Looseness indicator

Abstract

Provided is a looseness indicator with which it is possible to reduce the load involved when the looseness indicator is removed from a screw member. This looseness indicator comprises: an inner member 11 fixed to a wheel nut; and an outer member that includes a locking part locked to the outer peripheral surface of the inner member 11, is locked to the inner member 11, and presses the inner member 11 toward the wheel nut. The outer peripheral surface of the inner member 11 includes an outer member attachment start position P1, an outer member fixing position P2, and an outer member releasing position P3. The attachment start position P1 and the fixing position P2 are connected to each other so that the locking part can move from the attachment start position P1 to the fixing position P2, and the fixing position P2 and the releasing position P3 are connected to each other so that the locking part can move from the fixing position P2 to the releasing position P3.

Description

Looseness Indicator

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a looseness indicator.

[0002] An example of a wheel indicating device includes a main body attached to a wheel nut, and a fine adjuster attached to the main body. The main body has a cylindrical shape. An outer peripheral surface of the main body is provided with an annular groove recessed along a radial direction of the main body, and an inner peripheral surface of the main body is provided with a convex portion protruding toward a central axis of the main body along the radial direction of the main body. The fine adjuster includes a cylindrical portion attached to the outer peripheral surface of the main body, and a pointer extending from the cylindrical portion along a radial direction of the cylindrical portion. An inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion is provided with a convex portion extending toward the main body along a radial direction of the cylindrical portion.

[0003] When attaching the wheel indicating device to a wheel nut, first, the main body is attached to the wheel nut. Next, the fine adjuster is pushed into the main body such that the outer peripheral surface of the main body contacts the inner peripheral surface of the fine adjuster. Rotation of the fine adjuster relative to the main body is restricted by the engagement of the convex portion of the fine adjuster into the groove located on the outer peripheral surface of the main body. Further, the main body is pushed toward the wheel nut by the fine adjuster, whereby the main body is fixed to the wheel nut (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0004] British Patent No. 2436356 Specification

[0005] Incidentally, when detaching the indicating device from the wheel nut, it is first necessary to remove the fine adjuster from the main body. When detaching the fine adjuster from the main body, it is necessary to pull up the fine adjuster relative to the main body along the central axis of the cylindrical portion while applying an external force to the fine adjuster that is large enough for the convex portion of the fine adjuster fitted in the groove of the main body to climb over the groove. Therefore, a load is applied when detaching the indicating device from the wheel nut.

[0006] The loosening indicator for solving the above problem is configured to be attached to each of the multiple threaded members arranged along the circumferential direction of the wheel disc. The loosening indicator comprises an inner member configured to be fixed to the threaded members, and an outer member having a locking portion configured to engage with the outer circumferential surface of the inner member, and being fixed to the inner member so as to be able to press the inner member toward the threaded members. The inner member has an attachment start position for the outer member, a fixed position for the outer member, and a release position for the outer member on its outer circumferential surface. The attachment start position and the fixed position are connected to each other so as to allow the locking portion to move from the attachment start position to the fixed position, and the fixed position and the release position are connected to each other so as to allow the locking portion to move from the fixed position to the release position. According to the above loosening indicator, the outer member can be fixed to the inner member by moving the engaging portion on the outer circumferential surface of the inner member from the attachment start position to the fixed position. Furthermore, by moving the engaging portion on the outer circumferential surface of the inner member from a fixed position to a released position, the inner member can release the outer member from its fixed position. Therefore, the outer member attached to the inner member can be easily removed from the inner member.

[0007] In the above-described loosening indicator, the distance of the inner member from the central axis of the inner member is the height of each part of the inner member, and the first maximum height, which is the maximum height of the inner member in the first path in which the locking part moves from the mounting start position to the fixed position, may be higher than the second maximum height, which is the maximum height of the inner member in the second path in which the locking part moves from the fixed position to the release position. According to the above-described loosening indicator, since the first maximum height of the first path is higher than the maximum height of the second path, the movement of the locking part from the fixed position to the release position along the second path is easier than the movement of the locking part from the fixed position to the mounting start position along the first path. Therefore, in both the attachment and removal of the outer member from the inner member, it is easier to remove the outer member from the inner member compared to when the locking part moves along the first path. Therefore, the load when removing the loosening indicator from the screw member can be reduced.

[0008] In the loosening indicator described above, the second path may be configured such that the locking portion can move along the second path from the fixed position to the released position by the rotation of the outer member relative to the inner member.

[0009] According to the above-mentioned loosening indicator, the outer member can be released from the inner member's fixation by the outer member by rotating the outer member, making the operation to release the fixation easy.

[0010] In the loosening indicator described above, the inner member is provided with a second inclined surface in the second path from the fixed position to the release position, the height of which increases along the direction from the fixed position to the release position, and the height of the release position may be lower than the maximum height of the second inclined surface.

[0011] According to the loosening indicator mentioned above, once the locking part has moved from the fixed position to the released position, it is difficult for it to return from the released position to the fixed position.

[0012] The loosening indicator described above includes a third path through which the locking portion moves from the release position to the mounting start position, and the first maximum height may be higher than the third maximum height, which is the maximum height of the inner member in the third path.

[0013] According to the above loosening indicator, since the first maximum height is higher than the third maximum height, the locking portion that has been released from its fixation to the inner member can easily return to its initial mounting position in order to be reattached to the inner member.

[0014] The loosening indicator described above may be configured such that, with the locking portion in the mounting start position, the outer member is pushed toward the fixed position along the central axis, thereby allowing the locking portion to move from the mounting start position toward the fixed position, and with the locking portion in the release position, the outer member is pulled toward the mounting start position along the central axis, thereby allowing the locking portion to move from the release position toward the mounting start position.

[0015] According to the loosening indicator described above, by moving the outer member along the central axis of the inner member, it is possible to fix the outer member to the inner member and release the outer member from being fixed by the inner member. Therefore, the outer member can be easily handled.

[0016] In the above-described loosening indicator, the inner member is provided with a first inclined surface in the first path from the mounting start position to the fixed position, the height of which increases along the direction from the mounting start position to the fixed position, and the height of the fixed position may be lower than the maximum height of the first inclined surface. According to the above-described loosening indicator, the locking portion that has moved from the mounting start position to the fixed position is less likely to return from the fixed position to the mounting start position.

[0017] In the loosening indicator described above, the inner member or the outer member comprises an indicator portion and a display portion located on the opposite side of the screw member from the indicator portion, the indicator portion is configured to face the display portion of a loosening indicator adjacent to the indicator portion in the circumferential direction, and the display portion of the loosening indicator may be configured to display the relative amount of rotation of the indicator portion of the display portion-side loosening indicator with respect to the display portion of the loosening indicator, based on the position of the indicator portion of the display portion-side loosening indicator adjacent to the display portion of the loosening indicator in the circumferential direction.

[0018] According to the above-described looseness indicator, in two adjacent looseness indicators, the relative amount of rotation of one looseness indicator relative to the other can be determined by the position of the indicator part of the other looseness indicator relative to the display part of the other looseness indicator.

[0019] In the above-described loosening indicator, the inner member may be made of a soft resin. According to the above-described loosening indicator, the inner member is easily deformed by the force applied by the outer member to the inner member, thereby making it easier for the inner member to be fixed to the screw member.

[0020] The loosening indicator of this disclosure reduces the load required when removing the loosening indicator from the threaded member.

[0021] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the inner and outer members of a loosening indicator in disassembled form. Figure 2 is a plan view showing the structure of the outer member as seen from a line of sight parallel to the axial direction of the wheel nut. Figure 3 is a plan view showing the structure of the inner member as seen from a line of sight parallel to the axial direction of the wheel nut. Figure 4 is a plan view showing an enlarged portion of the outer surface of the inner member. Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the structure of a loosening indicator when the outer member is attached to the inner member attached to the wheel nut. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a loosening indicator when the outer member is attached to the inner member attached to the wheel nut. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a loosening indicator when the outer member is attached to the inner member attached to the wheel nut. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the structure of a loosening indicator with the outer member fixed to the inner member. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a loosening indicator with the outer member fixed to the inner member. Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a loosening indicator with the outer member fixed to the inner member. Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the structure of a loosening indicator when the fixing of the outer member to the inner member has been released. Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a loosening indicator with the outer member released from its fixing to the inner member. Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a loosening indicator with the outer member released from its fixing to the inner member. Figure 14 is a plan view illustrating a method for detecting the amount of rotation of a wheel nut using a loosening indicator. Figure 15 is a plan view illustrating a method for detecting the amount of rotation of a wheel nut using a loosening indicator.

[0022] An embodiment of the loosening indicator will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 15. [Loosening Indicator] The loosening indicator will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. The loosening indicator 10 shown in Figure 1 is attached to each of the multiple wheel nuts N (see Figure 5) arranged along the circumferential direction of the wheel disc. The wheel nuts N are an example of screw-on members. The loosening indicator 10 comprises an inner member 11 and an outer member 12.

[0023] The inner member 11 is fixed to the wheel nut N. The inner member 11 has a cylindrical shape extending along the central axis A. In the example shown in Figure 1, the inner member 11 has a frustoconical cylindrical shape. The inner member 11 expands in diameter as it approaches the hub portion of the wheel disc. The hub portion of the wheel disc is the part of the wheel disc to which the hub is fastened, and is the disc-shaped portion in which bolt holes are formed.

