Wheel and hub assembly

Abstract

A wheel assembly includes a wheel and a hub assembly. The hub assembly includes a retainer housing, retaining member, biasing element, and restraining element. The retainer housing includes a wheel mounting sleeve and pin sleeve. The wheel mounting sleeve includes an axle bore configured to receive an axle and configured to be inserted within a sleeve bore of the wheel. The pin sleeve includes a first end fluidly communicating with the sleeve bore, a second end, and a conduit therebetween. The retaining member, disposed within the conduit, is configured to operatively engage an axle groove and includes a lip wider than a first end shoulder to prevent the retaining member from exiting the first end. The biasing element, disposed within the conduit, is configured to bias the retaining member towards the axle bore. The restraining element is configured to prevent the retaining member from exiting the second end.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wheel assembly comprising:
 a wheel including a sleeve bore; and 
 a hub assembly mounted in the wheel, the hub assembly including:
 a retainer housing including:
 a wheel mounting sleeve including an axle bore configured to receive an axle and configured to be inserted within the sleeve bore of the wheel; and 
 a pin sleeve including a first end, a second end, and a conduit between the first end and the second end, the first end in fluid communication with the sleeve axle bore, the first end including a shoulder extending into the conduit; 
 
 a retaining member disposed within the conduit of the pin sleeve, the retaining member including a lip wider than the shoulder, the lip and the shoulder interacting to prevent the retaining member from exiting the first end of the pin sleeve; 
 a biasing element disposed within the conduit of the pin sleeve and configured to bias the retaining member towards the axle bore, the retaining member configured to operatively engage a groove in an axle; and 
 a restraining element comprising a plug mechanically coupled to the second end of the pin sleeve, the restraining element configured to prevent the retaining member from exiting the second end of the pin sleeve at least prior to mounting the hub assembly in the wheel. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A hub assembly comprising:
 a retainer housing including:
 a wheel mounting sleeve including an axle bore configured to receive an axle and configured to be inserted within a sleeve bore of a wheel; and 
 a pin sleeve including a first end, a second end, and a conduit between the first end and the second end, the first end in fluid communication with the sleeve axle bore, the first end including a shoulder extending into the conduit; 
 
 a retaining member disposed within the pin sleeve, the retaining member including a lip wider than the shoulder, the lip and the shoulder interacting to prevent the retaining member from exiting the first end of the pin sleeve; 
 a biasing element disposed within the conduit of the pin sleeve and configured to bias the retaining member towards the axle bore, the retaining member configured to operatively engage a groove in an axle; and 
 a restraining element comprising a plug mechanically coupled to the second end of the pin sleeve, the restraining element configured to prevent the retaining member from exiting the second end of the pin sleeve at least prior to inserting the wheel mounting sleeve in a sleeve bore of a wheel. 
 
     
     
       3. The hub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the retainer housing includes a tool passageway proximate to the lip of the retaining member. 
     
     
       4. The hub assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the retainer housing includes a tamper-evident membrane over the tool passageway. 
     
     
       5. The hub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the retaining member comprises a pin. 
     
     
       6. The hub assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the pin comprises metal. 
     
     
       7. The hub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the biasing element comprises a spring. 
     
     
       8. The hub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the biasing element abuts the restraining element. 
     
     
       9. The hub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the retainer housing comprises plastic. 
     
     
       10. The hub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the retainer housing includes a plurality of raised projections. 
     
     
       11. The hub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the retainer housing includes a spacer extending from the wheel mounting sleeve. 
     
     
       12. The hub assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the spacer is integrally formed with the wheel mounting sleeve. 
     
     
       13. A method of manufacturing a wheel assembly, the method comprising:
 forming a wheel including a sleeve bore; and 
 forming a retainer housing including:
 forming a wheel mounting sleeve including an axle bore configured to receive an axle and configured to be inserted within the sleeve bore of the wheel; and 
 forming a pin sleeve including a first end, a second end, and a conduit between the first end and the second end, the first end in fluid communication with the sleeve axle bore, the first end including a shoulder extending into the conduit; 
 
 positioning a retaining member within the pin sleeve, the retaining member including a lip wider than the shoulder, the lip and the shoulder interacting to prevent the retaining member from exiting the first end of the pin sleeve; 
 positioning a biasing element in the pin sleeve to bias the retaining member towards the axle bore; 
 occluding the second end of the pin sleeve, wherein occluding the second end of the pin sleeve includes mechanically coupling a restraining element comprising a plug proximate to the second end of the pin sleeve, thereby preventing the retaining member from exiting the second end of the pin sleeve at least prior to inserting the wheel mounting sleeve of the retainer housing into the sleeve bore of the wheel; and 
 inserting the wheel mounting sleeve of the retainer housing into the sleeve bore of the wheel, thereby coupling the retainer housing to the wheel. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein mechanically coupling the restraining element includes ultrasonic welding the plug to the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein mechanically coupling the restraining element includes heat welding the plug to the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13 , wherein mechanically coupling the restraining element includes mechanically forcing the plug into the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 13 , wherein mechanically coupling the restraining element includes screwing the plug into the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 13 , wherein forming the wheel includes blow molding the wheel. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 13 , wherein forming the wheel includes injection molding the wheel. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 13 , wherein inserting the wheel mounting sleeve into the sleeve bore includes aligning the retainer housing with a vibratory feeder. 
     
