The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 13, 2001
Filed:
Jun. 02, 1999
Barry E. Braun, Veradale, WA (US);
Stemco Inc, Longview, TX (US);
Abstract
A wheel hub and bearing assembly for mounting on a vehicle axle. The assembly includes a wheel hub having a longitudinal axis, a pair of bearings within the wheel hub, the bearings in spaced axial relation along the longitudinal axis of the wheel hub, a lubricant cavity within the wheel hub between the axially spaced bearings adapted to be filled with a lubricant prior to the wheel hub being mounted on an axle, and a vane disposed within the lubricant cavity and extending radially outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wheel hub. The vane includes first and second passages. The first passage has a transverse port for receiving lubricant into the vane upon rotation of the wheel hub on the axle, a radial passageway for directing lubricant flow from the transverse port in a radially inward direction towards the longitudinal axis of the wheel hub, and an axial nozzle for directing lubricant flow from the radial passageway in an axial direction, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wheel hub, out of the vane and within the lubricant cavity towards one of the axially spaced bearings. The second passage has a transverse port for receiving lubricant into the vane upon opposite rotation of the wheel hub on the axle, a radial passageway for directing lubricant flow from the transverse port of the second passage in a radially inward direction towards the longitudinal axis of the wheel hub, and an axial nozzle for directing lubricant flow from the radial passageway of the second passage in an axial direction, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wheel hub, out of the vane and within the lubricant cavity towards one of the axially spaced bearings.