• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    SummaryWheel adapter for attaching alignment equipment to a wheelmember such as a wheel hub or a wheel rim (2) of a vehicle,which wheel member comprises at least one fastening membersuch as a wheel bolt (3a) or wheel-nut (3b) for fastening awheel rim to a wheel hub, which wheel adapter comprises ameans (31) for attaching wheel alignment equipment. At least one first leg (10), each first leg comprising aclamping means arranged to grip a wheel fastening member(32b) of the wheel member (2), for removable fixation of the wheel adapter to the wheel member. Fig. 1
    公开号:SE1050184A1
    申请号:SE1050184
    申请日:2010-02-26
    公开日:2011-08-27
    发明作者:Franco Giacomini
    申请人:Josam Ab；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    Wheel adapter Field of the invention The invention relates generally to wheel alignment ofvehicles. More specifically the invention relates to a wheeladapter for attaching measuring or alignment equipment to a wheel of a vehicle.
    Background Wheel alignment of vehicles encompasses measurement,calculation and determination of several different anglesrelated to the wheels and wheel axle of the vehicles. Examplesof such angles that are of importance for maintaining orenhancing security, functionality and economics of vehicles are; toe, steering wheel centring, camber, caster, king-pin inclination, toe-out on turn, max turn and out of square.
    For being able to measure and determining such alignment parameters, it is common practice to temporarily fix differenttypes of measuring devices to the wheels of the vehicle. Suchmeasuring devices may comprise e.g. laser based instruments, cameras and instruments comprising gyros.
    For facilitating fixation of a measuring device to a wheel,different types of wheel adapters are normally used. The wheeladapters generally comprise means for fixation of the adapterto a wheel and means for attaching a measuring instrument tothe adapter. The wheel adapters should be easy to mount to thewheel and should allow easy fixation of alignment equipment tothe adapter. For allowing correct alignment measurement of thewheel, it is important that the wheel adapters, when mounted,are positioned in a predetermined and known position inrelation to the wheel. Typically, a planar surface of thewheel adapter should, when mounted, be positioned in parallel with the rotational plane of the wheel. Alternatively or in combination, an axle or geometrical axis of the adapter shouldbe positioned in parallel with the rotational axis of thewheel. It is also of importance that the wheel adapter issecurely and firmly fixed to the wheel, while still being easy to remove after use.
    Prior art Several different wheel adapters are known in the prior art.
    US 3,990,666 discloses a wheel clamp for mounting wheelalignment apparatus to a wheel. The wheel clamp comprises acentre mount assembly and a pair of leg members which extendradially from the centre mound assembly and which aresimultaneously radially displaceable by means of a drivescrew. The leg members are provided with gripper members whichare adapted to engage a peripheral surface of the wheel rimwhen the leg members are displaced towards the centre mount assembly.
    GB 1 483 808 discloses two different devices for attaching anadjustable axle journal to a rear wheel and a front wheelrespectively. The adjustable axel journal is used fordetermining the geometrical axis of rotation of the wheel. Thefront wheel device comprises a plate having three radiallyprotruding arms. At the end of each arm a holding magnet isprovided, which acts on a rim plane of the vehicle. Forcentring the plate in relation to the wheel, two furtherradially protruding arms are used which are fastened with their free ends each on a wheel nut of the wheel.
    The prior art also comprises wheel adapters comprising holdingmagnets which are intended to magnetically interact with anumber of wheel nuts of the wheel for holding the wheel adapter to the wheel.
    Summary of the invention It is an object of the invention to provide an improved wheeladapter for attaching wheel alignment equipment to a wheelmember of a vehicle. Another object is to provide such a wheeladapter which is securely and firmly attached to the wheelmember, when mounted. A further object is to provide such awheel adapter which may withstand comparatively great loadswithout coming loose from the wheel member and without riskingthat any wheel alignment equipment attached thereto is broughtout of position in relation to the wheel. Still another objectis to provide such a wheel adapter which is easy to mount andremove from the wheel member. Yet another object is to providesuch a wheel adapter which allows for accurate positioning andorientation of the wheel adapter and any alignment equipmentattached thereto or integrated therewith in relation to the wheel member.
