Patents Represented by Attorney James R. Hagen
  • Patent number: 4378868
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel assembly of the live spindle type is rendered driven or free wheeling by a torque responsive hub clutch. The hub clutch operates in response to the presence or absence of relative rotary motion between a driveable axle and a passive or stationary member in the wheel assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1983
    Assignee: Tenneco Inc.
    Inventor: Harry A. Petrak
  • Patent number: 4343386
    Abstract: An actuator ball movement coordinator and cam member for a torque responsive hub clutch of the ball and cam type serves to assure coordinated movement of a plurality of actuator balls and also cams the balls into positions which cause actuation of the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1982
    Assignee: Tenneco Inc.
    Inventors: David V. Schaefer, Clark J. Hamkins
  • Patent number: 4331210
    Abstract: An assembly maintenance tube maintains a live spindle mounted within a bore of a vehicle mounting component. The maintenance tube has a central aperture for receiving in a spaced relationship a drivable axle. The axle is drivingly connected to the live spindle in a manner which allows axial movement of the axle relative to the spindle to relieve stress in the drive train which drives the axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1982
    Assignee: Tenneco, Inc.
    Inventor: Harry A. Petrak
  • Patent number: 4283063
    Abstract: Annular sealing ridges on a sealing surface of a lubricant seal for sealing between a bore and a shaft are configured and oriented to resist installation by axial movement onto the shaft on which they seal to aid in preventing over-installation of the seal on the shaft and to aid in assuring proper alignment of the seal components and axial sealing of the seal within the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1981
    Assignee: The Mechanex Corporation
    Inventor: David B. Prescott
  • Patent number: 4262785
    Abstract: A clutch interposed between a hub mounted for rotation on a spindle and a selectively driveable axle which extends longitudinally through the spindle serves to engage the hub to the axle when the clutch is subjected to torque caused by placement of the axle in a dynamic or driving axle mode. When the axle is in a passive or non-driving axle mode the clutch serves to disengage the hub from the axle whereby the hub is free-wheeling on the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1981
    Assignee: The Mechanex Corporation
    Inventors: Larry B. Anderson, Clark J. Hamkins, Harry A. Petrak, David V. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 4166792
    Abstract: An in-line hose connected filter assembly in which a one piece cylinder with swaged ends serves as the outer shell of the filter and also provides the material for crimping hose into sealing engagement with the filter assembly whereby the hose is mechanically secured to the filter inlet/outlet flow tube and serves as the seal between the outer shell and the inlet/outlet flow tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1979
    Assignee: Tenneco Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Offer, James V. Dieringer
  • Patent number: 4107999
    Abstract: A system for maintaining a desired level of fluid in a sump, such as maintaining a desired level of oil in the crankcase of an internal combustion engine, is provided with an oil reservoir having a cap which assures sealing of the fluid inlet of the reservoir, an outlet valve with a tiltable operator rod which provides assurance oil will not flow from the reservoir when the inlet cap is removed and which facilitates the addition of oil to the reservoir through the inlet and a sight gauge having guard members which assure the structural integrity of the sight gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1978
    Assignee: The Mechanex Corporation
    Inventor: James R. Lang
  • Patent number: 4108201
    Abstract: A liquid level sensing probe for gravity induced flow liquid level regulators used for maintaining a desired level of a liquid in a sump of a device having moving components within or adjacent the sump, such as maintaining a desired oil level in the crankcase of an engine, increases the accuracy of the regulator by being resistant to wind forces which impinge upon the liquid and gases entrained within the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1978
    Assignee: The Mechanex Corporation
    Inventor: James R. Lang
  • Patent number: 4091894
    Abstract: A system for maintaining a desired level of fluid in a sump, such as maintaining a desired level of oil in the crankcase of an internal combustion engine, is provided with an oil reservoir having a cap which assures sealing of the fluid inlet of the reservoir, an outlet valve with a tiltable operator rod which provides assurance oil will not flow from the reservoir when the inlet cap is removed and which facilitates the addition of oil to the reservoir through the inlet and a sight gauge having guard members which assure the structural integrity of the sight gauge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1978
    Assignee: The Mechanex Corporation
    Inventor: James R. Lang
  • Patent number: 4091895
    Abstract: A standpipe type sensing apparatus for a barometric or gravity induced flow oil level regulator for maintaining oil in an engine crankcase at a desired level has a vent which places an air space in the standpipe in fluid flow communication with a relatively oil free portion of a relatively calm air space above the oil level in the crankcase. The vent assures that the air pressure in the standpipe air space and in the crankcase air space are substantially equal during operation of the engine. A fluid flow damping orifice is provided to retard the rate of fill and drainage of oil from a sensing chamber in the standpipe. The standpipe apparatus is readily installed onto engines without the need to remove the oil pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1978
    Assignee: The Mechanex Corporation
    Inventor: James R. Lang
  • Patent number: 4083567
    Abstract: A unitized, hand installable lubricant seal for sealing between a bore and a shaft subject to rotation relative to each other, such as a vehicle wheel hub and axle, provides a resilient surface for sealingly engaging the bore, a resilient surface for sealingly engaging the shaft and a resilient seal lip to rigid wear surface running seal between the reslient surfaces. No special tools are required to install or remove the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1978
    Assignee: The Mechanex Corporation
    Inventor: Herbert H. Thumm
  • Patent number: 4037848
    Abstract: A unitized, hand installable lubricant seal for sealing between a bore and a shaft subject to rotation relative to each other, such as a vehicle wheel hub and axle, provides a resilient surface for sealingly engaging the bore, a resilient surface for sealingly engaging the shaft and a resilient seal lip to rigid wear surface running seal between the resilient surfaces. No special tools are required to install or remove the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1977
    Assignee: The Mechanex Corporation
    Inventors: David B. Prescott, Herbert H. Thumm, Raymond L. Horner
  • Patent number: 4037849
    Abstract: A unitized, hand installable lubricant seal for sealing between a bore and a shaft subject to rotation relative to each other, such as a vehicle wheel hub and axle, provides a resilient surface for sealingly engaging the bore, a resilient surface for sealingly engaging the shaft and a resilient seal lip to rigid wear surface running seal between the resilient surfaces. No special tools are required to install or remove the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1977
    Assignee: The Mechanex Corporation
    Inventor: Herbert H. Thumm
  • Patent number: 4028243
    Abstract: Flexible assembly facilitating members attached to the valve body of a relief valve for a fluid treatment assembly, such as a fluid filter assembly, serve to maintain the valve components as a unit prior to assembly of the valve into the fluid filter assembly. During final assembly of the filter assembly the assembly facilitating members are biased into an inoperative position whereby operation of the valve is not dependent upon the assembly facilitating members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1977
    Assignee: Tenneco Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Offer, Bernard J. Van Vooren
  • Patent number: RE30223
    Abstract: A unitized, hand installable lubricant seal for sealing between a bore and a shaft subject to rotation relative to each other, such as a vehicle wheel hub and axle, provides a resilient surface for sealingly engaging the bore, a resilient surface for sealingly engaging the shaft and a resilient seal lip to rigid wear surface running seal between the resilient surfaces. No special tools are required to install or remove the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1980
    Assignee: The Mechanex Corporation
    Inventors: David B. Prescott, Herbert H. Thumm, Raymond L. Horner