Dust Boot Seal with Spring Washer Biasing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dust boots for moveable joints are labor-intensive to manufacture and prone to tearing, with external rings or crimping processes often failing to maintain a reliable seal due to material compression set issues, leading to waste and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A dust boot with an elastic cover piece and encapsulated spring washer that seals against both the housing and stud without external crimping rings, using a bent flange to maintain a durable, compression-resistant seal through full articulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external rings or crimping processes are used to seal the dust boot, then the seal is initially established, but the seal fails over time due to compression set of the dust boot material
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the sealing mechanism from relying on dust boot material compression (which fails due to compression set) to using a spring-loaded seal retainer that maintains constant sealing force. The spring washer provides continuous pressure against the seal groove, compensating for any material relaxation over time and maintaining seal integrity throughout the dust boot's service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical crimping or spinning process that deforms the housing to create a seal with a spring-based mechanical system. The spring-loaded seal retainer uses elastic deformation of the spring rather than permanent deformation of the housing, allowing for maintenance of sealing force without compromising the housing structure or dust boot material.
2Reliability
If external rings or crimping processes are used to secure the dust boot, then the dust boot is restrained, but the manufacturing process becomes labor intensive and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the seal retainer function and the sealing function into a single integrated component. The spring-loaded seal retainer simultaneously restrains the dust boot in place and maintains the seal against contaminants, eliminating the need for separate external rings or complex crimping operations and reducing the total number of parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the sealing function from the housing structure itself (which would require machining or deformation) and places it into a dedicated spring-loaded seal retainer component. This separation allows the housing to remain simple while the seal retainer provides all necessary sealing and retention functions.
3Reliability
If the housing is machined to capture the dust boot, then the dust boot is secured, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring-loaded seal retainer is designed to be self-installing and self-adjusting. It captures the dust boot through its elastic engagement features and automatically maintains sealing pressure through the spring mechanism, requiring no additional machining of the housing or complex assembly operations. The component serves itself by maintaining the seal throughout operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a contaminant and fluid-tight seal resistant to pull-out and compression set, reducing manufacturing complexity and costs while maintaining a consistent seal throughout the range of motion.
Implementation Method 1
A spring washer is at least substantially encapsulated within the elastic cover piece at the first end portion for biasing the elastic cover piece against the housing
Implementation Method 2
The top edge of the housing is bent radially inwardly to present a flange... biases the first end portion of the elastic cover piece against the flange of the housing
Data Source
AI summary
The assembly includes a housing with an inner bore that extends along an axis. A stud is at least partially disposed in the inner bore of the housing and is pivotable relative to the housing. A top edge of the housing is bent radially inwardly to present a flange. A two-piece dust boot is provided including a cover piece of an elastic material and a spring washer. The cover piece extends from a first end portion that is sealed against the housing to a second end portion that is sealed against the stud. The spring washer is at least substantially encapsulated within the cover piece at the first end portion and biases the cover piece against the flange of the housing to establish a seal that is resistant to compression setting between the cover piece and the housing.