DESC:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of steel wheel assembly in automobiles. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to the field of a wheel cover and a method of mounting the wheel cover over a wheel hub.
DEFINITIONS
As used in the present disclosure, the following terms are generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used indicate otherwise.
Diameter of bolt head: - The term “diameter of bolt head” hereinafter refers to the diameter of a circle passing through each corner of the bolt head.
Bolt shank: - The term “bolt shank” hereinafter refers to the portion of a bolt that extends along the axis of the bolt and includes threading thereon.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
Typically, a wheel cover is assembled with a wheel rim offline, with the help of a number of wheel bolts and snaps in a stepwise manner. Firstly, the wheel cover is manually assembled with the steel wheel rim by wheel cover snaps. Thereafter the assembled wheel cover and the steel wheel rim are mounted over a wheel hub by wheel bolts. While mounting the wheel cover assembled with the steel wheel rim over the wheel hub, the visibility of an operator is hindered by the wheel cover and the steel wheel rim, and the operator completes the wheel rim mounting over the wheel hub based on his judgment. Due to this reason, mounting the wheel rim and the wheel cover assembled together over the wheel hub is a very difficult task and also a time consuming process. Also, in case the wheel cover is bolt mounted, the wheel rim is not directly mounted over the wheel hub.
There is, therefore, felt a need of a method for mounting the wheel cover over the wheel rim that alleviates the above mentioned drawbacks and that reduces time taken for completing a wheel assembly by reducing the time taken for mounting the wheel rim assembled with the wheel cover over the wheel hub.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a wheel cover that is comparatively easy to mount over a wheel rim.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method for mounting a wheel rim over a wheel hub of a wheel assembly.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a method for mounting the wheel cover over a wheel rim that reduces time taken to assemble the complete wheel assembly.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages a wheel cover for a wheel rim of a vehicle. The wheel rim is configured to be mounted on a wheel hub by means of bolts. The wheel cover comprises a first set of through holes and a second set of through holes. The first set of through holes is adapted to permit the passage of heads of the bolts required to mount the wheel rim to the wheel hub. The second set of through holes is configured to permit the bolt shank to pass therethrough for mounting of the wheel rim to the wheel hub and for securing the wheel cover to the wheel rim.
In an embodiment, the diameter of the first set of through holes is larger than the diameter of the second set of through holes. Further, the diameter of the first set of through holes is larger than the diameter of the head of the bolts, while diameter of the second set of through holes is smaller than the diameter of the head of the bolts, but larger enough to let the bolt shanks to pass therethrough.
In an embodiment, the holes of the first and second set of through holes are placed alternately.
In another embodiment, the first set of the through holes of the wheel cover includes a pair of through holes that are positioned diametrically opposite to one another.
In another embodiment, the holes of the wheel hub, wheel rim and the wheel cover are circularly located in their central portions.
In an embodiment a circumferential groove is defined on the wheel rim. The circumferential groove is being configured to permit snap fitment of the wheel cover therein. The snapping mechanism of the wheel cover includes a plurality of snaps. The snaps are extending from an operative inner portion of the wheel cover. The groove of wheel rim is adapted to receive the snaps of wheel cover to lock the wheel cover therein.
The present disclosure further envisages a method of mounting the wheel cover on the wheel rim of the vehicle.
The rim holes of the wheel rim are aligned with hub holes provided on the wheel hub. Then the wheel rim is manually fastened with the wheel hub via a first set of bolts, passing through the first set of through holes of the wheel cover.
The first set of through holes of a wheel cover is aligned with the earlier fastened first set of bolts such that the heads of the first set of bolts pass through the first set of through holes of the wheel cover. Further, the wheel cover is pressed to enable a snap fitment with the wheel rim. Thereafter, the wheel cover is manually fastened to the wheel rim to the wheel hub by using a second set of bolts passing through a second set of through holes. The first set of bolts and the second set of bolts are torqued to the hub holes by a fastening device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
A wheel cover for a wheel rim of a vehicle and a method of mounting the same of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a wheel hub of a wheel assembly prior to mounting a wheel rim over the wheel hub as per the present disclosure;
Figure 2 illustrates the wheel rim mounted over the wheel hub of Figure 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3 illustrates the wheel rim bolted with the wheel hub of Figure 2, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4a illustrates a front view of a wheel cover;
Figure 4b illustrates an enlarged view of the wheel cover of Figure 4a showing through holes of the wheel cover;
Figure 5 illustrates a wheel cover is snap fitted over the wheel rim of the Figure 3, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 6 illustrates the wheel cover snap fitted over the wheel rim of Figure 4 as per the present disclosure;
Figure 7 illustrates the wheel cover bolted over the wheel rim of Figure 4, in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 8 illustrates a bolt.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND DRAWING
100 – Wheel assembly
102 – Wheel hub
103 – Hub holes
104 – Wheel rim
104a - Groove
106 – Bolt
106a – first set of bolts
106b – second set of bolts
108 – Wheel cover
108a – first set of through holes
108b – second set of through holes
109 – Bolt head
110 – Bolt shank
112 – Snaps
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “including” and “having” are open-ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The particular order of steps disclosed in the method and process of the present disclosure is not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance as described or illustrated. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element is referred to as being “mounted on”, “engaged to”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.