[0024] The inner member 11 comprises a main body portion 11A, a first annular portion 11B, and a second annular portion 11C. In the axial direction DA, which is the direction in which the central axis A of the inner member 11 extends, the main body portion 11A is sandwiched between the first annular portion 11B and the second annular portion 11C. That is, in the axial direction DA, the main body portion 11A is located between the first annular portion 11B and the second annular portion 11C. The first annular portion 11B has an annular shape that protrudes in the axial direction DA from one end of the main body portion 11A toward the central axis A. The second annular portion 11C has an annular shape that protrudes in the axial direction DA from the other end of the main body portion 11A toward the central axis. The inner diameter of the first annular portion 11B is smaller than the inner diameter of the second annular portion 11C, and the outer diameter of the first annular portion 11B is smaller than the outer diameter of the second annular portion 11C.

[0025] The main body portion 11A has a frustoconical shape extending along the axial direction DA. In the main body portion 11A, the inner diameter of the end where the first annular portion 11B is located is smaller than the inner diameter of the end where the second annular portion 11C is located. The inner diameter of the main body portion 11A increases monotonically along the direction from the first annular portion 11B to the second annular portion 11C in the axial direction DA.

[0026] The inner member 11 has an outer circumferential surface 11S1 and an inner circumferential surface 11S2. The outer circumferential surface 11S1 and the inner circumferential surface 11S2 each extend from the first annular portion 11B to the second annular portion 11C in the axial direction DA. The inner circumferential surface 11S2 includes a plurality of protrusions extending along the axial direction DA. The plurality of protrusions are arranged without gaps in the circumferential direction of the inner circumferential surface 11S2. The inner diameter of the main body portion 11A, the inner diameter of the first annular portion 11B, and the inner diameter of the second annular portion 11C may be, for example, the distance between the vertices of the protrusions that pass through the central axis A and face each other in the radial direction of the inner member 11.

[0027] The outer member 12 is equipped with a locking claw 12A1 that engages with the outer peripheral surface 11S1 of the inner member 11. The locking claw 12A1 is an example of a locking portion. The outer member 12 is fixed to the inner member 11, thereby enabling the inner member 11 to be pressed toward the wheel nut N. In the example shown in Figure 1, the outer member 12 includes a main body portion 12A, an indicator portion 12B, and a display portion 12C.

[0028] The main body portion 12A has a cylindrical shape extending along the axial direction DA. The main body portion 12A has a plurality of slits 12ASL that penetrate the main body portion 12A along its radial direction and extend along the axial direction DA. Each slit 12ASL extends along the axial direction DA from the end of the main body portion 12A that is closest to the hub portion of the wheel disc.

[0029] The main body portion 12A is divided into a free piece 12A2 and a locking piece 12A3 by a slit 12ASL. The main body portion 12A comprises a plurality of free pieces 12A2 and a plurality of locking pieces 12A3. In the circumferential direction of the main body portion 12A, the free pieces 12A2 and locking pieces 12A3 are arranged alternately. A locking claw 12A1 is located at the end of the locking piece 12A3 closest to the hub portion of the wheel disc. Each locking claw 12A1 extends from the inner circumferential surface 12AS of the main body portion 12A toward the central axis A along the radial direction of the main body portion 12A. No locking claws 12A1 are located on the free pieces 12A2. Therefore, the locking pieces 12A3 are locked to the inner member 11, while the free pieces 12A2 are not locked to the inner member 11.

[0030] The indicator portion 12B extends from the main body portion 12A along the circumferential direction of the wheel disc. In the example shown in Figure 1, the indicator portion 12B has a triangular plate shape when viewed from a line of sight parallel to the axial direction DA. The display portion 12C extends from the main body portion 12A along the circumferential direction of the wheel disc. The display portion 12C is located on the opposite side of the wheel nut N from the indicator portion 12B. In the radial direction of the wheel disc, the display portion 12C is located on the opposite side of the main body portion 12A from the indicator portion 12B. The display portion 12C has a substantially rectangular plate shape when viewed from a line of sight parallel to the axial direction DA. Of the display portion 12C, the edge 12CE (see Figure 2) opposite to the edge connected to the main body portion 12A has an arc shape such that its center of curvature is located outside the display portion 12C.

[0031] The indicator unit 12B is configured to face the display unit 12C of an adjacent looseness indicator 10 in the circumferential direction of the wheel disc. The indicator unit 12B is configured to display the relative amount of rotation of the indicator unit 12B relative to the display unit 12C, depending on the position of the indicator unit 12B relative to the display unit 12C.

[0032] The inner member 11 may be made of a soft resin. In the case of a soft resin, the bending modulus in a steady state is 7000 kg / cm². ２ It is less than [a certain value]. The soft resin may be, for example, polyvinyl chloride resin, polyethylene resin, and elastomer resin such as thermoplastic polyamide elastomer (TPA). In this case, the inner member 11 is easily deformed by the force that the outer member 12 applies to the inner member 11, and this makes it easier for the inner member 11 to be fixed to the wheel nut N.

[0033] The outer member 12 may be made of a rigid resin. In the case of a rigid resin, the bending modulus in a steady state is 7000 kg / cm². ２ That concludes the explanation. The rigid resin may be, for example, polypropylene resin, acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) resin. In this case, when the outer member 12 is fixed to the inner member 11, the outer member 12 is more likely to deform the inner member 11.

[0034] Figure 2 shows the planar structure of the outer member 12 as viewed from a line of sight parallel to the axial direction DA. As shown in Figure 2, the main body portion 12A of the outer member 12 is provided with a plurality of locking claws 12A1. In the example shown in Figure 2, the main body portion 12A is provided with six locking claws 12A1. The six locking claws 12A1 are equally spaced in the circumferential direction of the main body portion 12A. Each locking claw 12A1 protrudes from the inner circumferential surface 12AS of the main body portion 12A along the radial direction of the main body portion 12A.

[0035] In the display unit 12C, the edge 12CE opposite to the edge connected to the main body 12A has an arc shape such that its center of curvature is located outside the display unit 12C. The arc-shaped edge 12CE has a recessed portion 12CE1, which is the most recessed part. For each looseness indicator 10, the tips of adjacent indicator portions 12B in the circumferential direction of the wheel disc are arranged such that, for example, the distance between them and the recessed portion 12CE1 in the circumferential direction of the wheel disc is minimized.

[0036] Figure 3 shows the planar structure of the inner member 11 as viewed from a line of sight parallel to the axial direction DA. As shown in Figure 3, the inner circumferential surface 11S2 of the inner member 11 is an uneven surface. When the inner member 11 is attached to the wheel nut N, the corners of the wheel nut N fit into the recesses of the uneven surface, thereby restricting the rotation of the inner member 11 relative to the wheel nut N.

[0037] Figure 4 shows a portion of the outer circumferential surface 11S1 of the inner member 11. As shown in Figure 4, the outer circumferential surface 11S1 of the inner member 11 includes the outer circumferential surface 11AS of the main body portion 11A. In the inner member 11, the distance of the inner member 11 from the central axis A is the height of each part of the inner member 11. The inner member 11 has an mounting start position P1 for the outer member 12, a fixed position P2 for the outer member 12, and a release position P3 for the outer member 12 on its outer circumferential surface 11AS. The mounting start position P1 and the fixed position P2 are connected to each other so that the locking claw 12A1 can move from the mounting start position P1 to the fixed position P2, and the fixed position P2 and the release position P3 are connected to each other so that the locking claw 12A1 can move from the fixed position P2 to the release position P3.

[0038] The first maximum height, which is the maximum height in the first path AS1 in which the locking claw 12A1 moves from the mounting start position P1 to the fixed position P2, is higher than the second maximum height, which is the maximum height in the second path AS2 in which the locking claw 12A1 moves from the fixed position P2 to the release position P3.

[0039] In the main body portion 11A, the end in contact with the first annular portion 11B is the first end, and the end in contact with the second annular portion 11C is the second end. The first path AS1 has a straight shape extending from the first end to the second end along the axial direction DA. The first path AS1 is a groove that is recessed toward the central axis A on the outer circumferential surface 11AS. Of the first path AS1, the portion in contact with the first end is the mounting start position P1. The height of the first path AS1 increases monotonically along the direction from the first end to the second end. Therefore, of the first path AS1, the end closest to the second end has the first maximum height. The first path AS1 is an example of a first inclined surface whose height increases along the direction from the mounting start position P1 to the fixed position P2.

[0040] The width of the first path AS1 along the circumferential direction of the main body 11A is the same along the entire length of the first path AS1 in the axial direction DA. The width of the first path AS1 along the circumferential direction is greater than the width of the locking claw 12A1 along the circumferential direction.

[0041] The fixed position P2 is connected to the first path AS1 in the axial direction DA. In the axial direction DA, the fixed position P2 is sandwiched between the first path AS1 and the second annular portion 11C. The height of the fixed position P2 is lower than the maximum height of the first inclined surface. In this embodiment, the height of the fixed position P2 is lower than the first maximum height. A first stepped portion ASS1 is located between the end of the first path AS1 and the fixed position P2. The locking claw 12A1 located at the fixed position P2 cannot move from the fixed position P2 towards the mounting start position P1 unless it overcomes the first stepped portion ASS1. As a result, it is difficult for the locking claw 12A1 that has moved from the mounting start position P1 to the fixed position P2 to return from the fixed position P2 to the mounting start position P1.

[0042] The fixed position P2 is included in a flat surface AS21 extending along the circumferential direction of the main body portion 11A. In the circumferential direction of the main body portion 11A, the flat surface AS21 is sandwiched between two second inclined surfaces AS22. The height of the second inclined surface AS22 increases along the direction from the fixed position P2 toward the release position P3. The second path AS2 includes the flat surface AS21 and one of the two second inclined surfaces AS22. The second inclined surface AS22 has a second maximum height at an end portion opposite to the flat surface AS21 in the circumferential direction. The second path AS2 protrudes more than the first path AS1 in the direction from the flat surface AS21 toward the second inclined surface AS22.

