Abstract: A sleeve nut configured to properly align components of a wheel assembly includes a main body defining a central channel formed therethrough. The main body has first and second ends. The first end is configured to be retained within a through-hole of a brake drum connected to a hub. The second end is configured to be securely positioned between an outer circumference of a shaft of a fastener and a portion of the brake drum that defines the through-hole. The sleeve nut is configured to ensure that the fastener remains properly aligned with respect to the wheel assembly.

Abstract: A caged sleeve assembly includes a cage having a main body defining a washer chamber, at least one washer within the washer chamber, and a centering sleeve secured to the cage. The centering sleeve is configured to center the caged assembly within a through-hole of a wheel component.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vehicle wheel cover retention system for securing a wheel cover to a vehicle wheel. According to one embodiment, the vehicle wheel cover retention system is for a non-full face fabricated vehicle wheel and comprises: a full outer wheel rim formed from a suitable material and including a first rim flange, a first tire bead seat, a well, a second tire bead seat, and a second rim flange, the full outer wheel rim defining a first surface extending between the first an second rim flanges; an inner wheel disc defining a wheel axis and formed from a suitable material and joined to the full outer wheel rim, the inner wheel disc including a centrally located wheel mounting surface and an outer annular portion, the inner wheel disc having a first surface and a second surface; and a wheel cover formed from a suitable material and secured to at least one of the first surface of the inner wheel disc, the second surface of the inner wheel disc, and the first surface of said full outer wheel rim.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vehicle wheel cover retention system for securing a wheel cover to a vehicle wheel. According to one embodiment, the vehicle wheel cover retention system is for a non-full face fabricated vehicle wheel and comprises: a full outer wheel rim formed from a suitable material and including a first rim flange, a first tire bead seat, a well, a second tire bead seat, and a second rim flange, the full outer wheel rim defining a first surface extending between the first an second rim flanges; an inner wheel disc defining a wheel axis and formed from a suitable material and joined to the full outer wheel rim, the inner wheel disc including a centrally located wheel mounting surface and an outer annular portion, the inner wheel disc having a first surface and a second surface; and a wheel cover formed from a suitable material and secured to at least one of the first surface of the inner wheel disc, the second surface of the inner wheel disc, and the first surface of said full outer wheel rim.

Abstract: A laminated nut with a visual indicator indicating if the nut is in a fully tightened state. The nut includes a plurality of conical disc springs enclosed in a cage. In one embodiment, a visual indicator extends axially from the upper surface of the outermost disc spring. In one embodiment, the visual indicator is retracted into the cage when the disc springs flatten as the nut is tightened. In one embodiment, the visual indicator aligns with a reference point on the cage when the nut is fully tightened. In one embodiment, the visual indicator is made more apparent by marking the visual indicator with a contrasting color.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vehicle wheel cover retention system for securing a wheel cover to a vehicle wheel. According to one embodiment, the vehicle wheel cover retention system is for a non-full face fabricated vehicle wheel and comprises: a full outer wheel rim formed from a suitable material and including a first rim flange, a first tire bead seat, a well, a second tire bead seat, and a second rim flange, the full outer wheel rim defining a first surface extending between the first an second rim flanges; an inner wheel disc defining a wheel axis and formed from a suitable material and joined to the full outer wheel rim, the inner wheel disc including a centrally located wheel mounting surface and an outer annular portion, the inner wheel disc having a first surface and a second surface; and a wheel cover formed from a suitable material and secured to at least one of the first surface of the inner wheel disc, the second surface of the inner wheel disc, and the first surface of said full outer wheel rim.

Abstract: A take-apart safety vehicle wheel assembly includes an inner rim and an outer rim joined thereto. The inner rim includes an outer cylindrical surface and a generally radially extending disc portion. The outer rim includes a generally axially extending portion defining an inner cylindrical rim surface and a generally radially extending disc portion having an air passage formed therethrough. An air passage groove is formed in one of the inner rim and the outer rim, and extends from the air passage to a tire air chamber of the wheel.

