US3893690A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hub cap assembly
Assignee: Federal Mogul LLC
•
Filing: 1973-11-16
•
Granted: 1975-07-08
•
Expires: 1993-11-16
Abstract
Abstract A closure device for a wheel hub rotatably mounted upon an axle. A diaphragm member has a cylindrical portion and a distal covering wall portion that is movable axially with respect to the hub to accommodate expansions and contractions of gases and lubricant contained within the hub. A protective metal shell preferably surrounds and overlies the diaphragm, having a cylindrical wall and a closure wall which lies beyond the distal wall, usually being spaced therefrom. The shell encloses the device, except for a central opening which may be left open to enable viewing the position of the distal covering wall or may be closed by a removable cap fitting. A check valve is provided in the cylindrical wall of the shell or in the distal wall portion of the diaphragm member for admitting lubricant from a pressure lubricator and for retaining the admitted lubricant.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald A Yapp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:27
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60B; B60B7/00; B60B7/0013; B60B7/002; B60B27/00; B60B27/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A closure device for a wheel hub rotatably mounted upon an axle, including in combination: a diaphragm member having a generally cylindrical wall joined to a cover wall that is movable axially with respect to said hub to accommodate expansions and contractions oF gases and lubricant contained within said hub, and a protective metal shell having a cylindrical portion surrounding, overlying and continuously engaging the cylindrical wall of said diaphragm member in a leak-tight fit and having a radially extending retention means at one end for limiting axial movement of said cover wall and normally spaced therefrom and a central opening in said radially extending retention means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A closure device for a wheel hub rotatably mounted upon an axle, including in combination: a diaphragm member having a generally cylindrical wall joined to a cover wall that is movable axially with respect to said hub to accommodate expansions and contractions oF gases and lubricant contained within said hub, and a protective metal shell having a cylindrical portion surrounding, overlying and continuously engaging the cylindrical wall of said diaphragm member in a leak-tight fit and having a radially extending retention means at one end for limiting axial movement of said cover wall and normally spaced therefrom and a central opening in said radially extending retention means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The closure device of claim 1 having check valve means secured to said device for admitting lubricant from a pressure lubricator and for retaining admitted lubricant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The closure device of claim 2 wherein said radially extending retention means is spaced from said cover wall, in the normal unpressurized rest position of said cover wall, by and amount such that when said hub is pressurized by increased temperature or by admitting grease through said check valve means, an exterior portion of said cover wall rests against said radially extending retention means until internal pressure within said hub is relieved.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The closure device of claim 3 wherein said check valve is secured to said shell and extends through the cylindrical wall thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The closure device of claim 3 wherein said check valve means is secured to said cover wall portion at the center thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The closure device of claim 1 having a removable imperforate cap fitting in and closing said central opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The closure device of claim 1 wherein said diaphragm''s cylindrical wall is clamped tightly between an annular ring on its interior surface and said cylindrical portion of the wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said cylindrical portion is thinned by sloping inwardly adjacent where it mates with said hub.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
131 words
A closure device for a wheel hub rotatably mounted upon an axle, including in combination: an elastomeric diaphragm member having a generally cylindrical portion and a cover wall that is movable axially with respect to said hub to accommodate expansions and contractions of gases and lubricant contained within said hub, and a protective metal shell having a cylindrical wall surrounding, overlying, and snugly engaging substantially the full length of the cylindrical portion of said diaphragm member in a non-leak, non-slip fit, thereby retaining said cylindrical portion against radial movement and having at one end a radially inwardly extending annular rim structured to limit the axial movement of said cover wall and normally spaced therefrom and defining a central opening through which the axial position of said cover wall may be observed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
131 words
A closure device for a wheel hub rotatably mounted upon an axle, including in combination: an elastomeric diaphragm member having a generally cylindrical portion and a cover wall that is movable axially with respect to said hub to accommodate expansions and contractions of gases and lubricant contained within said hub, and a protective metal shell having a cylindrical wall surrounding, overlying, and snugly engaging substantially the full length of the cylindrical portion of said diaphragm member in a non-leak, non-slip fit, thereby retaining said cylindrical portion against radial movement and having at one end a radially inwardly extending annular rim structured to limit the axial movement of said cover wall and normally spaced therefrom and defining a central opening through which the axial position of said cover wall may be observed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The closure device of claim 9 having check valve means secured to said shell and extending radially through said cylindrical wall for admitting lubricant from a pressure lubricator and for retaining admitted lubricant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The closure device of claim 9 wherein said cover wall is a thickened portion of said elastomeric diaphragm member and is connected to said cylindrical portion by a thinned flexing recurved portion thereby enabling axial movement of said cover wall.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The closure device of claim 11 wherein said cover wall has a radial internal surface and a conical outer surface that is thickest at the center thereof thereby limiting flection of said member substantially to said flexing recurved portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The closure device of claim 9 wherein said cylindrical portion is clamped and squeezed between said cylindrical wall and an cylindrical metal ring.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said rim is spaced from said cover wall, in the normal unpressurized rest position of said cover wall, by an amount such that when said hub is filled with grease through said check valve means, said cover wall rests against said rim until internal pressure in said hub is relieved.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
135 words
A closure device for a wheel hub rotatably mounted upon an axle, including in combination: a diaphragm member having a generally cylindrical portion with an end flange for attachment of said membeR in an annular recess in the hub and a cover wall that is axially movable with respect to said hub to accommodate expansions and contractions of gases and lubricant contained within said hub, check valve means secured to said cover wall at the center thereof for admitting lubricant from a pressure lubricator and for retaining admitted lubricant, a protective metal shell having an overlying cylindrical wall surrounding and embracing substantially all of the cylindrical portion of said diaphragm member and having a closure wall at one end covering said cover wall and normally spaced therefrom and a central opening in said closure wall.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
135 words
A closure device for a wheel hub rotatably mounted upon an axle, including in combination: a diaphragm member having a generally cylindrical portion with an end flange for attachment of said membeR in an annular recess in the hub and a cover wall that is axially movable with respect to said hub to accommodate expansions and contractions of gases and lubricant contained within said hub, check valve means secured to said cover wall at the center thereof for admitting lubricant from a pressure lubricator and for retaining admitted lubricant, a protective metal shell having an overlying cylindrical wall surrounding and embracing substantially all of the cylindrical portion of said diaphragm member and having a closure wall at one end covering said cover wall and normally spaced therefrom and a central opening in said closure wall.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 15 also including a removable imperforate cap fitting in and closing said central opening.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 15 wherein said cylindrical wall is thinned by sloping inwardly adjacent where it approaches said end flange.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
58 words
The device of claim 15 wherein said closure wall is spaced from said cover wall, in the normal unpressurized rest position of said cover wall, by an amount such that when said cavity is filled with grease through said check valve means, said cover wall rests against said closure wall until internal pressure in said hub is relieved.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
The closure device of claim 15 wherein when said protective shell is removed said generally cylindrical portion becomes actually slightly frustoconical, tapering slightly inwardly from said end flange to where said cover wall joins said generally cylindrical portion.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
108 words
The closure device of claim 15 wherein said cover wall has a recurved portion connecting it to said generally cylindrical portion and succeeded by a thin diaphragm portion leading to a central plug portion that is thicker than any of the other walls of said diaphragm member, said central plug portion having a central opening and a plurality of openings radially spaced away from said central opening identical distances, said check valve means having a stem extending through said central opening and having an end cap inside said diaphragm member and with a perimeter normally resting against said central plug portion just radially outside said plurality of openings.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
98 words
A grease cap for a wheel hub, including in combination: an expansible member having a radially fixed and rigid tubular portion with hub lock-in means adjacent one end and a closure wall at the other end expansive only along the axis of said tubular portion and having opening means, and check valve means normally closing said opening means against entry from outside and exit from inside but urgeable to an open position by a predetermined pressure for admitting grease for lubrication which is much greater than any pressure within or without said hub developed incident to its use.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
98 words
A grease cap for a wheel hub, including in combination: an expansible member having a radially fixed and rigid tubular portion with hub lock-in means adjacent one end and a closure wall at the other end expansive only along the axis of said tubular portion and having opening means, and check valve means normally closing said opening means against entry from outside and exit from inside but urgeable to an open position by a predetermined pressure for admitting grease for lubrication which is much greater than any pressure within or without said hub developed incident to its use.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2571893A
Cited
US2936779A
Cited
US3159176A
Cited
US3138942A
Cited
US3226162A
Cited
US3380791A
Cited
US3330563A
Cited
US3331638A
Cited
US3642327A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-07 | 1979-01-06 | 1979-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-07 | 1983-01-06 | 1983-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-07 | 1987-01-06 | 1987-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |