US5066071A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for detecting metallic particles in lubricant
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-08-24
•
Granted: 1991-11-19
•
Expires: 2010-08-24
Abstract
Abstract A device for visibly detecting the presence of metallic particles in the oil of the hub of a motor vehicle such as a truck. The hub has a transparent portion and an access hole with a plug therein. In this invention the plug carries a flat strip or flag of magnetic material pivotally suspended from the axial inner end of the plug. As the hub and the plug rotate the magnetic strip can remain relatively stationary to collect any metallic particles in the oil. The strip is preferably light colored to show the metallic particles and is readily viewable through the transparent portion of the hub.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W. Kinser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:47
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60B; B60B7/00; B60B7/0013; B60B7/002; F; F16; F16C; F16C33/00; F16C33/30; F16C33/66; F16C33/6637; F16C33/6659; F16C33/667; F16C33/6674; B60B2310/00; B60B2310/20; B60B2310/204; B60B2360/00; B60B2360/10; B60B2360/30; B60B2360/32; B60B2900/00; B60B2900/20; B60B2900/212; B60B2900/30; B60B2900/321; B60Y; B60Y2200/00; B60Y2200/10; B60Y2200/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A device for visually detecting the presence of magnetic particles in the lubricating fluid of a vehicle hub, said hub having a transparent portion at the axial end thereof for viewing the lubricating fluid from outside the hub, said hub having an access opening in the axial end thereof, said device comprising a plug body means of elastic deformable plastics material sealably fitable into said access opening; an elongated member of magnetic material within said vehicle hub positioned to be exposed to said lubricating fluid and pivot means on the axially inner portion of said plug body means for pivotally mounting said elongated magnetic member so that as the hub rotates the elongated magnetic member is free to remain stationary in relation to the rotation of the hub and positioned so as to be viewable through said transparent portion, said magnetic member comprising a strip of plastics material having magnetizable particles therein and having an aperture near one end, said pivot means extending through said aperture for pivotally mounting said elongated magnetic member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
173 words
A device for visually detecting the presence of magnetic particles in the lubricating fluid of a vehicle hub, said hub having a transparent portion at the axial end thereof for viewing the lubricating fluid from outside the hub, said hub having an access opening in the axial end thereof, said device comprising a plug body means of elastic deformable plastics material sealably fitable into said access opening; an elongated member of magnetic material within said vehicle hub positioned to be exposed to said lubricating fluid and pivot means on the axially inner portion of said plug body means for pivotally mounting said elongated magnetic member so that as the hub rotates the elongated magnetic member is free to remain stationary in relation to the rotation of the hub and positioned so as to be viewable through said transparent portion, said magnetic member comprising a strip of plastics material having magnetizable particles therein and having an aperture near one end, said pivot means extending through said aperture for pivotally mounting said elongated magnetic member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the surface of the magnetic member that is viewable has a light color so as to facilitate observation of metallic particles attracted thereto.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 1 in which the magnetizable particles of the elongated member are oriented along flux lines so that metallic particles attracted to the member will lie along said flux lines.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 1 wherein said plug body means has a vent opening extending axially therethrough with the axially inner end of the opening being within said pivot portion.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
137 words
A device for visibly detecting the presence of magnetic particles in the lubricating fluid of a vehicle hub comprising a plug body means of elastic deformable plastics material which is sealably fitable into an aperture in the axial end of said vehicle hub; said plug body means having a portion which extends axially inwardly of the body when the body is positioned in said aperture; an elongated member of magnetic material pivotally attached to said axially inwardly extending portion so as to be exposed to lubricating fluid inside said hub, said elongated member comprising a flat strip of plastics material having magnetizable particles therein and an aperture near one end for pivotally mounting said elongated member so that it is free to stay in a generally vertical position when said plug body and said hub are rotating.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
137 words
A device for visibly detecting the presence of magnetic particles in the lubricating fluid of a vehicle hub comprising a plug body means of elastic deformable plastics material which is sealably fitable into an aperture in the axial end of said vehicle hub; said plug body means having a portion which extends axially inwardly of the body when the body is positioned in said aperture; an elongated member of magnetic material pivotally attached to said axially inwardly extending portion so as to be exposed to lubricating fluid inside said hub, said elongated member comprising a flat strip of plastics material having magnetizable particles therein and an aperture near one end for pivotally mounting said elongated member so that it is free to stay in a generally vertical position when said plug body and said hub are rotating.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 5 wherein the surface of the magnetic member that is viewable has a light color so as to facilitate observation of metallic particles attracted thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 5 in which the magnetizable particle are oriented along flux lines so that metallic particle attracted to the member will lie along said flux lines.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 5 wherein said plug body means has a vent opening extending axially therethrough with the axially inner end of the opening being within said pivot portion.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
183 words
A device for visibly detecting the presence of magnetic particles in the lubricating fluid of a vehicle hub, wherein said hub has a transparent portion at the axial end thereof for viewing the lubricating fluid from outside the hub, said device comprising a plug body means of elastic deformable plastics material sealably fitable into an aperture in the axial end of said vehicle hub and having an axially inwardly extending pivot means portion; a member of magnetic material carried by said plug body means on the pivot means portion thereof so as to be positionable within the vehicle hub to be viewable from the outside of the hub through the transparent portion of the hub, said magnetic member being mounted to be positionable generally parallel with said transparent portion, said magnetic member comprising a strip of plastics material having magnetizable particles therein and having an aperture near one end, said pivot means portion extending through said aperture for pivotally mounting said member so that it is free to stay in a generally vertical position when said plug body and said hub are rotating.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
183 words
A device for visibly detecting the presence of magnetic particles in the lubricating fluid of a vehicle hub, wherein said hub has a transparent portion at the axial end thereof for viewing the lubricating fluid from outside the hub, said device comprising a plug body means of elastic deformable plastics material sealably fitable into an aperture in the axial end of said vehicle hub and having an axially inwardly extending pivot means portion; a member of magnetic material carried by said plug body means on the pivot means portion thereof so as to be positionable within the vehicle hub to be viewable from the outside of the hub through the transparent portion of the hub, said magnetic member being mounted to be positionable generally parallel with said transparent portion, said magnetic member comprising a strip of plastics material having magnetizable particles therein and having an aperture near one end, said pivot means portion extending through said aperture for pivotally mounting said member so that it is free to stay in a generally vertical position when said plug body and said hub are rotating.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The device of claim 9 wherein the surface of the magnetic member that is viewable is generally planar and has a light color so as to facilitate observation of metallic particles attracted thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 9 in which the magnetizable particle are oriented along flux lines so that metallic particle attracted to the member will lie along said flux lines.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The device of claim 9 wherein said plug body means has a vent opening extending axially therethrough with the axially inner end of the opening being within said pivot portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-11-18 | 1995-05-20 | 1995-11-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-11-18 | 1999-05-20 | 1999-11-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-11-18 | 2003-05-20 | 2003-11-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |