TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to mounting vehicle wheels on hubs and more particularly to a device, kit and method for centering a vehicle wheel, particularly a truck wheel, on a hub.
BACKGROUND ART
In the past vehicle wheels have typically incorporated a taper or bevel on each wheel aperture and a complementary taper on the wheel nut to center the wheel on the hub when the wheel is mounted. Presently there are truck wheels such as the 22.5 and 24.5 UNI-Mount truck wheels that have wheel apertures of uniform diameter and use flanged nuts with no taper. This construction does not ensure the wheel is centered on the hub during mounting. If the wheel is not centered on the hub, the wheel is usually unbalanced and results in unnecessary tire wear.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A wheel or centering pin or device disclosed is used as a set of three that are threaded on three hub bolts to center the wheel on the hub during wheel mounting. The wheel centering pin has a hollow main body with a sleeve portion, preferably cylindrical with an exterior surface of uniform diameter sized to slide into and substantially fill one of the wheel apertures when the wheel is mounted on the hub. The hollow main body portion has internal threads with an open first end to thread on a hub bolt. A tool engaging portion shown as a multi-sided head portion at a second end of the shaft portion opposite the first end is engaged by a wrench for rotating the main body portion to thread and un-thread the main body portion on the hub bolt. In use, with the wheel on the hub, three centering pins are threaded on three bolts, preferably at 120 degree intervals. The wheel nuts are threaded on the remaining bolts and tightened. The centering pins are removed and replaced by wheel nuts that are also tightened.
Another centering device disclosed has a hollow body with a wheel centering sleeve portion that fits in a wheel aperture when the wheel is mounted on a hub with a bolt extending through each wheel aperture and three devices are used to center the wheel on the hub. A flange portion at one end of the sleeve portion limits the extent of insertion of the sleeve portion. Another centering device disclosed has a nut portion at one end of the sleeve portion that threads on the hub bolt. These devices are installed at the same three locations on the wheel above described and remain on the wheel during vehicle usage.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wheel centering pin embodying features of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of FIG. 1 partially broken away to show internal threads.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a set of three of the centering pins shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of a wheel mounted on a hub with three centering pins of FIG. 1, centering the wheel on the hub and wheel nuts on the remaining bolts.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of another form of centering device shown mounted on a hub and wheel assembly.
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 10 of the device shown in FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the device shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.
FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of the device shown in FIGS. 8-10.
FIG. 12 is a sectional view of another form of centering device embodying features of the present invention.
Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a wheel centering pin or device 111 embodying features of the present invention. Each wheel centering pin 11 has a hollow main body with a sleeve portion 12 of cylindrical shape, having a cylindrical, smooth exterior surface 13 of uniform diameter that is sized to slide into and substantially fill one of the wheel apertures described hereinafter. The main body portion 12 terminates in an open first end 14 and has internal threads 15. A tool engageable portion 16 at a closed second end 17 opposite the first end 14 is engaged by a tool or wrench for rotating the portion 16 and shaft portion 12 to thread and un-thread the shaft portion on a hub bolt described hereinafter. The tool engageable portion 16 shown is a multi-sided head portion of hexagonal shape to be engaged by a conventional wrench. Other tool engageable portions such as a screw driver slot could be used. The pin 11 preferably is made as a one piece construction with the main body portion 12 and tool engageable portion 16 formed together from metal such as mild steel that is heat treated for wear. The centering pins 11 are preferably provided as a set of three as shown in FIG. 4.
Referring now to FIGS. 4-7, there is shown a truck wheel 22 of the UNI-Mount type without the tire having ten circumferentially spaced apertures 23 at 36 degree intervals. The wheel 22 is shown mounted on a hub 24 having ten circumferentially spaced, studs or bolts 25 each of which extends through an associated wheel aperture 23 when the wheel 22 is mounted on the hub 24. Seven flanged wheel nuts 27 are shown threaded on seven of the bolts 25. Three identical wheel centering pins 11 are shown threaded on three bolts 25 at 120 degree intervals and specifically at twelve, four and eight o'clock positions.
In use, in carrying out the method of the present invention, the vehicle is elevated and the wheel nuts are removed from the hub 14. Three centering pins 11 are threaded on three hub bolts ant 120 degree intervals. Seven wheel nuts 27 are installed on the remaining hub bolts and tightened. The centering pins 11 are removed by un-threading. Three wheel nuts 27 are threaded on the three remaining bolts. Finally, all wheel nuts 27 are firmly tightened.
Referring now to FIGS. 8-11, there is shown another form of a centering device 41 having a hollow body 42 with a wheel centering sleeve portion 43 and a flange portion 44 at one end of portion 43. The sleeve portion 43 is sized to slide into the wheel aperture when the wheel is mounted on the hub with an associated hub bolt extending through the sleeve and substantially fill the wheel aperture. The body 42 has an open first end 45 and an open second end 46 opposite the first end. Flange portion 44 is at end 46 and limits the extend of insertion of the sleeve centering portion 43 into the wheel aperture. In use the device 41 is inserted in the wheel aperture 23 after the wheel 22 is placed in position on the hub 24 with the bolts 25 in the apertures 23 as shown. In use, six of the devices 41 are provided as a kit. Three of the devices are installed on each wheel but are used differently from that previously described as they remain on the wheel during vehicle usage.
Referring the FIG. 12, another form of centering device 51 has a hollow body 52 with a wheel centering sleeve portion 53 and a nut portion 54 at one end of portion 53 with the nut portion having internal threads 54a that allow the body 51 to be threaded on the hub bolt 25 to locate the sleeve portion in an associated wheel aperture to substantially fill the wheel aperture space between the bolt and the inside of the wheel aperture. In use, six of the devices 51 are furnished as a kit. Three of the devices 51 are installed on each wheel as above described with reference to device 41 and remain on the wheel during vehicle usage.
From the foregoing it is apparent the wheel centering pins are easily installed and removed. The device has been found effective in providing balanced wheels and thereby minimize wheel vibration and tire wear.
Although the present invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.
Patent Application
20060012240
