# US 2014/0197679 A1 · Controlled Lubricant Volume Seal Housing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197679 A1 - Document ID: US20140197679A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/739,046 - Filed: 2013-01-11 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Assignees: Siemens Industry, Inc. - Inventors: Todd R. Morman; Stephen Tressel; Matthew Douville - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197679A1 ## CPC - B60B 27/0073: {characterised by sealing means} - B60B 37/04: the wheels being rigidly attached to solid axles - F16C 33/768: {between relatively stationary parts, i.e. static seals} - F16C 33/7813: {for tapered roller bearings} - F16C 33/7826: {of the opposing surface cooperating with the seal, e.g. a shoulder surface of a bearing ring} - F16C 33/783: {of the mounting region} - F16C 33/7889: {mounted to an inner race and extending toward the outer race} - F16C 19/361: {with cylindrical rollers} - F16C 19/364: {with tapered rollers, i.e. rollers having essentially the shape of a truncated cone} - F16C 19/548: {in O-arrangement} - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract A mechanical drive seal housing includes a lubricant reservoir to supplement the amount of available lubricant. The lubricant is used to cool a seal having two halves. The seal halves include complimentary textures configured to move and retain lubricant. A drive axle includes a stationary shaft and a wheel hub rotatably connected to the stationary shaft. A metal face seal is located at an interface between the stationary shaft and the wheel hub. A stationary seal half of the metal face seal is located in a mechanical drive seal housing which includes a lubricant reservoir to supplement the amount of available lubricant. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A mechanical drive seal housing comprising: a circular outer diameter; a circular inner diameter; a seal receiving slot located on a first side of the mechanical drive seal housing between the outer diameter and the inner diameter; a lubricant reservoir located adjacent to the seal receiving slot and between the outer diameter and the inner diameter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The mechanical drive seal housing of claim 1 wherein the lubricant reservoir protrudes outward from a second side of the mechanical drive seal housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The mechanical drive seal housing of claim 1 wherein the lubricant reservoir is sized to contain a predetermined amount of lubricant. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The mechanical drive seal housing of claim 3 wherein the predetermined amount of lubricant is an additional amount substantially equal to an amount of lubricant required to fill a cavity of the mechanical drive seal housing above a lubricant fill level. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The mechanical drive seal housing of claim 1 wherein the lubricant reservoir is located radially and axially inward of the seal receiving slot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The mechanical drive seal housing of claim 1 wherein the lubricant reservoir protrudes adjacent to a surface of a standing lubricant level. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The mechanical drive seal housing of claim 6 wherein the lubricant reservoir protrudes tapered from a first point of zero protrusion to a point of maximum protrusion to a second point of zero protrusion along substantially one-half the circumference of the mechanical drive seal housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The mechanical drive seal housing of claim 1 further comprising: a shelf located opposite a radially inward facing surface of the seal receiving slot, the shelf spaced from the radially inward facing surface of the seal receiving slot to produce a cavity having a predetermined volume. ### Claim 9 A drive axle comprising: a spindle; a wheel hub rotatably connected to the spindle; a mechanical drive seal housing connected to the spindle between the spindle and the wheel hub, the mechanical drive seal housing comprising: a circular outer diameter; a circular inner diameter; a seal receiving slot located on a first side of the mechanical drive seal housing between the outer diameter and the inner diameter; a lubricant reservoir located adjacent to the seal receiving slot and between the outer diameter and the inner diameter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The drive axle of claim 9 wherein the lubricant reservoir protrudes outward from a second side of the mechanical drive seal housing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The drive axle of claim 9 wherein the lubricant reservoir is sized to contain a predetermined amount of lubricant. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The drive axle of claim 11 wherein the predetermined amount of lubricant is an additional amount substantially equal to an amount of lubricant required to fill a cavity of the mechanical drive seal housing above a lubricant fill level. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The drive axle of claim 9 wherein the lubricant reservoir is located radially and axially inward of the seal receiving slot. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The drive axle of claim 9 wherein the lubricant reservoir protrudes adjacent to a surface of a standing lubricant level. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The drive axle of claim 14 wherein the lubricant reservoir protrudes tapered from a first point of zero protrusion to a point of maximum protrusion to a second point of zero protrusion along the substantially one-half the circumference of the mechanical drive seal housing. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The drive axle of claim 9, the mechanical drive seal housing further comprising: a shelf located opposite a radially inward facing surface of the seal receiving slot, the shelf spaced from the radially inward facing surface of the seal receiving slot to produce a cavity having a predetermined volume.