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:
Dec. 04, 2001
Filed:
Nov. 23, 1999
Don Sitter, Prattville, AL (US);
Kent Davison, Columbia City, IN (US);
Martin G. Blessing, Fort Wayne, IN (US);
Dana Corporation, Toledo, OH (US);
Abstract
A vent system for a wheel hub comprising a first filtered vent at the wheel end cavity and a second vent formed by a one-way, pressure relief valve venting the axle tube to atmosphere. The vent system defines a vent path from the wheel end cavity through a first, preferably filtered, vent into the axle tube then through a second check valve connecting the axle tube to atmosphere. A porous material is positioned to cover the vent passage at the wheel end cavity 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 place over the vent by a snap ring or other suitable retention system disposed within the vented plug member. The second axle tube vent is disposed along the axle tube to vent the tube itself to atmosphere with pressure relief