[0043] In the main body portion 11A, the outer diameter between two mutually radially opposed flat surfaces AS21 is larger than the inner diameter between two mutually radially opposed locking claws 12A1 in the main body portion 12A. Therefore, when the locking claws 12A1 of the outer member 12 are fixed at the fixed position P2, the inner member 11 is pushed toward the wheel nut N.

[0044] The release position P3 is aligned with the fixed position P2 in the circumferential direction of the main body portion 11A. Accordingly, the second path AS2 is configured such that the locking claws 12A1 can move along the second path AS2 from the fixed position P2 to the release position P3 by rotation of the outer member 12 relative to the inner member 11. Accordingly, when the outer member 12 is rotated relative to the inner member 11, the fixation of the outer member 12 by the inner member 11 can be released. Therefore, the operation for releasing the fixation is easy.

[0045] The height of the release position P3 is lower than the maximum height of the second inclined surface AS22. In the circumferential direction of the main body 11A, the second stepped portion ASS2 is located between the end of the second inclined surface AS22 opposite to the flat surface AS21 and the release position P3. The amount of step at the second stepped portion ASS2 is smaller than the amount of step at the first stepped portion ASS1. As a result, the locking claw 12A1 that has moved from the fixed position P2 to the release position P3 is less likely to return from the release position P3 to the fixed position P2. However, because the amount of step at the second stepped portion ASS2 is smaller than the amount of step at the first stepped portion ASS1, the locking claw 12A1 located at the fixed position P2 is more likely to move towards the release position P3 rather than the mounting start position P1.

[0046] The outer circumferential surface 11AS of the main body 11A is provided with a third path AS3 through which the locking claw 12A1 moves from the release position P3 to the mounting start position P1. The third path AS3 is a groove recessed toward the central axis A on the outer circumferential surface 11AS. The main body 11A of this embodiment is provided with two third paths AS3. One of the two third paths AS3 is connected to one of the two second inclined surfaces AS22, and the other of the two third paths AS3 is connected to the other of the two second inclined surfaces AS22. The third path AS3 extends along a direction intersecting the axial direction DA. The third path AS3 has a length extending from the second end to the first end of the main body 11A. The release position P3 is located at the end of the third path AS3 that is in contact with the second inclined surface AS22. The height of the third path AS3 decreases monotonically from the second end to the first end. The third path AS3 has a third maximum height at the release position P3, which is the maximum height in the third path AS3. The first maximum height of the first path AS1 is higher than the third maximum height of the third path. Because the first maximum height is higher than the third maximum height, the locking claw 12A1, which has been released from its fixation to the inner member 11, can easily return to the starting position P1 in order to be reattached to the inner member 11.

[0047] The outer shape of the region defined by the first path AS1, the second path AS2, and the third path AS3 has a substantially right triangular shape. In the portion surrounded by the first path AS1, the second path AS2, and the third path AS3, a convex portion ASP1 protruding toward each of the paths AS1, AS2, AS3 is located. The convex portion ASP1 has a substantially triangular shape. The first path AS1, a pair of third paths AS3 sandwiching the first path AS1 in the circumferential direction of the main body portion 11A, and two second paths AS2 located between the third paths AS3 constitute a path unit for one locking claw 12A1 to move within the outer peripheral surface 11AS. The region defined by the path unit has a substantially isosceles triangular shape. The outer peripheral surface 11AS has the same number of path units as the number of locking claws 12A1. The plurality of path units are equally arranged in the circumferential direction of the main body portion 11A. In the circumferential direction of the main body portion 11A, a convex surface ASP2 is located between two path units. On the outer peripheral surface 11AS of the main body portion 11A, the path unit is recessed relative to the convex portion ASP1 and the convex surface ASP2.

[0048] [Fixing and Unfixing] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 13, the fixing of the outer member 12 to the inner member 11 and the unfixing of the outer member 12 from the inner member 11 will be described. FIGS. 6, 9 and 12 show a cross-sectional structure of the looseness indicator 10 along a plane defined by the axial direction DA and the radial direction of the main body portion 12A, the plane passing through the two locking claws 12A1. FIGS. 7, 10 and 13 show a portion including at least one locking claw 12A1 in a cross-sectional structure along a plane defined by a direction orthogonal to the axial direction DA and the radial direction of the main body portion 12A.

[0049] Further, the wheel nut N to which the looseness indicator 10 is attached includes a first portion N1 and a second portion N2. When viewed from a line-of-sight direction parallel to the axial direction DA, the second portion N2 has an annular shape. The first portion N1 is connected to the second portion N2 and has a cylindrical shape.

[0050] As shown in Figure 5, when attaching the loosening indicator 10 to the wheel nut N, first, the inner member 11 is attached to the wheel nut N such that the second annular portion 11C of the inner member 11 is in contact with the second portion N2 of the wheel nut N, and the main body portion 11A surrounds the first portion N1. Next, the outer member 12 is attached to the inner member 11. At this time, with the outer member 12 positioned relative to the inner member 11 such that the end of the outer member 12 where the locking claw 12A1 is located faces the first annular portion 11B, the outer member 12 is pushed into the inner member 11.

