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US 6,203,114 B1Granted
Temperature indicator for a semi-fluid synthetic grease filled axle
AssigneeWabash Technology Corporation
InventorRodney P. Ehrlich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A novel temperature probe provides a visual indicator to an operator of when an assembly, such as a vehicle axle, filled with a semi-fluid synthetic grease for lubricating the bearings therein has reached an unsafe temperature during operation. In one embodiment, the temperature probe is provided in a specially drilled bore through one of the components. In another embodiment, the temperature probe is provided in a bore drilled into a fastener member which is normally used in the assembly. The temperature probe includes an indicator pin which is mounted in a housing. When the components reach an unsafe temperature during operation, the indicator pin pops outwardly from the housing to alert a user that an unsafe temperature has been reached.
Claims44
An apparatus comprising:
- an axle;
- a wheel hub rotatably mounted on said axle by a plurality of wheel bearings;
- a chamber provided between said wheel hub and said axle adapted to receive a semi-fluid synthetic grease for lubricating said wheel bearings;
- and visual indicating means associated with said chamber for providing a visual indication to a user of the temperature of said wheel bearings, said visual indicating means comprising a member, a biasing component which biases said member relative to said chamber when a predetermined temperature is reached by said wheel bearings, a housing in which said member is provided, said housing being disposed in a metal plug, said housing including material therein which becomes viscous upon the application of a predetermined amount of heat to permit said member to be biased relative to said housing when said predetermined temperature is reached by said wheel bearings.
1 more element
An apparatus comprising:
- an axle;
- a wheel hub rotatably mounted on said axle by a plurality of wheel bearings;
- a hub cap mounted on said wheel hub by a plurality of bolts;
- a chamber provided between said wheel hub and said axle adapted to receive a semi-fluid synthetic grease for lubricating said wheel bearings;
- and visual indicating means associated with said chamber for providing a visual indication to a user of the temperature of said wheel bearings, said visual indicating means being disposed on at least one of said bolts, said one bolt including a threaded shank having a bore therein, and said visual indicating means being disposed in said bore, said visual indicating means comprising a biasing component which biases a member relative to said threaded shank when a predetermined temperature of the wheel bearings is reached, said member being provided in a housing disposed in said bore, said housing including material therein which becomes viscous upon the application of a predetermined amount of heat to permit said member to be biased relative to said housing when said predetermined temperature of the wheel bearings is reached.
2 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- an axle;
- a wheel hub rotatably mounted on said axle by a plurality of wheel bearings;
- a hub cap mounted on said wheel hub by a plurality of bolts;
- a chamber provided between said wheel hub and said axle adapted to receive a semi-fluid synthetic grease for lubricating said wheel bearings;
- and visual indicating means associated with said chamber for providing a visual indication to a user of the temperature of said wheel bearings, said visual indicating means being disposed on at least one of said bolts, said one bolt includes a threaded shank having a bore therein, and said visual indicating means being secured in said bore by adhesive.
2 more elements
A temperature indicator capable of being used in an assembly, said assembly including at least one bearing which is lubricated by semi-fluid synthetic grease, said temperature indicator comprising:
- a bolt having a threaded shank, said threaded shank has a bore therein, said bolt being capable of being mounted to a component of the assembly, and visual indicating means carried by said bolt for providing a visual indication to a user of temperature of the at least one bearing, said visual indicating means being disposed in said bore and comprising a housing, a member provided in said housing, said housing being disposed in said bore, a biasing component which biases said member relative to said threaded shank when a predetermined temperature is reached, said housing including material therein which becomes viscous upon the application of a predetermined amount of heat to permit said member to be biased relative to said housing when said predetermined temperature is reached by said wheel bearings.
A temperature indicator capable of being used in an assembly, said assembly including at least one bearing which is lubricated by semi-fluid synthetic grease, said temperature indicator comprising:
- a bolt having a threaded shank, said bolt being capable of being mounted to a component of the assembly, said threaded shank having a bore therein, and visual indicating means disposed in said bore of said bolt for providing a visual indication to a user of temperature of the at least one bearing, said visual indicating means being secured in said bore by adhesive.
An assembly comprising:
- a first component;
- a second component rotatably mounted on said first component by at least one bearing;
- a chamber provided between said first component and said second component;
- a semi-fluid synthetic grease within said chamber for lubricating said at least one bearing;
- and
- visual indicating means associated with said chamber for providing a visual indication to a user of the temperature of said at least one bearing, said visual indicating means comprising a housing, a member provided in said housing, said housing being disposed in a metal plug, a biasing component which biases said member relative to said chamber when a predetermined temperature is reached by said at least one bearing, said housing including material therein which becomes viscous upon the application of a predetermined amount of heat to permit said member to be biased relative to said housing when said predetermined temperature is reached by said wheel bearings.
3 more elements
An assembly comprising:
- a first component;
- a second component rotatably mounted on said first component by at least one bearing;
- a chamber provided between said first component and said second component;
- a semi-fluid synthetic grease within said chamber for lubricating said at least one bearing;
- visual indicating means associated with said chamber for providing a visual indication to a user of the temperature of said at least one bearing;
- and
- a third component mounted on one of said first and second components by at least one bolt, said visual indicating means being disposed on said bolt, said bolt including a threaded shank having a bore therein, and said visual indicating means being disposed in said bore,
- said visual indicating means comprises a biasing component which biases a member relative to said threaded shank when a predetermined temperature of said at least one bearing is reached, said member being provided in a housing disposed in said bore, said housing including material therein which becomes viscous upon the application of a predetermined amount of heat to permit said member to be biased relative to said housing when said predetermined temperature of said at least one bearing is reached.
5 more elements
An assembly comprising:
- a first component;
- a second component rotatably mounted on said first component by at least one bearing;
- a chamber provided between said first component and said second component;
- a semi-fluid synthetic grease within said chamber for lubricating said at least one bearing;
- visual indicating means associated with said chamber for providing a visual indication to a user of the temperature of said at least one bearing;
- and
- a third component mounted on one of said first and second components by at least one bolt, said bolt including a threaded shank having a bore therein, and said visual indicating means being secured in said bore by adhesive.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.