WHEEL WEIGHT ASSEMBLY

• US 20190092092A1
• Filed: 09/22/2017
• Published: 03/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Bhosale, Digvijay, Heimbuch, Benjamin J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,457,092 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 15/28 Wheel-ballasting weights; Their attachment
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2310/305 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2320/16 Devices for attaching or removing cover discs, hub caps or other ornamental rings or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 2340/50 Wheel mounting or removal devices

Abstract

A wheel weight assembly for a vehicle that has a wheel hub. The wheel weight assembly includes a wheel weight and a mounting assembly. The wheel weight includes a mounting aperture that defines a fixed axis. The mounting assembly is positioned in the mounting apertures and pivots relative thereto. The mounting assembly includes a hook and a rotator. The hook is positioned laterally inboard of the wheel hub, while the rotator is positioned laterally outboard of the wheel weight and is coupled to the hook. The rotator is configured to rotate the hook from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the hook not engaged with the wheel hub, but in the second position, the hook is engaged with the wheel hub.

Claims

1. A wheel weight assembly for a vehicle having a wheel hub, the wheel weight assembly comprising:

a wheel weight comprising a mounting aperture, the mounting aperture defining a fixed axis; and

a mounting assembly that is positioned in the mounting aperture so as to pivot relative thereto, the mounting assembly comprising;

a hook that is positioned laterally inboard of the wheel hub; and

a rotator that is positioned laterally outboard of the wheel weight and coupled to the hook, the rotator being configured to rotate the hook, about the fixed axis, from a first position, in which the hook is not engaged with the wheel hub, to a second position in which the hook is engaged with the wheel hub.

2. The wheel weight assembly of claim 1, wherein the wheel weight comprises a laterally outboard surface and a recess that is positioned laterally inboard thereof, the fixed axis intersects the recess, and the rotator is in contact with the recess when the hook is in the second position.

3. The wheel weight assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the wheel weight and the wheel hub comprises an aligner and the other of the wheel weight and the wheel hub comprises an alignment slot, and the aligner is positioned in the alignment slot.

4. The wheel weight assembly of claim 1, wherein a laterally inboard side of the wheel hub comprises a rotation limiter, and the rotation limiter is configured to align the hook into the second position.

5. The wheel weight assembly of claim 1, wherein the wheel weight and the wheel hub are not sandwiched, between the rotator and the hook, when the hook is in the first position, but the wheel weight and the wheel hub are sandwiched, between the rotator and the hook, when the hook is in the second position.

6. The wheel weight assembly of claim 1, wherein a hook pin comprises the hook and a post, the post is positioned in the mounting aperture and is aligned with the fixed axis, the hook is fixed with respect to the post such that the hook and the post rotate in unison.

7. The wheel weight assembly of claim 6, wherein the post extends through a mounting window of the wheel hub.

8. The wheel weight assembly of claim 6, wherein when the hook is in the second position:

the hook extends radially inward so as to overlap a laterally inboard surface of the wheel hub;

a laterally outboard surface of the hook is in contact with the laterally inboard surface of the wheel hub; and

a radially inward surface of the post is in contact with a radially outward surface of the wheel hub.

9. The wheel weight assembly of claim 6, wherein a rotator assembly comprises the rotator and a rotator post, the rotator post is positioned in the mounting aperture and is aligned with the fixed axis, and the rotator is fixed with respect to the rotator post such that the rotator and the rotator post rotate in unison.

10. The wheel weight assembly of claim 9, wherein the rotator post comprises a hollow receiver, and the post is positioned inside of the hollow receiver.

11. The wheel weight assembly of claim 10, wherein the hollow receiver comprises an anti-rotation surface, and the post comprises a complimentary anti-rotation surface that contacts the anti-rotation surface so as to ensure that the rotator post and the post rotate in unison.

12. The wheel weight assembly of claim 10, wherein the mounting assembly further comprises an assembly fastener that is aligned with the fixed axis and configured to couple the rotator assembly to the hook pin.

13. The wheel weight assembly of claim 8, wherein the rotator comprises a rotator aperture, the hook comprises a hook aperture, and the rotator aperture is always aligned with the hook aperture so as to define a moving axis that circumnavigates the fixed axis as the hook rotates from the first position to the second position.

14. The wheel weight assembly of claim 13, wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a mounting fastener that is positioned in the rotator aperture, in an aperture of wheel weight, in an aperture of the wheel hub, and in the hook aperture when the hook is in the second position.

15. The wheel weight assembly of claim 13, further comprising a threaded bolt, wherein:

a laterally outboard side of the wheel weight comprises an unthreaded blind aperture;

the rotator aperture is a threaded rotator aperture; and

the threaded bolt is positioned in the unthreaded blind aperture and the threaded rotator aperture, and the threaded bolt, when rotated, forces the mounting assembly laterally outward relative to the wheel hub.

16. A method for mounting a wheel weight onto a wheel hub, the method comprising:

coupling a mounting assembly to the wheel weight;

positioning a hook of the mounting assembly laterally inboard of the wheel hub; and

rotating the hook from a first position, in which the hook is not engaged with the wheel hub, to a second position in which the hook is engaged with the wheel hub.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the rotating comprises:

rotating the hook so that a laterally outboard surface of the hook contacts and overlaps the laterally inboard surface of the wheel hub.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising inserting a mounting fastener into an aperture of the rotator, into an aperture of the wheel weight, into an aperture of the wheel hub, and into an aperture of the hook.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the coupling comprises:

sliding the hook into the wheel weight starting from a laterally inboard side of the wheel weight;

sliding the rotator into the wheel weight starting from a laterally outboard side of the wheel weight; and

coupling the rotator to the hook.

20. A method for mounting a wheel weight onto a wheel hub, the method comprising:

coupling first and second wheel mounting assemblies to the wheel weight;

hanging the first mounting assembly and wheel weight on the wheel hub; and

rotating a hook of the second mounting assembly from a first position, in which the hook is not engaged with the wheel hub, to a second position in which the hook is engaged with the wheel hub.