Protective system and protective cover

Abstract

The utility model discloses a protection system and protection cover. The protection system comprises: a first part and a second part comprising an outer peripheral groove respectively; a protection cover comprising a sleeve of thermoplastic elastomer material and at least one elastically deformable annular clamping element pre-mounted on the sleeve, one end of the sleeve being mounted around the first part and the other end being mounted around the second part. At least one end of the sleeve comprises an inner peripheral protuberance configured to be at least partially housed in the groove in the assembled state of the protection system, the protuberance having a cavity on the side opposite the side facing the groove for receiving the pre-mounted clamping element, the material of the sleeve having a greater permanent compression set than the material constituting the clamping element. In the assembled state, a free space exists between the protuberance and the bottom of the groove so that the protuberance never comes into contact with the bottom of the groove.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a protection system and a protective cover. Background Technology

[0002] This utility model specifically relates to a protection system, comprising:

[0003] —A first part and a second part that is movable relative to the first part, the first part and / or the second part including an outer peripheral groove;

[0004] —A protective cover, comprising a thermoplastic elastomer sleeve, the sleeve comprising, in the axial direction, at least one first annular end, a deformable portion in the sense of elongating or shortening the sleeve, a second annular end, and at least one elastically deformable annular clamping element pre-installed on the sleeve, wherein, in the assembled state of the system, one of the first annular end and the second annular end of the sleeve is mounted around the first portion, and the other is mounted around the second portion.

[0005] The first and / or second annular end of the sleeve includes an inner circumferential bulge configured to be at least partially received in a groove in the assembled state of the protection system. The bulge is a hollow bulge with a cavity on the side opposite to the side facing the groove for receiving a pre-installed clamping element. The bulge is adapted to be held in the groove by the clamping element.

[0006] Most protective covers are secured to components at each end, thus requiring at least partial protection through gluing or metal clips. Gluing is a very time-consuming operation. Assembling metal clips is not always easy either. Furthermore, the thickness of the cover is susceptible to variations due to temperature changes. Specifically, the cover thickness decreases as the temperature rises. Similarly, this thickness varies during the cover's lifespan, resulting in the clip-on fixation failing over time unless the clips are retightened. Therefore, cover manufacturers are seeking solutions that facilitate securing the cover to the components they must at least partially protect. Summary of the Invention

[0007] One object of this invention is to provide a cover that is designed to be effective over time in improving its tightness while being easy to fix.

[0008] Therefore, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a protection system, comprising:

[0009] —A first part and a second part that is movable relative to the first part, the first part and / or the second part including an outer peripheral groove;

[0010] —A protective cover, comprising a thermoplastic elastomer sleeve, the sleeve comprising, in the axial direction, at least one first annular end, a deformable portion in the sense of elongating or shortening the sleeve, a second annular end, and at least one elastically deformable annular clamping element pre-installed on the sleeve, wherein, in the assembled state of the system, the first annular end and the second annular end of the sleeve are respectively mounted such that one is mounted around the first portion and the other is mounted around the second portion.

[0011] The first and / or second annular ends of the sleeve include an inner circumferential bulge configured to be at least partially received in a groove in the assembled state of the protection system. The bulge is hollow and has a cavity on a side opposite to the side facing the groove for receiving a pre-installed clamping element. The bulge is adapted to be held in the groove by the clamping element.

[0012] The sleeve is characterized by having a greater compressive settling time (CST) than the material constituting the clamping element, and in the assembled state, a free space exists between the bulge and the bottom of the groove, preventing the bulge from contacting the bottom of the groove. The clamping element is pre-installed on the sleeve when it is not assembled to the first and second parts. The entire protection system is designed to allow the clamping member to apply a permanent holding pressure, including in the event of "relaxation" of the material constituting the cover.

[0013] In one embodiment of this utility model, the first part is a rack and pinion unit, the second part is a tie rod, and the first annular end or larger base of the sleeve and the second annular end or smaller base of the sleeve are respectively adapted to be installed around the end of the rack and pinion unit and around the tie rod.

[0014] In one embodiment of this utility model, the first part is a male element, the second part is a female element, and the first annular end or larger base of the sleeve and the second annular end or smaller base of the sleeve are respectively adapted to be mounted around the female element and around the male element.

[0015] In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one side of the bulge at the first and / or second annular end of the sleeve extends to form an outer lip that defines the cavity of the bulge.

[0016] In one embodiment of this invention, the raised cavity of the cover is closed by an outer peripheral band.

[0017] In one embodiment of this utility model, the outer peripheral belt and the sleeve are manufactured as one piece.

[0018] In one embodiment of the present invention, the outer peripheral belt is fixed to the sleeve, particularly by gluing and / or welding.

[0019] In one embodiment of this invention, the clamping element is made of a thermoplastic elastomer material.

[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the thermoplastic elastomer material of the sleeve or at least one thermoplastic elastomer material is a thermoplastic elastomer selected from a list including: polyurethane thermoplastic elastomers, styrene thermoplastic elastomers such as styrene-ethylene-butene-styrene, olefin thermoplastic elastomers preferably in the form of a co-network mixture of polypropylene and ethylene-propylene-diene monomers, thermoplastic copolyesters such as ether-ester block copolymers, and any mixtures thereof.

[0021] In one embodiment of the present invention, the deformable portion in the sense of elongating or shortening the sleeve is formed by a pleated or corrugated surface.

[0022] Another object of this invention is to provide a protective cover for assembly to a first part and a second part to manufacture a protection system of the type described above. Attached Figure Description

[0023] After reading the following description of the embodiments given with reference to the accompanying drawings, the present invention will be clearly understood, wherein:

[0024] Figure 1 A perspective view of the cover according to the present invention is shown;

[0025] Figure 2 A perspective view of the cover according to the present invention is shown, wherein a portion of the cover is omitted to show the interior of the cover;

[0026] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a steering system according to the present invention is shown;

[0027] Figure 4 A perspective view of a cover mounted on a partially shown steering system according to the present invention is shown, wherein a portion of the cover is omitted to show the interior of the cover;

[0028] Figure 5 A partial cross-sectional view of the protection system according to the present invention in its installed state is shown, and detailed views are also included.

[0029] Figure 6 A partial cross-sectional view of the modified cover according to the present invention mounted on a steering system is shown;

[0030] Figure 7 A partial cross-sectional view of the modified cover according to the present invention mounted on a steering system is shown;

[0031] Figure 8 A partial cross-sectional view of the modified cover according to the present invention mounted on a steering system is shown;

[0032] Figure 9 A schematic partial view of a protection system in the form of a transmission coupling is shown;

[0033] Figure 10 The clamping force of the cover as a function of temperature is shown in the form of three curves: the first thin solid line corresponds to the clamping force of the sleeve itself, the second thick solid line corresponds to the clamping force of the cover with the ring, and the third dashed line corresponds to the clamping force of the cover with the clamp.

[0034] In the remainder of this specification, the same elements or functions are represented by the same reference numerals. For the sake of brevity, these elements or functions are not described with reference to each drawing, but rather only the differences between embodiments are described.

[0035] For clarity, actual scale is not always taken into account in the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0036] As described above, this utility model relates to a protective cover 1 and its related protection system, which is particularly suitable for protecting the male element 14 and female element 15 of the transmission connector 13 (e.g., Figure 9 (as shown) or suitable for protecting the rack and pinion unit 11 and the tie rod 12 (e.g., as shown) Figures 3 to 8 (As shown).

[0037] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the protective cover 1 includes a sleeve 2, which takes the form of a tubular body with openings at each end and thus has a longitudinal axis. In the axial direction (i.e., from one end of the body constituting the sleeve 2 to the other end), the sleeve 2 sequentially includes a first annular end 3 (also called the larger base), a deformable portion 4 in the sense of elongating or shortening the sleeve 2, and a second annular end 5 (also called the smaller base).

[0038] The deformable portion 4 of the sleeve 2 takes the form of a corrugated surface, such as an accordion-like folded surface or a corrugated surface. This deformable portion 4 can be formed by multiple coaxial rings, as shown in the example, or by a helical winding or corrugation.

[0039] In the example shown, sleeve 2 is conical, but its equivalent can also be cylindrical. Sleeve 2 is a molded part, preferably manufactured by injection molding. Sleeve 2 is made of a thermoplastic elastomer material. The thermoplastic elastomer material of sleeve 2, or at least one thermoplastic elastomer material, is selected from a list of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) including: polyurethane thermoplastic elastomers (TPU), styrene thermoplastic elastomers such as styrene-ethylene-butene-styrene (SEBS), olefin thermoplastic elastomers preferably in the form of a co-reticulated mixture of polypropylene (PP) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), thermoplastic copolyesters such as ether-ester block copolymers, and any mixtures thereof.

[0040] In the example shown, sleeve 2 is made of a co-web mixture of PP / EPDM. Sleeve 2 includes an inner circumferential ridge 6 at one or each end.

