# US 7,407,354 B2 · Corrosion-resistant metal fasteners and stud inserts

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- Number: US 7,407,354 B2
- Document ID: US7407354B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/299,045
- Filed: 2005-12-09
- Published: 2006-10-26
- Granted: 2008-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2003-09-04
- Assignees: Benmaxx, LLC
- Inventors: Charles Benjamin Rau, III; Dennis M. Burrell
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7407354B2

## CPC

- F16B 33/008: {Corrosion preventing means}
- B60B 23/00: Attaching rim to wheel body (attaching spokes to rim B60B1/04, B60B1/14; attaching rims resiliently to wheel body B60B9/00 {; devices for fastening or securing constructional elements or machine parts together F16B})
- B60B 23/10: arranged axially
- F16B 33/002: {Means for preventing rotation of screw-threaded elements (F16B39/00 takes precedence)}
- F16B 2200/95: with markings, colours, indicators or the like
- Y10S 411/901: Core and exterior of different materials
- F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D)
- B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

In the trucking industry, a wheel stud having a recess at either end to accommodate a sacrificial insert of metal higher in the electromotive series of metals than the metals of the wheel stud assembly, the lug and the components joined thereby and being of sufficient difference in color from the surrounding materials so as to be readily visible without disassembling the combination, and a method for its use.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A metal fastener combination for removably securing two or more metal components together, comprising: a metallic shank; a metallic enlarged head formed integral with the shank at an end thereof; a threaded portion at the end thereof opposite to the enlarged head; a cavity in at least one of the metallic shank ends, the cavity extending into the metallic shank along its center line to a cavity end; and an insert located in the cavity, the insert comprising a metallic material higher in the electromotive series of metals than the metallic shank.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The metal fastener combination of claim 1, wherein the cavity has a cavity end that is spherically shaped or substantially so, wherein the extension of the cavity into the shank does not exceed a distance of about the diameter of shank threads, and wherein the cavity diameter does not exceed a width of about 37.5% of the diameter of the shank threads.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The metal fastener combination of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises zinc.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The metal fastener combination of claim 1, wherein the insert consists of zinc having the properties of Military Specification MIL-A 18001 J.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The metal fastener combination of claim 1, wherein the insert located in the cavity is externally visible therein.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The metal fastener combination of claim 5, wherein the insert protrudes in a visible convex face from the metallic shank.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The metal fastener combination of claim 5, wherein the insert is of a visibly different color than that of the metal fastener combination.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The metal fastener combination of claim 1, further comprising a securing means, nut means or lug means having complementary threads suitable to receive the threaded portion of the shank to provide a metal fastener combination having securing means, nut means or lug means.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The metal fastener combination having securing means, nut means or lug means of claim 8, further comprising two or more metal components secured together between the enlarged head of the metallic shank and the securing means, nut means or lug means, and wherein the metallic shank is in galvanic communication with the secured metal components to provide a metal fastener combination having securing means, nut means or lug means, and metal components secured thereby.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The metal fastener combination having securing means, nut means or lug means, and metal components secured thereby of claim 9, wherein the insert comprises a metallic material higher in the electromotive series of metals than the metal fastener, securing means, nut means or lug means, and the metallic components secured thereby.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

A method for protecting metal components to be secured by a fastener combination from galvanic corrosion, comprising securing, using a metal fastener combination according to claim 8, two or more metal components together between the enlarged head and the securing means, nut means or lug means, wherein the metallic shank is in galvanic communication with the secured metal components to afford protection of the secured metal components from galvanic coffoslon.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising; inspecting, periodically or otherwise, the insert for diminishment.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising, where the inspected insert is determined to be diminished or loose, staking an externally visible face of the insert to secure the insert.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising, where the inspected insert is determined to be diminished or loose, enhancing the insert by suitably combining additional insert material therewith.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein enhancing by combining is by swaging the additional insert material to the diminished or loose insert.

### Claim 16 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, further comprising, where the inspected insert is determined to be diminished or loose, replacing the insert.

### Claim 17

A single wheel stud assembly for removably securing a wheel assembly, comprising: a stud having an enlarged head at one end, an elongated, substantially cylindrical metallic shank with a splined section, extending from the enlarged head and having lateral splines around the circumference thereof suitable to engage complementary stud passages in a hub, threads along at least a portion of the remainder of the shank opposite to the enlarged head end to provide a stud pin; a lug in removable communication with the threads on the stud pin, and capable of being torqued against components to be secured; a cavity in the threaded end of the stud pin, the cavity extending into the metallic shank along its center line to a cavity end; and an insert located in the cavity, the insert comprising a metal material higher in the electromotive series of metals than other components of the wheel stud assembly.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The single wheel stud assembly of claim 17, wherein the cavity has a cavity end that is spherically shaped, wherein the extension of the cavity into the shank does not exceed a distance of about the diameter of shank threads, and wherein the cavity diameter does not exceed a width of about 37.5% of the diameter of the shank threads.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The single wheel stud assembly of claim 17, wherein the insert comprises zinc combinations thereof.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The single wheel stud assembly of claim 17, wherein the insert consists of zinc having the properties of Military Specification MIL-A- 18001 J.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The single wheel stud assembly of claim 17, wherein the insert located in the cavity is externally visible therein.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The single wheel stud assembly of claim 21, wherein the insert protrudes in a visible convex face from the stud pin.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The single wheel stud assembly of claim 21, wherein the insert is of a visibly different color than the stud pin.

