Vehicle drive shaft grease system

Abstract

A vehicle drive shaft grease system. The vehicle drive shaft grease system comprises a cylindrical housing having a first open end and a second open end. The housing is detachedly affixed to a vehicle support frame by at least one solid tether, and tabs mounted on an outside surface of the cylindrical housing. Grease is distributed to the device and the device distributes the grease through a series of openings and channels to those components requiring the grease.

Description

WHOMIT MAYCONCERN:

[0001] Be it known that 7t HowardFabbrini, a resident ofthe Cityof Midland, Countyof Midland, and theState of Michigan, aUnitedStates of America cit.izen have inventeda new and novelVEHTCLEDRIVE SHAFT GREASE SYSTEM the followrngof which is a specificatrontherefor.CROSS-REFERENCETO REI,ATED APPLICATIONS[ 0002]Thrs app]icatloncfaims priorityto usprovisional application63 / 5Bl,llA f il-edSeptember Il, 2023.STATEMENT REGARDINGFEDERJALLY SPONSOREDRESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0003] Not Applicable. REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING,A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAMLISTING COMPACTDISC APPENDIX

[0004] Not-ApplicabIe. BACKGROUND OFTHEIN\TENTION

[0005] Theapplicant is notawareof any prior art publicationsregarding the instantinvention.BRIEF SUMMARYOF THE TNVENTION

[0006] T'hus, what is drsclosedand claimed herein isa vehic]edrive shaft greasesystem. The vehicle driveshaft grease systemcomprises a cylindrical housinghaving a first open end andsecond open end. The housingis detachedly affixedto a vehiclesupport frameby at least onesolid tet.her, and tabs mounted onan outside surf ace o.+-'the cyl.indri-ca1housing.

[0007] The housing containsa frrst end seal- anda second end seaLin the endsof the housing. Thereis a device t.o perml_t f ixeddirection motionbetween two partsmounted in the flrst end.

[0008] There are fivesrip r:rngs,each srlp ring separated by aseal wherein the slip rrngshave connected access portsLhrouqhthe housing for a grease supply. Theslip rings are a first slipring, a second slip ring,a third slip ring,a fourth slip ring,and a fifth slipring.

[0009] The firstslip ring has an internal openingand channelstherein for the passageofgreaseto thebearing. The second slipring has an internalopening and channefstherein for thepassage ofgreaseto a vehicfe universaljointto which said vehicledrive shaft greasesystem is attached.

[0010] The third slrp ring hasan internalopening and channel-stherein for the passageofgreasetotheendseaf. The fourthsrrp ring has an internal openingand channelstherein for thepassage of greaseto the second endslip ring, and the fifth slipring has an inLernal openingand channels thereinfor the passageof grease to a second vehicleuniversarjointto which saidvehicledrive shaft grease systemj_sattached.

[0011] In anotherembodiment, there isa dual cylindrical housingarrangement in which anidentical cylindrica.l- housingis locatedon t.he oppositeend of the assemblyof a first universal jornt toaccommodate a seconduniversaljointfocatedon the opposrte endfrom firstuniversaljoint.

[0012] rn a t.hird embodimenL,there is a novel- cap fora unlversaljointrn which t.hereis nogreasezerk. Thus, there is auniversal;orntend cap the end caphavrng a sorid front end andan endless circumferentiafchannel-on an internalwafl.

[0013] rn a further embodiment,t.here is a slidinghighpressure coupler assembly for transportinglubricant.The sJ-iding highpressure couplerassembly comprisesa cylindrical_ housing,wherein the cylindricalhousing hasa first end and a second end.The first end has an att.achmentefement rigidly attached to itand the housing hasa l-ubricant ent.ry portthrough a side wallnear thefirst-end.

[0014] For purposesof this invent.ion"highpressure,,means up to2,000 psi.

[0015] TLre housing hasa sfiding piston locatedin the interrorwherein the sliding pistonhas a far endand a near end. There isan elongated rod attachedcentrally to thenear end, the rodextending from the far endthrough a center opening in the secondend of the housing. The pistonand rod have analignedchannel through them.

[0016] rn yet another embodimentof this inventionthere rs aslidlng hlgh pressure couplerassembly for transportingl-ubrlcant.Thedevice is ameansof supplyinglubricant from a housing ofthis inventionto ayokeof a universaljoint. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE SE\IER]AL VIEWS OE THE DRAWING(S)

[0017] Frgure 1 is a fullsrde view of a deviceof this invention.

[0018] Frgure 2 is a full crosssectional side viewof the deviceof Figure 1 through l_ine A-A.

[0019] Fig'ure3 isan explodedside view of a device of thisinvention.