     
       21. The hub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein an end of the retaining member extending into the axle bore is chamfered. 
     
     
       22. The hub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the retaining member includes a flat surface configured to prevent rotation of the retaining member within the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       23. A hub assembly configured to be mounted in a wheel, the hub assembly comprising:
 a retainer housing including:
 a wheel mounting sleeve including an axle bore configured to receive an axle and configured to be inserted within a sleeve bore of a wheel; and 
 a pin sleeve including a first end, a second end, and a conduit between the first end and the second end, the first end in fluid communication with the sleeve axle bore, the first end including a shoulder extending into the conduit; 
 
 a retaining member at least partially disposed within the conduit of the pin sleeve, the retaining member including a lip wider than the shoulder, the lip and the shoulder interacting to prevent the retaining member from exiting the first end of the pin sleeve, the retaining member configured to operatively engage a groove in an axle, the retaining member comprising a chamfered end extending into the axle bore, the chamfered end shaped to transversely displace the retaining member upon movement of a non-chamfered axle into the axle bore, the retaining member shaped to prevent rotation with respect to the axle bore; and 
 a biasing element disposed within the conduit of the pin sleeve and configured to bias the retaining member towards the axle bore. 
 
     
     
       24. The hub assembly of  claim 23 , further comprising a restraining element configured to prevent the retaining member from exiting the second end of the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       25. The hub assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the retaining member includes a flat surface configured to prevent rotation of the retaining member within the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       26. The hub assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the retaining member comprises a pin. 
     
     
       27. The hub assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the hub assembly is mounted in a sleeve bore of a wheel. 
     
     
       28. The hub assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the wheel is secured to an axle of a refuse cart. 
     
     
       29. The hub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the retaining member is shaped to transversely displace the retaining member upon movement of an axle into the axle bore. 
     
     
       30. The hub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the retaining member is shaped to have a single rotational orientation with respect to the axle bore. 
     
     
       31. The hub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plug is mechanically coupled to the pin sleeve by interaction between a threaded surface of the plug and a threaded surface of the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       32. The hub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plug comprises a shoulder configured to engage the biasing element. 
     
     
       33. The hub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plug comprises a lip configured to engage the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       34. The hub assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the plug comprises a portion extending into the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 13 , wherein mechanically coupling the restraining element includes adhering the plug to the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       36. A method of manufacturing a hub assembly, the method comprising:
 forming a retainer housing including:
 forming a wheel mounting sleeve including an axle bore configured to receive an axle and configured to be inserted within the sleeve bore of the wheel; and 
 forming a pin sleeve including a first end, a second end, and a conduit between the first end and the second end, the first end in fluid communication with the sleeve axle bore, the first end including a shoulder extending into the conduit; 
 
 positioning a retaining member within the pin sleeve, the retaining member including a lip wider than the shoulder, the lip and the shoulder interacting to prevent the retaining member from exiting the first end of the pin sleeve; 
 positioning a biasing element in the pin sleeve to bias the retaining member towards the axle bore; and 
 occluding the second end of the pin sleeve, wherein occluding the second end of the pin sleeve includes mechanically coupling a restraining element comprising a plug proximate to the second end of the pin sleeve, thereby preventing the retaining member from exiting the second end of the pin sleeve at least prior to inserting the wheel mounting sleeve of the retainer housing into the sleeve bore of the wheel. 
 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 36 , wherein mechanically coupling the restraining element includes ultrasonic welding the plug to the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 36 , wherein mechanically coupling the restraining element includes heat welding the plug to the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 36 , wherein mechanically coupling the restraining element includes mechanically forcing the plug into the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 36 , wherein mechanically coupling the restraining element includes screwing the plug into the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 36 , wherein mechanically coupling the restraining element includes adhering the plug to the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       42. A hub assembly comprising:
 a retainer housing including:
 a wheel mounting sleeve including an axle bore configured to receive an axle and configured to be inserted within a sleeve bore of a wheel; and 
 a pin sleeve including a first end, a second end, and a conduit between the first end and the second end, the first end in fluid communication with the sleeve axle bore, the first end including a shoulder extending into the conduit; 
 
 a retaining member disposed within the pin sleeve, the retaining member including a lip wider than the shoulder, the lip and the shoulder interacting to prevent the retaining member from exiting the first end of the pin sleeve; 
 a biasing element disposed within the conduit of the pin sleeve and configured to bias the retaining member towards the axle bore, the retaining member configured to operatively engage a groove in an axle; and 
 a restraining element comprising a deformation in the pin sleeve, the restraining element configured to prevent the retaining member from exiting the second end of the pin sleeve at least prior to inserting the wheel mounting sleeve in a sleeve bore of a wheel. 
 