[0041] Figure 2 A cover is shown having an inner circumferential bulge 6 at a first annular end 3 of a sleeve 2 and an inner circumferential bulge 6 at a second annular end 5 of the sleeve 2. Each bulge 6 is hollow and includes, for example,... Figure 5 The cavity 61 is shown. Therefore, each cavity 61 can be accessed from the outside of the sleeve 2.

[0042] The cover 1 also includes at least one annular clamping element 7. In practice, the bulge 6 or at least one bulge 6 (preferably each bulge 6) of the sleeve 2 is fitted with an annular clamping element 7, which is elastically deformable and at least partially accommodated within the cavity 61 of the bulge 6, such as... Figure 5 As shown. The clamping element 7, like an elastic band, forms a closed loop surrounding the end of the sleeve 2 to which the clamping element 7 is mounted.

[0043] exist Figure 5 In the example shown, the clamping element 7 is in the form of a toric circular ring. The clamping element 7 can be made of rubber or thermoplastic elastomer material. Specifically, the clamping element 7 can be made of a material selected from the list including: natural rubber, ethylene-acrylic acid (AEM) rubber, fluorinated rubber (fluorinated elastomers based on fluorocarbons, such as FKM rubber), ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) rubber, hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR), polyurethane thermoplastic elastomers, and any mixtures thereof. The clamping element 7 is preferably made of rubber, as shown in the example shown here.

[0044] The elasticity of the sleeve 2 allows it to apply a contractile force to the end of the sleeve equipped with the clamping element, thereby helping to hold the sleeve 2 on the element that it must protect.

[0045] To prevent excessive deformation of sleeve 2 due to the elastic force, the thermoplastic elastomer material of the sleeve has a greater compressive permanent deformation than the material constituting the ring. Figure 10 The curves show that, after being heated to 120°C, the clamping force of the ringed cover according to the present invention, depicted by the thick solid line, is greater at ambient temperature than that of the cover equipped with clips, indicated by the dashed line.

[0046] Therefore, manufacturing this protective cover 1 first requires manufacturing a sleeve 2, and secondly, assembling one or more clamping elements 7 onto the sleeve 2. Then, the cover 1 is associated with the components it must protect, namely, the first part (such as a rack and pinion unit) and the second part (such as a tie rod). The protective cover 1 is as follows... Figure 3 In the case of the steering cover shown for connecting the rack and pinion unit 11 and the tie rod 12, the larger base of the sleeve 2 is mounted around one end of the rack and pinion unit 11, and the smaller base of the sleeve 2 is mounted around the tie rod 12. This assembly is achieved by simply nesting one end of the sleeve 2 with either the tie rod 12 or the rack and pinion unit 11.

[0047] exist Figure 4 In the example shown, the tie rod 12 includes an outer peripheral groove 121, and the rack and pinion unit 11 includes an outer peripheral groove 111. Each outer peripheral groove includes at least one bottom. In the installed state, one protrusion 6 is received in the outer peripheral groove 121 of the tie rod 12, and another protrusion 6 is received in the outer peripheral groove 111 of the rack and pinion unit 11. Each groove 121 or 111 has a U-shaped form. The groove 121 or 111 has a bottom 112. Here, the bottom is formed by the middle of the U-shape.

[0048] When the cover is installed, the cavity 61 of the protrusion 6 is located on the side of the protrusion 6 opposite to the side facing the groove 121 or 111. The protrusion 6 is held in the groove 121 or 111 by the clamping element 7.

[0049] Furthermore, a free space 17 exists between the bulge 6 and the bottom 112 of the groove 121 or 111, the span of which is greater than or equal to 2 mm, and in particular, greater than or equal to 5 mm. This space 17 achieves good clamping and sealing because the cover 1 applies high stress to the two contact areas 16 around the bulge 6.

[0050] exist Figure 6 In the variant shown, the side portion 18 of the protrusion 6 extends to form two outer lips 19, which define the cavity 61 of the protrusion 6 and have a height H, for example, greater than or equal to 1 mm. The lips 19 enable protection of the clamping element 7 from impacts from external objects such as gravel.

[0051] exist Figure 7 and Figure 8 In the variant shown, the cavity 61 of the protrusion 6 is closed by the outer peripheral band 20. This band 20 protects the clamping element 7 from external objects such as gravel, chemical reagents, and ozone.

[0052] Belt 20 can be secured to sleeve 2, particularly by gluing and / or welding. Figure 7 ), or manufactured as one piece with sleeve 2 ( Figure 8 For example, this can be achieved by embedding the clamping element 7 into the sleeve 2.