[0051] As a result, as shown in Figure 6, the locking claw 12A1 of the outer member 12 overcomes the first annular portion 11B. As described above, since the locking claw 12A1 is located at the end of the locking piece 12A3, when the locking claw 12A1 contacts the first annular portion 11B, the locking piece 12A3 is pushed outward in the radial direction of the main body portion 12A. As a result, the locking claw 12A1 overcomes the first annular portion 11B, and consequently the locking claw 12A1 is locked to the first annular portion 11B.

[0052] As shown in Figure 7, the locking claw 12A1 is positioned on the first path AS1 which includes the mounting start position P1. When the outer member 12 is pushed further along the axial direction DA, the locking claw 12A1 passes the first stepped portion ASS1 and reaches the plane AS21 which includes the fixed position P2.

[0053] As shown in Figure 8, when the outer member 12 is fully pushed into the inner member 11, the outer member 12 covers the inner member 11 over its entire length in the axial direction DA. At this time, as shown in Figure 9, the locking claw 12A1 is sandwiched between the first stepped portion ASS1 and the second annular portion 11C in the axial direction DA, thereby fixing the locking claw 12A1 in the fixed position P2.

[0054] As shown in Figure 10, when the locking claw 12A1 is positioned at the fixed position P2, the locking claw 12A1 contacts the plane AS21. The inner diameter between the locking claws 12A1 in the outer member 12 is smaller than the outer diameter between the plane AS21 in the inner member 11. As a result, when the locking claw 12A1 of the outer member 12 is positioned at the fixed position P2, the inner member 11 is pressed toward the wheel nut N. Consequently, the inner member 11 is fixed toward the wheel nut N.

[0055] As shown in Figure 11, rotating the outer member 12 counterclockwise around the central axis A releases the locking claw 12A1 from the inner member 11. Note that rotating the outer member 12 clockwise around the central axis A also releases the locking claw 12A1 from the inner member 11.

[0056] As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the rotation of the outer member 12 relative to the inner member 11 causes the locking claw 12A1 to move along the second inclined surface AS22 and reach the third path AS3, which includes the release position P3. The rotation of the outer member 12 relative to the inner member 11 is restricted by the convex surface ASP2 adjacent to the third path AS3 in the circumferential direction of the main body 11A. When the outer member 12 is pulled up relative to the inner member 11 along the axial direction DA, the locking claw 12A1 moves along the third path AS3, thereby reaching the mounting start position P1.

[0057] Thus, the loosening indicator 10 is configured such that, with the locking claw 12A1 in the mounting start position P1, the outer member 12 is pushed toward the fixed position P2 along the central axis A, allowing the locking claw 12A1 to move from the mounting start position P1 toward the fixed position P2. Furthermore, the loosening indicator 10 is configured such that, with the locking claw 12A1 in the release position P3, the outer member 12 is pulled toward the mounting start position P1 along the central axis A, allowing the locking claw 12A1 to move from the release position P3 toward the mounting start position P1. By moving the outer member 12 along the central axis A of the inner member 11, it is possible to fix the outer member 12 to the inner member 11 and to release the fixing of the outer member 12 by the inner member 11. Therefore, the outer member 12 can be easily handled.

[0058] In the loosening indicator 10 of this disclosure, the first maximum height of the first path AS1 is higher than the maximum height of the second path AS2. Therefore, the movement of the locking claw 12A1 from the fixed position P2 to the release position P3 along the second path AS2 is easier than the movement of the locking claw 12A1 from the fixed position P2 to the mounting start position P1 along the first path AS1. As a result, in both the attachment and removal of the outer member 12 to the inner member 11, it is easier to remove the outer member 12 from the inner member 11 compared to when the locking claw 12A1 moves along the first path AS1. Therefore, the load when removing the loosening indicator 10 from the wheel nut N can be reduced.

[0059] [Loosening Amount] Referring to Figures 14 and 15, a method for displaying the loosening amount of the wheel nut N using the loosening indicator 10 will be explained.

[0060] As shown in Figure 14, one loosening indicator 10 is attached to each of the multiple wheel nuts N arranged along the circumferential direction of the wheel disc. In this case, each loosening indicator 10 is attached such that the display portion 12C of the outer member 12 attached to one of the two adjacent wheel nuts N in the circumferential direction of the wheel disc faces the indicator portion 12B of the outer member 12 attached to the other wheel nut N.

[0061] For example, each looseness indicator 10 is mounted such that, in its initial position, the tip of the indicator part 12B faces the recessed part 12CE1 on the edge 12CE of the display part 12C, and the distance between the recessed part 12CE1 and the tip of the indicator part 12B is minimized.

