Patent Publication Number: US-2006012240-A1

Title: Centering device, kit and method

Description:
This is a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No. 10/868,687 filed Jun. 15, 2004. 
    
    
     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&#39;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  54   a  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.