WO2008051081A1

WO2008051081A1 - Multiple purpose tool for mounting and demounting wheels on a vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2008051081A1
Application number: PCT/NO2007/000342
Authority: WO
Inventors: Helge Olav Skreen; Anne Sølvi SKREEN
Original assignee: Helge Olav Skreen; Skreen Anne Soelvi
Priority date: 2006-10-25
Filing date: 2007-10-01
Publication date: 2008-05-02
Also published as: NO324566B1; NO20064867L; WO2008075963A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a multipurpose tool for mounting or removing a wheel (32) from a vehicle, comprising at least a first means (17,19) for loosening or screw bolts/nuts keeping a wheel (32) fixed to or from a hub, said first means (17,19) comprising a part (18,19) which is configured to cooperate with said bolts /nuts on the hub and a lever arm (10) for transferring torque to said bolts/nuts in order to fasten/unscrew these from the hub, and preferably a second means (26,27,28) for lifting and guiding a wheel during mounting into correct position with respect to the holes/bolts in the hub. Said lever arm (10) is in the form of an elongated, hollow tube shaped body which is configured to contain said first means (17,19) for loosening or fastening of the bolts/nuts on the hub, and preferably also a second means (26,27,28) when said means (17,19,26,27,28) is not in use, and that said hollow tube shaped body (10) at least at one end is provided with means or holes (13) which are configured to cooperate with said means (17,19) in order to screw the bolts/nuts into or out of the hub.

Description

MULTIPLE PURPOSE TOOL FOR MOUNTING AND DEMOUNTING WHEELS ON A VEHICLE

The present invention relates to a multiple purpose tool for mounting or demounting a wheel on a vehicle. The multiple purpose tool comprises at least one first means for unscrewing or screwing bolts/nuts on to a hob on a wheel, where the first means comprising a part which is configured to cooperate with said bolt/nut on the hub and a cooperating lever for transferring forces during the unscrewing or the fastening of the bolts/nuts.

It has previously been proposed to design a socket wrench with levers in order to unscrew or fasten wheels on to a hub. Further, it is previously proposed to combine different tools for different functions into one unit.

DE 199 25 045; US 6,298,535; EP 1,070,505 and US 5,897,171 describe use of guiding pins of different shapes, the pins being designed to be screwed into a hole in the hub and/or onto bolts fixed to a hub. US 2,549,910; US 4,607,406; CA 2,402,617 and US

6,598,500 describe a tool for loosening or fastening wheel nuts, the described tools being demountable and provided with a lever arm. US 5,685,207 describes in addition an adjustment lever. An object of the present invention is to provide a tool which simplifies substitution of wheels on a vehicle, and at the same time offers opportunities for establishing a new standard system for tool auxiliaries on a vehicle, such as for example cars or the like. Another object of the invention is to provide a flexible, compact system for changing wheels which at the same time is simple to operate and serves all essential functions for a change of wheels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a solution which in use is ergonomically right, where the need of man power is reduced.

An even further object of the invention is to provide a complete and integrated system for substituting wheels, where all elements have several operative functions during the wheel substitution operation, including an element for storing the parts of the multiple tool elements.

According to the present invention, the above specified objects are achieved by means of a multiple purpose tool as further defined by the characterizing part of the independent claim, read in conjunction with the preamble of the independent claim.

More specifically, the objects are achieved by using a lever arm in the form of an elongated, hollow, channel shaped body, said channel shaped body being configured to contain a first means for loosening or fixing a bolt/nut on to the hub, and preferably also guiding and lifting pins or the like, when such means is not in use; and that said hollow channel or duct formed body at least at one end is provided with means or openings configured to cooperate with the means for screwing the bolts/nuts on to the hub or loosening them bolts/nuts from the hub.

According to one embodiment, the elongated, hollow duct formed body may also be provided with an integrated ratchet like means, intended to cooperate with said first means for applying a torque limiting load on to said wheel bolt/nut .

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the ratchet like means is arranged at the opposite end of the opening.

The first means may preferably be provided with a middle section having a cross sectional area adapted to the opening at one end of the elongated, hollow duct shaped body. Further, the first means may at one end be provided with an end configured to cooperate with the corresponding end of the pipe or socket wrench.

At the intermediate part between the middle part and the end, outwards extending flanges may for example be arranged, at least towards one side, said flange being intended to rest against the wall of the hollow, duct shaped body when mounted on the duct shaped body.

