Patent ID: 6312058
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: B60B,F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of centering a wheel on a wheel hub of a vehiclethe wheel hub having a plurality of wheel support studs carried on the hub in a pattern surrounding a central axis of the hub, each stud having a male screw thread thereon extending from an outer end thereof at least partly toward the hub;the wheel having a central disk portion for mounting on the hub and a surrounding rim portion for carrying a tire on the rim portion for rotation around the axis on the rim portion and the hub;the central disk portion having a plurality of holes therethrough from an outer surface to an inner surface thereof, each hole defining a cylindrical hole surface for receiving therethrough and surrounding a respective one of the studs;the method comprising:providing at least three female threaded fasteners each for engaging onto a respective one of the studs for clamping the central disk portion to the hub each having a sleeve portion and a nut portion;inserting the sleeve portion between the cylindrical inner surface and the threaded portion of the stud as a sliding fit inside the cylindrical inner surface so as to accurately locate the hole relative to the stud for centering the central disk portion on the hub;engaging a female thread of the nut portion onto the threaded portion of the stud to engage the outer surface of the central disk portion to clamp the central disk portion to the hub;the at least three fasteners being spaced angularly around the hub;with the central disk portion so centered, engaging conventional nuts onto the remaining studs to hold the rim in place;removing the fasteners after the central disk portion is held in place by the conventional nuts;and replacing the fasteners with conventional nuts.