Transmission vent cap

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9347545-B2
Application number	US-201213547843-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 12, 2012
Priority date	Jul 12, 2012
Publication date	May 24, 2016
Grant date	May 24, 2016

Abstract

A vent cap for a transmission is provided. The vent cap includes an insertion part for attaching the vent cap to the transmission. The insertion part has portions forming a first channel through the insertion part. The vent cap also has a vent part for attaching the vent cap to a hose. The vent part is attached to the insertion part. The vent part may have a vent base and a hose attachment portion extending from the vent base, wherein the hose attachment portion defines a second channel therethrough. The second channel is in communication with the first channel. The second channel may be orientated substantially perpendicular to the first channel. The insertion part may have at least one insertion attachment feature that mates with at least one vent attachment features of the vent part.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A two part transmission vent cap, the vent cap comprising:
an insertion part for attaching the vent cap to a transmission, the insertion part having a flat circular insertion base, a pair of opposed tabs extending radially from said flat circular insertion base, at least one insertion base attachment feature, a cylindrical projection defining an axis and having threads adapted to be received within an opening of the transmission and a first channel disposed about the axis and extending through the insertion part; and
a vent part attached to the insertion part, the vent part having a flat circular vent base, at least one vent base attachment feature and a hose attachment portion extending from the flat circular vent base adapted to receive a vent hose, the vent part defining a second channel therethrough, the second channel communicating with the first channel and defining a first portion disposed about the axis and a second portion oriented substantially perpendicular to the first portion,
wherein the at least one insertion base attachment feature and the at least one vent base attachment feature are capable of locking the vent part to the insertion part in at least three different orientations, wherein at least one of the vent base and the insertion base has at least three vent base attachment features or insertion base attachment features, wherein each of the insertion base attachment features and each of the vent base attachment features are one of a tab having a lip and a slot defining a through opening, wherein the lips prevent the tabs from escaping the slots.

2. The vent cap of claim 1 , wherein the at least one insertion base attachment feature comprises twelve slots formed in the insertion base, and wherein the at least one vent base attachment feature comprises four tabs, wherein the four tabs are inserted into four of the twelve slots of the insertion base to attach the vent part to the insertion part.

3. The vent cap of claim 1 , the insertion part having an inner surface defining the first channel therethrough, the vent part further comprising a nub extending from the vent base and configured to mate with the inner edge of the of the insertion part, the nub forming part of the second channel.

4. The vent cap of claim 1 , further including a nub extending from the vent part and disposed along the axis, a circumferential groove disposed about the nub and an O-ring seal disposed in the circumferential groove.

5. A transmission vent cap, the vent cap comprising:
an insertion part for attaching the vent cap to the transmission, the insertion part having a flat circular insertion base, a pair of opposed tabs extending radially from said flat circular insertion base, a plurality of insertion part attachment features formed on the insertion base and a cylindrical projection defining an axis and having an inner surface defining a first channel disposed about the axis and extending through the insertion part; and
a vent part for attaching the vent cap to a hose, the vent part being attached to the insertion part, the vent part having a flat circular vent base, a plurality of vent base attachment features and a hose attachment portion extending from the flat circular vent base, the vent part including a projecting nub, the vent part and the nub defining a second channel therethrough, the second channel communicating with the first channel and defining a first portion disposed about the axis and a second portion being oriented substantially perpendicular to the first portion,
wherein each of the insertion part attachment features is a slot that defines a through opening and each of the vent part attachment features is a tab with a lip that prevents the tabs from escaping the slots,
wherein each vent part attachment feature is configured to self-lock with a press-fit into an insertion part attachment feature of the plurality of insertion part attachment features in at least three different orientations,
wherein the inner edge extends through the cylindrical projection, the first channel is formed through the cylindrical projection and the insertion base, and the flat circular insertion base has an insertion base surface.

6. The vent cap of claim 5 , wherein the cylindrical projection has a threaded outer surface for attaching the insertion part to a transmission case.

7. The vent cap of claim 6 , wherein the vent base has a vent base surface, the plurality of vent part attachment features being disposed on the vent base surface, the vent base surface contacting the insertion base surface.

8. The vent cap of claim 7 , the projection having an inner cylindrical edge defining the first channel therethrough.

9. The vent cap of claim 5 , further including a circumferential groove disposed about the projecting nub and an O-ring seal disposed in the circumferential groove.

10. A two part transmission vent cap assembly, the vent cap assembly comprising:
an insertion part for attaching the vent cap assembly to a transmission, the insertion part having a flat circular insertion base, a pair of opposed tabs extending radially from said flat circular insertion base, a cylindrical projection extending from the insertion base, the cylindrical projection defining an axis, and including a threaded surface for attachment to a transmission case, a first channel disposed on the axis and extending through the base and having the projection of the insertion part, the insertion part having at least one of a locking tab having a lip and a mating slot defining a through opening formed unitarily with the flat circular insertion base; and
a vent part for attaching the vent cap assembly to a hose, the vent part having a flat circular vent base and a hose attachment portion extending from the vent base, the vent part defining a second channel therethrough, the second channel being in communication with the first channel when the vent part and the insertion part are attached together, the second channel having a first portion disposed about the axis and a second portion in the hose attachment portion oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis, the vent part having at least one of a locking tab having a lip and a mating slot defining a through opening formed unitarily with the flat circular vent base, wherein the locking tabs and mating slots are capable of locking the vent part to the insertion part in at least three orientations and the locking tab lips prevent the locking tabs from escaping the slots.

11. The vent cap assembly of claim 10 , wherein the insertion part has the at least three mating slots formed therein, the at least three mating slots comprising twelve mating slots, and wherein the vent part has four locking tabs extending therefrom, the four locking tabs being disposed in four of the twelve mating slots to attach the vent part to the insertion part.

12. The vent cap assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first channel is formed through the projection and the insertion base, the insertion base has an insertion base surface, the twelve mating slots are formed in the insertion base surface, the vent base has a vent base surface that contacts the insertion base surface, and the locking tabs extend from the vent base surface, each locking tab extending through a mating slot of the twelve mating slots.

13. The vent cap assembly of claim 10 , the insertion part having an inner surface defining the first channel therethrough, the vent part further comprising a nub extending from the vent part and configured to mate with the inner edge of the of the insertion part, the nub forming part of the second channel and including a circumferential groove disposed thereab

Assignees

• Hensel Barry
• Gm Global Tech Operations Inc

Inventors

• Hensel Barry

Classifications

• F16H57/027 Primary

  characterised by means for venting gearboxes, e.g. air breathers · CPC title

• F16L37/133

  using flexible hooks {(F16L37/1215 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• F16L37/53

  allowing adjustment or movement only about the axis of one pipe · CPC title

• F16L27/08

  allowing adjustment or movement only about the axis of one pipe · CPC title

• F16L37/098

  by means of flexible hooks · CPC title