Wheel locking assembly and method
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsJoseph Prescott Hickey, Jordan Mazaira, Ka Wai Kevin So Zhao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wheel locking assembly is provided for securing a wheel to a wheel hub of a motor vehicle. That wheel locking assembly includes a locking cylinder and a wheel retainer. The wheel retainer is displaceable by means of the locking cylinder between an unlocked position, allowing removal of the wheel from the wheel hub and a locked position securing the wheel to the wheel hub. A related method for securing a wheel to a wheel hub of a motor vehicle is also disclosed.
Claims11
A wheel locking assembly for securing a wheel to a wheel hub of a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a locking cylinder;
- a wheel retainer displaceable by said locking cylinder between an unlocked position, allowing removal of said wheel from said wheel hub, and a locked position securing said wheel to said wheel hub, wherein said wheel retainer includes a plurality of radially arrayed spring legs;
- and
- a rotary cam connected to said locking cylinder and engaging said wheel retainer, wherein said rotary cam includes a plurality of lugs corresponding to the plurality of radially arrayed spring legs.
A method of securing a wheel to a wheel hub of a motor vehicle, comprising:
- seating said wheel on said wheel hub;
- positioning a wheel locking assembly over said wheel at a center of said wheel;
- deploying a wheel retainer of said wheel locking assembly into a wheel locking position in engagement with a locking channel on said wheel hub;
- providing said wheel retainer with a plurality of radially projecting legs that engage in a continuous channel on said wheel hub when deployed into said wheel locking position;
- and
- extending said plurality of radially projecting legs through apertures provided in a wheel bearing plate carried on said wheel locking assembly.
A wheel locking assembly for securing a wheel to a wheel hub of a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a locking cylinder;
- a dust cap covering a key slot in said locking cylinder;
- a protective shroud concentrically received around said locking cylinder;
- a wheel retainer displaceable by said locking cylinder between an unlocked position, allowing removal of said wheel from said wheel hub, and a locked position securing said wheel to said wheel hub, wherein said wheel retainer includes a plurality of radially arrayed spring legs;
- a rotary cam connected to said locking cylinder and engaging said wheel retainer;
- and
- a wheel bearing plate concentrically received around said locking cylinder between said protective shroud and said rotary cam, wherein said wheel bearing plate includes a plurality of apertures and said plurality of radially arrayed spring legs project through said plurality of apertures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.