Vented hubcap
US5785390A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 31, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jul 28, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 31, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16C2326/02
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A hubcap attached to a wheel hub wherein a chamber is formed between the hubcap and the wheel hub for housing a lubricating fluid for the associated wheel bearings. A vent passage extending through the hubcap is provided for relieving the pressure formed therein. A porous material is positioned to cover the vent passage for allowing a flow of gases to enter and exit the vent passage while preventing liquids and other contaminants from traveling therethrough. The porous material is held in a compressive abutting relationship to the hubcap surface by an enclosure which surrounds the vent passage and encases the porous material to shield the outer surface of the porous material from exposure to external grit and other contaminants. The enclosure further has at least one port to accommodate air flow to the porous material. The enclosure may further include a filter device positioned adjacent to the port which prevents the passage of grit and other contaminants therethrough to prevent the accumulation of external contaminants on the porous material covering the vent passage thereby maintaining the air flow vent path.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.