Brake drum and wheel mounting tool

• US 9,032,600 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Howmet Aerospace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alcoa Incorporated (Howmet Aerospace, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pulphus, Art, DeGeorge, Grant, Waiwood, Will, Brest, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, Lee D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deonauth, Nirvana
• Application Number:
  US12/618,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20110113608A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,013 Days
• Field of Search: 292/44, 292/46, 292/55, 292/63, 292/71, 292/73, 292/75, 292/80, 301/35.632, 301/35.621, 301/35.626, 301/35.627, 188/17, 188/74, 188/205.R, 188/206.R, 188/218.R, 188/218.XL
• US Class Current: 29/273
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 11/00 Units comprising multiple wheels arranged side by side; Wheels having more than one rim or capable of carrying more than one tyre
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/0043 Brake maintenance and assembly, tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/10 Drums for externally- or internally-engaging brakes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53922 Auto wheel with auto chassis

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and apparatus for the installation of wheels. In one embodiment, a brake drum and wheel mounting tool assists in the mounting of wheels and brake drums onto wheel hubs. The brake drum and wheel mounting tool comprises an elongated body and a threaded bore. The elongated body is dimensioned to be received through a stud hole of a wheel. The elongated body has first end and a second end. The first end of the body is dimensioned to apply pressure to a brake drum when the body is threaded on a wheel stud. The second end of the body is tapered and dimensioned to accept a socket.

Claims

1. A method, comprising the steps of:

mounting a brake drum to a wheel hub having at least one mounting tab;

seating the brake drum in the at least one mounting tab of the wheel hub;

installing at least two mounting tools on at least two studs of the wheel hub;

applying pressure directly to the actual brake drum against the wheel hub with the at least two mounting tools to hold the brake drum against the wheel hub;

installing at least one wheel on the wheel hub;

securing the at least one wheel to the wheel hub; and

removing the at least two mounting tools from the studs of the wheel hub.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of installing the at least two mounting tools on the at least two studs of the wheel hub includes threading the at least two mounting tools on the at least two studs.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one wheel includes a plurality of wheels.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one mounting tab includes a plurality of mounting tabs.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of creating a space between the brake drum and each of the plurality of mounting tabs of the wheel hub when the brake drum is seated in the plurality of mounting tabs.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein one of the spaces located at one side of the brake drum is uniform with another of the spaces located at a second side of the brake drum opposite the first side of the brake drum.