Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02295288 2000-01-12
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION:
A Method For Verifying Wheel Rotation And A Wheel Rotation
Indicator
NAME ( S) OF INVENTOR ( S):
Dale Kromm
Colleen Kromm
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for verifying
wheel rotation and a wheel rotation indicator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A wheel on a tractor trailer unit can become locked, so
it no longer rotates. There are various ways in which this can
occur. If moisture gets between a brake shoe and a brake drum
and freezes, the brake shoe can become frozen to the brake
drum. A faulty air valve can fail to release the brake shoe
from engagement with the brake drum after the brakes have been
applied. Whenever a locking of the wheel occurs, the locked
wheel is dragged along the pavement and destroyed.
A visible inspection of all wheels to ensure that they are
rotating is relatively easy with a two man crew. One man
drives the tractor trailer unit forward, while the other man
looks for wheel rotation. Such a visible inspection is more
difficult for a sole driver. The sole driver must mark the
tires with chalk, drive the tractor trailer unit forward, and
then check to confirm the expected movement of the chalk marks.
STJNIlKARY OF THE INVENTION
What is required is a method for verifying wheel rotation
which will enable a sole driver to quickly confirm wheel
rotation.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is
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provided a method for verifying wheel rotation which includes
the step of securing to a hub of a wheel in cantilever fashion
an elongate member. A rigid flag is secured at a remote end
of the elongate member, such that wheel rotation can be
visually confirmed through movement of the flag.
According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided a wheel rotation indicator which includes a shaft
having a first end and a second end. A mounting is positioned
at the first end of the shaft adapted for attachment of the
shaft substantially perpendicularly to a hub of a wheel. A
rigid flag is secured to the second end of the shaft, thereby
providing a visual indication of wheel rotation.
With the method and apparatus, as described above, a
driver can verify wheel rotation by slowly moving the vehicle
forward while observing in his side mirror whether the flags
attached to the wheels are in motion. If the flag is in
motion, the wheel must be rotating. If the flag maintains a
constant position, the wheel is being dragged.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
use of the wheel rotation indicator, as described above,
improved results may be obtained if measures are taken to make
movement of the flag easier to detect. Even more beneficial
results may, therefore, be obtained when the rigid flag has a
first side of a first colour and a second side of a second
colour.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention will become more
apparent from the following description in which reference is
made to the appended drawings, wherein:
FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a wheel rotation
indicator constructed in accordance with the teachings of the
present invention.
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FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the wheel rotation
indicator as illustrated in FIGURE 1 secured to a hub of a
wheel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, a wheel rotation indicator
generally identified by reference numeral 10, will now be
described with reference to FIGURES 1 and 2.
Referring to FIGURE 1, wheel rotation indicator 10
includes an elongate member that serves as a shaft 12, a
mounting 14, and a rigid flag 16. Shaft 12 has a first end 18
and a second end 20. Referring to FIGURE 2, mounting 14 is
adapted for attachment of shaft 12 in a cantilever position
substantially perpendicularly to a hub 20 of a wheel 22 when
said mounting 14 is secured to said hub 20. Referring to
FIGURE 1, mounting 14 has a pair of side members 24 and a cross
member 26 extending between remote ends 28 of pair of side
members 24. A securing member 30 having a bolt receiving
passage 32 throughout extends radially from a securing end 34
of each side member. Shaft 12 is mounted at first end 18 to
a midpoint of cross member 26 of mounting 14.
Rigid flag 16 extends from second end 20 collinear with
shaft 12. Rigid flag has a first side 38, a second side 40,
and a peripheral edge 42. Rigid flag 16 is illustrated as
being a rectangular body having one dimension substantially
smaller than the other dimensions. It will be recognized that
rigid flag 16 can have any one of a variety of shapes having
opposed sides and a peripheral edge. Referring to FIGURE 2,
when rotation indicator 10 is mounted to rim 20, shaft 12 and
rigid flag 16 are each substantially co-axial with an axle 36
on which wheel 22 is mounted. When wheel 22 rotates, rigid
flag 16 also rotates thereby providing a visual indication of
wheel rotation.
Although beneficial results may be obtained through the
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use of the wheel rotation indicator 10, as described above,
improved results may be obtained if measures are taken to make
movement of flag 16 easier to detect. Even more beneficial
results may, therefore, be obtained when first side 38 of rigid
flag 16 is of a first colour and second side 40 is of a second
colour.
According to another aspect of the present invention there
is provided a method for verifying wheel rotation which
includes the step of securing to hub 20 of wheel 22 an elongate
member that is shaft 12 mounted in cantilever fashion to hub
20. When wheel 22 rotates, rigid flag 16 secured at remote end
of shaft 12 coaxially with axle 36 on which wheel 22 is
mounted also rotates, thereby providing visual confirmation
15 that wheel 22 is rotating through movement of flag 16.
It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that
modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiment without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
20 hereinafter defined in the Claims.