    These and further objects are achieve by a wheel adapter ofthe type defined in the preamble of claim 1, which wheeladapter exhibits the special technical features set out in the characterizing portion of claim 1.
    The wheel adapter is intended for attaching measuring oralignment equipment to a wheel member such as a wheel hub or awheel rim of a vehicle, which wheel member comprises at leastone fastening member such as a wheel bolt or wheel nut forfastening a wheel rim to a wheel hub. The wheel adaptercomprises at least one first leg, each first leg comprising aclamping means arranged to grip a wheel fastening member offor removable fixation of the wheel adapter the wheel member, to the wheel member.
    The at least one first leg is thus arranged for fixing and holding the wheel adapter to the wheel member. The clamp means provide a reliable means for securely and firmly holding thewheel adapter to the wheel member by mechanical gripping. Suchsecure fixation of the wheel adapter to the wheel member is ofgreat importance. Alignment equipment that is to be attachedto the wheel adapter or integrated with the wheel adapter isnormally both expensive and easily damaged. Secure holding ofthe wheel adapter to the wheel member reduces the risk of thealignment equipment to be damaged due to the wheel adapterfalling of the wheel member. Secure and stable holding of thewheel adapter and the alignment equipment is further importantfor achieving accurate results when carrying out alignment measuring operations by means of the alignment equipment.
    The fixation of the wheel adapter according to the inventionis further not dependent on any magnetic force, which has beenused in the prior art. Such magnetic holding often provides acomparatively weak fixation. Further, the magnets oftenattract metallic particles and dust present at the work shopor the like where the wheel adapter is used. When suchparticles get stuck to the magnets or surrounding metallicparts of the adapter, the holding force is weakened evenfurther. Such particles may further and even more seriouslyremain stuck to the magnets or adjacent parts during use.Thereby the particles will be positioned between the wheeladapter and the surface of the wheel to which surface theadapter is fastened. Such interfering particles will result inthat the wheel adapter is not correctly positioned andoriented in relation to the wheel. With the wheel adapteraccording to the present invention all such problems relatedto the use of magnets for holding the wheel adapter is OVerCOme .
    The wheel adapter according to the invention further utilizes the fastening members of the wheel for fixation of the wheel adapter. By this means the wheel adapter may by fixed toeither the wheel rim when the wheel rim is attached to thewheel hub of the vehicle or directly to the hub without anyrim being attached thereto. Attaching the wheel adapter to thehub may be advantageous e.g. when carrying out alignmentoperations during manufacturing or in connection with repairof the vehicle. Attaching the wheel adapter to the wheel rimis advantageous e.g. at regular control and maintenance of the vehicle.
    The wheel fastening means of the wheel are normallydimensioned and positioned at the wheel according tointernational standards. The at least one first leg may thusreadily be arranged such that one and the same wheel adapter may be used for several different types of wheels.
    The clamping means may comprise at least two jaws. This allowsfor a secure and firm grip of the wheel fastening means. Suchjaws are also reliable in use and may easily by operated bymeans of comparatively simple mechanisms. The jaws may furtherreadily be constructed such that one and the same pair of jawsmay be used for gripping wheel fastening means having differing dimensions.
    Each first leg may comprise a cylindrical tube portion havingan inner conical surface and at least two jaws being receivedand axially displaceable in an end portion of the cylindricaltube portion, each jaw comprising an outer tapering surfacewhich, in cooperation with the inner conical surface, forcesthe jaws radially towards each other during axial displacementwithin the cylindrical tube portion. This provides for amechanically simple and reliable construction. The cooperating conical and tapering surfaces further allows for creating a very strong gripping force, which in turn enhances secure holding the wheel adapter to the wheel member.
    The inner conical surface of the cylindrical tube portion andthe tapering surfaces of the jaws may be arranged such thatthe jaws are forced radially towards each other during axialdisplacement of the jaws in a direction towards the fasteningmeans of the wheel member. At such an embodiment the jaws willmove in a direction outwards of the cylindrical tube portionduring gripping. Hereby the risk of the cylindrical tubeportion to come into contact with the wheel member or thefastening member during gripping and to thereby interfere with the gripping is reduced.
    The clamping means may be exchangeable for allowing grippingof wheel fastening members having different dimensions. Herebyone and the same wheel adapter may readily be adapted for fixation to wheels of different types.
    The wheel adapter may comprise several and preferably twofirst legs. Hereby a secure and firm fastening of the wheel adapter is enhanced further.
    The above mentioned embodiments allow for a secure and firmfixation of the wheel adapter to a wheel member. However theseembodiments do not comprise any specific means for preciselyand accurately orienting the wheel adapter in relation to thewheel member. The above mentioned embodiments may thereforepreferably be used at applications where the alignmentoperation comprises means or procedures for correction of anymisalignment between the wheel adapter and the wheel member.In applications where precise and accurate orientation andalignment of the wheel adapter in relation to the wheel member is of greater importance, the wheel adapter may advantageously be complemented in accordance with any of the further embodiments set out below.
    The wheel adapter may e.g. further comprise at least threesecond legs, each second leg comprising a support surfacearranged to bear against an outer lateral surface of the wheelmember, wherein the first and second legs are connected toeach other and arranged to extend in a first direction, whichfirst direction is generally perpendicular to the outerlateral surface of the wheel member, when the wheel adapter isfixed to the wheel member. The at least three second legs arearranged to bear against the outer lateral surface of thewheel member. In case the wheel adapter is to be fixed to ahub the at least one fastening member may be attached to thehub and extend outwardly from an outer lateral surface of thehub. In case the wheel adapter is to be fixed to a wheel rimthe at least one fastening member may extend though an outerlateral surface of the rim. The second legs are thus arrangedto accurately position and orient the wheel adapter inrelation to this surface of the wheel member. This surface ofthe wheel member, both in case the wheel member is a hub and arim, is normally comprised of a machined surface. Hereby thesurface constitutes a reliable reference surface forpositioning and orienting the wheel adapter in relation to therotational plane and the rotational axis of the wheel. In theprior art, some wheel adapters rely on fixation to andorientation in relation to a peripheral edge portion of therim. Such peripheral edge portions are however often damagedand deformed, which makes the orientation of the wheel adapterinaccurate. The outer lateral surface of the wheel member usedto form a supporting reference surface for the second legs ofthe wheel adapter according to the present invention is more seldom damaged and therefore constitute a more reliable surface for positioning and orienting the wheel adapter. Sincethe second legs comprise at least three second legs it isassured that the wheel adapter may be securely held inparallel with or in any other desirable angle in relation tothe wheel. Since at least three supportive second legs areused, the positioning and orientation of the adapter inrelation to the wheel is fully defined by solely these at least three second legs.
    According to this embodiment, different members of the wheeladapter, i.e. the first at least one leg and the second legs,are arranged for fixation of the wheel adapter and forpositioning and orientation of the wheel adapter respectively.Hereby, at the one hand, the wheel fastening members, whichare suitable for being gripped and for reliable holding of theadapter may be used for this purpose. At the other hand, themachined lateral surface of the wheel member may be used forsupporting, positioning and orienting the wheel adapter reliably and accurately in relation to the wheel.
    The second legs may be displaceable relative to the at leastone first leg in the first direction. Hereby it is possible tofirst fix the wheel adapter to the wheel, by means of theclamping means and to thereafter correctly position and orientthe wheel adapter in relation to the wheel by displacing thesecond legs such that they supportively bear against thelateral surface of the rim. This in turn facilitates mountingof the wheel adapter and assures a secure grip engagement between the clamping means of the adapter and the wheel fastening means of the wheel.
    The wheel adapter may comprise spring means for urging thesecond legs to bear against the rim surface of the wheel under a pretension force, when the wheel adapter is fixed to the wheel. By this means the second legs may be forced to securelybear against the lateral surface of the rim, thereby enhancing correct positioning and orientation of the wheel adapter.
