Seal for drive-wheel-hub assembly

Claim 2

A seal for a drive-wheel-hub assembly that has an axle shaft (40) extending outwardly from a differential; a generally cylindrical non-rotatable axle housing (12) and spindle (24) enclosing said axle shaft, that define a first cavity between said axle shaft and the interior surface of said spindle; an end cap (42) on the outer end of said axle shaft; a rotatable inwardly extending hub (16) affixed to said end cap, forming a second cavity (46C, 48) between the inside-diameter surface of said hub and the outside-diameter surface (33) of said spindle; and wheel bearings (30, 32) in said second cavity, engaging said outside-diameter surface of said spindle and said inside-diameter surface of said hub for rotatably supporting said hub relative to said spindle; comprising: outer seal means (50, 52, 62) fixedly supported between said first (58C) and second (46C, 48) cavities for sealing off said first cavity from said second cavity for lubricants, wherein said outer seal means comprises: first outer seal means (50) fixedly supported with respect to said spindle (24) and located outward of said bearing (32) for lubricant sealing; and, second outer seal means (52, 62) fixedly supported with respect to said hub (16) and slidably engaging said first outer seal means (50) for forming a rotational seal with said first outer seal means.

Claim 3

A seal as in claim 1 and wherein at least one of said first (50) and second (52) outer seal means is a resilient seal member.

Claim 4

A seal as in claim 1 and wherein said first outer seal means comprises a journal (50) having a cylindrical outside-diameter surface for engaging said second outer seal means (52).

Claim 5

A seal as in claim 1 and further comprising a nut (38) threaded on the outer end of said spindle, and wherein said first outer seal means (50) comprises a seal means immovably fixed with respect to said nut for support.

Claim 6

A seal as in claim 4 and wherein said first outer seal means (50) is affixed to said nut (38) in an annular groove (60) in the outer face of said nut.

Claim 7

A seal as in claim 1 and wherein said second outer seal means comprises a resilient annular seal (52) having a cylindrical inside-diameter surface for rotationally engaging said first outer seal means (50).

Claim 8

A seal as in claim 1 and further comprising at least two threaded fasteners (22) for affixing said hub (16) to said end cap (42), and wherein said second outer seal means (52) comprises a seal means held with respect to said threaded fasteners for support.

Claim 9

A seal as in claim 7 and wherein said second outer seal means also comprises a rigid seal carrier ring (62), to an inside surface of which said resilient annular ring (52) is affixed.

Claim 10

A seal for drive-wheel-hub assembly that has an axle shaft (40) extending outwardly from a differential; a generally cylindrical non-rotatable axle housing (12) and spindle (24) enclosing said axle shaft that defines a first cavity (58C) between said axle shaft and the interior surface of said spindle; an end cap (42) on the outer end of said axle shaft; a rotatable inwardly extending hub (16) affixed to said end cap, forming a second cavity (46C, 48) between the inside-diameter surface of said hub and the outside-diameter surface (33) of said spindle; and wheel bearings (30, 32) in said second cavity, engaging the outside-diameter surface of said spindle and said inside-diameter surface of said hub for rotatably supporting said hub relative to said spindle; comprising: a nut (38) threaded on the outer end of said spindle, and having an annular groove (60) in the outer face of said nut; a journal (50) affixed in said annular groove of said nut, and having a cylindrical outside-diameter surface; a resilient annular seal (52) having a cylindrical inside-diameter surface for rotationally engaging said cylindrical outside-diameter surface of said journal (50); a rigid seal-carrier ring (62) having an inside surface to which said resilient annular ring (52) is affixed for supporting said resilient annular ring; at least two threaded fasteners (22) for affixing said end cap (42) to said hub (16), wherein said threaded fasteners support said rigid seal-carrier ring (62) with respect to said hub (16).

Claim 11

A seal for drive-wheel-hub assembly that has an axle shaft (40) extending outwardly from a differential; a generally cylindrical non-rotatable axle housing (12) and spindle (24) enclosing said axle shaft that defines a first cavity (58C) between said axle shaft and the interior surface of said spindle; an end cap (42) on the outer end of said axle shaft; a rotatable inwardly extending hub (16) affixed to said end cap, forming a second cavity (46C, 48) between the inside-diameter surface of said hub and the outside-diameter surface (33) of said spindle; and wheel bearings (30, 32) in said second cavity, engaging the outside-diameter surface of said spindle and said inside-diameter surface of said hub for rotatably supporting said hub relative to said spindle; comprising: a nut (38) threaded on the outer end of said spindle, and having an annular groove (60) in the outer face of said nut; a journal (50) affixed in said annular groove of said nut, and having a cylindrical outside-diameter surface; a resilient annular seal (52) having a cylindrical inside-diameter surface for rotationally engaging said cylindrical outside-diameter surface of said journal (50); a rigid seal-carrier ring (62) having an inside surface to which said resilient annular ring (52) is affixed for supporting said resilient annular ring; at least two threaded fasteners (22) for affixing said end cap (42) to said hub (16), wherein said threaded fasteners support said rigid seal-carrier ring (62) with respect to said hub (16).