Bolt structure for fastening a truck wheel

• US 6,575,536 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2001
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Show Than Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Show Than Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Mu-Chun
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bellinger, Jason R.
• Application Number:
  US09/976,589
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 411/383, 411/384, 411/389, 411/427, 411/431, 411/432, 301/9.1, 301/9.2, 301/35.54, 301/35.61, 301/35.622, 301/35.623, 301/35.624, 301/35.625, 301/35.628, 301/35.632, 301/37.374, 301/111.01, 301/111.04, 301/111.07
• US Class Current: 301/35.623
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 11/02 Units of separate wheels mounted for independent or coupled rotation
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/145 using washers or distance bushes
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 3/16 by bolts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/28 by special members on, or shape of, the nut or bolt F16B39/26 takes precedence; locknuts F16B39/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 5/0275 the screw-threaded element having at least two axially separated threaded portions F16B5/0283 takes precedence

Abstract

A bolt structure is designed to fasten together a hub, an inner wheel rim, and an outer wheel rim of a motor vehicle wheel. The bolt structure includes a bolt body, an inner nut, an outer nut, and a protective cap. The bolt body has a large diametrical segment, a small diametrical segment, and a midsegment located between the large diametrical segment and the small diametrical. The inner nut is engaged with the small diametrical segment, whereas the outer nut is engaged with the large diametrical segment and the protective cap. The midsegment of the bolt body retains the hub of the motor vehicle wheel.

Claims

1. A wheel assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:

a hub having a plurality of through holes formed therein, each of said plurality of through holes having a retaining slot in one end thereof;

a bolt assembly comprising;

a bolt body having a large diametrical segment and a small diametrical segment opposite to said large diametrical segment, said bolt body having a midsegment located between said large diametrical segment and said small diametrical segment, said midsegment having two smooth surfaces formed thereon, each of said large diametrical segment and said small diametrical segment having an outer threaded portion, said midsegment having tangent plane in an outer surface of two opposite sides thereof such that a head stop edge is formed between said tangent plane and an outer diameter of said large diametrical segment, said bolt body having a position confining portion formed at a juncture of one side of one of the tangent planes and the outer diameter of said large diametrical segment, said position confining portion having one side that is coplanar with said tangent plane, said position confining portion having another side which forms an angle with the outer diameter of said large diametrical segment, said small diametrical segment extending through one of said plurality of through holes of said hub, said retaining slot of the through hole corresponding in cross section to a cross section of said midsegment, said midsegment being retained in said retaining slot of the through hole of the hub so as to prevent said bolt body from turning in relation to said hub, a wall of said hub being stopped by said head stop edge;

an inner wheel rim having a plurality of through holes formed therein;

an outer wheel rim having a plurality of through holes formed therein, said large diametrical segment extending through one of said plurality of through holes of said inner wheel rim and through one of said plurality of through holes of said outer wheel rim such that said outer threaded portion of said large diametrical segment extends out of said outer wheel rim;

an inner nut engaged with said outer threaded portion of said small diametrical segment of said bolt body and provided in an outer edge of an outer end thereof with a protruded ring, said protruded ring defining an annular groove in an inner periphery of said inner nut;

a retaining ring retained in said annular groove so as to contact with an outer end wall of said inner nut, said retaining ring being provided in an inner periphery with a retaining piece, said retaining piece having an arcuate edge corresponding in radian to a threaded hole of said inner nut, said retaining piece having an inner diameter smaller than a inner diameter of said threaded hole of said inner nut whereby said inner nut is fastened with said outer threaded portion of said small diametrical segment such that said arcuate edge of said retaining piece of said retaining ring is forced into grooves of the threads of said outer threaded portion of said small diametrical segment of said bolt body;

an outer nut engaged with said outer threaded portion of said large diametrical segment of said bolt body so as to retain said inner wheel rim and said outer wheel rim, said outer nut being provided in an outer peripheral edge of an outer end thereof with an annular protrusion, said annular protrusion defining a retaining slot in an inner peripheral edge thereof; and

a protective cap having a closed outer end, said protective cap having an inner end having an opening and two retaining bodies opposite to each other and located in proximity of said opening, said protective cap being engaged with said outer nut such that said retaining bodies of said protective cap are retained in said retaining slot of said outer nut, said protective cap having a length greater than a length of a portion of said large diametrical segment which extends out of said outer nut, said protective cap having an outer end wall which is smaller in thickness than an outer diameter wall of said protective cap such that said outer diameter wall of said protective cap has a compression elasticity, said protective cap being engaged with said outer nut in such a manner that said protective cap encloses said outer end of said outer nut and the portion of said large diametrical segment that extends out of said outer nut.

2. The bolt assembly of claim 1, wherein said protective cap is provided at an inner end thereof with a retaining ring in proximity of said opening whereby said protective cap is engaged with said outer nut such that said retaining ring of said protective cap is retained in said retaining slot of said annular protrusion of said outer nut.