wrench engaging surface of the wheel retaining nut and a washer forming part of the wheel retaining nut.

17. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the retaining member is configured to provide a rigid connection between the interlocking portion and the second location at which the retaining member mechanically couples to the vehicle wheel.

18. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the interlocking portion and the second location are connected by a rigid connecting member.

19. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the vehicle wheel apparatus further comprises at least one apparatus holding portion configured to hold the vehicle wheel apparatus on the wheel when the wheel is in use.

20. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the apparatus holding portion is configured to be gripped by a part of the vehicle wheel.

21. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the apparatus holding portion comprises a locking portion configured to be gripped between two parts of the vehicle wheel.

22. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the locking portion is configured to be held between a part of a wheel retaining nut and a part of the wheel.

23. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to any one of claims 19 to 22 wherein the apparatus holding portion defines an apparatus holding bore configured to receive a wheel retaining nut.

24. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the apparatus holding bore is defined in part by a holding shoulder configured to cooperate with a head of a wheel retaining nut.

25. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to claim 24 wherein the holding shoulder is configured such that in use the holding shoulder is held between the head of the wheel retaining nut and the wheel.

26. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the vehicle wheel apparatus is formed integrally.

27. Vehicle wheel apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the vehicle wheel apparatus is formed at least in part of a plastics material.

28. A vehicle having at least one wheel in which vehicle wheel apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 27 is in use on the at least one wheel.