### Claim 24 (depends on 17)

The single wheel stud assembly of claim 17, wherein a maximum cross-sectional area of the cavity is determined by the formula √{square root over (P)} times the diameter of the threads, where P is the area of the threaded end of the stud pin, provided that at least 5 threads on the stud pin extend beyond the lug when it is properly torqued.

### Claim 25 (depends on 17)

The single wheel stud assembly of claim 17, further comprising a wheel and a hub having stud passages, secured together between the enlarged head and the lug, and wherein the metallic shank is in galvanic communication with the secured components.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The single wheel stud assembly of claim 25, wherein the insert comprises a metallic material higher in the electromotive series of metals than the stud pin, lug, and the components secured thereby.

### Claim 27 (depends on 17, 36)

A method of protecting from galvanic coffosion metal components of a wheel assembly, comprising assembling a single or dual wheel assembly, comprising a wheel and a hub, using at least one wheel stud assembly according to claim 17 or claim 36, respectively, or modifying at least one wheel stud of an existing single or dual wheel assembly by creating a cavity in a wheel stud thereof and inserting an insert therein, the cavity and insert according claim to 17 or claim 36, respectively, whereby the assembled or modified single or dual wheel assembly is protected from galvanic coffosion.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The method of protecting of claim 27, further comprising: inspecting, periodically or otherwise, the at least one insert for diminishment.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, further comprising, where the inspected insert is determined to be diminished or loose, staking the externally visible face of the insert to secure the insert.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, further comprising, where the inspected insert is determined to be diminished or loose, enhancing the insert by suitably combining additional insert material therewith.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, wherein enhancing by combining comprises swaging the additional insert material to the diminished or loose insert.

### Claim 32 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, further comprising, where the inspected insert is determined to be diminished or loose, replacing the insert.

### Claim 33 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein, in the case of modifying at least one wheel stud of an existing single or dual wheel assembly by creating a cavity in a wheel stud thereof, creating the cavity is by drilling.

### Claim 34 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein, in the case of modifying at least one wheel stud of an existing single or dual wheel assembly by creating a cavity in a wheel stud thereof, creating the cavity is by casting, or by casting and drilling.

### Claim 35 (depends on 27)

The method of claim 27, wherein, in the case of modifying at least one wheel stud of an existing single or dual wheel assembly by creating a cavity in a wheel stud thereof and inserting an insert therein, insertion of the insert into the cavity is by swaging.

### Claim 36

A dual wheel stud assembly for removably securing a dual wheel assembly, comprising: a stud having an enlarged head at one end, an elongated, substantially cylindrical metallic shank with a splined section extending from the enlarged head and having lateral splines around the circumference thereof and suitable to engage complementary stud passages in a hub, threads along at least a portion of the shank-opposite to the enlarged head end to provide a stud pin; a dual-threaded lug having inside threads suitable in operation to engage the threads on the stud pin against an inner wheel, and having outside threads, the dual-threaded lug extending a sufficient distance beyond the end of an engaged stud pin to accommodate a second wheel, and having a nut end to facilitate torquing the dual-threaded lug to removably secure an inner wheel; a dual over-lug that engages the outside threads of the dual-threaded lug and is torquable thereon to removably secure an outer wheel; a cavity in at least one of the enlarged-head end of the stud and the nut end of the dual-threaded lug, the cavity extending into the metallic shank, or lug, respectively, along its center line to a cavity end; and an insert located in the at least one cavity, the insert comprising a metal material higher in the electromotive series of metals than those of the stud pin or lug.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The dual wheel stud assembly of claim 36, wherein the at least one cavity has a cavity end that is spherically shaped, wherein, in the case of a enlarged stud head end cavity, the extension of the cavity into the shank does not exceed a distance of about the diameter of the stud pin threads, and the cavity diameter does not exceed a width of about 37.5% of the diameter of the stud pin threads, and wherein, in the case of a cavity in the nut end of the dual-threaded lug, the extension of the cavity into the lug does not exceed a distance of about the diameter of threads on the dual over-lug, and the cavity diameter does not exceed a width of about 37.5% of the diameter of the threads on the dual over-lug.

### Claim 38 (depends on 36)

The dual wheel stud assembly of claim 36, wherein the at least one insert comprises zinc.

### Claim 39 (depends on 36)

The dual wheel stud assembly of claim 36, wherein the at least one insert consists of zinc having the properties of Military Specification MIL-A- 18001 J.

### Claim 40 (depends on 36)

The dual wheel stud assembly of claim 36, wherein the at least one insert located in the at least one cavity is externally visible therein.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The dual wheel stud assembly of claim 40, wherein the at least one insert protrudes in a visible convex face from the metallic shank.

### Claim 42 (depends on 40)

The dual wheel stud assembly of claim 40, wherein the at least one insert is of a visibly different color than that of at least one of the stud pin, the lug, and the over-lug.

### Claim 43 (depends on 36)

The dual wheel stud assembly of claim 36, wherein a maximum cross-sectional area of the cavity is determined by the formula √{square root over (P)} times either the diameter of the stud pin threads in the case of an enlarged stud head end cavity, or the diameter of the dual over-lug threads in the case of a cavity in the nut end of the dual-threaded lug, where P is the area of the respective threaded end, provided that at least 5 threads on the stud pin extend beyond the lug when it is properly torqued.

### Claim 44 (depends on 36)

The dual wheel stud assembly of claim 36, further comprising inner and outer wheels and a hub having stud passages, secured together between the enlarged head and the over-lug, and wherein the metallic shank is in galvanic communication with the secured components.

### Claim 45 (depends on 44)

The dual wheel stud assembly of claim 44, wherein the at least one insert comprises a metallic material higher in the electromotive series of metals than the stud pin, the lug, the over-lug, and the components secured thereby.