     
     
       43. The hub assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the deformation is in a single location. 
     
     
       44. The hub assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the deformation is in a plurality of locations. 
     
     
       45. The hub assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the deformation is all around the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       46. The hub assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the retainer housing includes a tool passageway proximate to the lip of the retaining member. 
     
     
       47. The hub assembly of  claim 46 , wherein the retainer housing includes a tamper-evident membrane over the tool passageway. 
     
     
       48. The hub assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the retaining member comprises a pin. 
     
     
       49. The hub assembly of  claim 48 , wherein the pin comprises metal. 
     
     
       50. The hub assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the biasing element comprises a spring. 
     
     
       51. The hub assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the biasing element abuts the restraining element. 
     
     
       52. The hub assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the retainer housing comprises plastic. 
     
     
       53. The hub assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the retainer housing includes a plurality of raised projections. 
     
     
       54. The hub assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the retainer housing includes a spacer extending from the wheel mounting sleeve. 
     
     
       55. The hub assembly of  claim 54 , wherein the spacer is integrally formed with the wheel mounting sleeve. 
     
     
       56. The hub assembly of  claim 42 , wherein an end of the retaining member extending into the axle bore is chamfered. 
     
     
       57. The hub assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the retaining member includes a flat surface configured to prevent rotation of the retaining member within the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       58. The hub assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the retaining member is shaped to transversely displace the retaining member upon movement of an axle into the axle bore. 
     
     
       59. The hub assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the retaining member is shaped to have a single rotational orientation with respect to the axle bore. 
     
     
       60. A method of manufacturing a hub assembly, the method comprising:
 forming a retainer housing including:
 forming a wheel mounting sleeve including an axle bore configured to receive an axle and configured to be inserted within the sleeve bore of the wheel; and 
 forming a pin sleeve including a first end, a second end, and a conduit between the first end and the second end, the first end in fluid communication with the sleeve axle bore, the first end including a shoulder extending into the conduit; 
 
 positioning a retaining member within the pin sleeve, the retaining member including a lip wider than the shoulder, the lip and the shoulder interacting to prevent the retaining member from exiting the first end of the pin sleeve; 
 positioning a biasing element in the pin sleeve to bias the retaining member towards the axle bore; and 
 occluding the second end of the pin sleeve, wherein occluding the second end of the pin sleeve includes deforming the pin sleeve, thereby preventing the retaining member from exiting the second end of the pin sleeve at least prior to inserting the wheel mounting sleeve of the retainer housing into the sleeve bore of the wheel. 
 
     
     
       61. The method of  claim 60 , wherein deforming the pin sleeve comprises heat deforming the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       62. The method of  claim 60 , wherein deforming the pin sleeve comprises forming a deformation in a single location. 
     
     
       63. The method of  claim 60 , wherein deforming the pin sleeve comprises forming a deformation in a plurality of locations. 
     
     
       64. The method of  claim 60 , wherein deforming the pin sleeve comprises forming a deformation all around the pin sleeve. 
     
     
       65. A hub assembly comprising:
 a retainer housing including:
 a wheel mounting sleeve including an axle bore configured to receive an axle and configured to be inserted within a sleeve bore of a wheel; and 
 a pin sleeve including a first end, a second end, and a conduit between the first end and the second end, the first end in fluid communication with the sleeve axle bore, the first end including a shoulder extending into the conduit; 
 
 a retaining member disposed within the pin sleeve, the retaining member including a lip wider than the shoulder, the lip and the shoulder interacting to prevent the retaining member from exiting the first end of the pin sleeve; 
 a biasing element disposed within the conduit of the pin sleeve and configured to bias the retaining member towards the axle bore, the retaining member configured to operatively engage a groove in an axle; and 
 a restraining element comprising a disc inserted into a slot in the pin sleeve, the restraining element configured to prevent the retaining member from exiting the second end of the pin sleeve at least prior to inserting the wheel mounting sleeve in a sleeve bore of a wheel. 
 
     
     
       66. A hub assembly comprising:
 a retainer housing including:
 a wheel mounting sleeve including an axle bore configured to receive an axle and configured to be inserted within a sleeve bore of a wheel; and 
 a pin sleeve including a first end, a second end, and a conduit between the first end and the second end, the first end in fluid communication with the sleeve axle bore, the first end including a shoulder extending into the conduit; 
 
 a retaining member disposed within the pin sleeve, the retaining member including a lip wider than the shoulder, the lip and the shoulder interacting to prevent the retaining member from exiting the first end of the pin sleeve; 
 a biasing element disposed within the conduit of the pin sleeve and configured to bias the retaining member towards the axle bore, the retaining member configured to operatively engage a groove in an axle; and 
 a restraining element comprising a plurality of ledges extending into the pin sleeve, the restraining element configured to prevent the retaining member from exiting the second end of the pin sleeve at least prior to inserting the wheel mounting sleeve in a sleeve bore of a wheel.