    The wheel adapter may comprise adjusting means for adjustingthe pretension force. Hereby the adapter may readily beadjusted for different wheels and for different loadsconstituted by different alignment equipment to be attached to the adapter.
    The wheel adapter may comprise actuation means for activationand deactivation of the pretension force. The pretension forceis suitably deactivated during mounting and removal of thewheel adapter to and from the wheel and activated duringmounting and use of the alignment equipment. The actuationmeans facilitates change-over from a corresponding mounting mode and operative mode of the wheel adapter.
    The adjusting means may be separate from the actuation means.This enhances the flexibility in use of the wheel adapter. Forinstance the pretension force may be set to a certain valueusable at several measurement operations that are to becarried out consecutively at different wheels. The actuationmeans may then be used when mounting the wheel adapter at thedifferent wheels without the need of adjust or change the setting of the pretension force.
    The wheel adapter may comprise means for removable attachmentof wheel alignment equipment to the wheel adapter. This allowsfor, inter alia, that one single alignment equipment, such ase.g. a laser instrument or a camera, may be used during analignment measuring operation wherein a plurality of wheeladapters have been fixed to a respective wheel member. Herebythe alignment operation may be facilitated and carried out faster. The means for removable attachment of alignment equipment to the wheel adapter also allows for that differenttypes of alignment equipment may by used in connection with one and the same wheel adapter.
    The wheel adapter may alternatively comprise integrated wheelalignment equipment. Hereby the need of separate attachment ofalignment equipment to the wheel adapter is dispensed with.This embodiment may be suitable e.g. when utilizing lesssophisticated and less expensive alignment equipment, such as some types of alignment equipment used for private car.
    Further objects and advantages of the wheel adapter accordingto the invention will appear from the following detaileddescription of exemplifying embodiments and from the appended claims.
    Brief description of the drawingsExemplifying embodiments of the invention will hereafter bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a wheel adapter according to an embodiment of the invention, and illustrates the wheel adapter when it is fixed to a rim of a wheel.
    Fig. 2 is a partly exploded perspective view of the wheel adapter shown in fig. 1.
    Fig 3. is a partly exploded view of a detail of the wheel adapter shown in fig. 1.
    Detailed description of embodimentsFigs. 1 and 2 illustrate a wheel adapter according to one embodiment of the invention. In fig. 1 the wheel adapter ismounted to a wheel 1. The wheel 1 comprises different wheel members comprising a wheel hub (not shown) fixed to the 11 vehicle (not shown) and a wheel rim. In the illustratedexample the wheel adapter is fixed to the rim. The wheeladapter according to the invention may however also be fixeddirectly to the wheel hub. In the illustrated example thewheel rim 2 is fixed to the hub by means of a plurality offastening members 3 which in the shown example comprise wheelbolts 3a that are fixed to the hub and wheel-nuts 3b which arethreaded onto a respective wheel bolt. The wheel adapter mayhowever also be mounted to wheels having other types offastening means such as e.g. wheel bolts with bolt heads,which wheel bolts extend through the rim and are threadedlyengaged with the hub. The rim exhibits an outer lateral rimsurface 4, which is constituted by a planar machined annularsurface. The fastening means 3 extend through bolt holesarranged in the lateral rim surface 4. The bolt holes and fastening means are annularly positioned in accordance with an international standard.