[0020] Figure 4 is a fulltop view of a universal jointofa vehicle dr:rve shaft.

[0021] Figure 5 is a fu]f insideview of oneend cap of theuniversaljointof Figure 4.10022 IFigure 6 isa furl end viewof the end cap of Figure 5.

[0023] Figure 7 is a furlend view of t.heuniversaljointofFigure4 without the end cap.La024l Eigure B is an entiredrive shaftsystem showing the deviceof this invention in anexploded form.

[0025] Figure9 is an exploded viewof the splined couplingarrangement. L0A26lFigure 10 is a dualassembly of adevice of this inventionhaving universal jointsat bothends of the device.La021lFigure 11 is a futltop view of a prj-orart. universaljoint cap with a priorartgreasezerklocated therein.

[0028] Fi-gure 12 is a fu]fside view ofa sliding high pressurecoupler assembly of thisinvention.IAA29IFigure I3is a cross-sectional viewof the device of Froure12through line A-A. DETAILED DESCRIPTIONOF THE IN\TENTION

[0030] Turning now to Figurel, there is showna fulr slde view ofadevi-ce 1 of this invention.The device 1of t.his invention is avehicle drive shaft greasesystem that is configuredto be usedwith a dr:ive shaft in a vehicre,for example,a truck,preferabry alarge truck such as a toggingtruck or graverhaurrng truck.

[0031] The device1 is intended tosupplygreaseto the device 1 aswell as to the universal jolntsand the internal-components of thehousing 8. Thedevice 1 is configuredsuch that it has a housing Bthat wilf surround a lubricantcarrier3(SeeFigure 2).(Thedriveshaft is not considered partof theinvention) . There is a frrstend 4 and a second end5 and the device 1is at.tached to a vehicle,preferably to support frameof vehicle using tabs6 and tethers 1.The tethers 7are superior when theyaremanufact.uredfrom metal.Preferred for this inventionare hydraulictet.hers.

[0032] Turning to Eigure2. there is shown seals9 at the end of thehousing B. rn each end 4and 5, there isa device 1o to permitfixed direction motionbetween Lwo parts. (Bearingsor bushings)These devices 10 can beserected frombarl bearinqs, rollerbearings and bushings.

[0033] Eigure 3 showsan explodedview of the device of thisinvention wherein theuniversaljointshownis not part of thedevice or the invention.There is shownthe housing B, t.he tabs 6,the rubricant carrier 3,the slip rings, thebearing 10, the seaf9wherein it is understood thatthe lubricanl-carrier 3 insert.sinto the housing Band the bearing andseal are then placed in theendof the housing B.

[0034] Inside the housing B andl-ocated aroundthe drive shaft arefive slip rings 14,15, 15,18, and21, each srip ring is separatedby a seal 12. The sliprings have connectedaccess ports 13 throughthe housing B for greasesuppry. Theslip rings include a firstslip ring 14, a secondslip ring 15and a t.hird slip ring 16, afourthslip ring 78, and a fifthslip rinS 21.

[0035] The first slip ring 14 hasan internal opening 17 and channels26 in it forthepasslngof greaseto t-he bearing 1B (see arsoFigureB).Thesecond slip ring 15has an internal opening 20 andchannefs 21 rnit for thepassageofgreaseto a vehicfe universaljoint 22 Lo whichthe vehlcledrive shaftgreasesystem is at.tached.The third slip ring 16has an internalopening t9 and channels 38in it for the passage of greaseto t.he endsea1, and the fourthslip ring has an internaf opening24 and channe]s 29 in it for thepassage of greaseto the second end sear,and the fifth slrp ringhas an internal opening 23and channel-s 30 in it for tire passageof greaseto Lhe alternateuniversafjoint25.

[0036] Turning nowto Figure 4,there isshowna modified universal-joint 32 that is usedin the rnvent.ive device1 of this invention.This joint32 contains four caps33, one of which is modrfied byplacing a shallow channel34 near theouter end 35, with an opening36 andachannel31 for greaseto havepassagesfrom the openingto the internal- part of the3oint. Figure 6 shows the modif]ed endcap front end showingthe cap 38 for theend. The modified cap isalso shown in Figure 5, i-n whichthe roller bearings 39 are shownon thej-nternal_surf ace of the cap.

[0037] Turning now to FigureB, there is showna ful-] arrangement ofthe device 1of this invention,the universaljointsat each endthereof, and the pressurecoupler4a. Figure B is shown in amodified exploded view. Thereare shownboth universaljoints,thehousing Bof the lubricant carrier3, the pressure coupler 40 andthegreasernput lines4l of the housing B.

