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:
Aug. 31, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 11, 2003
Steven G. Slesinski, Kalamazoo, MI (US);
Thomas E. Lyon, Lawton, MI (US);
Dana Corporation, Toledo, OH (US);
Abstract
A wheel end assembly is provided that allows venting of pressurized air from a chamber defined by the hubcap, but prevents entry of contaminants into the chamber. The wheel end assembly includes a hubcap that is configured to be coupled to a wheel and defines a chamber for retaining lubricant for wheel bearings for the wheel. One wall of the hubcap has an aperture in fluid communication with the chamber and a plug is disposed within the aperture. The plug defines a valve for releasing pressurized air from the chamber. The assembly finally includes a cap that is supported on the body of the plug and extends in an outboard direction. The cap is disposed over an outlet of the valve and defines a first fluid chamber in fluid communication with both the outlet of the valve and ambient air. The cap and plug can be inserted into and removed from the aperture as a unit.