Venting plug for vehicle hub cap

• US 6,938,963 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2003
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SKF USA Incorporated (SKF)
• Original Assignee: SFK USA Incorporated
• Inventors: Denton, Kacy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bellinger, Jason R.
• Application Number:
  US10/673,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20050062340A1
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 301/37.26, 301/37.28, 3011081-1084
• US Class Current: 301/108.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/002 being of the ventilated type
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 7/08 having gripping elements consisting of formations integral with the cover

Abstract

A hub cap vent plug which is resistant to penetration by water sprayed under high pressure during vehicle washing. The plug includes an axially outer end face portion, sidewall portions adapted to mate in fluid-tight relation with an opening in an associated hub cap, and a small diameter opening terminating at one of its ends in a thin web of the plug material. The plug has a valve cover with an inner surface spaced closely apart from said end face portion, thereby defining a pair of transverse openings. A normally closed valve such as a slit in the web allows pressure and vacuum to vent through the valve.

Claims

1. A hub cap vent plug which is resistant to penetration by water sprayed under high pressure during vehicle washing, said plug comprising an axially outer end face portion, sidewall portions adapted to mate in fluid-tight relation with an opening in an associated hub cap, a small diameter opening terminating at one of its ends in a thin web of the material from which said plug is made, a valve cover having an inner surface substantially parallel to said end face portion and spaced closely axially apart from said end face portion, so as to define at least one transverse opening between said axially outer end face portion and said valve cover, said inner surface being of smaller diameter than said axially outer end face portion, and a normally closed valve comprising a slit in said thin web of material to allow pressure and vacuum to vent through said valve, said valve cover thereby resisting penetration through said valve by pressurized water.

2. A hub cap vent plug as defined in claim 1 which includes an enlarged diameter opening communicating with the interior of said opening in said associated hub cap at one end of said opening and with said small diameter opening at the other end.

3. A hub cap vent plug as defined in claim 1 which further includes a stepped passage having at least a first enlarged diameter opening and a second reduced diameter opening communicating with the interior of said hub at one end and with said small diameter opening at the other end of said passage.

4. A hub cap vent plug as defined in claim 1 which includes a radially outer surface portion having axially inner and outer tapered surfaces with a reduced diameter portion therebetween, said tapered surfaces being adapted to mate with an opening in said hub cap in fluid tight relation.

5. A hub cap vent plug as defined in claim 1 wherein said plug is made from an elastomer.

6. A hub cap vent plug as defined in claim 1 wherein said plug is made from an elastomeric material comprising natural or synthetic rubber.

7. A hub cap vent plug as defined in claim 1 wherein said elastomeric material is a thermoplastic rubber.

8. A hub cap vent plug as defined in claim 1 wherein said at least one transverse opening comprises two transverse openings.

9. A hub cap vent plug as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve cover has a diameter about one-half to one-quarter of the diameter of said axially outer end face portion of said vent plug.

10. A hub cap vent plug which is resistant to penetration by water sprayed under high pressure during vehicle washing, said vent plug comprising an elastomeric main body portion including an axially outer end face portion, an axially inner annular surface portion, first and second radially outer tapered sidewall sections meeting at a reduced diameter portion adapted to fit snugly into a center opening in said hub cap, a cylindrical re-entrant portion lying adjacent said axially inner annular surface portion at one of its ends and terminating at an annular transition surface at the other end, and a reduced diameter cylindrical portion being open at one end and being closed off at the other end by a thin web of elastomer, said web having a normally closed valve in the form of two leaflets separated by a slit, thereby permitting air to vent to and from the interior of said hub, said valve being covered by a shroud that is smaller in diameter than said axially outer end face portion of said plug, said shroud having at least one open passage therethrough, whereby said shroud will deflect pressurized water away from said valve and said open passage will permit water to pass therethrough.