U.S. patent application number 13/689817 was filed with the patent office on 2014-06-05 for drive pin assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to CWD, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is CWD, LLC. Invention is credited to Stephen John Ruiz.
Application Number | 20140154027 13/689817 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49680875 |
Filed Date | 2014-06-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140154027 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ruiz; Stephen John |
June 5, 2014 |
Drive Pin Assembly
Abstract
Provided are, among other things, systems, apparatuses,
components and methods related to drive pin assemblies. One such
assembly includes: a first pin component and a second pin
component, each having an engagement end that opens to an interior
space and has an angled surface that extends for at least a portion
of the width and a portion of the length of such first pin
component; and a tightening mechanism at least partially disposed
within the interior spaces of the first pin component and the
second pin component, for drawing the first pin component and the
second pin component closer together, where the angled surface of
the first pin component matches the angled surface of the second
pin component such that the first pin component and the second pin
component slide both vertically and laterally along each other when
drawn together.
Inventors: |
Ruiz; Stephen John; (Redondo
Beach, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CWD, LLC |
Carson |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
CWD, LLC
Carson
CA
|
Family ID: |
49680875 |
Appl. No.: |
13/689817 |
Filed: |
November 30, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
411/337 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16D 2065/1316 20130101;
F16B 19/00 20130101; F16D 2065/1392 20130101; F16D 2065/1328
20130101; F16D 65/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
411/337 |
International
Class: |
F16B 19/00 20060101
F16B019/00 |
Claims
1. A drive pin assembly, comprising: a first pin component having a
width, a length, an outer end and an engagement end, the engagement
end of the first pin component opening to an interior space and
having an angled surface that extends for at least a portion of the
width and a portion of the length of said first pin component; and
a second pin component having a width, a length, an outer end and
an engagement end, the engagement end of the second pin component
opening to an interior space and having an angled surface that
extends for at least a portion of the width and a portion of the
length of said second pin component; a mounting component that
includes an opening defined by a sidewall; and a tightening
mechanism at least partially disposed within the interior space of
the first pin component and the interior space of the second pin
component, for drawing the first pin component and the second pin
component closer together, wherein the engagement end of the first
pin component contacts the engagement end of the second pin
component within said opening in the mounting component, wherein
the angled surface of the first pin component matches the angled
surface of the second pin component such that when the first pin
component and the second pin component are drawn together, the
first pin component and the second pin component slide both
vertically and laterally along each other and outer side surfaces
of the first pin component and the second pin component are pressed
against the sidewall of the opening in the mounting component, and
wherein said mounting component is attached to at least one of a
drive assembly and an axle assembly for a motorized vehicle.
2. A drive pin assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a
disc brake rotor having a mounting section that includes an
opening, and wherein the outer end of the second pin component
extends through the opening in the mounting section of the disc
brake rotor.
3. A drive pin assembly according to claim 2, wherein the second
pin component includes a collar disposed on its outer surface at a
distance from its outer end that is slightly greater than a
thickness of the mounting section of the rotor in a vicinity of the
opening in the mounting section.
4. A drive pin assembly according to claim 2, wherein the outer end
of the second pin component also includes an opening.
5. A drive pin assembly according to claim 4, wherein the
tightening mechanism comprises a bolt that extends into the opening
in the outer end of the second pin component
6. A drive pin assembly according to claim 5, wherein the mounting
section of the rotor is disposed between an enlarged head of the
bolt and the collar.
7. A drive pin assembly according to claim 6, wherein the opening
in the disc brake rotor is just wide enough to accommodate the
outer end of the second pin component in the circumferential
dimension and is elongated in the radial direction, thereby
accommodating radial expansion and contraction of the disc brake
rotor when the outer end of the second pin component extends
through the opening in the disc brake rotor and when the bolt fully
tightened.
8. A drive pin assembly according to claim 1, wherein the outer end
of the second pin component also is open, and wherein an interior
passageway extends from the outer end of the second pin component
to the engagement end of the second pin component.
9. A drive pin assembly according to claim 8, further comprising a
bolt that extends through the passageway of the second pin
component and into the opening in the engagement end of the first
pin component.
10. A drive pin assembly according to claim 9, wherein the bolt has
an enlarged head at its proximal end, adjacent to the outer end of
the second pin component, and has threads at its distal end, and
wherein the interior space of the first pin component has internal
threads that mate with the threads at the distal end of the
bolt.
11. A drive pin assembly according to claim 1, wherein the angled
surfaces of the first pin component and the second pin component
are substantially straight.