[0053] This rack and pinion steering system 10 functions similarly to existing steering systems. Movement of the rack housed in the rack and pinion unit 11 (e.g., by means of steering wheel rotation) results in a tension or thrust force being applied to the tie rod in parallel with the deformation of the deformable portion 4 of the cover 1. The tie rod 12 is connected to the vehicle's steering wheels.

[0054] Figure 9 The illustration shows the application of cover 1 for protecting the first and second parts, which form the male element 14 and female element 15 of the transmission coupling 13. For example, such a coupling is capable of transmitting rotational motion between the output shaft and axle of a vehicle transmission gearbox. In a manner known per se, the male element can be a drive shaft with radial roller bearing arms.

[0055] The connector 13 also includes a female element 15 fitted with the gearbox output shaft. This female element 15, also called a tube, is in the form of a housing adapted to at least partially accommodate a roller bearing that can be inserted into the housing via an open end. The roller bearing can be replaced with a ball bearing.

[0056] exist Figure 9 In the example shown, the housing includes a bottom and sidewalls internally connected to a cylinder. The bottom of the housing includes an outer extension referred to as a tail. This tail forms an extension of the shaft connecting the coupling.

[0057] The protective cover 1 enables at least partial protection of the male element 14 and the female element 15 of the connector. For this purpose, the larger base of the sleeve 2 of the cover 1 and the smaller base of the sleeve 2 are respectively adapted to be mounted around the female element 15 and around the male element 14.

[0058] The male element 14 ideally includes an outer peripheral groove 141, and the female element 15 ideally includes an outer peripheral groove 151. Here, the grooves are U-shaped. The grooves have bottoms. A protrusion 6 is received in the groove 141 on the male element 14, with free space between the protrusion 6 and the bottom of the groove 141, while another protrusion 6 is received in the groove 151 in the female element 15, with free space between the protrusion 6 and the bottom of the groove 151. Assembly is also achieved through simple nesting.

[0059] The protective shield 1 in this application functions the same as the protective shield in the prior art.

Claims

1. A protection system, comprising: —A first portion and a second portion movable relative to the first portion, wherein the first portion and / or the second portion includes an outer peripheral groove; —A protective cover (1) includes a thermoplastic elastomer sleeve (2), which in the axial direction includes at least one first annular end (3), a deformable portion (4) in the sense of elongating or shortening the sleeve (2), a second annular end (5), and at least one elastically deformable annular clamping element (7) pre-installed on the sleeve (2). In the assembled state of the system, the first annular end (3) and the second annular end (5) of the sleeve (2) are respectively installed such that one is installed around the first portion and the other is installed around the second portion. The first annular end (3) and / or the second annular end (5) of the sleeve (2) include an inner circumferential bulge (6) configured to be at least partially received in the groove in the assembled state of the protection system. The bulge (6) is a hollow bulge (6) having a cavity (61) on a side opposite to the side facing the groove for receiving a pre-installed clamping element (7). The bulge (6) is adapted to be held in the groove by the clamping element (7). The sleeve (2) is characterized in that the thermoplastic elastomer material has a greater compression set than the material constituting the clamping element (7), and in the assembled state, there is a free space (17) between the bulge (6) and the bottom (112) of the groove, such that the bulge (6) never contacts the bottom of the groove.

2. The protection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first part is a rack and pinion unit (11), the second part is a tie rod (12), and the first annular end (3) or larger base of the sleeve (2) and the second annular end (5) or smaller base of the sleeve (2) are respectively adapted to be mounted around the end of the rack and pinion unit (11) and around the tie rod (12).

3. The protection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first part is a male element (14), the second part is a female element (15), and the first annular end (3) or larger base of the sleeve (2) and the second annular end (5) or smaller base of the sleeve (2) are respectively adapted to be mounted around the female element (15) and around the male element (14).

4. The protection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, At least one side (18) of the bulge (6) of the first annular end (3) and / or the second annular end (5) of the sleeve (2) extends to form an outer lip (19) defining the cavity (61) of the bulge (6).

5. The protection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cavity (61) of the bulge (6) of the cover (1) is closed by the outer peripheral band (20).

6. The protection system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The outer peripheral belt (20) and the sleeve (2) are manufactured as one piece.

7. The protection system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The outer peripheral band (20) is fixed to the sleeve (2).

8. The protection system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The outer peripheral band (20) is glued and / or welded to the sleeve (2).

9. The protection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The clamping element (7) is made of thermoplastic elastomer material.

10. The protection system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The deformable portion (4) in the sense of elongating or shortening the sleeve (2) is formed by a pleated surface.

11. A protective cover (1), characterized in that, The protective cover (1) is used to assemble into the first part and the second part to manufacture the protection system according to claim 1.

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