IP Library Granted Patent US 7,178,425
Granted Patent B2
US 7,178,425 · App. 10/765,240 · Granted Feb 20, 2007

Transmission axle seal cover, lubrication dam and rock guard

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,178,425
App. No.
10/765,240
Granted
Feb 20, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cover for an aperture defined by an axle seal on a transmission includes a guard plate and a shield coupled to the axle seal. The shield includes a first portion and a detachable second portion. The shield encloses an aperture in the guard plate when the second portion is attached to the first portion. The shield includes an aperture aligned with the guard aperture when the second portion is detached from the first portion.

Claims (23)

1. A cover for an axle seal aperture, the axle seal being coupled to a transmission housing, the cover comprising:

a guard plate having an aperture extending therethrough, said guard plate being adapted to engage the axle seal and couple said guard plate thereto;

a shield having a first portion and a detachable second portion, said first portion being coupled to said guard plate, said shield enclosing said guard aperture when said second portion is attached to said first portion, said first portion defining an aperture aligned with said guard aperture when said second portion is detached from said first portion, wherein said guard plate includes an aperture at least partially filled by a portion of said shield.

2. The cover of claim 1 wherein said guard plate includes an annular lip adapted to be engageable with the axle seal to couple the cover to the axle seal.

3. The cover of claim 2 wherein said guard plate includes a conically shaped section positioned adjacent said annular lip, said conically shaped section adapted to cover a portion of the axle seal.

4. The cover of claim 3 wherein said guard plate includes an annular flange positioned adjacent said conically shaped section, said guard plate aperture extending through said annular flange.

5. The cover of claim 1 wherein said shield is constructed from injection moldable material.

6. The cover of claim 5 wherein said first portion includes an outwardly extending tang selectively engageable by an operator to separate said first portion from said second portion.

7. A cover for an axle seal aperture, the axle seal being coupled to a transmission housing, the cover comprising:

a guard plate having an aperture extending therethrough, said guard plate being adapted to engage the axle seal and couple said guard plate thereto;

a shield having a first portion and a detachable second portion, said first portion being coupled to said guard plate, said shield enclosing said guard aperture when said second portion is attached to said first portion, said first portion defining an aperture aligned with said guard aperture when said second portion is detached from said first portion wherein said guard plate includes a plurality of apertures having portions of said shield positioned in said apertures.

8. A cover for an axle seal aperture, the axle seal being coupled to a transmission housing, the cover comprising:

a tubular guard structure having a substantially cylindrical wall portion positioned adjacent to a substantially conical wall portion, said cylindrical wall portion being adapted to engage the axle seal and couple the cover to the axle seal; and

a shield having a first portion and a detachable second portion, said first portion being coupled to said guard structure and at least partially extending into an aperture formed in said guard structure, said shield enclosing one end of said guard structure when said second portion is attached to said first portion, said first portion defining an aperture in communication with a passage defined by said tubular guard structure when said second portion is detached from said first portion.

9. The cover of claim 8 wherein said guard structure includes a radially inwardly extending annular flange positioned adjacent to said conical wall portion.

10. The cover of claim 9 wherein said annular flange defines a guard aperture aligned with said first portion aperture.

11. The cover of claim 8 wherein said shield is constructed from an injection moldable material.

12. The cover of claim 11 wherein said first portion includes an outwardly extending tang selectively engageable by an operator to separate said first portion from said second portion.

13. The cover of claim 8 wherein said second portion includes a cylindrically shaped hollow wall.

14. The cover of claim 13 wherein said cylindrically shaped hollow wall includes a longitudinal axis aligned with a longitudinal axis of said tubular guard structure.

15. A cover for an axle seal aperture, the axle seal being coupled to a transmission housing, the cover comprising:

a tubular guard structure having a substantially cylindrical wall portion positioned adjacent to a substantially conical wall portion, said cylindrical wall portion being adapted to engage the axle seal and couple the cover to the axle seal; and

a shield having a first portion and a detachable second portion, said first portion being coupled to said guard structure, said shield enclosing one end of said guard structure when said second portion is attached to said first portion, said first portion defining an aperture in communication with a passage defined by said tubular guard structure when said second portion is detached from said first portion wherein said guard structure includes a plurality of apertures having portions of said shield positioned in said apertures.

Assignments (13)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 7, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 034371/0676 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 10, 2011
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 025780/0902 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 8, 2010
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
Reel/Frame 025327/0262 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025245/0347 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2010
From: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 025311/0725 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 28, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UAW RETIREE MEDICAL BENEFITS TRUST
Reel/Frame 023162/0001 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 27, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 023156/0052 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2009
From: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023127/0468 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 20, 2009
From: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023124/0429 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 16, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR BANK PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES; CITICORP USA, INC. AS AGENT FOR HEDGE PRIORITY SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 022553/0446 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2009
From: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Reel/Frame 022201/0547 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 14, 2009
From: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
To: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 022117/0022 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2004
From: MARICH, RANDALL M.
To: GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014663/0326 →