Stemco Inc

Paul S Perry

Mark N Gold

Barry E Braun

Daylen D Borders

A hubcap vent plug is disclosed which includes a plug body having inlet vent structure for accommodating air flow into a bearing chamber during wheel end pressurization, outlet vent structure for accommodating gaseous flow out of the bearing chamber during wheel end depressurization, a first one-way check valve operatively associated with the inlet vent structure, a second one-way check valve operatively associated with the outlet vent structure, and an annular seal member mounted on the plug body for sealingly engaging the periphery of a reception port formed the end wall of the hubcap.

Contaminant excluding hubcap vent plug

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.

Vented hubcap

A hubcap attached to a wheel wherein a chamber is formed between the hubcap and the wheel for housing a lubricating fluid for the associated wheel bearings. A vent passage extending through the hubcap is provided for relieving the pressure formed in the chamber. A first one way valve is positioned to cover the vent passage for allowing a flow of gases to exit the vent passage while preventing liquids and other contaminants from entering the vent passage. A porous material is mounted across an air inlet passage extending through the hubcap for allowing air to enter the chamber. A second one way valve is mounted across the air inlet passage between the chamber and the porous material to shield the outer surface of the porous material from exposure to lubricating fluid from the chamber.

Growing community of inventors

Longview, TX, United States of America

Paul S Perry