Antitheft Wheel Fastener Bushing Deformable Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing antitheft locking devices for vehicle wheels are vulnerable to aggressive attacks that aim to remove the neutral bushing, and they often require significant radial clearance during assembly, which can lead to assembly difficulties and breakages.
Innovation Solution
The use of a deformable member within the radial seat, combined with a retaining element like a circlip, allows for easier assembly while providing a constrained environment that makes it difficult for thieves to remove the bushing, by deforming to accommodate the bushing during assembly and then returning to a state that limits axial movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a neutral bushing is used to prevent gripping of the fastener, then antitheft protection is improved, but the bushing can be removed by aggressive attacks using chisels or screwdrivers
Solution Approach 1:
A deformable element is pre-installed in a groove of the fastener body before the bushing is mounted. This preliminary placement creates a barrier that will engage with the retaining element after assembly, preventing future removal attempts. The deformable element is positioned to be compressed during bushing installation, storing elastic energy that will later resist prising attacks.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable element acts as a cushioning barrier between the retaining element and the bushing. When assembly forces are applied, the deformable element compresses to absorb the impact and distribute forces evenly. During theft attempts, this same deformable element cushions against prising forces, making removal significantly more difficult while protecting the retaining element from damage.
2Ease of manufacture
If radial clearance is provided in the seat for the retaining element, then assembly is enabled, but thieves can leverage the clearance to remove the bushing
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable element is installed in advance in the fastener body groove, positioned to engage with the retaining element. This preliminary action ensures that when the bushing is assembled, the retaining element will be blocked by the deformable element, eliminating the effective radial clearance that thieves could exploit, while still allowing proper assembly through controlled compression of the deformable element.
Solution Approach 2:
The deformable element changes its physical parameter (radial dimension) between assembly and operation states. During assembly, it is compressed to a smaller dimension allowing the retaining element to pass. Once assembled, it returns to its original larger dimension, blocking the radial clearance and preventing bushing removal. This dynamic parameter change resolves the contradiction between enabling assembly and preventing theft.
3Ease of operation
If the deformable element is made highly elastic for easy assembly, then assembly ease is improved, but the element may not provide sufficient resistance to theft attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The deformable element is constructed from composite materials or a specially formulated material that combines high elastic properties for easy assembly with high strength characteristics for theft resistance. This composite construction allows the element to be easily compressed during assembly while maintaining sufficient structural integrity to resist prising attacks and protect the retaining element.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances the resistance to theft by allowing free rotation and axial constraint of the bushing, reducing the likelihood of successful removal attempts while simplifying the assembly process and minimizing vibrational noise.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable element (32) made from an elastic material and positioned within the first groove (24)
Implementation Method 2
minimizing vibrational noise
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present application provides an antitheft locking device in the form of a threaded fastener for fixing the rim of a wheel to a wheel hub. The device has a bushing which is free to rotate about the body of the threaded fastener preventing a user undoing the fastener by gripping the perimeter of the body with a pincers or vice grip. A retaining element is provided in a radial seat defined between the body and bushing. The retaining element prevents the bushing being removed from the body. A deformable element is provided in the radial seat to allow for assembly. The deformable element deforms to allow assembly and undeformed reduces the radial clearance in the radial seat.