Structure facilitating lubrication of wheel bearings

A wheel and axle assembly comprising

• (a) an axially elongated axle bolt means having an outer end and including a bearing abutting spacer means having a peripheral surface,
• (b) a wheel having a central bore and having mounted in said bore a wheel bearing which in turn is mounted on said axle bolt means whereby said wheel can rotate relative to said axle bolt,
• (c) passage means in said axle bolt means entering the same from said outer end thereof and extending axially thereinto,
• (d) said axle bolt means including a radially extending opening confluent with said passage means and opening through said peripheral surface of said spacer means,
• (e) shroud means spaced from said central bore and surrounding said spacer means and providing a path between said shroud means and said spacer means for the passage of fluid from said passage means and for directing such fluid to said bearing.

A wheel, having a central bore, and axle assembly comprising

• (a) an axially elongated axle bolt means having an axial outer end and including a bearing abutting spacer means,
• (b) a wheel carrying wheel bearing having an inner and an outer race with bearings therebetween and with said inner race mounted on said axle bolt means and said outer race mounted in said central bore whereby said wheel can rotate relative to said axle bolt,
• (c) first passage means in said axle bolt means entering the same from said outer end thereof and extending axially thereinto for carrying fluid therein,
• (d) second passage means confluent with said first passage means and extending therefrom to the vicinity of said wheel bearing, and shroud means surrounding said spacer means and with the periphery thereof spaced from the central bore of said wheel with the space between said shroud means and said spacer means forming a portion of said second passage means.

A wheel and axle assembly incorporating a cleaning and lubricating passageway comprising in combination,

• (a) a wheel having a central bore,
• (b) an axle bolt means for carrying said wheel with said bolt means having an outer end,
• (c) said wheel carrying internally a pair of spaced shielded bearings with the inner race of said bearings non-rotatably mounted on said bolt means and the outer race of said bearings non-rotatably mounted in said central bore of said wheel,
• (d) said wheel being carried by said bearing means for rotation relative to said axle bolt means,
• (e) said bolt means including spacer means non rotatably mounted thereon intermediate said pair of spaced bearings for maintaining the space therebetween,
• (f) a cleaning and lubricating fluid passageway extending inwardly from said outer end of said bolt means and radially outwardly through said spacer means to the space between said bearings, and
• (g) shroud means spaced from said central bore of said wheel and surrounding the periphery of said spacer means for directing fluid from said passageway in a direction axially outwardly into said bearing races, said shroud means being made of an elastomeric material and closely fitting the periphery of said spacer member.