Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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VEHICLE 11VHEEL ~TTACHNIEIVT SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
[0001 ] The present invention relates to vehicle wheel attachment devices and
more particularly pertains to a new vehicle wheel attachment system for
facilitating
hydraulic coupling of a vehicle wheel to a vehicle.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART:
[0002] The use of vehicle wheel attachment devices is known in the prior art.
More specifically, vehicle wheel attachment devices heretofore devised and
utilized are
known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural
configurations,
notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art
which
have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and
requirements.
[0003] Known prior art includes U.S. P'at. Nos. 5,413,201; 5,431,485;
5,353,890; 5,097,702; 5,129,741; and 4,804,027.
[0004] While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and
requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new vehicle wheel
attachment system. The inventive device includes a hub assembly having a
piston
hydraulically coupled to a plunger assembly. The hub assembly is passed
through a
wheel and attached to a rotor. The hub assembly is pressurized to extend the
plunger
assembly to clamp the wheel between the hub assembly and the rotor.
[0005] In these respects, the vehicle wheel attachment system according to the
present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and
designs of
the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for
the purpose
of facilitating hydraulic coupling of a vehicle wheel to a vehicle.
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SUMMARY OF TFIE INVENTION:
[0006] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in: the known types of
vehicle wheel attachment devices now present in the prior art, the present
invention
provides a new vehicle wheel attachment system construction wherein the same
can be
utilized for facilitating hydraulic coupling of a vehicle wheel to a vehicle.
[0007] The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described
subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new vehicle wheel attachment
system
apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the vehicle wheel
attachment devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in
a new
vehicle wheel attachment system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious,
suggested,
or even implied by any of the prior art vehicle wheel attachment devices,
either alone
or in any combination thereof.
[0008] To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a hub
assembly
having a piston hydraulically coupled to a plunger assembly. The hub assembly
is
passed through a wheel and attached to a rotor. The hub assembly is
pressurized to
extend the plunger assembly to clamp the wheel between the hub assembly and
the
rotor.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a new vehicle
wheel attachment system that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and
marketed.
[0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new
vehicle
wheel attachment system that is of a durable and reliable construction.
[0011] An even further object of the present invention i.s to provide a new
vehicle wheel attachment system which is susceptible of a low cost of
manufacture with
regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible
of Iow
prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such vehicle wheel
attachment
system economically available to the buying public.
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[0012] Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new
vehicle
wheel attachment system for facilitating hydraulic coupling of a vehicle wheel
to a
vehicle.
[0013] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new vehicle
wheel attachment system which includes a hub assembly having a piston
hydraulically
coupled to a plunger assembly. The hub assembly is passed through a wheel and
attached to a rotor. The hub assembly is pressurized to extend the plunger
assembly to
clamp the wheel between the hub assembly and the rotor.
[0014] Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new
vehicle wheel attachment system that facilitates changing a flat tire.
[0015] Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new
vehicle wheel attachment system that provides strong, quick, and easily
achieved
attachment of a vehicle wheel to a vehicle.
[0016] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the
various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out
with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
For a better
understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific
objects
attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings
and
descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF T HE DRrI~INGS:
[0017] The invention will be better understood and objects other than those
set
forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following
detailed
description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings
wherein:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a new vehicle wheel attachment system
according to the present invention.
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[0019] FIG. 2 is a exploded view of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the rotor of the
present
invention.
[0021 ] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the invention as shown in FIG. 2.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the invention as shown in FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment of the present
uwention.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the invention as shown in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS:
[0025] With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1
through
7 thereof, a new vehicle wheel attachment system embodying the principles and
concepts
of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 10
will be
described.
[0026] As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the vehicle wheel attachment
system 10 generally comprises a hub assembly 12, a rotor 13, and a wheel 11.
Hub
assembly 12 is passed through wheel 11 and hydraulically attaches to rotor 13
to clamp
wheel 1 1 between hub assembly 12 and rotor 13.
[0027 Hub assembly 12 includes a hub 15 having an interior space 17. A piston
14 is positioned within interior space 17 of hub 15.
[0028] A hydraulic plunger assembly l6 includes an interior portion l 8
positioned in interior space 17 and a head portion 19 extending outwardly from
hub 15.
A hydraulic fluid 20 is positioned in interior space 17 between piston 14 and
hydraulic
plunger assembly 16 such that IT10Ve1llellt of piston 14 moves hydraulic
plunger assembly
16.
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[0029] Hub assembly 12 includes a main portion 22 and an attachment portion
24 with attachment portion 24 extending outwardly from main portion 22.
[0030] Rotor 13 includes a receiving portion 26. Attachment portion 24 of hub
assembly 12 is insertable into receiving portion 26 of rotor 13 for coupling
hub assembly
5 12 to rotor 13. Wheel 1 1 includes a central aperture 28. Attachment portion
24 is
insertable through aperture 28 such that wheel 11 is positioned between hub 15
and rotor
1 3.
[0031 ) A valve 29 is included in hub assembly 12 for pressurizing interior
space
17 of hub 15 proximate piston 14 whereby piston 14 urges head portion 19 of
plunger
assembly 16 outwardly from hub I S t0 abLtt wheel 1 1 whereby wheel 1 1 is
engaged to
rotor 13.
[0032] In an embodiment. rotor 13 includes a plurality of spaced detents 30
extending OLltWa1'dly fI'0111 1'Otol' 13 and wheel 1 1 includes a plurality of
spaced indents
32. Each indent 32 is positioned for receiving an associated one of spaced
detests 30
1 > when wheel 1 1 is engaged to rotor 13. Thus. wheel l 1 is fixedly coupled
relative to rotor
13 such that wheel 1 1 rotates with rotor 13. In au embodiment, a disc of
frictional
material 68 is bonded to an exterior face 45 of rotor 13 for the same purpose
as use of
indents 32 and detests 30.