[0062] As shown in Figure 15, for example, if a wheel nut N located on the right side of the paper rotates counterclockwise, the tip of the indicator portion 12B of the looseness indicator 10 located on the right side moves to a position where it does not face the display portion 12C of the looseness indicator 10 located on the left side. With the looseness indicator 10, the relative amount of rotation of one looseness indicator 10 with respect to the other looseness indicator 10 can be determined by the position of the indicator portion 12B of the other looseness indicator 10 relative to the display portion 12C of the other looseness indicator 10.

[0063] In the looseness indicator 10 located on the right side, the amount of rotation can be determined by the angle formed by the line segment passing through the central axis A, the tip of the indicator part 12B, and the recessed part 12CE1 in the looseness indicator 10 before rotation, and the line segment passing through the central axis A and the tip of the indicator part 12B in the looseness indicator 10 after rotation.

[0064] As described above, according to one embodiment of the loosening indicator, the following effects can be obtained: (1) On the outer peripheral surface 11S1 of the inner member 11, the locking claw 12A1 can be moved from the mounting start position P1 to the fixed position P2, thereby fixing the outer member 12 to the inner member 11. Also, on the outer peripheral surface 11S1 of the inner member 11, the locking claw 12A1 can be moved from the fixed position P2 to the release position P3, thereby releasing the fixing of the outer member 12 by the inner member 11. Therefore, the outer member 12 attached to the inner member 11 can be easily removed from the inner member 11. (2) The first maximum height of the first path AS1 is higher than the maximum height of the second path AS2. Therefore, the movement of the locking claw 12A1 from the fixed position P2 to the release position P3 along the second path AS2 is easier than the movement of the locking claw 12A1 from the fixed position P2 to the mounting start position P1 along the first path AS1. Therefore, in both the attachment and removal of the outer member 12 to the inner member 11, it is easier to remove the outer member 12 from the inner member 11 compared to when the locking claw 12A1 moves along the first path AS1. As a result, the load when removing the loosening indicator 10 from the wheel nut N can be reduced.

[0065] (3) By rotating the outer member 12 relative to the inner member 11, the fixing of the outer member 12 by the inner member 11 can be released, making the operation to release the fixing easy.

[0066] (4) The locking claw 12A1, which has moved from the fixed position P2 to the released position P3, is difficult to return from the released position P3 to the fixed position P2.

[0067] (5) Because the first maximum height is higher than the third maximum height, the locking claw 12A1, which has been released from its fixation to the inner member 11, can easily return to the starting position P1 in order to be reattached to the inner member 11.

[0068] (6) By moving the outer member 12 along the central axis A of the inner member 11, it is possible to fix the outer member 12 to the inner member 11 and to release the outer member 12 from the inner member 11. Therefore, the outer member 12 is easy to handle.

[0069] (7) The locking claw 12A1, which has moved from the starting position P1 to the fixed position P2, is difficult to return from the fixed position P2 to the starting position P1.

[0070] (8) In two adjacent looseness indicators 10, the relative amount of rotation of the other looseness indicator 10 with respect to the first looseness indicator 10 can be determined by the position of the indicator section 12B of the other looseness indicator 10 relative to the display section 12C of the first looseness indicator 10.

[0071] (9) The force applied by the outer member 12 to the inner member 11 makes the inner member more easily deformed, which in turn makes it easier for the inner member 11 to be fixed to the wheel nut N.

[0072] The above-described embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications: [Inner member] The inner member 11 may be made of a hard resin. Even in this case, the inner member 11 can be pressed toward the wheel nut N by fixing the outer member 12 to the inner member 11.

[0073] - The inner member 11 may include an indicator section and a display section. Even in this case, the same effect as when the outer member 12 includes an indicator section 12B and a display section 12C can be obtained. If the inner member 11 includes an indicator section and a display section, the outer member 12 only needs to have a slit that allows the indicator section and the display section to protrude outside the main body section 12A along the radial direction of the main body section 12A.

[0074] - The looseness indicator 10 may have an indicator unit 12B but not a display unit 12C. Even in this case, the relative amount of rotation between two looseness indicators 10 can be determined by the position of the indicator unit of one looseness indicator 10 relative to the other looseness indicator 10, where the two looseness indicators 10 are adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction of the wheel disc.

[0075] - The looseness indicator 10 does not necessarily have to include both an indicator portion and a display portion that protrude along the circumferential direction of the wheel disc from the main body portion 12A of the outer member 12 or the main body portion 11A of the inner member 11. In this case, the looseness indicator 10 only needs to have a mark on the part of the main body portion 12A of the outer member 12 that is exposed to the outside, such as the outer circumference, to determine the amount of rotation of the looseness indicator 10. The mark may be, for example, a letter, a number, or a symbol.

[0076] - The height of the mounting start position P1 may be lower than the height of the release position P3. Even in this case, if the third maximum height is smaller than the first maximum height, the load when returning the locking claw 12A1 to the mounting start position P1 is reduced compared to when the first path AS1 is moved to the locking claw 12A1 located at the fixed position P2 to position it at the mounting start position P1.