12. A drive pin assembly according to claim 11, wherein the angled
surface of the engagement end of the first pin component is
disposed within a middle portion of the engagement end of the first
pin component and outer portions of the engagement end of the first
pin component are substantially flat and horizontal, and wherein
the angled surface of the engagement end of the second pin
component is disposed within a middle portion of the engagement end
of the second pin component and outer portions of the engagement
end of the second pin component are substantially flat and
horizontal.
13. A drive pin assembly according to claim 1, wherein the angled
surfaces of the first pin component and the second pin component
are laterally offset from each other.
14. A drive pin assembly according to claim 1, wherein a combined
assembly of the first pin component and the second pin component
increases in width when the first pin component and the second pin
component are drawn together.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention pertains to drive pin assemblies, such
as might be used for securing a disc brake rotor to a hub.
BACKGROUND
[0002] For the purpose of attaching a disc brake rotor to a wheel
hub, it often is desirable to provide a series of equally spaced
openings through a mounting ring on the rotor, with such openings
being elongated in the radial direction. The rotor can then be
attached to the hub using "drive pins" that extend through such
openings. An advantage of attaching a rotor in this way is to
accommodate radial expansion and contraction of the rotor as it
heats and cools, respectively. A variety of different drive pin
configurations currently exist. However, each has its own
drawbacks, e.g., in terms of ability to securely attach the drive
pin to the wheel hub, difficulty of installation, complexity, cost,
size, etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention addresses these problems by providing
drive pin assemblies, components thereof and methods for using them
that can be both effective and easy to implement.
[0004] One particular embodiment of the invention is directed to a
drive pin assembly that includes: a first pin component and a
second pin component, each having an engagement end that opens to
an interior space and has an angled surface that extends for at
least a portion of the width and a portion of the length of such
first pin component; and a tightening mechanism at least partially
disposed within the interior spaces of the first pin component and
the second pin component, for drawing the first pin component and
the second pin component closer together, where the angled surface
of the first pin component matches the angled surface of the second
pin component such that the first pin component and the second pin
component slide both vertically and laterally along each other when
drawn together.
[0005] The foregoing summary is intended merely to provide a brief
description of certain aspects of the invention. A more complete
understanding of the invention can be obtained by referring to the
claims and the following detailed description of the preferred
embodiments in connection with the accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] In the following disclosure, the invention is described with
reference to the attached drawings. However, it should be
understood that the drawings merely depict certain representative
and/or exemplary embodiments and features of the present invention
and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any
manner. The following is a brief description of each of the
attached drawings.
[0007] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a wheel hub or hat.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a disc brake rotor.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first pin component,
primarily showing its engagement end.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first pin component,
primarily showing its outer end.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second pin component,
primarily showing its engagement end.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second pin component,
primarily showing its outer end.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second pin component,
primarily showing its back side.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing how the first pin
component engages with the second pin component.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a conceptual sectional view showing the first pin
component initially engaging with the second pin component.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a conceptual sectional view showing the first pin
component engaging with the second pin component after the two
components have been fully drawn together.
[0017] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the
attachment of a disc brake rotor to a hub according to a
representative embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0018] The present invention concerns drive pin assemblies, e.g.,
of the type that may be used to attach a disc brake rotor to a hub
(e.g., for use in an automobile or any other motorized vehicle), as
well as to components of such assemblies and methods for using such
assemblies and/or components. However, it should be noted that the
drive pin assemblies according to the present invention also may be
used in any of a variety of other situations.
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a hub (or hat) 5 that is attached to an
axle or a wheel drive assembly of a motorized vehicle (e.g.,
through openings 6) when in use. One of the purposes of hub 5 is to
function as a mounting element for attaching a disc brake rotor.
Included in hub 5 is a ring of circular openings (or through-holes)
7, each defined by a sidewall 8, for this purpose.
[0020] FIG. 2 illustrates a disc brake rotor 10 to be attached to
hub 5. A ring of openings (or through-holes) 11 are provided within
a mounting section 12 (or ring) of rotor 10. Each of the openings
11 preferably is elongated in the radial direction and has straight
sides and rounded ends. Surface 14 is the operative portion of
rotor 10, i.e., the portion that comes into contact with the brake
pads (not shown) when in use.
[0021] In the preferred embodiments of the present invention, a
drive pin assembly (such as any of the assemblies described below)
extends through each of circular openings 7 in hub 5 and through a
corresponding opening 11 in the mounting section 12. In the present
embodiment, there are ten openings 7 and ten corresponding openings
11, each being evenly spaced around a circle of the same diameter,
so that the two sets of openings align with each other. However,
any other number of openings (and corresponding drive pin
assemblies) can be used.
[0022] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrated a first component 20 of a drive
pin assembly according to a representative embodiment of the
present invention. In the present embodiment, pin component 20 is
made of stainless steel and includes a main portion 22 having the
shape of a modified cylinder, an engagement end 23 and an outer end
24. Engagement end 23 is open, defining an interior space 25 within
pin component 20. As shown, the surface of engagement end 23 is
ridge-like and angled, with different points along this surface
extending different lengths. In the present embodiment, outer end
24: (1) is enlarged compared to main portion 22, (2) has a square
rather than circular cross-section, and (3) also is open. However,
it should be noted that variations are possible. For instance, in
alternate embodiments outer end 24 is hexagonal in shape or has any
other shape. When component 20 is internally threaded, as in the
present embodiment, it is preferable that outer end 24 has a shape
that permits it to be held in place rotationally when the mating
component is being threaded into it (e.g., having an outside
perimeter that can be held with a wrench or that fits into a
corresponding shape within hub 5 or having an inner impression that
can accommodate an Allen wrench or similar wrench).
[0023] In addition, the interior space 25 of component 20
preferably is substantially cylindrically shaped and extends all
the way through the length of component 20, functioning as a
passageway from engagement end 23 to outer end 24. However, in
alternate embodiments, outer end 24 has a continuous (or closed)
surface, i.e., so that only engagement end 23 is open. In the
preferred embodiments (discussed in greater detail below), the
surface 27 defining interior space 25 includes threads. In other
embodiments (also discussed below), surface 27 is smooth or
otherwise non-threaded.
[0024] FIGS. 5-7 illustrate a second pin component 40, which has a
main portion 42, an engagement end 43 and an outer end 44. In the
preferred embodiment, main portion 42 has the shape of a modified
cylinder, and both outer end 44 and engagement end 43 are open,
defining an interior space 45 within pin component 40 that is
substantially cylindrically shaped and functions as a passageway
from outer end 44 to engagement end 43. In the current embodiment,
pin component 40: (1) is provided with a collar 46 that provides
greater width as compared to the rest of main portion 42, (2)
includes flat strips 48 on its front and back surfaces, extending
along its length, that match the straight side edges of the opening
11 through which it is to extend (e.g., in order to increase the
contact surface area between pin component 40 and its corresponding
opening 11 and/or in order to facilitate proper orientation of pin
component 40 when it is installed), and (3) is made of stainless
steel. However, in alternate embodiments, strips 48 are omitted
and, e.g., the cross-section of main portion 42 is entirely
circular. Preferably, collar 46 is disposed on the outer surface of
the main portion 42 at a distance from its outer end 44 that is
just slightly greater than a thickness of the rotor mounting
section 12 in the vicinity of the opening 11 into which component
40 is to be inserted.
[0025] Similar to pin component 20, the surface of engagement end
43 is ridge-like and angled, with different points along such
surface extending different lengths. More preferably, the surfaces
of engagement ends 23 and 43 match, or are complementary with, each
other, so that pin component 20 and pin component 40 slide both
vertically and laterally along each other when drawn together.
[0026] FIG. 8 illustrates how pin components 20 and 40 fit together
when in use. The way in which pin components 20 and 40 interact
with each other, with particular emphasis on the surfaces of
engagement ends 23 and 43, is now discussed in greater detail with
reference to FIG. 9. As shown in the drawings, each of the surfaces
of engagement ends 23 and 43 has a substantially flat and
horizontal portion (23A and 43A, respectively), followed by an
angled portion (23B and 43B, respectively), followed by another
substantially flat and horizontal portion (23C and 43C,
respectively). Because the cross-sections of the main portions 22
and 42 of pin components 20 and 40, respectively, are circular (or
at least substantially circular) in the present embodiment, the
outer portions (23A&C and 43A&C, respectively) of their
engagement-end surfaces have a semicircular shape.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 9, in the present embodiment the angled
surfaces 23B and 43B are straight and match each other exactly in
angle and length. However, angled surfaces 23B and 43B are
laterally offset from each other. More specifically, surface 43A is
longer (e.g., in cross-section) than surface 23A, and surface 43C
is shorter (e.g., in cross-section) than surface 23C, preferably by
the same amount, so that the diameters of the main portions 22 and
42 are the same. As a result of this lateral offset, when the main
portions 22 and 42 are aligned with each other laterally (as shown
in FIG. 9), just a portion of their angled surfaces 23B and 43B
contact each other, and there is a vertical separation between
their outer portions (23A&C and 43A&C, respectively). In
this position, and assuming engagement ends 23 and 43 are disposed
within an opening 7 in hub 5, the overall width of the combination
of main portions 22 and 42 preferably is smaller than the diameter
of opening 7 (as indicated by opening 7's sidewall limits 8, shown
in FIG. 9).