[0033] The attachment portion 24 includes a medial cylindrical portion 34 and
a
distal bracket portion 36. A spring cone washer 38 is attached coaxially to
medial
cylindrical portion 34 of attachment portion 24 such that cone washer 38 is
positioned
between head portion 19 of plunger 16 and rotor 13 when wheel 1 1 is engaged
to rotor
1 3. Cone washer 38 serves to push hub 15 outwardly from rotor 13 upon
depressurization proximate piston 14 to facilitate removal of hub 15 from
rotor 13 and
thus facilitate removal of wheel 1 1.
[0034] Bracket portion 36 includes a plurality of arms 33 extending outwardly
from a central portion 35 of bracket portion 36. Receiving portion 26 has a
neck portion
37 of complimentary configuration to bracket portion 36 whereby bracket
portion 36 is
insertable into the receiving portion 26 through the heck portion 37.
[0035] Bracket portion 36 is rotatable within receiving portion 26 such that
arms
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33 abut an interior face 41 of rotor 13 to prevent disengagement of hub
assembly 12
from rotor 13.
[0036] A plurality of extension arms 43 extend between and couple together
interior portion I 8 of plunger assembly 16 and head portion 19 of plunger
assembly 16.
Each of extension arms 43 extends through an associated slot 44 in IlLlb I S.
[0037] Rotor 13 includes a disc portion 4G extending outwardly from the
exterior
face 45 of rotor 13. Head portion 19 of plunger assembly 16 includes a beveled
outer
perimeter edge 48. Correspondingly, aperture 28 in wheel 11 includes a
cylindrical first
portion 47 for snugly receiving disc portion 46 of rotor I 3 and an angled
second portion
49 extending from first portion 47 for snugly receiving beveled outer
perimeter edge 48
of head portion 19 to facilitate firm engagement of wheel I 1 to rotor 13.
Aperture 28 in
wheel I 1 further includes an angled third portion 72 extending from first
portion 47
opposite angled second portion 49. Angled third portion 72 is designed for
abutting an
angled flat surface 74 extending between disc portion 46 and exterior face 45
of rotor
13.
[0038] Head portion 19 of plunger assembly 16 includes a central aperture 51
and attachment portion 24 of hub assembly 12 passes through central aperture
51 in head
portion 19 of plunger assembly 16 such that attachment portion 24 of hub
assembly 12
and plunger assembly 16 are positioned coaxially with respect to each other.
[0039] Interior space 17 of hub 15 includes a medial throat portion 52 for
defining a first chamber 53 and a second chamber 55 in interior space 17.
[0040] Piston 14 has a cylinder 54 and a rod 56 extending outwardly from
cylinder 54. Cylinder 54 is positioned in first chamber 53 and rod 56 extends
into throat
portion 52 of interior space 17 to provide enhanced pressure to hydraulic
fluid 20 for
acting on plunger assembly 16.
[0041 ] To permit movement of piston 14 within first chamber 53, the hub 15
includes an air vent 57 extending between an outer surface 58 of hub 15 and
first
chamber 5 3 of interior space 17 proximate rod 56.
[0042] In an embodiment, rod 56 includes a locking groove 62 extending around
rod 56 perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of rod 56. Hub I 5 includes a
locking channel
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64 extending between throat portion 52 and the exterior surface of hub 15.
Locking
channel 64 is aligned with locking groove 62 when interior space 17 is
pressurized
proximate piston 14 to extend plunger assembly 16 such that hub assembly 12
couples
wheel I I to rotor 13. A locking member 66 is insertable through locking
channel 64 to
engage locking groove 62 such that piston 14 is prevented from moving relative
to hub
for preventing disengagement of wheel 11 from rotor I 3 upon loss of pressure
on
piston 14.
[0043] A shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a single plunger assembly 16' having an
interior portion 18' and a head portion 19' may be positioned in interior
space 1 T of a
10 hub assembly 12' without the need for piston 14. The structure of plunger
assembly 16' is
essentially equivalent to that of plunger assembly 16. Valve 29' leads
directly into
interior space 17' for permitting introduction and extraction of hydraulic
fluid 20 for
moving the plunger assembly 16'.
[0044] It is further contemplated that all structural components previously
15 discussed and not directly related or required for use of the piston 14 and
plunger
assembly 16, may be employed for use in combination with the single plunger
embodiment incorporating plunger assembly 16'. For example, frictional
material disc 68
and cone washer 38 may both be utilized as described above in various
embodiments
with or without using piston 14.
[0045] With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that
the
Optlllll1117 dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to
include variations in
size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and
use, are
deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all
equivalent
relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the
specification are
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intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
[0046] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes
will
readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the
invention to the
j exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all
suitable
modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of
the
invention.
[0047) Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the
context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", anal variations such as
"comprises"
or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer
or step or
group of integers or steps but not to the exclusion of any other integer or
step or group
of integers or steps.
[0048] Moreover, the word "substantially" when used with an adjective or
adverb is intended to enhance the scope of the particular characteristic;
e.g.,
1 j substantially planar is intended to mean planar, nearly planar and/or
exhibiting
characteristics associated with a planar element.
[0049] Moreover, use of the terms "he", ''him", or "his", is not intended to
be
specifically directed to persons of the masculine gender, and could easily be
read as
"she", "her", or "hers", respectively.