[0038] Figure 9 deals withthe drive shaft 40used in this inventron.Female spline 42 of thedrive shaft.40 freelyinserts into sprinereceiver 43. Thereis a threaded end 44on the spline receiver 43and the internally threaded cap44 screws onand tighl-ens onto thethreaded end 44. Thisallows for horizontalmovement of the splinedpart 42 in the splined recei-ver43 whilethedevj-ce1 is in motion-

[0039] Gr:ease rs supplied to thelubrrcant carrier3, rt is thendescrrbed asdetailedln Figure 13 infra.

[0040] In Eigure 12 thereisshownthe s]idablecoupler assemb]y 40of this inventionwherein there is showna housinS 50 which iscylindricalin structure, and an attachmentdevice 51. On a sidewal1 52 t.here is shownan importopening 5B for lubrrcant. Alsoshown is a rod53. As shown in Figure13, the rod 53 is attachedto a piston 54 andboth of the rod53 and the piston 54 have acentered channef 55 and56, respectively,that align with eachother.

[0041] The piston 54 is movablein a 1eft.to right. right to feftmovement'The rod 53is rigidly attachedto ayoke57 of a universaljoint (whole;ointnotshown).rnternafty withrng the yoke 5j arechannels 58 that convey}ubricant tothe universaf end caps (notshown entirely ln thisFigure). The rod53 is att.ached to theuniversaljointyoke51 rigidly.l0A42l The l-ubricant moves fromthe housing 50 into the interior ofthe housing 50 and movesthroughthe channefs 55 and 56 to channels58 which lubricate thecaps of the universal joint.

[0043] Turning nowto the universal jointcap of this invention,there is shown in Figure 11Aa fufl-top or front view of such adevice, showlng a fult plug 46in thedevice and a clrcumferentialchanne] 34 in phantom.Figure 118is a ful_] side view of Figure11A and shows the channer34 in phantom.Figure 11c is a fulfbottom of thedevice of Fj-gure11A showing roll-er bearings 48.Figure 72 is a conventionaluniversaljointcap of the pri-or artshowing a greasezerk 49.

Claims

Wha E is c.Larmed i-s: 1.A vehicledrive shaftgreasesystem,saidvehicl-edrive shaftgreasesystem comprisj-ng: A)a cylindrical housing havinga first open end and. asecondopen end, said housingbeing detachedlyaffixed to a vehicl-esupport frameby at feast onesolid tether and tabs mountedon an out.side surfaceof saidcylindrical housingcontaining:B) a first end sealand a second endseal in said endsof said housing; c) a device to permitfixed directi-onmotron betweentwo parts mountedin saj-d first end;D) f ive slip rings, eachslip ringseparat.ed by a sea.L;E) said sliprings havingconnected access portst.hrough said housingfor a greasesupply, said sliprings belng a firstslip ring, a secondslrp ring,athird slrpring, a fourt.hslip ring, and a fift.hslip ring; F) said first-slip ring havingan internal openingtherein for t.he passageof greaseto sald bearing;G) said second slipring having aninterna1 openinqtherein for the passageof greaseto a vehicleuniversal jointto whichsaid vehicle drive shafl-greasesystem l-sattached;H) said thlrd slip ringhaving aninternal openingt.herein f orthepassageof greaseto said end sea1,.I) said forth slipring havingan internal- openingt.hereinfor thepassageof grease to saj-d secondend slip ring,and said fifthslip ring having aninternalopening thereinfor the passage of greaseto a second vehicleuniversal joint.to which saidvehrcfedrive shaftgreasesystem is attached.2.A vehicle driveshaft grease systemas cl-aimed in craim 1wherern the syst.em has Lwoends, eachend is defined by auniversal jointand each saiduniversaljoi-nthas a vehicledrive shaft greasesystemjoinedthereto.Auniversal jointend capsaid end cap havinq a sofid frontend and an endless circumferentiafchannel on an internal wall.Aslidrng high pressurecoupler assembly for transportinglubricant, said slidlnghj-qh pressurecoupler assemblycomprises: A) a cylindricaf housing,said cylindricafhousing having afirst end anda second end,said first. end havingB) an attachmentelementrigidly attached thereto;c) said housing havinga lubricantentry port Lhrough a sidewalfnear said first end; D)jntesraioidrhousing having athereof;sriding piston located in theE) said sliding pistonhavinga far end and a near end,there berng an elongatedrod attachedcentrally to saidnear end, said rod extendingfrom saidfar end through acenter opening insaid second endof said housing, saidpiston and said roan aligned channer therethrough.qd havingA sliding hi-gh pressurecouplerassembly for transportingfubr:-cant as cl-aimed inclaim 4 whereinsaid far end of saidrod is attachedto a universal;ointyokecontaining an openingfor aflowing Iubricantto flow thereln and through.

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