Protective cap for a vehicle wheel hub

In combination:

• a housing having a housing bore;
• a hub for mounting a vehicle wheel, said hub having an outer end face, an inner end face, and a central bore having splines for engagement by a splined driveshaft;
• a wheel bearing acting between the housing bore and the hub to mount the hub for rotation within the housing bore;
• a speed sensor system having a segmented disc fixed to the hub and rotating therewith and a sensor mounted on the housing and extending into proximity with the segmented disc;
• and a protective cap for protecting the bearing and the speed sensor system, said protective cap including a stem for insertion through the central bore and a disc-shaped head having an under face for engaging with the inner end face of the hub, and a distal rim portion extending into overlapping proximity with the housing to allow rotation of the distal rim portion relative the housing and yet prevent entry of dirt to the speed sensor system and bearing, said stem having yieldable retainers thereon for engaging with the outer end face of the hub upon insertion of the hollow stem through the central bore and engagement of the under face with the inner end face of the hub so that the distal rim portion is maintained in the overlapping proximity with the housing to prevent the intrusion of dirt to the speed sensor system and bearing.

In combination:

• a housing having a housing bore;
• a hub for mounting a vehicle wheel, said hub having an annular sleeve portion extending into the bore of the housing and the sleeve portion having an outer end face, an inner end face, and a central bore having splines for engagement by a splined driveshaft;
• a wheel bearing acting between the housing bore and the hub to mount the hub for rotation within the housing;
• a speed sensor having a segmented disc fixed to the hub and rotating therewith, and a sensor fixed to the housing and extending into sensing proximity with the segmented disc;
• and a protective cap for protecting the bearing and the speed sensor, said protective cap including a hollow stem for insertion through the central bore and a disc-shaped head having an under face for engaging with the inner end face of the hub and a distal rim portion extending into overlapping proximity with the housing to allow rotation of the hub relative the housing and yet prevent entry of dirt to the speed sensor and bearing, said hollow stem having an outer cylindrical surface engaging with the central bore of the hub to locate the disc-shaped head of the protective cap radially with respect to the hub and the housing and yieldable retainers provided on the hollow stem for engaging with the outer end face of the hub upon insertion of the hollow stem through the central bore and engagement of the under face with the inner end face of the hub so that protective cap is retained upon the hub with the distal rim portion in overlapping proximity with the housing.