US5492393A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hub cap vent device
Assignee: SKF USA Inc
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Filing: 1994-09-15
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Granted: 1996-02-20
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Expires: 2014-09-15
Abstract
Abstract A hub cap for heavy duty axles. The hub cap includes a breather vent disc made from a non-metallic material partially fused so as to permit air flow therethrough in both a grease-free and a greased condition, such vent disc being mechanically secured to a disc carrier, and the carrier being received in fluid-tight relation to the end wall portion of the hub cap body.
Inventors
- 👤 Glenn W. Peisker
- 👤 Dennis N. Denton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:51
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60B; B60B7/00; B60B7/0013; B60B7/002; B60B27/00; B60B27/02; F; F16; F16C; F16C33/00; F16C33/72; F16C33/723; F16C33/726; F16C2326/00; F16C2326/01; F16C2326/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A vehicle hub cap comprising, in combination, a hub cap body having side and endwall portions, a fastening portion adapted to cooperate with a portion of a rotary vehicle hub, and a breather vent assembly, said breather vent assembly comprising, in combination, a breather vent disc and a breather vent disc carrier positioned within said cap body end wall and having a center vent opening in which said disc is secured in mechanically snug relation, said disc being made from fine particles of a non-metallic material, with portions of the exterior surfaces of said particles being fused to one another so as to leave plural breathing passages between said particles, said passages providing a porosity such that, when clean, a disc of said material having an exposed diameter of about 0.15 square inches will permit air to flow therethrough at from about 800 cc to about 5,000 cc per minute at 1 psi, and when coated with grease, said disc will permit at least 80-100 cc's of air per minute at 1 psi to pass therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A vehicle hub cap comprising, in combination, a hub cap body having side and endwall portions, a fastening portion adapted to cooperate with a portion of a rotary vehicle hub, and a breather vent assembly, said breather vent assembly comprising, in combination, a breather vent disc and a breather vent disc carrier positioned within said cap body end wall and having a center vent opening in which said disc is secured in mechanically snug relation, said disc being made from fine particles of a non-metallic material, with portions of the exterior surfaces of said particles being fused to one another so as to leave plural breathing passages between said particles, said passages providing a porosity such that, when clean, a disc of said material having an exposed diameter of about 0.15 square inches will permit air to flow therethrough at from about 800 cc to about 5,000 cc per minute at 1 psi, and when coated with grease, said disc will permit at least 80-100 cc's of air per minute at 1 psi to pass therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
A hub cap as defined in claim 1, wherein said breather vent disc carrier is in the form of a plastic element having a body with a shank portion and an enlarged head portion, wherein said center opening comprises a bore extending axially through said shank and a counterbore, extending into said body from said head portion, and with said disc being made from high density polyethylene particles sintered together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A hub cap as defined in claim 2, wherein said breather vent disc carrier is also made from a thermoplastic material and said breather vent disc is retained in said counterbore by being spun welded to said vent opening sidewall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A hub cap as defined in claim 2, wherein said breather vent disc carrier is made from a thermoplastic material and said breather vent disc is retained in said counterbore by being ultrasonically welded to said vent opening sidewall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A hub cap as defined in claim 2, wherein said breather vent disc is secured within said counterbore by a bead overlying the radially outer margins of the outer end face portion of said breather vent disc.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A hub cap as defined in claim 2, wherein said hub cap is made from metal, wherein said shank portion of said carrier element and a portion of said hub cap contain cooperating threads for securing said carrier to said hub cap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A hub cap as defined in claim 1, wherein said hub cap and said breather vent disc carrier are both made from the same plastic material and wherein said breather vent disc carrier is positioned within said cap body end wall by being formed as an integral portion of said end wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A hub cap as defined in claim 7, wherein said breather vent disc is made from individual particles of a ceramic material having portions of their exterior surfaces fused to one another so as to leave plural passages between said particles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
A hub cap as defined in claim 7, wherein said breather vent disc carrier center opening includes cylindrical sidewall portions defining a reduced diameter portion and an enlarged counterbore portion said portions combining to define a vent passage shoulder, and with said breather vent disc being positioned in facing relation to said shoulder and being retained in said counterbore portion by an interference fit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A hub cap as defined in claim 9, wherein said interference fit is created by post-molding thermal shrinkage of said counterbore.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
A hub cap as defined in claim 9, wherein said breather vent disc is secured within said counterbore by a bead overlying an outer margin of the end face of said disc and being formed from the material comprising said carrier body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A hub cap as defined in claim 11, wherein said bead is formed by ultrasonically deforming said sidewall forming a portion of said counterbore.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-02-19 | 1999-08-21 | 2000-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-02-19 | 2003-08-21 | 2004-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-02-19 | 2007-08-21 | 2008-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |