In one aspect of the present disclosure, a wheel hub assembly is provided that includes a hub body having an outboard end portion and an inboard end portion, a bearing assembly, and a seal. The seal includes a seal case and a sleeve. The hub body and seal case are rotatable relative to the sleeve. The wheel hub assembly further includes a stop of the bearing assembly configured to resist movement of the sleeve toward the outboard end portion of the hub body as the hub body, bearing assembly, and sleeve are advanced together in an inboard direction along a vehicle spindle. The stop permits the bearing assembly to transfer a force applied in an inboard axial direction against the bearing assembly, such as by tightening of a spindle nut, to the sleeve and urge the sleeve along a vehicle spindle.

A unitized wheelend is provided. The unitized wheelend includes a hub having an inboard side bounded by an oil seal and an outboard side bounded by a retainer releasably coupled to the hub. The unitized wheelend assembly includes an inboard bearing assembly, a spacer, an outboard bearing assembly, and a spindle nut assembly.

A hub for a bicycle includes a hub shell and an axle device. The hub shell is supported rotatably relative to the axle device by way of bearing devices. A bearing device is configured as a roller bearing, and includes two bearing rings with rolling members disposed between, and is sealed axially outwardly. Between the bearing rings, the roller bearing includes a modular unit, at which a sealing unit is configured for laterally sealing the roller bearing, and including guide units protruding laterally inwardly from the modular unit for guiding the rolling members.

A bearing assembly configured to rotationally support a first component relative to a second component includes at least one bearing and at least one closure element configured to close an opening in the first component, which opening is disposed axially adjacent to the bearing. The closure element may be a cured body of foam that conforms to the shape of the opening or a ring mounted on the first component such that it covers the opening.

A packaging system having an outboard guard and an outboard retainer cap. The outboard guard includes an outboard guard opening having a hole through the planform of the outboard guard, an engagement portion having an annular surface radially surrounding the outboard guard opening, an outboard bearing protector portion having an annular surface radially surrounding the engagement portion of the outboard guard, and an outer rim having an annular surface radially surrounding the outboard bearing protector portion. The outboard retainer cap is configured to be removably affixed to the outboard guard and includes an outboard alignment protrusion having a circular surface, an engagement portion having an annular surface radially surrounding the outboard alignment protrusion, and a retaining flange having an annular surface radially surrounding the engagement portion of the outboard retainer cap.

A packaging system having an outboard guard and an outboard retainer cap. The outboard guard includes an outboard guard opening having a hole through the planform of the outboard guard, an engagement portion having an annular surface radially surrounding the outboard guard opening, an outboard bearing protector portion having an annular surface radially surrounding the engagement portion of the outboard guard, and an outer rim having an annular surface radially surrounding the outboard bearing protector portion. The outboard retainer cap is configured to be removably affixed to the outboard guard and includes an outboard alignment protrusion having a circular surface, an engagement portion having an annular surface radially surrounding the outboard alignment protrusion, and a retaining flange having an annular surface radially surrounding the engagement portion of the outboard retainer cap.

A high load pivoting caster with integral jack preferably includes a wheel mounting base, a pair of wheels, a high load jack, a slewing ring, an wheel axle and an attachment cube. The wheel mounting base includes a base plate, and first and second pairs of wheel support plates. The first wheel is retained between the first pair of wheel support plates. The second wheel is retained between the second pair of wheel support plates. The wheel axle is inserted through the pair of wheels and the first and second pair of wheel support plates. The slewing ring preferably includes a stator ring, a rotor ring, an indexing plate and a set of rotary bearings. An opening is formed through the indexing plate to receive an outer perimeter of the high load jack. The attachment cube is preferably attached to a top of the indexing plate with welding.

The invention provides a caster including two wheels, a central frame member, and a mount member. The two wheels are mounted on the mount member. The caster has a hybrid bearing arrangement comprising both a rolling bearing and two slide bearings. The rolling bearing is located between the central frame member and the mount member and is configured to enable the caster to roll along a straight line with each of the two wheels rotating in a common direction about a first axis. Each of the two slide bearings is located between the mount member and a tread portion of a respective one of the two wheels. The slide bearings are configured to enable the two wheels to simultaneously rotate in opposite directions when the caster swivels about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis. In some embodiments, the caster is a hubless caster.

An apparatus for providing a load on a bearing mounted to a shaft which includes an attaching member releasably connectable to a shaft and a press mechanism coupled to the attaching member. The press mechanism is configured to provide a compressive load to the bearing. The press mechanism includes a wrench engageable with the lock nut on the shaft and the wrench is configured to engage and rotate the nut when the attaching member connects to the shaft. The wrench is moveable axially relative to an axial dimension of the press mechanism between a proximal non-engaged position and a distal engaged position such that the wrench engages the nut in the distal engaged position and the wrench avoids engaging the nut in a proximal non-engaged position. An aligning ring may be located around the attaching member and may be configured to engage a shaft slot.

A packaging system having an outboard guard and an outboard retainer cap. The outboard guard includes an outboard guard opening having a hole through the planform of the outboard guard, an engagement portion having an annular surface radially surrounding the outboard guard opening, an outboard bearing protector portion having an annular surface radially surrounding the engagement portion of the outboard guard, and an outer rim having an annular surface radially surrounding the outboard bearing protector portion. The outboard retainer cap is configured to be removably affixed to the outboard guard and includes an outboard alignment protrusion having a circular surface, an engagement portion having an annular surface radially surrounding the outboard alignment protrusion, and a retaining flange having an annular surface radially surrounding the engagement portion of the outboard retainer cap.