Vent cap for hydraulic apparatus
AssigneeHydro-Gear Limited Partnership
InventorsAdam William Wahner, Scott W. Keller, Lonnie E. Holder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vent apparatus for a hydrostatic device such as a hydrostatic transmission, including a vent tube in communication with a reservoir and a vent cap secured to the tube in a manner to permit the cap to pivot or swivel with respect to the vent tube, in order to prevent water from entering the reservoir through the vent tube.
Claims29
A vent apparatus for a hydrostatic device having a reservoir for hydraulic fluid, comprising:
- a tube having a first end located outside the hydraulic fluid reservoir and a second end in communication with the hydraulic fluid reservoir;
- a vent cap having a top closed surface and a continuous side surface extending from the top surface to an opening at the bottom thereof;
- means for securing the vent cap to the first end of the tube to permit air to flow in and out of the first end of the tube and to permit the vent cap to pivot about the longitudinal axis of the tube, whereby the bottom of the vent cap can deflect toward the tube.
A vent apparatus for a hydrostatic device having a reservoir for hydraulic fluid, the vent apparatus comprising:
- a vent comprising a first end and a second end, where the second end is in communication with the hydraulic fluid reservoir;
- a first engagement structure located adjacent to the first end of the vent;
- a vent cap mounted on the first end of the vent, the vent cap comprising a generally cylindrical body being closed at a first end and open at a second end;
- a second engagement structure located on the inner surface of the closed first end of the vent cap and shaped to connect with the first engagement structure to permit the vent cap to pivot with respect to the first end of the vent, so that the second end of the vent cap may move towards the vent;
- and
- an opening associated with the first end of the vent to permit air to flow through the vent when the vent cap is affixed thereto.
An axle driving apparatus comprising:
- a housing forming a main oil sump and having a reservoir space associated therewith;
- a hydrostatic drive apparatus mounted in the housing;
- a vent comprising a first end and a second end, where the second end is in communication with the reservoir;
- a first engagement structure located adjacent to the first end of the vent;
- a vent cap mounted on the first end of the vent, the vent cap comprising a generally cylindrical body being closed at a first end and open at a second end;
- a second engagement structure located on the inner surface of the closed first end of the vent cap and shaped to connect with the first engagement structure to permit the vent cap to pivot with respect to the first end of the vent, so that the second end of the vent cap may move towards the vent;
- and
- an opening associated with the first end of the vent to permit air to flow through the vent when the vent cap is affixed thereto.
A kit for use with an axle driving apparatus having a housing forming a main oil sump and a reservoir space associated therewith, a hydrostatic drive apparatus mounted in the housing and a vent tube extending from the reservoir space, the kit comprising:
- a first engagement structure which may be mounted on one end of the vent tube to create an enlarged radial portion thereof;
- a vent cap to mount on the first end of the vent, the vent cap comprising a generally cylindrical body being closed at a first end and open at a second end, the vent cap having a second engagement structure located on the inner surface of the closed first end and shaped to connect with the first engagement structure to permit the vent cap to pivot with respect to the tube, so that the second end of the vent cap may move towards the tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.