Segmented Nut Locking Device for Wheel Cover Accessibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nut locking devices face challenges such as limited accessibility for cleaning and fitting under wheel covers, particularly in off-road conditions and with cosmetic wheel trims, which hinder their effectiveness and usability.
Innovation Solution
A nut locking device with multiple locking portions and connecting portions, made from moldable materials like polypropylene or polyethylene, featuring through holes and U-shaped connecting bodies with reinforcement, designed to securely fasten multiple nuts and withstand various environmental conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a nut locking device is installed to prevent nut rotation, then wheel fastening reliability is improved, but accessibility for washing and fitting under wheel covers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The nut locking device is divided into multiple locking portions (at least two) that are separately positioned around individual nuts. Each locking portion can be independently accessed and removed by pulling it away from the wheel center, allowing workers to wash nuts and install the device without removing the entire wheel assembly or dealing with a single complex unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking portions are designed to be extractable from the main body by pulling them away from the wheel center. This extraction capability allows the locking portions to be removed for washing and maintenance while the wheel remains mounted, and facilitates easier installation by inserting individual locking portions into pre-positioned nuts.
2Reliability
If a nut locking device covers multiple nuts to prevent turning, then fastening security is improved, but cleaning accessibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the locking device into multiple separate locking portions, each portion can be individually accessed and removed for cleaning. This segmentation allows water and cleaning agents to reach the nuts and threading areas that would otherwise be obscured by a unified covering structure, preventing mud accumulation in hard-to-reach spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking portions are designed to be easily removable before washing operations. Workers can extract the locking portions from the wheel, wash the nuts and device components separately, and then reassemble. This preliminary extraction action prevents mud deposition from setting up in confined spaces and simplifies the overall cleaning process.
3Shape
If a nut locking device is designed to fit under wheel covers, then cosmetic appearance is improved, but installation difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented design allows locking portions to be installed individually in a step-by-step manner. Workers can position each locking portion around its corresponding nut and secure it sequentially, rather than attempting to install a single large complex device. This modular approach simplifies the installation process while maintaining the ability to fit under wheel covers through proper positioning of each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking portions are positioned radially around the wheel center, extending outward to engage nuts at different angular positions. This radial arrangement allows the device to fit under wheel covers that extend radially from the center, while the modular nature enables straightforward installation by simply placing each portion in its radial position and securing it to the corresponding nut.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~3f
AI summary
The present invention relates to a nut locking device, to a method of producing the nut locking device and also use thereof.