A method of adjusting preload on a bearing assembly of a wheel mounted on an axle or spindle with a lock nut includes mounting a preload adjustment tool onto a threaded axle or spindle. The load on the bearing assembly is increased using the tool. The wheel on the axle or spindle is rotated to set the bearing assembly. The load on the bearing assembly is decreased to a desired maximum preload on the bearing. After decreasing the load on the bearing assembly to a desired maximum preload, the lock nut is tightened by hand until the lock nut cannot be further tightened. The lock nut is loosened by rotating the lock nut to a preferred location where a guide mark on the tool aligns with one mark on the lock nut located closest to the guide mark wherein a resultant preload on the bearing assembly is within a preset range from the desired maximum preload.

A wheel assembly includes a spindle; a wheel hub rotatable relative to the spindle; and a seal mounted between the spindle and the wheel hub, the spindle, the wheel hub, and the seal defining a sealed cavity, the seal having a first axial end and a second axial end, the first axial end coupled to the spindle, the second axial end coupled to the wheel hub.

A half shaft connects to the mounting bracket of the wheel in a splined connection. The straight external spline of the half shaft is modified to a helical or involute external spline, in which the helix angle adopted is small. The mounting bracket of the wheel can be longitudinally advanced by hand assembly only part way onto the half shaft. The rest of the longitudinal advancement during assembly occurs by tightening the nut to completely eliminate the fit clearance between the external spline and its corresponding mating arrangement. Various road tests of vehicles verify that, when using the present invention, the nut does not loosen during use of the vehicle. The invention enables the locking force of the nut to be reduced, and assembly and maintenance are convenient.

Embodiments of collapsible wheels and methods of making collapsible wheels are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

In one embodiment, a vehicle wheel cover assembly is provided that includes a mount having an attachment portion with a release configuration that permits the attachment portion to engage inboard and outboard surfaces of a wheel hub flange of a wheel and a secured configuration that fixes the attachment portion to the wheel hub flange. The wheel cover assembly includes a retainer shiftable relative to the attachment portion of the mount from an unlocked position wherein the retainer permits the attachment portion to be reconfigured between the release configuration and the secured configured configuration to a locked position wherein the retainer maintains the attachment portion in the secured configuration. The wheel cover assembly further includes a cover assembly configured to be releasably secured to the mount to cover an opening of the wheel.

A wheel rim assembly and components, systems, and methods thereof can comprise a rim base having at least one slot at an outer end portion thereof, a bead seat band radially outward of the outer end portion of the rim base, and at least one lock provided in the at least one slot. The bead seat band may be in direct contact with the outer end portion of the rim base. The lock can have a first portion that is provided in the slot of the rim base and a second portion that is outside of the slot. The second portion may be adjacent to the bead seat band. The wheel rim assembly may be free of or without a lock ring at the outer end portion of the rim base.

A puller/installer comprises a draw plate, a split ring, a cap plate, and at least one draw member. The draw plate defines a draw plate cam surface. The split ring defines at least one split plate cam surface and is arranged such that the at least one split plate cam surface is in contact with the draw plate cam surface. The at least one draw member is arranged to draw the cap plate and the draw plate towards each other such that the draw plate cam surface engages the at least one split plate cam surface to deform the split ring to alter an effective diameter of the bearing race puller/installer.

Systems, methods and apparatus for automated vehicle wheel removal and replacement are provided. One system includes a computer system with applications for scheduling the replacement of tires for the vehicle. An electronically controlled lift device and robotic apparatus is configured for interaction with the computer system. The lift device mechanically adjusts arms for placement on lift points of vehicles. The robotic apparatus detects positioning of lug nut configuration for a wheel, removes lug nuts, and then removes the wheel from the wheel hub with gripping arms. The wheel and tire are then handed off to a separate tire changing machine. When a new tire is replaced the robotic apparatus then mounts the wheel to the original wheel hub, and then secures the lug nuts to the lug nut bolts.

An axle assembly and method of reworking an axle assembly. The axle assembly has an axle housing and a differential carrier assembly. A central portion of the axle housing has an opening that is defined by an axle flange that has a first mating surface. The differential carrier assembly has a differential mounted on a carrier. The carrier has a carrier flange that has a second mating surface. The first mating surface is sealed to the second mating surface by seal. At least one of the first and second mating surfaces includes a groove.

Forward movement of a bicycle results when force is transfer from the chain or belt to a sprocket on a cassette. The cassette is splined to the cassette driver and causes the wheel of the bike to rotate when torque is applied from the cassette to the cassette driver. The cassette driver is typically made of a strong hard material such as steel to withstand the forces in parted thereon by the cassette. The present disclosure provide a hub configuration and method that enables the cassette driver to be made with construction of a lighter weight material such as aluminum yet still withstand the toque applied thereto.