[0028] Then, as pin components 20 and 40 are drawn closer together,
they slide, both vertically and laterally, along their angled
surfaces 23B and 43B, both shortening the overall length and
increasing the overall width (at least in that one dimension) of
the combination of pin components 20 and 40. This expansion of
width causes the side surfaces of main portions 22 and 42 to press
against sidewall 8 (as shown in FIG. 10), thereby tightly securing
the entire drive pin assembly to hub 5.
[0029] It should be noted that the precise surface configurations
of engagement ends 23 and 43 are not critical. Preferably, however,
when the two components are drawn together such surfaces (or at
least portions of them) are able to slide against each other in
such a way that the overall width of the combination increases.
Thus, for example, angled portions 23B and 43B could be curved
instead of straight, and/or such angled portions 23B and 43B could
occupy a greater or lesser proportion of the width of the main
portions 22 and 42, respectively, potentially even occupying the
entire width.
[0030] Any of a variety of different tightening mechanisms can be
used to draw pin components 20 and 40 together. In one
representative embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 11, pin component 20
has internal threads and pin component 40 has an interior space 45
that is configured as a cylindrical passageway extending all the
way through it from its outer end 44 to its engagement end 43. In
order to assemble and attach the pin assembly in this embodiment,
the distal (threaded) end of a bolt 60 is inserted through a washer
61 and into the outer end 44 of component 40, exits the engagement
end 43 of component 40, enters the engagement end 23 of component
20, and then is rotated relative to component 20 so that its
threads mate with the internal threads of component 20. As the
threads further engage, components 20 and 40 are drawn closer
together, with the enlarged outer end 24 of component 20 pressing
against the surface surrounding opening 7 in hub 5 and with the
proximal end (enlarged head) 62 of bolt 60 eventually coming into
contact with the outer end 44 of component 40. Preferably, outer
end 44 of component 40 is beveled, as shown in the drawings, and a
bevel washer is placed between bolt head 62 and outer end 44.
[0031] When all of the pin assemblies have been installed in this
manner, rotor 10 is locked into rotational alignment with hub 5. At
the same time, the space between collar 46 and bolt head 62 is
sufficiently larger than the thickness of rotor mounting ring 12
that main portion 42 of component 40 is able to freely slide within
its corresponding slot 11, thereby enabling rotor 10 to expand and
contract radially.
[0032] Variations on the foregoing embodiment are possible. For
instance, in the preceding embodiment, component 20 has internal
threads. In alternate embodiments, component 20 is provided with a
smooth internal surface, and a separate nut is used to engage with
the distal (threaded) end of bolt 60, such that bolt 60 and the
referenced nut constitute the tightening mechanism. However, in
these alternate embodiments, the overall length of the drive pin
assembly often will be increased, as compared with just using an
internally threaded component 20.
[0033] According to another alternate embodiment, the pin component
40 is internally threaded and has an enlarged head at its outer end
44, and pin component 20 is open at both ends and has a smooth
internal passageway throughout its length, including an opening at
its outer end 24 for accepting a bolt. In other words, in this
alternate embodiment the tightening mechanism essentially works in
the opposite direction as compared to the embodiment discussed
above.
Additional Considerations
[0034] Several different embodiments of the present invention are
described above, with each such embodiment described as including
certain features. However, it is intended that the features
described in connection with the discussion of any single
embodiment are not limited to that embodiment but may be included
and/or arranged in various combinations in any of the other
embodiments as well, as will be understood by those skilled in the
art.
[0035] Similarly, in the discussion above, functionality sometimes
is ascribed to a particular module or component. However,
functionality generally may be redistributed as desired among any
different modules or components, in some cases completely obviating
the need for a particular component or module and/or requiring the
addition of new components or modules. The precise distribution of
functionality preferably is made according to known engineering
tradeoffs, with reference to the specific embodiment of the
invention, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.
[0036] Thus, although the present invention has been described in
detail with regard to the exemplary embodiments thereof and
accompanying drawings, it should be apparent to those skilled in
the art that various adaptations and modifications of the present
invention may be accomplished without departing from the spirit and
the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not
limited to the precise embodiments shown in the drawings and
described above. Rather, it is intended that all such variations
not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as
within the scope thereof as limited solely by the claims appended
hereto.
* * * * *