At the opposite end of the first means, an elongated, rifled pin may preferably be arranged, said elongated rifled pin being intended to cooperate with a corresponding opening in the ratchet type means.

The free end of the elongated rifled pin may preferably have a conical shape. According to the present invention, a compact and simple tool is provided, the tool being of a size which does not require large space, and where the necessary tool means for various purposed are stored inside said lever arm when not in use, the lever arm being formed as a hollow, duct shaped body and where tools for the various necessary purposes are provided.

Another inherent advantage is that substitution of wheels in complete darkness is made possible. A still further advantage is that the solution provides options or choice for either applying a large torque on to the bolts/nut or applying a torque limiting force on to the bolts or the nuts.

Additional advantages and functions of the multiple, combined tool according to the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description of the embodiment shown in the attached drawings.

An embodiment of the invention shall in the following be described in more details, referring to the attached drawings, where: Figure 1 shows a view of a multi purpose combined lever arm and a case for storing the tools, seen from above ;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the same lever arm or case shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows an end view of the closable end of the combined lever arm and case shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows an enlarged side view of an end of the combined lever arm and case shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 shows an end view of end of the combined lever arm and case seen in Figure 1, seen from the opposite side/

Figure 6 shows a detail of the ratchet element arranged at one end of the combined lever arm and casing; Figure 7 shows a view of a combined tool for loosening or fixing of a bolt/nut on a wheel hub;

Figure 8 shows the same tool seen from the side;

Figure 9 and 10 show the same tool seen from each end; Figure 11 shows a socket wrench, intended for removable mounting on an end of the tool seen in Figures 7 and 8 ;

Figure 12 and 13 show the socket wrench, shown in figure 11, seen from each end; and Figures 14-18 show various stages of the application of the multi-purpose combined tool according to the invention.

Figures 1-3 show a view of a tube shaped body 10 configured for functioning as a combined lever arm and a case for storage of equipment and tools. Figure 1 shows the elongated tube shaped body 10 seen from above, while Figure 2 shows the same body 10 seen from the side and Figure 3 shows the tube shaped body 10 seen from an end. According to the embodiment shown in Figures 1-3, the tube shaped body 10 is formed of an elongated channel iron having a rectangular or square cross section and having curved edges. In the vicinity of one end of the tube shaped body 10, a through-going opening is arranged, in which opening one more or less freely movable ratchet or spindle means 12 may be arranged. The ratchet like means 12, which may be of a conventional type known to the person skilled in the art, and which possibly, but not necessary, may be provided with a torque limiting means. Both the ratchet and the socket wrench are provided with attachment means enabling attachment of the socket wrench to the ratchet. The ratchet is further provided with inherent means allowing the socket wrench connected to the ratchet means to rotate in one direction only. Thus, it is possible to rotate the bolt or nut in the desired direction only, and hence the bolt or the nut will be screwed in the intentional direction, for example tightening the bolt or the nut. It should be appreciated, however, the rotational direction of the ratchet means 12 may be in the opposite direction by inserting the round, rifled pin of the tool from the opposite side of the tube shaped body. The ratchet type means 12 will thus be robust, since it does not comprise any weak, vulnerable parts such as toggle switch. The ratchet like unit 12 is provided with an opening extending through the entire arm, the surface of the ratchet hole being rifled in order to cooperate with the rifled end of the tool. The rotatable unit in the ratchet type unit 12 is preferably supported by the side walls of the tube like body 10 and transverse internal walls in the duct shaped body 10.

At this end a closing plug 14 may preferably be arranged, pressed into the end opening of the duct shaped body 10.

At the opposite end the duct shaped body is provided with a second opening 13 extending transversely through the body 10, the axis of which is more or less parallel with the opening for the ratchet like means 12. The second opening 13 is also configured for receiving a tool 17 which is formed with a correspondingly cooperating supporting surface and cross section area.

At this opposite end, a cover 15 is arranged, the cover 15 preferably being formed in such way that it may be pressed on to the body 10 along its external walls. The end surfaces on both the cover 15 and the plug 14 may be provided with light reflecting surfaces.

Figure 4 and 6 show in detail a part of the unit containing the ratchet like unit 12.

Figure 5 shows the plug 14 terminating the end of the duct shaped body 10 where the ratchet like body is arranged.

Figure 7-10 show the purpose design tool 17 configured to either be introduced into the ratchet like unit 12 or inserted into the opening at the opposite end of the through-going square or rectangular opening 13. Figure 7 shows the purpose built tool seen from above, while Figure 8 shows the tool 17 seen from one side. Figure 9 shows the end of the tool intended to cooperate with a socket wrench 19, while Figure 10 shows the end of the tool intended to cooperate with the ratchet type means 12.

As shown in Figure 7, the tool 17 is provided with a square cross sectional area and is further provided with a spring loaded ball 18 or pin. This end is configured to cooperate with a socket wrench 19, where the socket wrench 19 at one end being provided with a square opening 19 and a recess 20 or the like, intended to cooperate with a spring loaded ball 18.

Further, the tool 17 is provided with a middle portion 21. According the embodiment shown, said middle portion 21 has a rectangular cross section which is dimensioned to fit into the opening 13 extending through tube shaped body 10. The end of said middle part 21 pointing towards the attachment for the socket wrench 18 may preferably be provided with a laterally extending flange 22 in order to secure proper engagement with the tube shaped body 10 and in order to prevent the tool 17 from slipping away from its engagement. Further, the middle portion 21 is provided with a hole 23 extending through the middle portion. By inserting a pin into the hole 23, ref. Figure 14, a tool in the form of a so called socket wrench cross may be formed. Such socket wrench cross may preferably be applied for loose tightening of wheel bolts or removal of bolts fixing the wheel to the hub.

The opposite end of the tool 17 may be provided with an elongated cylindrical pin 24 provided with a portion having elongated rifles. The rifled portion is configured to cooperate with the internal rifles in the hole 11 extending through the ratchet like means 12, in order transfer torque from the ratchet like means 12 to the socket wrench 19 or vice versa.

The tip of the rifled cylindrical pin 24 is conical. The tip 25 provides improved centering of the hole in the wheel felloe with corresponding holes 1 in the hub and to guide the rifled part into the hole in the tube shaped body 10 containing the ratchet like mines 12, the latter being able to freely move in a restricted space inside the tube, and hence will not necessary be in a central position at all times.

Figure 9 shows the tool seen from the end which is design to cooperate with a pipe 19, while Figure 10 shows the opposite end of the tool 17, the rifled pin 24 and the conical tip being indicated. Likewise, Figure 9 and 10 show the two laterally extending flanges 22.

Figure 11-13 show various views of a socket wrench 19, where Figure 11 shows a side view of such conventional socket wrench 19, while Figure 12 shows the end of the socket wrench. The socket wrench is provided with an opening 26 intended to cooperate with the square end of the tool 17 for engagement with a wrench 19. Figure 13 shows the opposite end of the wrench, provided with hexagon or dodecahedron hole, intended to be mounted on a wheel nut or a wheel bolt (not shown) in order to fasten or loosen the wheel 32.

The manner of operation of the present invention shall now be described in further details, referring to Figures 14-18, showing various stages in the process of removing/fixing wheel bolts or nuts fixing a wheel 32, ie. wheel felloe and deck, to a wheel suspension on a vehicle.

As a starting point all the various tools of the system are stored inside the tube shaped body 10, the ratchet like means 12 arranged at one end, possibly together with a plug 14, functioning as a barrier at this end, while the opposite end of the tube shaped body 10 is closed by means of the cap 15. Inside said tube shaped body 10 the tools (not shown) are stored as on integrated unit when the tools are not in use. When a wheel shall be removed from the hub, the bolts or the hubs are loosened by inserting the tool 17 into the square hole 13 in the tube like body 10, so that the two transverse flanges 22 rest against the wall of the tube like body 10. The socket wrench 19 is then mounted on the relevant end of the tool 17. The opposite end of the tube shaped body 17 is used in this instant as a lever arm. By using this end of the tube shaped body 10 as a lever arm a strong, directly acting torque is applied to the wheel bolt or the nut, thereby loosening these from the wheel hub. In order to optionally increase the torque, the persons own body weight may be used in order to loosen the bolt/nut, for example by standing on the free end of the lever arm 10. When the wheel shall be attached to the hub, the tool 17 with the rifled pin is inserted into the opening 11, extending through the tube shaped body 10, and the rifles on the pin 24 cooperating with the internal rifles in the ratchet like means 12. At the same time the socket wrench is put on the intended end of the tool 17. When mounting the wheel 32, only hand power should be used and not applying the entire body weight on the lever, since such latter action may cause damage to the bolt/nut. By using the tool in the former way a gentle fixing of the bolts or the nuts is obtained, while the limitation of the applied torque is related to the physical force applied or the ratcheting functions torque relief value.