The terms first, second, third, etc., should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure as the aforementioned terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another component, region, layer or section. Terms such as first, second, third etc., when used herein do not imply a specific sequence or order unless clearly suggested by the present disclosure.
Terms such as “inner”, “outer”, “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used in the present disclosure to describe relationships between different elements as depicted from the figures.
The present disclosure envisages a wheel cover and a method for mounting a wheel cover over a wheel hub of a wheel assembly of a vehicle or automobile. The wheel cover and the method for mounting the wheel cover the wheel hub of the steel wheel assembly (herein after referred to as “wheel assembly 100”) of the present disclosure is now described with reference to Figure 1 to Figure 8.
In accordance with the present disclosure, a wheel assembly 100 of a vehicle comprises a wheel hub 102, a wheel rim 104, a wheel cover 108 and the overall the assembly is fixed by wheel bolts 106.
Figure 1 illustrates the wheel hub 102 that is rotatably fixed to axle of the vehicle. The wheel rim is mounted to the wheel hub as shown in the Figure 2. The wheel rim is mounted on a wheel hub 102 by means of bolts 106, as shown in Figure 3. Figure 8 illustrates the bolt 106 showing a bolt head 109 and bolt shank 110.
Figure 4a illustrates the wheel cover and Figure 4b illustrates an enlarged view of through holes, which comprises a first set of through holes 108a and a second set of through holes 108b. The diameter of the first set of through holes 108a is larger than the diameter of the second set of through holes 108b. Further, the diameter of the first set of through holes is larger than the size of bolt heads 109. The first set of the through holes 108a of the wheel cover 108 includes a pair of holes that are positioned diametrically opposite to one another.
In an embodiment, the second set of through holes 108b is smaller in diameter than the size of bolt heads 109.
In another embodiment, the first set of through holes 108a are placed nonadjacent to one another.
In yet another embodiment, the first set of through holes 108a and a second set of through holes (108b) are placed alternately to one another.
In an embodiment the first and second set of through holes (108a, 108b) are at equal angular distance from each other
In an embodiment, of the wheel hub 102, wheel rim 104, and the wheel cover 108 are circularly located in their central portions.
In figure 5 the wheel cover 108 is snap fitted over the wheel rim 104. The wheel cover 108 is snap fitted in such a manner that the head of the first set of bolts 106a can easily pass through the first set of through holes 108a of the wheel cover 108.
Figure 6 illustrates a detailed view of a snap 112 of the wheel cover 108 fitted over the wheel rim 104. The wheel rim 104 consists of a circumferential groove 104a. The circumferential groove 104a is configured to permit a snap fitment for snaps 112 of the wheel cover 108.
In present embodiment, the snapping mechanism of the wheel cover 108 includes a plurality of snaps 112 which projects from an operative inner portion of the wheel cover 108.
The second set of through holes 108b allows to pass bolt shanks 110 of the bolts 106. The second set of through holes.
The second set of bolts 106b are passed through the remaining second set of through holes 108b of the wheel cover 108. The second set of bolts 106b are manually fitted to complete the mounting of the wheel cover 108 over the wheel rim as shown in figure 6.
The manually fitted first set of bolts 106a and second set of bolts 106b are torqued to fix and secure all the bolts of the wheel assembly.
In an embodiment the bolts 106 are torqued using a multi spindle tool (not shown any figure) to complete the wheel assembly of the vehicle at a workstation.
The present disclosure also discloses a method of mounting the wheel cover 108 on the wheel rim 104 of the vehicle. First step in mounting the wheel cover is aligning of rim holes of the wheel rim 104 with hub holes 103 configured on the wheel hub 102. After aligning of the wheel rim holes with the hub holes, the wheel rim is fastened with first set of bolts 106a. Then the first set of through holes 108a of the wheel cover 108 are aligned with the first set of bolts 106a such that the bolt heads 109 of the first set of bolts 106a passes through the a first set of through holes 108a. Further, the wheel cover 108 is pressed on the wheel rim by a snapping mechanism. Then the wheel cover 108 is fastened to the wheel rim to the wheel hub by a second set of bolts 106b, where the bolt shank 110 of the second set of bolts 106b pass through the second set of through holes 108b. In final step of mounting of the wheel cover 108 is torquing of all the fastened bolts 106 by a fastening device.
In an embodiment the fastening device is a multiple spindle tool.
