Bolt structure for fastening a truck wheel

• US 20030071514A1
• Filed: 10/15/2001
• Published: 04/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Show Than Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Show Than Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chen, Mu-Chun
• Granted Patent: US 6,575,536 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 comprises 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 bolt structure for fastening wheels of a motor vehicle, bolt structure comprising:

a bolt body having a large diametrical segment, a small diametrical segment opposite in location to said large diametrical segment, and a midsegment located between said large diametrical segment and said small diametrical segment and provided with two smooth surfaces, said large diametrical segment and said small diametrical segment provided with an outer threaded portion, said midsegment further provided in an outer surface of two opposite sides thereof with a tangent plane such that a head stop edge is formed between said tangent plane and an outer diameter of said large diametrical segment, said bolt body further having a position confining portion which is formed at the juncture of one side of one of said two tangent planes and the outer diameter of said large diametrical segment, said position confining portion having one side coplanar with said tangent plane, and other side which forms an angle with the outer diameter of said large diametrical segment, said small diametrical segment being put through one of through holes of a hub of the motor vehicle wheel, said through holes being provided in one end with a retaining slot corresponding in cross section to said midsegment, said midsegment being retained in said retaining slot of said through hole of the hub so as to prevent said bolt body from turning in relation to the hub, with the wall of the hub being stopped by said head stop edge, said large diametrical segment being put through one of through holes of an inner wheel rim of the motor vehicle wheel and one of through holes of an outer wheel rim of the motor vehicle wheel such that said outer threaded portion of said large diametrical segment extends out of the 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 which is in turn provided in an inner periphery with an annular groove for retaining a retaining ring in contact with an outer end wall of said inner nut, said retaining ring being provided in an inner periphery with a plurality of retaining pieces, with each having an arcuate edge corresponding in radian to a threaded hole of said inner nut, said retaining pieces having an inner diameter smaller than an 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 edges of said retaining pieces of said retaining ring are forced into grooves 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 for locating an inner wheel rim and an outer wheel rim 6f the motor vehicle wheel, said outer nut being provided in an outer peripheral edge of an outer end thereof with annular protrusion which is in turn provided in an inner peripheral edge with a retaining slot; and

a protective cap having a closed outer end, and an inner end which is provided with 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 annular protrusion 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, thereby enabling said outer diameter wall of said protective cap to have, a compression elasticity, said protective cap being engaged with saia outer nut in such a manner that said protective cap encloses said outer end wall of said outer nut and the extended potion of said large diametrical segment.

2. The bolt structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said protective cap is provided with a coating of a specific pigment, or a mark whereby said coating or said mark is intended to show the direction in which said outer nut is turned to fasten or unfasten.

3. The bolt structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said protective cap is provided at an inner end 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.