Patent ID: 9511635
Filing Date: 2016-12-06
CPC Classification: B60B,B60C

Claim Text:
1. In a powered axle assembly including a drive axle which extends longitudinally through a non-rotating structure and is powered for rotation within said non-rotating structure, a drive axle hub provided at an axial outer end of said drive axle which rotates with said drive axle and is positioned outside of an outer end of said non-rotating structure, a wheel hub secured to said drive axle hub and extending axially rearward, and wherein said wheel hub is supported on an exterior of said non-rotating structure for rotation of said wheel hub around said exterior of said non-rotating structure, an improvement comprising: a base operatively connected to said non-rotating structure and having said drive axle extending therethrough, said base being positioned within said interior of said wheel hub; a rotor having said drive axle extending therethrough and mounted within said interior of said wheel hub for rotation with said drive axle hub such that said rotor will rotate with respect to said base, said rotor and said base being configured so as to define an annular air chamber therebetween having axially opposed side walls, said air chamber encircling said drive axle and being located within said interior of said wheel hub; said base including at least one air passageway extending therethrough for delivering air to said chamber in a radial direction relative to the drive axle; said rotor including at least one air outlet for air flow out of said air chamber; and an annular sealing member disposed within said air chamber and being rotatable with said rotor and with respect to said base, said sealing member being in sealing engagement with said rotor and said base and defining at least one air passageway extending radially therethrough and communicating said at least one air passageway in said base with said at least one air outlet in said rotor, and a pair of annular axially-spaced sealing lips projecting inwardly from said sealing member on opposed sides of said at least one air passageway, said sealing lips defining first portions projecting radially inwardly and merging into second portions projecting at an inward inclination from said first portions and terminating in axially aligned distal end portions projecting inwardly from said second portions, said first, second and distal end portions being adjacent to and in sealing engagement with portions of said base or portions of said rotor and with said opposed side walls of said annular air chamber whereby upon delivering pressurized air through said at least one air passageway in said base and into and through said annular air chamber, said first, second and distal end portions of said sealing lips are urged radially against said base or said rotor and axially against said side walls of said annular air chamber so as to form seals therebetween and allow for flexing in said portions of said sealing lips without breaking said sealing engagement between said rotor and said base.