    The wheel adapter comprises a pair of first legs 10 and threesecond legs 20. The first legs 10 are rigidly connected toeach other by means of a crossbar ll. Each second leg 20 isrigidly connected to a cylindrical hub member 21 by means of arespective bar 22. Each second leg 20 further comprises ahollow cylindrical tube having an open free end which isdistal from the end being connected to the respective bar 22.The end surface of the tube's free end constitutes a supportsurface which is arranged to bear against the outer lateralrim surface 4 of the rim. The inner diameter of the secondlegs 20 is chosen such that the entire fastening means 3a, 3bprotruding from the outer lateral rim surface 4 may bereceived within the tube. The outer diameter of the tube ischosen such that the tube may be received in a bolt opening arranged at each fastening means 3a, 3b in a standardized 12 cover plate (not shown) which may be fastened outside of therim. The three second legs 20 are further arranged at aninternal pitch which corresponds to the standardized pitch ofthe fastening means 3a, 3b, such that the triangular areadefined by the free ends of the second legs is as large aspossible. The second legs 20 are thus arranged to bear againstan annular portion of the outer lateral rim surface 4surrounding a respective fastening means 3a, 3b. The pitch ofthe second legs 20 provides an optimal total support of thewheel adapter when fixed to the wheel rim 2. The inner andouter diameters of the second legs further allows for that thesecond legs 20 may take full support against the outer rimesurface 4 of a standardized rim also when a standardized cover plate is fastened to the rim 4.
    The second legs 10 are connected to the hub member 21 and thesecond legs 20 by means of a central bolt 23, a pretensionspring 24 and a pretension adjusting nut 25. The pretensionspring 24 is comprised of a helical compression spring. Thecentral bolt 23 extends through a through hole 12 in thecrossbar 11. A bolt head 23a of the central bolt 23 rests against a, in fig. 2, lower surface of the cross bar 11. Thecentral bolt 23 further extends through an opening in a bottomwall (not shown) of the central hub 21 and is received in thepretension spring 24. The pretension spring 24 is supported bythe bottom wall (not shown) of the central hub and iscompressed by the pretension adjusting nut 25. By this meansthe central hub 11 and the second legs 10 are axiallydisplaceable in relation to the first legs 10. The compressionspring 24 further urges the central hub 21 axially towards thecross bar 11. Thereby the second legs 20 are urged axially in their respective axial direction towards their respective free 13 ends being distal from the bars 22 and the central hub 21, inrelation to the first legs 10.
    A pretension actuation means comprising an eccentric member 26is pivotally fixed to the central hub 21, such that it extendsthrough an opening in the bottom wall (not shown). Theeccentric member 26 is mechanically connected to a firstmanoeuvring lever 27 and cooperates with an, in fig. 2, uppersurface of the cross bar 11. By manoeuvring the lever 27 it ispossible to rotate the eccentric member 26 between twooperational positions. In a first operational position, theeccentric member is extended, such that it forces the centralhub 21 to be axially displaced away from the cross bar ll,against the spring force exerted by the pretension spring 24.In a second operational position the eccentric member 26 iswithdrawn, such that it allows the pretension spring 26 to urge the central hub 21 with the second legs 20 towards the cross bar 11.
    The wheel adapter further comprises means for attaching wheelalignment equipment, such that a laser based measuringinstrument or a camera to the wheel adapter. This meanscomprises a cylindrical rod 31 which is angularly adjustablyfixed to a cover plate 32. The cover plate 32 is fixed to thecentral hub 21 by means of screws (not shown). The rod 31extends generally in the same direction as the axial directionof the first 10 and second 20 legs. The cover plate 32comprises two radially extending first arms 33 (only one shownin figs. 1 and 2). The first arms 33 extend from the coverplate 32 perpendicularly in relation to each other. Tworespective corresponding second arms 34 (only one shown infigs. 1 and 2) are fixed to the rod 31. Each pair of first 33and second 34 arms are connected by means of a bolt 35 with a nut 36 and an intermediate compression spring 37 arranged 14 between the first 33 and second 34 arms. By turning the nuts36, the distance between the free ends of each first 33 andsecond 34 arms and thereby the angular orientation of the rod 31 may be adjusted.
    In the following referring also to fig. 3, an exemplifyingembodiment of the clamping means of the first legs will now bedescribed more in detail. In the following only one first legwill be described. The same description however applies toboth first legs 10 shown in the drawings. At the embodiment ofthe wheel adapter illustrated in the drawings, the first leg10 comprises a first cylindrical tube portion 12 and a secondcylindrical tube portion 13. The first tube portion 12 isarranged proximal to the central hub 21 and is fixed to thecross bar 11. The second tube portion 13 is arranged at a freeend of the first leg 10, the free end being distal to thecentral hub 21 and the cross bar 11. The second tube portion13 is fixed to the first tube portion 12 by means of athreaded sleeve 14 such that the second tube portion 13 isthreadedly received in the sleeve 14, which in turn isthreadedly received in the first tube portion 12. The secondtube portion 13 exhibits at the end being distal from thefirst tube portion 12 an inner conical surface 13a , tapering in the direction away from the first tube portion 12, i.e. towards the free end of the first leg 10.
    A manoeuvring rod 15 is arranged inside the first tube portion12 and is at one end connected to a second manoeuvring lever16 (fig. 2) arranged at that end of the first leg 10 which isproximal to the central hub 21. The manoeuvring rod 15 may beaxially displaced in a direction towards and away from thefree end of the first leg 10. A helical compression spring 17is received in the first 12 and second 13 tube portions and is at one end supported by an adjustment nut 15a, which is threaded onto the rod 15. Three jaws 40a, 40b, 40c arereceived in the second tube portion 13. Each jaw 40a, 40b, 40cis provided with a rear portion 41a, 41b each exhibiting anouter surface in the form of a cylinder segment and a frontportion 42a, 42b, 42c, exhibiting an outer surface whichtappers in the forward direction, i.e. in the directiontowards the free end of the first leg 10. Each rear portion41a, 41b further comprises a radially inwardly projectingflange (not shown). The three jaws 40a, 40b, 40c are connectedto the rod 15 by means of a washer 18 which is displaceablyslipped onto the rod 15 and supported by the compressionspring 17 and a stop member 19 which is threaded onto the rod15. The inwardly projecting flanges (not shown) are arrangedbetween the washer and the stop member 19. The stop member 19further exhibits a conical outer surface, which tapers in thedirection towards the inwardly projecting flanges and thewasher 18. The jaws 40a, 40b, 40c are hereby connected to therod 15 and the manoeuvring lever 16 by means of the inwardlyprojecting flanges being clamped between the washer 18 and the 42b,In the stop member. The inner surface of each front portion 42a,42c is provided with a friction increasing roughness.example shown the inner surfaces exhibit circumferentiallyextending ridges and groves. It however also possible toprovide an increased friction by other means, such as e.g. byarranging dents or surface roughness on the inner surfaces ofthe front portions 42a, 42b, 42c. As indicated in fig. 3, thesecond tube section 13 and the jaws 40a-c are readilyexchangeable for tube sections and jaws having otherdimensions. Thereby the wheel adapter may be easily adaptedfor use at wheel members and fastening means having different dimensions and configurations. 16 By this arrangement axial movement of the rod 15 in thedirection towards the free end of the first leg 10, willdisplace the jaws 40a-c in the direction axially out from thesecond tube portion 13. Simultaneously the jaws 40a-c will beforced radially towards each through cooperative contactbetween the conical inner surface 13a of the second tubeportion 13 and the tapering outer surfaces of the jaws' frontportions 42a-c. Axial movement of the rod 15 in the oppositedirection will displace the jaws 40a-c in the axially inwarddirection. Simultaneously, the conical outer surface of thestop member 19 will, in contact with respective inner surfacesof the rear portions 41a-b, force the jaws 40a-c radiallyoutwards, such that the jaws are radially separated from each other.
    Fixing the wheel adapter to a rim 2 as shown in the figures isreadily accomplished in the following manner. The firstmanoeuvring lever 27 is operated such that the eccentricmember 26 is rotated to the first, extended operativeposition. Thereby the second legs 20 are displaced axiallyrelative to the first legs, such that the free ends of thesecond legs 20 are positioned in a plane which is closer tothe central hub 21 than the free ends of the first legs 10.The second manoeuvring levers 16 are operated such that thejaws 40a-c of each first leg 10 assumes their axiallyretracted and radially separated positions. The wheel adapteris thereafter positioned at the rim 2, such that the first 10and second 20 legs are oriented generally perpendicular to thelateral outer rim surface 4. The wheel adapter is moved towardthe rim 2 and positioned such that a respective wheel nut 3bis received between the jaws 40a-c inside the second tubeportion 13 of each first leg 10. The second manoeuvring levers 16 are thereafter operated such that the jaws 40a-c are 17 displaced axially outwardly and radially inwardly in therespective second tube portions 13 of the first legs 10. Thiswill cause the respective wheel nut 3b to be firmly andsecurely gripped and clamped between the jaws 40a-c of eachfirst leg 10. In practice, the jaws 40a-c will only be movedaxially outwardly during the initial axial displacement of themanoeuvring rod 15, until the jaws 40a-c have accomplished afirm grip of the wheel nuts 3b. Thereafter the jaws 40a-c willbe stationary and the first legs will move axially slightlyaway from the rim 2. Thereby, the risk of any interferingcontact between the annular end surface at the free end of thefirst legs 10 with a nut collar or the like is reduced. Theclamping force by which the jaws 40a-c grip the nuts may bereadily adjusted in advance by regulating the adjustment nut15a on the manoeuvring rod 15. Such adjustment will influencethe spring force exerted by the compression spring 17 on thewasher 18 and thereby the force by which the outer taperingsurfaces of the jaws' front portions 42a-c are urged along theinner conical surface 13a of the second tube portion 13. Theclamping force is suitably adjusted in dependency of e.g. thesize and material strength of the wheel nuts 3b and the weight of the alignment equipment which is to be attached to the wheel adapter.
    Once a secure fixing of the wheel adapter to the wheel nuts 3bhas been accomplished as described above, the firstmanoeuvring lever 27 is operated such that the eccentricmember 26 assumes the second, retracted operative position.Thereby, the second legs 20 will be displaced axially towardsthe outer lateral rim surface 4. By the angular pitcharrangement of the first 10 and second 20 legs, the free endsof the second legs 20 are positioned in alignment with a respective wheel nut 3b. During continued axial displacement 18 of the second legs 20, the wheel nuts 3b, including anypossible nut collar, will be fully received inside the freeend of the second legs 20. The annular support surfaces ofeach second leg 20 will come into contact with a correspondingannular portion of the outer lateral rim surface 4,surrounding a respective wheel nut 3b. The pretension spring24 will further urge the second legs 20 to bear against theouter lateral rim surface 4 under a pretension force, whichhas been determined by a suitable setting of the pretensionadjusting nut 25. The pretension force is suitably adjusted inrelation to e.g. the weight of the alignment equipment to beattached and the material strength of the outer lateral rim surface 4.
    By means of the second legs 20 which bear against the outer lateral rim surface 4 of the rim, the wheel adapter is in thisway very accurately oriented in relation to the outer lateralrim surface 4, such that the axial extension of the first andsecond legs is arranged normal to the plane of this surface 4.Such accurate orientation of the wheel adapter is of great importance at many alignment methods and operations involving alignment equipment which is fixed to a wheel member.
    In the above described example the wheel adapter is fixed to awheel rim 2 being attached to a hub. At some applications,e.g. during manufacturing of vehicles, it may however beadvantageous to fix the wheel adapter directly to the hub.Such fixing may also be readily accomplished by utilizing theabove described wheel adapter. In such case, wheel boltsextending from the hub may be readily gripped by the jaws of the first legs.
    The above described embodiment of the wheel adapter thus provides the important advantages both of that a very firm and 19 secure fixing of the wheel adapter may be readily accomplishedand that the wheel adapter after being fixed to the wheel isvery accurately oriented in relation to wheel member to which it has been attached.
