Wheel Nut with Mechanical Locking/Unlocking Device - Assignment Example

?Wheel Nut with Mechanical Locking/Unlocking Device Part The wheel nut required in this context must have specific features to enable it adapt to its use of fastening a heavy wheel to a spindle. The single nut must bear the weight of the wheel as it hangs on the spindle and further support the weight of the wheel while in motion during rotation. The two features demand that the nut have particular strength features and endurance to prevent unprecedented detachment. Additionally, the nut must have a secure locking and unlocking mechanism to enable the replacement of the wheel in case of damage. The design of the nut consequently influences the design of the wheel to ensure compatibility thus efficiency. The design of the two relies on the features of the spindle such as its load capacity and the velocity of rotations (Hyldgaard, Delahousse & Meganck, 2009). Given the requirement of the nut, the best design of the nut capable of ensuring the load capacity and the rotation of the wheel would be a lug nut. To increase its efficiency and inconsideration of the features of the wheel, instead of a nut the design changes to that of a lug bolt. Lug nuts just as the rest of the bolted nuts have increased endurance since they attach themselves on the threads of the wheel from inside. This makes it more difficult for the nuts to loosen because of the fretting induced precession as the spindle spins (Willard, 1997). In this context, the wheel will carry a load of a particular capacity; the endurance of the lug nut must therefore bear the weight by spreading it equally across the four nuts used in fastening the wheel to the spindle. Lug bolt have the structure of a screw, the design will thus include three parts for the lug nut including the head, the body and the threads. The head of the lug bolt will consist of a hexagonal head drive of three centimeters. The hexagonal head drive is specifically designed to enable ease of locking and unlocking. The three inches head permit ease of handling as it permits adequate space for the spanner to grip the hexagonal head thus facilitating the rotation during either locking or unlocking. The body is a cylindrical part of about two inches; the part has no threads and runs deep through the holes in the rim thus permitting the threads to hold the trends in the axels. The head and the body constitute a part of the lug bolt known as the grip length. The treads on which the bolt fastens itself is found on the axel, the bolt thus passes through the rim of the wheel (Bickford, 1998). To hold the rim and to prevent the rim from grinding on the head of the bolt, the bolt has a washer, a small hollow plate fastened on the bolt between the head and the surface of the rim to absorb the friction resulting from the contact of the two metal. The design is deliberate and drills the threads on the surface of the spindle a feature that joins the wheel tightly to the axel, as they become part of the spindle. The design help reduce the nuts from loosening as discussed above thus minimizing the chances of the wheel falling off during rotation. Additionally, the design also minimizes friction between the wheel and the spindle as it minimizes the contact between wheel and the spindle by resulting in a unified piece with the wheel relying on the force of the spindle while resting on the body [art of the bolt cushioned from the surface of the bolt with the washer. The diagram above presents the design of the bolt and the washer; the two inches thread is capable of sustaining the wheel and the resultant force of the spindle in motion. The design spread the momentum equally across the wheel by fastening four lug bolts on the wheel. This way, the wheel rests firmly on the spindle and withstands the weight of the load (Sakai, 2008). Part 2 The parts of the lag bolt design are as described in the illustration above, each apart of the bolt performs specific roles in securing the wheel on the spindle. The effectiveness of the lug bolt will also depend on the design of both the wheel and the spindle. The wheel in this case must have four holes through which the bolt extends to the axel thus permitting the fastening. The holes circulate the hub at equal distance all round. The spindle on the other hand unlike many others with spike studs will have four threaded holes on which the threads of the bold roll over as they fasten together. To maintain the efficiency of the lug bolts, regular oiling helps maintain the lubrication to aid ease of locking and unlocking. The manufacture of the lug bolt is an intriguing process that begins with the determination of the raw materials. To endure the weight of the wheel and to withstand the friction associated with the load, the bolts must be manufactured from a strong metal more specifically steel. Steel is arguably the strongest metal and thus has an enabling tensile force to withstand the momentum of the wheel as it revolves and its weight when rested. After the determination and acquisition of the raw material, manufacturing begins with the measurement and cutting of the metal into appropriate size. An ideal lug bolt in the design as a diameter of three inches and a full length of six inches, the first process that precedes the measurement stage is heading. Heading refers to the process of shaping the head of the bolt. Knowles, (2005) explains that after shaping the hexagonal head of the lug bolt, the next step is threading. This process entails wrapping a steel were on the surface of the blank metal. After wrapping the wire at equal intervals to cover the two inches of the threading space, the wire is trimmed and cold headed in a cold working process thus creating a unified bolt (Zobel, 2009). The headed wire becomes part of the bolt capable of enduring the pressure of the wheel and its momentum, as they become part of the formerly blank metal. After the threading stage, the bolt is made and ready to use only that they undergo a coating process a stage in which bolts are galvanized to prevent them from rusting. Rust intensifies the friction between the bolt surface thus increasing wear and tear and possibly complicating the locking and unlocking process. After oiling, the lug bolts are ready for use in fastening the wheel on the spindle. References Bickford, J. H. (1998). Handbook of bolts and bolted joints. New York [u.a.: M. Dekker. Hyldgaard, C. S., Delahousse, B., & Meganck, M. (2009). Engineering in context. Copenhagen: Academica. Knowles, D. (2005). Tech one: Basic automotive service and maintenance. Clifton Park: Thomson Delmar Learning. Sahoo, P. (2005). Engineering tribology. New Delhi: Prentice-Hall of India. Sakai, T. (2008). Bolted joint engineering: Fundamentals and applications. Berlin: Beuth. Willard, F. E. (1997). A wheel within a wheel: How I learned to ride the bicycle with some reflections by the way. Bedford, Mass: Applewood Books. Wilkinson, T. L., & Forest Products Laboratory (U.S.). (1993). Bolted connection strength and bolt hole size. Madison, WI (One Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison 53705-2398: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. Zobel, D. (2009). Wheel loaders. Minneapolis, MN: Bellwether Media. Read More