Sealed Wheel and Axle Assemblies

There has existed a need for a simple, effective construction for sealing a golf cart wheel bearing and an axle mounting the wheel and also for serving as a thrust bearing to take up any play between the wheel and a frame supported by the axle. U.S. Pat. No. 4,113,327 shows a combined seal and thrust washer but in a specialized roller construction. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,881,789 and 4,113,328 disclose a seal but it is not adapted to take thrust.

One object of the invention is to provide improved sealed wheel and axle assemblies.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sealing washer serving to seal a wheel and an axle and also take up thrust between the wheel and a frame carried by the axle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sealing washer having a thick, cupped spring washer portion and a thin, cupped sealing flange hinged to the washer portion.

The invention provides a sealing washer of elastomeric material having an inner washer portion adapted to sealingly engage an axle and belled to act in thrust against a thrust retainer on the axle and a hub portion of the wheel, the washer also including an outer cupped flange portion for sealingly engaging an end face of the hub portion.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of an improved sealed wheel and axle assembly including a sealing washer forming one embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are enlarged, end views of the sealing washer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of the sealing washer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of the sealed wheel and axle assembly of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view of a wheel and axle assembly forming an alternate embodiment of the invention.

A golf cart 10 having a wheel and axle assembly 12 form a specific embodiment of the invention. The assembly 12 includes a wheel 14 journaled on "Nyliner" bearings 16 and 17 on an axle 18 carrying one side of a frame or leg 20 of the golf cart. An "E" retainer ring 22 in an annular groove 24 in the outer end portion of the axle forms, with a metal washer 26, an outer retainer for the wheel to take up thrust and limit travel of a hub 28 of the wheel to the left, as viewed in FIG. 1. A hub cap 30 and sealing ring 31 seal to the wheel and cover and seal the outer ends of the axle and wheel from dirt, a screw 32 holding the hub cap in sealing position. The inner end of the hub and the axle are sealed from dirt and end play of the hub is taken up by a sealing washer 34 between a metal washer 35 engaging one of the bearings 17 and an end face 36 of a boss portion 38 of the frame. The sealing washer forms one specific embodiment of the invention.

The sealing washer 34 is a combined thrust member or spring and a seal. It is molded and preferably is composed of a tough elastomeric material such as, for example, polyurethane or buna-M-rubber of about 70 duro, shore "A". The washer 34 includes an inner, flatly cupped or frustoconical, thick thrust washer portion 40 fitted with an interference fit on the axle 18 and engaging a washer 41. An outer, thinner, sealing flange 42 which is somewhat more deeply cupped or frustoconical, is joined to the washer portion by a generally cylindrical offsetting portion 44 and an arcuate, even thinner, hinge portion 46. The outer edge of the sealing lip portion flange has a sharp corner 48, although other corners 50, 51, 52, 53 and 54 of the washer are preferably rounded. The angle between the flange and a plane normal to the axle may be about 25.degree. and the angle between the washer portion and that plane may be about 17.degree. 30'.

A wheel and axle assembly 110 forming an alternate embodiment of the invention is like the assembly 10 but has a hub cap 130 which is not sealing and, to seal the outer end of hub 128 and axle 118, a sealing washer 135 is provided between a retainer ring 122 and a washer 123 and the hub. The washer 135 is like the washer 34 as is a sealing washer 134 at the inner side of the wheel. Also, a metal washer 136 is positioned between "Nyliner" bearing 116 and thrust washer portion 139 of the washer 135. The thrust washer portion 139 has an interference fit on the axle 118 so it does not turn on the axle, and a sealing flange 143 sealingly engages end face 145 of the hub 128.