Abstract: A wheel lug nut having a laminated nut and an attached nose that is shaped to be interfitted with the nut seat of the wheel. In use, the nose centers both the lug nut relative to the wheel bolt it receives and the wheel relative to the axle hub. The laminated nut includes a plurality of conical disc springs enclosed in a cage. When properly tightened, the disc springs deform to impart additional gripping force on the wheel bolt. Accordingly, the laminated nut provides additional resistance to loosening, even when used with a non-ferrous wheel. In one embodiment, the nose is attached to the cage, for example, by snap-fitting onto the base of the cage. The wheel lug nut may also include a removable decorative cap that encloses and protects the cage and the wheel bolt. The decorative cap may be removably attached to the nose.

Abstract: A laminated nut with a visual indicator indicating if the nut is in a fully tightened state. The nut includes a plurality of conical disc springs enclosed in a cage. In one embodiment, a visual indicator extends axially from the upper surface of the outermost disc spring. In one embodiment, the visual indicator is retracted into the cage when the disc springs flatten as the nut is tightened. In one embodiment, the visual indicator aligns with a reference point on the cage when the nut is fully tightened. In one embodiment, the visual indicator is made more apparent by marking the visual indicator with a contrasting color.

Abstract: A commercial vehicle wheel includes a wheel hub surface formed with alternating raised and recessed segments that allows mounting two of the wheels upon a single axle hub.

Abstract: A composite brake drum for a motor vehicle or the like. The brake drum has a drum body that is comprised of a first material, preferably a cast metal, such as gray iron. The drum body has a cylindrical section, a shoulder, and a mounting face. The brake drum also includes an annular band formed from a second material, preferably a stamped metal such as steel. The annular band encircles the cylindrical section of the drum body. The steel annular band is positioned in a mold apparatus and molten iron is introduced into a mold cavity defined thereby. The mold and annular band are maintained in a static condition during the casting process.

Abstract: A composite brake drum for a motor vehicle or the like. The brake drum has a drum body that is comprised of a first material, preferably a cast metal, such as gray iron. The drum body has a cylindrical section, a shoulder, a mounting face, and a balancing skirt. The brake drum also includes an annular band formed from a second material, preferably a stamped metal such as steel. The annular band encircles the cylindrical section of the drum body. The balancing skirt extends from the cylindrical section and along a portion of a radially outer surface of the annular band. The steel annular band is positioned in a mold apparatus and molten iron is introduced into a mold cavity defined thereby. The mold and annular band are maintained in a static condition during the casting process. In a second embodiment, the cylindrical section and the skirt may be formed from the first material. The mounting face, the shoulder, and the annular band may be formed from the second material.

Abstract: An automotive passenger vehicle full face wheel having a sheet metal disc-rim including a central bolt circle mounting portion, an intermediate portion extending generally radially outwardly therefrom and an outer peripheral portion surrounding the intermediate portion having an outboard tire bead retaining flange. The rim part includes a rim edge portion extending circumferentially continuously adjacent the rim outboard lead seat and permanently joined by a continuous weld to the disc-rim outer peripheral portion. In a first embodiment the disc-rim intermediate portion has an outboard-concave bowl shape with a radius of curvature ranging about 10.50 to about 11.00 inches. The bolt circle mounting portion has pad surfaces defining a wheel mounting plane and a frusto conical transition portion outboard divergent therefrom joined integrally to the bowl portion by an annular bend portion spaced axially from the mounting plane about 0.75 to 1.50 inches.

Abstract: A method and apparatus, and a modified wheel made thereby for varying the wheel offset dimension of an automotive vehicle full face wheel of the type disclosed and claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,482 and having a predetermined first wheel offset dimension. The disc-rim part is formed in progressive die tooling of a transfer press operable for multiple stage successive forming, from a flat circular blank, the disc-rim part into the final die formed shape thereof having the given styling configuration. A wheel offset shift zone portion is first selected in the disc-rim part, consisting of the outer peripheral portion and/or the central bolt circle mounting portion of this part. The selected portion is shifted axially of the wheel a predetermined distance to thereby provide a second predetermined wheel offset dimension, different from the first such dimension, when the disc-rim part is joined to the rim.