Automatic wheel bearing lubricator
OwnerKenneth C. Ploegerinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automatic lubricator for wheel bearings and closure cap for wheel hubs comprises a hollow body having an open end connected with the hub, a piston sealingly and slidably mounted in the body, and a spring member urging the piston toward the bearing and constantly applying a positive pressure on the lubricant packing the hub. A lubrication fitting for filling the lubricator is attached to the body adjacent to the open end thereof, and an overflow aperture is disposed through a side wall of the body at a point adjacent to the piston for relieving excess lubricant pressure. A heat responsive member located in the body is operative to release lubricant from the hub cavity in response to an abnormally high lubricant temperature.
Claims10
A wheel bearing lubricator comprising:
- a. a hollow body having side walls, a central aperture, a first end, a medial portion, and a second end;
- said first end being adapted for sealing engagement with a wheel hub;
- said second end having a substantially cylindrically shaped interior surface, and said medial portion having an relatively enlarged interior surface;
- b. a piston slidably mounted within said second end;
- said piston having a marginal edge thereof normally sealingly engaging the interior surface of said second end;
- said piston being slidably mounted in said body for translation into said medial portion wherein the marginal edge of said piston assumes a non-sealing position with respect to the interior surface of said medial portion;
- c. a relief opening positioned through said body and disposed rearwardly of said piston and in spaced relation thereto;
- d. resilient means urging said piston toward said medial portion;
- and
- e. means normally limiting piston travel to translation within the second end of said body;
- said limiting means being heat responsive whereby upon attaining a predetermined temperature, said limiting means releases said piston, and said resilient means urges said piston into the medial portion of said body and into said non-sealing position therewith thereby allowing lubricant to flow from said medial portion and through said relief opening, and escape from the lubricator as a warning signal.
A wheel bearing lubricator comprising:
- a. a hollow cap having upstanding side walls, a central aperture, an open end, a medial portion, and a closed end;
- said open end being adapted for sealing engagement with a wheel hub;
- said closed end and said medial portion each having an interior surface with a substantially cylindrical shape and a diameter;
- the diameter of said medial portion being larger than the diameter of said closed end, and forming a stepped shoulder between said medial portion and said closed end;
- b. a tubular member having connection with a central portion of said closed end and extending therefrom between and concentrically with said side walls;
- c. a lubrication fitting connected with said closed end and communicating with said tubular member;
- d. a piston slidably and sealingly mounted on said tubular member and having a marginal edge thereof normally sealingly engaging the interior surface of the closed end;
- said piston being slidably mounted on said tubular member for translation into said medial portion wherein the marginal edge of said piston assumes a non-sealing position with respect to the interior surface of said medial portion;
- e. a spring member positioned between said piston and said closed end, and urging said piston toward said medial portion;
- f. a vent aperture disposed through said cap at a point adjacent to said closed end;
- and
- g. means normally limiting piston travel to translation within the closed end of said body;
- said limiting means being heat responsive whereby upon attaining a predetermined temperature, said limiting means releases said piston, and said resilient means urges said piston past said stepped shoulder into the medial portion of said body and into said non-sealing position thereby allowing lubricant to flow from said medial portion through said vent aperture, and escape from the lubricator as a warning signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.