    The wheel adapter according to the invention is however notlimited to the exemplifying embodiment described above. TO thecontrary the invention may be varied freely within the scopeof the appended claims. At applications where accurateorientation of the wheel adapter is of lesser importance, thesecond legs may be dispensed with. At such embodiments thewheel adapter comprises at least one first leg for attachingthe wheel adapter to a wheel member by gripping at least onefastening means of the wheel member. At some vehicles, such assome racing cars the wheel rims are attached to a respectivehub by means of a single central wheel nut. For suchapplications the wheel adapter may be provided with only onefirst leg comprising clamping means, such as jaws, which arearranged to grip the central wheel nut. At other applicationsit may be advantageous if the wheel adapter is provided withmore that two first legs, each being provided with clampingmeans for gripping a respective fastenings means of a wheelmember. At some applications it may also be advantageous ifthe wheel adapter comprises more than three second legs, eachcomprising a support surface which is intended to bear againstthe wheel member. Instead of being provided with means forremovable attachment of alignment equipment, such alignmentequipment may be permanently integrated with the wheel adapter.
    权利要求:
    Claims (14)
    [1] 1. Wheel adapter for attaching alignment equipment to a wheelmember such as a wheel hub or a wheel rim (2) of a vehicle,which wheel member comprises at least one fastening membersuch as a wheel bolt (3a) or wheel-nut (3b) for fastening awheel rim to a wheel hub, which wheel adapter is characterizedby; at least one first leg (10), each first leg comprising aclamping means arranged to grip a wheel fastening member (3b)of the wheel member (2), for removable fixation of the wheel adapter to the wheel member.
    [2] 2. Wheel adapter according to claim 1, wherein the clamping means comprises at least two jaws (40a-c).
    [3] 3. Wheel adapter according to claim 2, wherein each first leg(10) comprises a cylindrical tube portion (13) having an innerconical surface (13a) and at least two jaws (40a-c) beingreceived and axially displaceable in an end portion of thecylindrical tube portion, each jaw comprising an outertapering surface which, in cooperation with the inner conicalsurface, forces the jaws radially towards each other during axial displacement within the cylindrical tube portion.
    [4] 4. Wheel adapter according to claim 4, wherein the innerconical surface (13a) of the cylindrical tube portion (13) andthe tapering surfaces of the jaws (40a-c) are arranged suchthat the jaws are forced radially towards each other duringaxial displacement of the jaws in a direction towards the fastening means of the wheel member.
    [5] 5. Wheel adapter according to any of claims 1-4, wherein theclamping means are exchangeable for allowing gripping of wheel fastening members having different dimensions. 21
    [6] 6. Wheel adapter according to any of claims 1-5, comprising two first legs (10).
    [7] 7. Wheel adapter according to any of claims 1-6, comprising atleast three second legs (20), each second leg comprising asupport surface arranged to bear against an outer lateralsurface (4) of the wheel member, wherein the first and secondlegs are connected to each other and arranged to extend in afirst direction, which first direction is generallyperpendicular to the outer lateral surface of the wheel member, when the wheel adapter is fixed to the wheel member.
    [8] 8. Wheel adapter according to claim 7, wherein the second legs(20) are displaceable relative to the at least one first leg (10) in the first direction.
    [9] 9. Wheel adapter according to claim 8, comprising spring means(24) for urging the second legs (20) to bear against the outerlateral surface (4) of the wheel member under a pretension force, when the wheel adapter is fixed to the wheel member.
    [10] 10. Wheel adapter according to claim 9, comprising adjusting means (25) for adjusting the pretension force.
    [11] 11. Wheel adapter according to claim 9 or 10, comprisingactuation means (26, 27) for activation and deactivation of the pretension force.
    [12] 12. Wheel adapter according to claim 10 and 11, wherein theadjusting means (25) are separate from the actuation means (26, 27).
    [13] 13. Wheel adapter according to any of claims 1-12, comprisingmeans (31) for removable attachment of wheel alignment equipment to the wheel adapter. 22
    [14] 14. Wheel adapter according to any of claims 1-12, comprising integrated wheel alignment equipment.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    SE535019C2|2012-03-13|
    引用文献:
    公开号 | 申请日 | 公开日 | 申请人 | 专利标题
    法律状态:
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    SE1050184A|SE535019C2|2010-02-26|2010-02-26|Wheel adapter for attaching alignment equipment to a wheel part|SE1050184A| SE535019C2|2010-02-26|2010-02-26|Wheel adapter for attaching alignment equipment to a wheel part|
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