Transmission Dust Boot with Groove and Shoulder for Inclined Shaft Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dust boots for transmission joints fail to prevent disengagement of the output shaft from the tulip when the shaft is moved in an inclined direction relative to the axis of the opening, leading to potential axial movement and contamination.
Innovation Solution
A dust boot design featuring a radially inner peripheral groove and a cage stop shoulder that retains the rolling elements and cage of the bearing means during inclined movements up to 18° or 30°, distributing the force exerted on the shaft over the groove and shoulder to prevent disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a radially inner peripheral web is used to stop axial movement, then axial movement is prevented, but inclined movement causing disengagement is not prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The dust boot is segmented into multiple functional zones: a radially inner peripheral groove (first zone) that receives rolling elements during inclined movement, and a radially inner peripheral web (second zone) that stops axial movement. This segmentation allows each zone to specialize in preventing specific types of shaft displacement, thereby resolving the contradiction between preventing axial movement and preventing inclined movement disengagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a new dimensional element (the groove) to the dust boot structure that specifically addresses inclined movement in a different geometric dimension than the traditional axial web. The groove extends in a direction that intercepts inclined shaft movement paths, while the web continues to handle axial movement, thus expanding the boot's protective capability across multiple movement dimensions.
2Ease of manufacture
If the dust boot structure is simplified, then manufacturing is easier, but the ability to prevent disengagement during inclined movement is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The dust boot utilizes a flexible corrugated structure that can be manufactured as a single elastomeric component. The groove and web features are molded directly into this flexible boot, allowing complex retention geometry to be achieved through conventional molding processes without requiring separate metal retaining rings or complex assembly steps. This maintains ease of manufacture while providing reliable shaft retention during inclined movement.
Data Source
AI summary
A dust boot (2) for an articulated transmission joint has a tulip (6) presenting an open end (62) and an opposite end designed to be secured to a first shaft (8), a second shaft (10), and rolling bearing means (3) mounted on an end (13) of the second shaft (10). The bearing means (3) has rolling elements (34) housed in a cage (32). The dust boot (2) includes a groove (24) suitable for receiving at least some of the rolling elements during an inclined movement of the second shaft (10) towards an outlet of the tulip, and a shoulder (22) separated from the groove (24) by a peripheral wall (25) that co-operates with the shoulder (22) to define a housing suitable for receiving a portion of the cage (32) of the bearing means (3) when the cage (32) is in abutment against the shoulder (22).