[0077] - The inner member 11 does not have to have a first inclined surface included in the first path AS1. In this case, the first path AS1 may have, for example, a stepped portion for forming the first stepped portion ASS1 on the mounting start position P1 side with respect to the fixed position P2, and a flat surface with a single height in the portion other than the stepped portion.

[0078] - The inner member 11 may have only one third path AS3. In this case, the inner member 11 may also have only one second inclined surface AS22 located between the plane AS21 and the third path AS3 in the circumferential direction of the main body 11A.

[0079] The third path AS3 may be a path connecting the release position P3 to a removal position different from the mounting start position P1. The removal position may be, for example, a position adjacent to the mounting start position P1 in the circumferential direction of the main body 11A. In this case, for example, the outer member 12 with the locking claw 12A1 in the removal position can be temporarily removed from the inner member 11, and then the outer member 12 can be reattached to the inner member 11 so that the locking claw 12A1 is in the mounting start position P1. This makes it possible to position the locking claw 12A1 back in the fixed position P2.

[0080] - The second path AS2 does not have to include the second inclined surface AS22. In this case, the second path AS2 may have, for example, a stepped portion for forming the second stepped portion ASS2 on the fixed position P2 side with respect to the release position P3, and may have a flat surface with a single height in the portion other than the stepped portion.

[0081] - The inner member 11 does not necessarily have to have the first annular portion 11B. In this case, when the outer member 12 is pulled up from the release position P3 toward the mounting start position P1, the outer member 12 will detach from the inner member 11. Therefore, when reattaching the outer member 12 to the inner member 11, the outer member 12 should be positioned relative to the inner member 11 such that the locking claw 12A1 of the outer member 12 is located at the mounting start position P1 of the inner member 11.

[0082] [Threaded component] The threaded component to which the loosening indicator 10 is attached is not limited to the wheel nut N, but may also be a wheel bolt.

[0083] 10...Loosening indicator 11...Inner component 11A...Main body 11AS, 11S1...Outer surface 12...Outer component 12A1...Locking claw N...Wheel nut P1...Installation start position P2...Fixed position P3...Release position

Claims

1. A loosening indicator configured to be attached one to each of a plurality of threaded members arranged along the circumferential direction of a wheel disc, comprising: an inner member configured to be fixed to the threaded members; and an outer member having a locking portion configured to engage with the outer peripheral surface of the inner member, and fixed to the inner member so as to be able to press the inner member toward the threaded members, wherein the inner member has an attachment start position for the outer member, a fixed position for the outer member, and a release position for the outer member on its outer peripheral surface, the attachment start position and the fixed position are connected to each other so as to be movable between the attachment start position and the fixed position, and the fixed position and the release position are connected to each other so as to be movable between the locking portion and the release position.

2. The loosening indicator according to claim 1, wherein the distance of the inner member to the central axis of the inner member is the height of each part of the inner member, and the first maximum height, which is the maximum height of the inner member in the first path in which the locking part moves from the mounting start position to the fixed position, is higher than the second maximum height, which is the maximum height of the inner member in the second path in which the locking part moves from the fixed position to the release position.

3. The loosening indicator according to claim 2, wherein the second path is configured such that the locking portion can move along the second path from the fixed position to the released position by the rotation of the outer member relative to the inner member.

4. The loosening indicator according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the inner member is provided with a second inclined surface in the second path from the fixed position to the release position, the height of which increases along the direction from the fixed position to the release position, and the height of the release position is lower than the maximum height of the second inclined surface.

5. The loosening indicator according to claim 2 or 3, comprising a third path through which the locking portion moves from the release position to the mounting start position, wherein the first maximum height is greater than the third maximum height, which is the maximum height of the inner member in the third path.

6. The loosening indicator according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the locking portion is configured to be movable from the mounting start position to the fixed position by pushing the outer member toward the fixed position toward the fixed position when the locking portion is in the mounting start position, and the locking portion is configured to be movable from the released position to the mounting start position by pulling the outer member toward the mounting start position toward the mounting start position when the locking portion is in the release position.

7. The loosening indicator according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the inner member is provided with a first inclined surface in the first path from the mounting start position to the fixing position, the height of which increases along the direction from the mounting start position to the fixing position, and the height of the fixing position is lower than the maximum height of the first inclined surface.

8. The loosening indicator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner member or the outer member comprises an indicator portion and a display portion located on the opposite side of the screw member from the indicator portion, the indicator portion is configured to face the display portion of an indicator-side loosening indicator adjacent to the indicator portion in the circumferential direction, and the display portion of the loosening indicator is configured to display the relative amount of rotation of the indicator portion of the display-side loosening indicator with respect to the display portion of the loosening indicator, based on the position of the indicator portion of the display-side loosening indicator adjacent to the display portion of the loosening indicator in the circumferential direction.

9. The loosening indicator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner member is made of soft resin.

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