Figure 14 shows a stage where the tool 17 is inserted into the opening 13 in the elongated, hollow tube shaped body 10, so that a rigid, fixed connection between the hollow tube shaped body 10 and the tool 17 is established. In this way a forceful, rigid connection is provided. If it is desirable to limit the transfer of torque from the lever to the wheel bolt through the tool 17, or to achieve a ratcheting effect with motion of the lever up and down, the rifled pin 24 my be inserted into the opening associated with the ratchet type unit 11 at the opposite end.

Figure 15 shows a solution where hand force is used, while Figure 16 shows a solution where additional torque is applied by using more or less the entire body weight.

Figure 17 shows a solution where the rifled pin 17 of the tool 17, which is inserted into the opening 11 for the ratchet type unit 12 in the lever 10, is used for removing the bolt/nut by applying a motion up and down of lever 10.

Figure 18 shows the use of tool 17 together with the sleeve like body 27 for establishing a more or less convention socket wrench. It should be appreciated, however, that this end also may be used for loosen bolts or nuts from the hub, and/or by using the directly acting end of the tool 17 which is not provided with a ratchet type unit 12, but is provided with the square opening 13 which also may be used for screwing the bolts or nuts on/off the wheel hub.

In certain cases, it may for certain types of wheels or hubs be difficult to loosen the wheel 32 from the hub, even if the bolts or nuts are unscrewed and removed. In such instances, which may be caused by rust or the like, the rigid tube shaped body 10 may be used for loosening the wheel from the hub, for example by hammering the tube shaped body more or less lightly on the backside of deck of the wheel 32, thus creating releasing vibrations, so that the deck 32 may loosen from the hub. According to the embodiment shown in Figures 1-3, the elongated hollow body 10 is provided with an opening 11,13 in the end regions, said openings 11,13 being intended to cooperate with the tool 17. It should be appreciated, however, that said openings 11,13 also optionally may be arranged at the same end.

Even if a preferred embodiment of the ratchet like means 12 is described above, such unit being simple and one-way functioning, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to such solution, but may alternatively be of a conventional type, well known to the person skilled in the art, where a means for changing direction of rotation may be incorporated.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. Multi purpose tool for mounting or removing a wheel (32) from a vehicle, comprising at least a first means (17,19) in order to loosen or screw bolts/nuts keeping a wheel (32) fixed to a hub, said first means (17,19) comprising a part (18,19) which is configured to cooperate with said bolts/nuts on the hub and a lever arm (10) for transferring torque to said bolts/nuts in order to fasten/unscrew these from the hub, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that said lever arm (10) is in the form of an elongated, hollow tube shaped body which is configured to contain said first means (17,19) for loosening or fastening of the bolts/nuts on the hub, and that said hollow tube shaped body (10) at least at one end is provided with means or holes (13) which are configured to cooperate with said means (17,19) in order to screw the bolts/nuts into or out of the hub.

2. Multiple purpose tool according to claim 1, wherein the elongated, hollow tube shaped body (10) also is provided with a ratchet type means (12) intended to cooperate with said first means (17,19).

3. Multiple purpose tool according to claim 2, wherein the ratchet type means (12) is arranged at the opposite end with respect to said opening (13) .

4. Multiple purpose tool according to one of the claims 1-3, wherein the first means (17) is formed with a middle portion (21) having a cross sectional area which is adapted to the fit into the opening (13) at one end of the elongated, hollow tube shaped body (10) .

5. Multiple purpose tool according to claim 4, wherein the first means (17) at one end is provided with an end

(18) configured for cooperation with a corresponding end of a socket wrench (19) .

6. Multiple purpose tool according to claim 4 or 5, wherein an outwards projecting flange (22) is arranged in the transition between the middle portion (21) and the end

(18), the flange (22) extending laterally outwards at least to one side, said flange (22) being designed to rest against a wall on the hollow, tube shaped body (10) when in mounted position.

7. Multiple purpose tool according to one of the claims 4-6, wherein the opposite end of said first means (17) being formed of an elongated, rifled pin (24) intended to cooperate with a corresponding opening in the ratchet type means (12) .

8. Multiple purpose tool according to claim 7, wherein the free end of the elongated, rifled pin (24) is conically shaped.