Wheel centering pin, kit and method |
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申请号 | US10868687 | 申请日 | 2004-06-15 | 公开(公告)号 | US07178880B2 | 公开(公告)日 | 2007-02-20 |
申请人 | James H. Andersen; | 发明人 | James H. Andersen; | ||||
摘要 | A wheel centering pin disclosed for vehicle wheels having apertures of uniform diameter. The wheel centering pin is provided as a set of three that are threaded on three circumferentially spaced hub bolts on which a wheel is mounted to center the wheel. Nuts are threaded on the remaining bolts and tightened to fasten the wheel to the hub. The centering pins are removed, and remaining nuts are applied in their place and tightened on the remaining bolts to center the wheel. | ||||||
权利要求 | What is claimed is: |
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说明书全文 | 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. 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. A wheel centering pin 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 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 three selected degree intervals shown at 108, 144, and 108 degree intervals proceeding clockwise from the zero or twelve o'clock position. 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. Referring now to Referring now to The bolts 25 have external threads. The main body portion has internal threads 15 that are complimentary to and mate with the external threads of the bolts 25. 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 at three selected degree intervals of 0, 108 and 242 degrees in a clockwise direction with respect to the twelve o'clock position as above described. The wheel is mounted on the hub. Seven wheel nuts 27 are installed on the remaining hub bolts and tightened lightly. 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. 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. |