In another embodiment fastening of the wheel rim 104 is fastened by at least two first set of bolts 106a.
There are various advantages of wheel cover used and the method employed for mounting the wheel cover over the wheel hub of the present disclosure, which –
• eliminates dependency over judgement of operator for wheel assembly; and
• reduced man overs for completing wheel assembly at TCF (Trim, Chassis and final).
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCES AND ECONOMICAL SIGNIFICANCE
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of a wheel cover and a method for mounting a wheel cover over a wheel hub that:
• reduces time consumed for completing a wheel assembly at TCF; and
• effectively reduces overall production cost.
The foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
The numerical values mentioned for the various physical parameters, dimensions or quantities are only approximations and it is envisaged that the values higher/lower than the numerical values assigned to the parameters, dimensions or quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure, unless there is a statement in the specification specific to the contrary.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A wheel cover (108) for a wheel rim (104) of a vehicle, the wheel rim (104) configured to be mounted on a wheel hub (102) by means of bolts (106), the wheel cover (108) comprising a first set of through holes (108a) and a second set of through holes (108b), the first set of through holes (108a) adapted to permit the passage of bolt heads (109) of the bolts (106) required to initially mount the wheel rim (104) to the wheel hub (102), while the second set of hole (108b) being configured to permit the bolt shanks (110) to pass therethrough for mounting of the wheel rim (104) to the wheel hub (102) and securing the wheel cover (108) to the wheel rim (104).
2. The wheel cover (108) for a wheel rim (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diameter of the first set of through holes (108a) is larger than the diameter of the second set of through holes (108b).
3. The wheel cover (108) for a wheel rim (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diameter of the first set of through holes (108a) is larger than the diameter of the bolt head (109).
4. The wheel cover (108) for a wheel rim (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diameter of the second set of through holes 108b is smaller than the diameter of the bolt head (109), but larger than the diameter of the bolt shanks (110) to enable the passage of the bolts (106) therethrough.
5. The wheel cover (108) for a wheel rim (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein holes of the wheel hub (102), wheel rim (104), and the wheel cover (108) are circularly located in their central portions.
6. The wheel cover (108) for a wheel rim (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the holes of the first and second set of through holes (108a, 108b) are placed alternately.
7. The wheel cover (108) for a wheel rim (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a circumferential groove (104a) is defined on the wheel rim (104), the circumferential groove (104a) being configured to permit snap fitment of the wheel cover (108) therein.
8. The wheel cover (108) for a wheel rim (104) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the snapping mechanism of the wheel cover (108) includes a plurality of snaps (112), the snaps (112) projecting from an operative inner portion of the wheel cover (108).
9. The wheel cover (108) for a wheel rim (104) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the groove (104a) of the wheel rim (104) is adapted to receive the snaps (112) of the wheel cover (108) and is configured to lock the wheel cover (108) therein.
10. The wheel cover (108) for a wheel rim (104) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first set of the through holes (108a) of the wheel cover (108) includes a pair of holes that are positioned diametrically opposite to one another.
11. A method of mounting a wheel cover (108) on a wheel rim (104) of a vehicle, the method comprising the following steps:
• aligning rim holes of the wheel rim (104) with hub holes (103) provided on the wheel hub (102);
• manually fastening the wheel rim (104) with the wheel hub (102) via a first set of bolts (106a);
• aligning a first set of through holes (108a) of a wheel cover (108) with the earlier fastened first set of bolts (106a) such that the heads of the first set of bolts (106a) passes through the a first set of through holes (108a);
• pressing the wheel cover (108) to enable a snap fitment of the wheel cover (108) with the wheel rim (104);
• manually fastening of the wheel cover (108) to the wheel rim (104) to the wheel hub (102) by using a second set of bolts (106b) through a second set of through holes (108b) which is previously unbolted; and
• torquing the first set of bolts (106a) and the second set of bolts (106b) to the hub holes (103) by a fastening device.
12. A method of mounting a wheel cover (108) on a wheel rim (104) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the position of the hub holes receiving the first set of bolts (106a) matches with the position of first set of through holes (108a) of the wheel cover (108).
13. A method of mounting a wheel cover (108) on a wheel rim (104) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the diameter of the first set of through holes (108a) is larger than the diameter of the second set of through holes (108b).
14. A method of mounting a wheel cover (108) on a wheel rim (104) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the diameter of the first set of through holes (108a) is larger than the diameter of the bolt heads (109).
15. A method of mounting a wheel cover (108) on a wheel rim (104) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the diameter of the second set of through holes (108b) is smaller than the diameter of the bolt heads (109), but larger than the diameter of bolt shanks (110).
16. A method of mounting a wheel cover (108) on a wheel rim (104) as claimed
17.
18.
in claim 11, wherein the fastening device is a multiple spindle tool.