Patents by Inventor James R. Hobbie

James R. Hobbie has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5190355
    Abstract: An outer seal for a drive-axle-wheel hub keeps axle-gear lubricant separated from wheel-bearing grease by preventing leakage to and from the wheel-bearing cavity at the outer end of the spindle. A sleeve-like outer-seal journal (50) is pressed into a groove (60) in the outer face of an outer lock nut (38). A seal-carrier ring (62) fits over the wheel hub drive studs (22) between a hub (16) and an axle-shaft cap (42). The ring (62) carries a lip-type resilient outer seal (52) that slidably presses against the outer seal journal (50). Wheel bearing life is extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Hobbie, Ronald L. Hughes
  • Patent number: 4008464
    Abstract: Apparatus for providing an electrical warning signal when ferrous contamination builds up in the lubricant of a mechanism utilizing gearing. The apparatus includes a pair of annular magnetic members positioned in a spaced-apart relation on a support member. The support member is attached to the lubricant filler plug so that the magnets are above the normal lubricant level within the mechanism, but are exposed to the normal lubricant flow during operation of the mechanism. The magnetic members are part of a normally-open electrical circuit in which one of the magnets is connected to a source of electrical potential and the other magnet is grounded. One portion of the circuit is then connected to an electrically-actuated warning device so that when ferrous contamination on one of the magnet members comes into contact with ferrous contamination on the other magnetic member, the circuit is closed and a warning signal is provided to the operator of the mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1977
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: James R. Hobbie