| JP3860571 | HYDRAULIC WHEEL STRUCTURE |
| WO/1998/013220 | PLAY-ELIMINATING WHEEL FITTING |
| WO/1993/017883 | ADAPTER FOR MOUNTING WHEELS OF DIFFERENT SIZES |
The present privilege patent request of an invention refers to a wheel with locking and unlocking devices for quick replacement of tires in automotive vehicles.
At the very State of the Art, so far what can be verified, is the predominance of the same concepts of attachment of wheels since their invention. The screws and nuts lugs, etc., are used on the fixation of wheels since there were only animal propelled chariots, and from the early century automobiles until nowadays. The wheel replacements, mainly motivated by the air emptying from the pneumatic element (tire) caused by holes, burst, or simple leaking, require great effort from the one who does it, not only by picking up the vehicle, there is a physical stress while detaching wheels through lugs, that in most common types, are at least four (04), some others five (05) and the medium pick up trucks use six (06) in each wheel. As soon as the wheel is removed with an empty tire, it comes the effort to be made on the fixation of the wheel with the spare tire, this time tightening its screws. The only exception, apparently less demanding is the one utilized in competition vehicles, cockpit mode (Formula One, Indy, 3000, etc) that use only one centralized lug and nut system. Even thou this system requires human efforts with the use of an appropriate tool or tightening and untightening machines, seen on television on the so called pit stops. In Formula One the replacement of four wheels happens in approximately 06 seconds, involving 14 (fourteen) people in the operation. The daily reality of the automobiles of the
world cannot count on this equipment applied on competitions, and the operation takes at least 10 minutes. The physical effort was substantial, and the time consuming replacement brings consequences and inconveniences, such as traffic jam, accidents etc.; and depending on the location, the assauts.
There is, from the same inventor, another model of wheel to accomplis the same objective, described at the BR-7301738, but it is different from this proposition by its definite means.
The present privilege request refers to a wheel for vehicular use. This wheel features locking an unlocking devices that allow its replacement in a quick fashion and with minimum effort, almost nil. After picking up the vehicle, the wheel can be removed in five seconds and be put back and attached in other five seconds. Very quick and efficient.
For the proper understanding of the referred Privilege Request in an intelligible manner, its description has the same sequence of the drawings presented.
The figure 1 refers to a part seen in exploded view of the over axle that features as part of the locking and unlocking device group. The Over axle is a resistant material disc that is made to fit on top of the original axle of any vehicle.
The over axle, which drawing and construction features cavities (01) with screw holes (02) for the fixation on the axle. The screw holes (02) located on the cavities (01) have oval-lengthy shape to allow, in the case of four screw holes, as shown in the picture, may, the over axle adapt to different
types of automobile until the extent of these screw holes more or less longer, one to the other. The fixation, by screws or by nuts, of the over axle on the axle will be backed up by a specially designed washers (03). The over axle has also four pins (04) for fitting and fixation of the wheel, which design is special, evident on cavities (05) found at each pin's base, which opening and depth are proper for the fitting and locking of the wheel.
The over axle is a device that was designed with the purpose of promoting the adaptation of original axles from vehicles already existent in the use of this type of wheel.
However, nothing stops the automotive industry to incorporate the characteristics of the over axle, essentially the last described part, referring to the pins (04). That is, to have available these wheel fitting and fixation pins with cavities on their bases.
The wheel must have devices to fit the pins of the over axle or vehicular axle, as well as safety locks that couid prevent the wheel to come off on dynamic movement, or being stolen.
The wheel may have any design characteristics, as long as it has adapted or built in devices.
The fig. 2 displays an exploded front view being evident the wheel and its components. The front part or external of the wheel (06), shows conventional characteristics of a vehicular wheel, however this one has not only common pin holes, but also openings for the introduction of keys used on internal locks (07).
It also shows in evidence the group of parts usually located inside the wheel that function in enabling the quick locking and unlocking of the vehicular wheel.
It is shown the locking disc (08), the internal frame (09), and the internal plate (10) that will be described in detail in the figure 7,3,4 and 8, respectively. And also, the view of the over axle (11) in position to receive the wheel and the group of fitting and locking devices.
For the perfect understanding of the locking. devices, the figure 3 and 4 display, respectively, front and angled view, a part called internal central frame that should be fitted or forged in the wheel, as it is shown on fig 5. The function of the central frame is to accommodate the fitting and locking devices and the wheel's lock.
The fig. 6 refers to the wheels of fitting and locking devices group. It is clearly shown the central frame (09). Fit to the central frame is located is the locking disc (08). The locking disc has limited rotational action in relation to the central frame and wheel itself. The locking disc has circular format, as any other disc, which drawing and construction displays, as seen in the picture, holes of singular shape (12). The locking disc shows, also, in its central area, a cylindrical axle or"hub" (13) that trespasses the center of the wheel until the outside, as it is shown on fig. 2. There are also side cuts (14) better displayed on fig. 7. Returning to fig. 6, one can observe, that on the extremities, are located the side locks (15), that activated by keys project or retract their latches (16) towards the side cuts, seen on item (14) of the fig. 7, from the
locking disc, which functions not allowing any rotational movement of the referred disc.
The fig. 8 frontal view shows the internal plate that closes the central frame, which objective is to protect all moving parts located in the internal part of the wheel.
The fig. 9, seen here internally with all wheel devices show their functionality at locking position.
The functional characteristics of the fitting devices and locking devices can be understood as it is shown in the pictures. For a better understanding, of the replacing of the wheel with these devices here described, let's suppose the over axle is already installed on the axle and therefore already installe on the vehicle (11). The operation begins by fitting the whole wheel on the axle through its pin holes (12) available on the locking disc (08) through the larger area of these holes located on the disc, and to execute the locking of the wheel just a slight rotational movement until the narrow area of the holes on the locking disc are embracing the side cuts (05) of the pins (04) of the over axle (08).
The wheel allows the"hub" (13) of the locking disc (08) to trespass its center, in which means one can proceed the slight turn of the locking disc, to lock or unlock the wheel. The turn made by the referred disc, only can be achieved after the liberation of the latches (16) of the side locks (15). The referred disc, can be locked or unlocked depending on the position of the pins (04) regarding the characteristic holes or side cavities (05) on the pins at their bottom. The holes (07) of the locks (15) to
immobilize the locking disc can be seen on the external face of the wheel.
The fixation of the wheel on the over axle, once it is already installed over the original axle, happens by fitting the wheel through the holes located on the locking disc, on the over axle pins. The holes of the referred disc has two stages on its drawing. Once introduced the wheel by the larger side of the hole on the disc, a slight rotational movement, executed by the cylindrical axle or"hub", will cause the side cavities of the pins of the over axle to adjust on the narrow area of the holes from the locking disc, and so locking the entire wheel, preventing it from being taken or coming off Being the wheel fit to the over axle and locked the side locks will be activated projecting the latches that start to occupy spaces on side cavities on the locking disc. So the wheel can be fit closed and locked, and it will not come off during its dynamic movement, nor can be stolen.
To remove the wheel, all that is necessary is to act on reverse motion, that is, introducing the key on the side locks, retracting the latches. The locking disc can be turned by the cylindrical axle or"hub"in the sense (direction) in which the holes leave the narrow adjusting position regarding the over axle pins and go to the removing stage (larger), allowing, then the wheel can be taken off with no difficulties.