American Standard Inc.

Accuride Corporation

Larry Keith Rogers

A centering apparatus for centering a detachable vehicular wheel with a central opening on a hub. The one-piece centering apparatus fits in an annular groove in the hub pilot boss. The one-piece centering apparatus may be in the shape of a ring, with bendable and resilient fingers extending outwardly from the ring at an angle away from the outer end of the pilot boss. As the wheel is mounted over the hub pilot boss, a flange at the wheel central opening presses against the fingers on the ring. This causes the fingers to bend slightly to compensate for any interference fit. The resilient action of the fingers keeps the wheel centered on the hub. The wheel is then bolted to the wheel assembly. In other embodiments, the centering apparatus has a cross-section in the approximate shape of a 'V', 'U', 'N', or 'M', one leg of which serves as the bendable and resilient finger. The fingers may be replaced by a continuous member extending around the circumference of the pilot boss. The centering apparatus may also be a coiled wire in the shape of a toroid. The centering apparatus alternatively can be retained in an annular groove in the margin of the wheel central opening, with the bendable resilient fingers extending inwardly to press fit with the hub pilot boss and center the wheel on the hub. Various materials may be used for the centering apparatus.

Apparatus for centering a wheel on a hub

A standardized wheel balance weight with a weight, a resilient clip attached at one end to the weight, and the opposite end of the clip split into at least two clip portions each defining a different unloaded gap dimension with respect to the weight to accommodate different rim flange thicknesses and contours. The opposite end of the clip may be trifurcated or split into four or more clip portions to define the two different unloaded gap dimensions. The opposite end of the clip also may be at least trifurcated into at least three clip portions to define at least three different unloaded gap dimensions with respect to the weight. Five clip portions may define the three different unloaded gap dimensions. The clip is self-retaining in all instances.

Wheel balance weight

A work cylinder having an internally-disposed, automatically-operated drain valve disposed in one or both ends of a housing having a cylinder bore formed therein. A reciprocally-movable piston divides the bore into first and second pressure chambers. A drain chamber formed in one or both ends has a movable plunger member disposed therein. A first passageway allows fluid from the pressure chamber to act on one surface of the plunger. A pilot valve is partially formed on a bottom portion of the plunger and opens when fluid pressure is exhausted from the adjacent pressure chamber. A bias spring acts on the plunger to prevent closing of the drain valve upon initial pressurization of the adjacent chamber. This initial pressurization assists in purging additional moisture from the chamber until a threshold level is exceeded to close the drain valve.

Cylinder having an internally-disposed drain valve

A work cylinder having a piston of single-body construction and a cushioning arrangement integrally formed on the piston includes a cylinder housing having a chamber formed therein divided into first and second work chambers by the piston. First and second piston extensions extend into first and second graduated chamber portions formed at opposite ends of the cylinder housing. A sealing material, bonded to the exterior surface of the piston, exhibits a dual cup-shaped piston seal around the center portion and annular cushion seals on the piston extensions. The cushion seals are at an angle such that, when in contact with a first chamber reduction, a seal results. Additionally, in the opposite direction, the cushion seals act as a check valve whereby fluid pressure introduced to a second chamber reduction depresses the cushion seals and flows into the selected work chamber. When the piston is moving into the second chamber reduction portion, the annular cushion seals channel fluid present in the work chamber to the second chamber reduction portion thereby providing a variable cushioning fluid pressure.

Work cylinder having a piston member with an integral cushioning

A hydraulic cylinder having a locking device disposed in either, or both head ends which attach to the cylinder, has a piston reciprocally movable within a piston chamber formed in the cylinder. A stud member having a groove portion and a stud portion, secures to the piston for reciprocal movement therewith. The stud member axially moves within a stud bore formed in the head end such that, the stud bore acts as a variable volume stud chamber. A plunger member, disposed in the head end, is in fluid communication with the variable volume stud bore such that, movement of the stud member into the stud bore increases the fluid pressure, thus forcing the plunger out of contact with the stud portion of the stud member. When a predetermined pressure occurs, an outlet valve to the stud bore opens, reducing the fluid pressure and allowing the plunger to be urged into engagement with the groove portion of the stud member thus effecting a locked condition. An inlet valve to the stud bore allows introduction of additional fluid pressure to the stud bore sufficient to force the plunger out of engagement with the groove portion of the stud member, thus effecting an unlock of the cylinder. A common passageway communicates with both the inlet and outlet valves simultaneously, thus preventing the valve opposite the one operating, from itself operating.

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Henderson, KY, United States of America

Larry Keith Rogers