JPH063207B2 - Wheel nut manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

Description: FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to wheel nuts, and more particularly to a method of manufacturing an improved wheel nut in which the wheel nut holds the wheel on a boss and at the same time holds the wheel cover on the wheel.

(Prior Art) A wheel nut for holding a wheel on a boss and at the same time for holding a wheel cover at the position of the wheel is described in "wheel nut with cap" filed on the same day by the owner of the present invention. That prior application equates several types of wheel nuts that use retaining rings. The present invention is directed to an improved method of manufacturing a capped wheel nut of the type that includes a retaining ring.

This prior patent application describes a different type of wheel nut in which the retaining ring is located in the groove as well as in the gap between the cap and the nut body. One of the advantages of the system described in the above mentioned patent application is that the wheels are used to hold the wheels to the boss and the wheel cover is intermediate between the manufacture of the vehicle and the actual delivery to the user. That is to be properly stored in the trunk of. A wheel cover with appropriate openings to be fitted with the wheel nuts when the vehicle is handed over is placed on the boss so that the wheel nuts extend outwardly through the openings in the wheel cover and then the retaining ring of the capped wheel nuts. Fixed in position.

(Problems to be solved by the invention) If for any reason it is desired to remove the wheel cover, first remove the retaining ring from the wheel nut and then remove the wheel cover. However, the retaining ring is quite small and is easily misplaced when removed from the wheel nut.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an alternative pick-up method that uses a capped wheel nut that includes a retaining ring, and provides an improved method of making a wheel nut having a retaining ring. .

The present invention provides a method of making an improved wheel nut of the type in which a retaining ring includes a nut body sandwiched between a nut body and a cap and a cap secured thereto. The method of the present invention includes the steps of providing a nut body, providing a cap, securing the cap to the nut body and pressing the retaining ring between the cap and the nut body.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the retaining ring is placed on the nut body and then the cap is placed on the nut body.

Sticking the cap to the nut body is to hold or stop the retaining ring in that position. Alternatively, the retaining ring is placed on or adjacent to the cap and the nut body is inserted through the retaining ring and into the cap. The cap is then secured to the nut body and holds the retaining ring in that position.

In the description of the invention, for example, movement of the nut body into the cap is considered to be relative movement, which is equivalent to moving the cap and nut body, and moving both the cap and nut body in opposite directions. It should be understood that they are equal.

The retaining ring is clamped between the cap and the nut body and the wheel nut must be completely removed from the wheel in order to remove the wheel cover without intentionally damaging the retaining ring. A capped wheel nut having a retaining ring that is clamped between the cap and the nut body provides the advantage that the retaining ring is unlikely to be accidentally knocked down and lost.

EXAMPLES Various features, benefits and advantages of the present invention, as well as other advantages obtained by using it, will become more apparent from reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings. .

Referring to FIG. 1, a wheel nut with a cap is shown in a sectional view. The capped wheel nut typically includes a steel nut body 12 and a stainless steel cap 14.

A nut body 12, often referred to as a nut insert, has a central threaded opening 16 and a plurality of wrench flats 18 arranged generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the nut body. It is customary to provide six such wrench flats, in end view the nut body is hexagonal in shape.

The nut body has first and second ends 20,22, the first end typically adapted to fit into a conical recess formed in a stud bolt hole in a vehicle wheel. Conical part 24
Is formed by. The conical portion 24 ends in a short conical planar portion 26. At the top of the flat portion 26, the nut body comprises a shoulder 27. The flat portion 26 is like a radial flange on the nut body.

The nut body 12 is covered with a sheath or cap, preferably made of stainless steel. The cap includes a vaulted, or flat, or recessed top 28. Cap top 28
Is the first part of the cap, the inside of which covers the second end 22 of the nut body. The second part of the cap is a wrench flat
The skirt 30 extends above 18 and extends downward. The skirt portion has a shape corresponding to the wrench plane in plan view, so that if the wrench plane is hexagonal, the skirt portion 30 is also hexagonal. The free end 32 of the skirt portion 30, the opposite cap end of the top portion 28, extends radially outwardly a short distance, the outer diameter of which corresponds to the outer diameter of the flat portion 26 of the nut body. This free end 32 is considered the third part of the cap.

As shown in more detail in FIG. 2, there is an axial gap 34 between the free end 32 of the cap and the flat portion 26 and shoulder 27 of the nut.

Returning to FIG. 1, the retaining ring 36 is the free end of the cap 14.
It is provided in the axial gap between 32 and the shoulder 27 of the nut body 12. Retaining ring is carbon steel, stainless steel, nylon,
Or made of synthetic resin. Retaining ring 36 has an inner surface
It is a thin ring having 38. The ring 36 is flat as shown in FIGS. 1-5 or flat with a conical flange 39 as shown in FIG. The ring is generally indented so that it faces the wheel cover and in such a shape the ring 36 has a generally curved flange 39.
Including a. Since all non-planar parts face the wheel cover, the elasticity acts to hold the cover to the wheel.

A first method of assembling the retaining ring and the wheel nut with cap will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The retaining ring is placed on the nut body such that the second end 22 of the nut body is inserted into the wheel ring 36.
The inner surface 38 of the retaining ring need not be an interference fit to the outer diameter of the nut body. The cap 14 is then inserted into the nut body (or alternatively the end 22 of the nut body is inserted into the cap) until the nut body extends fully into the cap. The free end 32 of the cap assists the retaining ring in moving along the nut body towards the shoulder 27, and by having the retaining ring at the shoulder 27, the retaining ring is held between the nut body shoulder and the cap. .

Referring to FIG. 3, the retaining ring 36 can be considered as a thin disc having a central hole. If the hole is circular, the ring-formed inner surface 38 is circular in plan view. However,
The present invention contemplates that the shape of the inner surface 38 of the retaining ring will mate with the shape of the nut body, and if the nut is provided with 6 wrench flats 18, the inner surface will be hexagonal shaped as shown in FIG. Made in.

According to the principles of the present invention, when the nut body and the cap are secured to each other and the retaining ring is pressed between them, the cap is secured to the nut body by pressure fitting, curving, welding, or the like.

FIG. 5 diagrammatically shows how to make a modified wheel nut. The shape of FIG. 5 has a special effect when welding the wheel nut with a cap to the nut body, but this use is not limited to welding. Lower die type 40 attached to bed 42
Has an indentation 44 that is open upwards. Lower die type
The recess 44 in 40 is shaped such that the cap 14 extends into the free end of the cap and is located within the recess.

A mechanical holder 46 attaches retaining ring 36 to the free end of the cap.
Used as supported by 32. The upper die die 48 shaped to fit the conical surface 24 of the nut body is moved into contact with the nut body, the upper die die moves towards the lower die die, and the nut body passes through the retaining ring to cap the cap. The force is applied again and the retaining ring is caught in between. The model of the die-type member outlined above is 1978.
Used as part of a welding system for welding a cap to a nut body as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,123,961 issued Nov. 7, 1997. However, the steps of positioning the cap opening above and the retaining ring above it, and then inserting the nut body through the retaining ring and into the cap should not be construed as requiring welding.

The above is a complete description of how to make an improved wheel nut.
It should be appreciated that many modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Therefore, the present invention is limited only by the following claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate corresponding components. 1 is a sectional view of a wheel nut with a cap including a retaining ring assembled according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective explanatory view of the wheel nut with a cap of FIG. 1 with the retaining ring removed for the purpose of explanation, FIG. Is a perspective explanatory view of one type of retaining ring, FIG. 4 is a perspective explanatory diagram of a second type of retaining ring, FIG. 5 is a partial schematic sectional view showing a method of assembling a wheel nut with a cap with a retaining ring, 6 and 7 show another variation of the retaining ring shape. (Description of symbols) 12 ... Nut body 14 ... Cap 16 ... Screw opening 18 ... Wrench plane 20 ... First end 22 ... Second end 24 ... Conical portion 26 ... Cylindrical portion 28 ... Top 30 ... Skirt 32 ... Free end 34 ... Gap 36 ... Retaining ring 38 ... Inner surface 39 ... Conical flange 39a ... Curved flange 40 ... Lower die type 42 ... Bed 44 ... Recess 46 ... Holder 48 ... Upper die type

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. A method of manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap of the type including a nut body having a cap secured to the nut body and having a retaining ring adapted to retain the wheel cover on the wheel, the method comprising: The manufacturing method consists of a central screw opening, a first end adapted to engage the wheel, a second end adapted to fit within the cap, a first end and a second end. Providing a nut body having a shoulder intermediate between and, and providing a retaining ring for the nut body that extends radially outward beyond the nut body when mounted. Providing a cap for the nut body; fixing the cap to the nut body and pressing a retaining ring against the nut body between the cap and the nut body shoulder. Method of manufacturing a wheel nut cap, characterized in that it consists of. 2. The method of manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap according to claim 1, wherein the cap is welded to the nut body. 3. The method of manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap according to claim 1, wherein the cap is press-fitted to the nut body. 4. The method of manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap according to claim 1, wherein the retaining ring is made of synthetic resin. 5. The method of manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap according to claim 1, wherein the retaining ring is made of stainless steel. 6. The method of manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap according to claim 1, wherein the retaining ring is carbon steel. 7. The method of manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap according to claim 1, wherein the retaining ring is flat. 8. The cap includes a first portion for covering a second end portion of the nut body, a second portion for covering a side surface of the nut body, and a holding ring for holding the retaining ring between the cap and the nut body shoulder. The method of manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap according to claim 1, which has a third part. 9. The nut body has a polygonal side surface midway between the shoulder and the second end, and the cap has a shape extending above the polygonal side surface. A method of manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap according to the item. 10. The method of manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap according to claim 9, wherein the nut body has six side surfaces. 11. The retaining ring has an inner surface shaped to conform to the polygonal side surface of the nut body, and wherein the step of securing a cap to the nut body includes retaining the retaining ring on the polygonal side surface of the nut body. 10. The method for manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap according to claim 9, including adjusting the wheel nut. 12. A method of manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap of a type including a nut main body having a cap fixed to the nut main body and a retaining ring pressed between the nut main body and the cap, the manufacturing method comprising: , A central screw opening, a first end adapted to engage the wheel, a second end adapted to fit within the cap, and an intermediate between the first end and the second end A nut body having a shoulder and a first portion adapted to cover a second end of the nut body and a second portion adapted to cover a side surface of the nut body, Providing a cap with the second part ending in a third part; providing a retaining ring; inserting a second end of the nut body through the retaining ring and into the cap; cap and nut body And stick them together -Up and to suppress the retaining ring between the nut body, the manufacturing method of the wheel nut cap, characterized in that comprises the step of. 13. The method of manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap according to claim 12, wherein the cap is welded to the nut body. 14. The method of manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap according to claim 12, wherein the cap is press-fitted to the nut body. 15. The method of manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap according to claim 12, wherein the retaining ring is made of plastic. 16. The method of manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap according to claim 12, wherein the retaining ring is steel. 17. The nut body has a polygonal side surface midway between the shoulder and the second end, and the second portion of the cap is shaped to extend above the polygonal side surface. A method for manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap according to item 12 of the above. 18. The retaining ring has an inner surface shaped to conform to a polygonal side surface of the nut body, and wherein the step of inserting the nut body through the retaining ring causes the retaining ring to have a polygonal side surface of the nut body. 18. The method for manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap according to claim 17, including adjusting the wheel nut. 19. The method of manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap according to claim 17, wherein the nut body has six side surfaces. 20. The method of manufacturing a wheel nut with a cap according to claim 12, wherein the retaining ring is flat.