Joint Housing Cap Recesses for Dirt Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing housing caps in the automotive industry, used to protect joints in vehicle drive trains, are prone to dirt and water ingress due to their open design, leading to corrosion and potential damage, especially since thorough cleaning requires disassembly and is difficult.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating recesses in the bellows section of the housing cap to allow dirt and liquids to be discharged, with optional funnel-shaped embossings and bulbous designs to enhance self-cleaning, particularly through centrifugal forces in the rotating state, while maintaining structural stability and reducing weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the housing cap is open at the end facing the shaft to avoid restricting shaft mobility, then shaft mobility is maintained, but dirt and water can penetrate into the housing cap leading to corrosion and damage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of trying to prevent dirt entry through sealing, the invention inverts the approach by providing drainage recesses that actively channel dirt and water out of the housing cap. The recesses are positioned and dimensioned to facilitate outward flow of contaminants while maintaining the open structure needed for shaft mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the harmful function of the open structure (dirt accumulation) by adding recesses that serve as dedicated pathways for contaminant removal. These recesses are specifically designed to extract and discharge dirt and water from the housing cap interior, separating the protective function from the open structure.
2Reliability
If recesses are added to the bellows section to discharge dirt and liquids, then corrosion susceptibility is reduced, but the housing cap structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than redesigning the entire housing cap structure, the invention applies local quality changes by adding recesses only in specific locations on the bellows section where drainage is most effective. The recesses are strategically positioned to maximize contaminant discharge while minimizing overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing cap structure is segmented by adding discrete recess features to the bellows section. These recesses are individual, localized elements that can be independently formed, allowing the drainage function to be added without fundamentally redesigning the entire housing cap structure.
3Ease of operation
If the recess size is increased to improve dirt discharge effectiveness, then dirt removal capability is enhanced, but the housing cap stability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies partial action by providing multiple recesses of moderate size rather than one or two very large recesses. This distributes the drainage function across several locations, achieving effective dirt discharge while maintaining structural integrity through the remaining material.
Solution Approach 2:
The recesses extend in the longitudinal direction of the bellows section rather than only radially outward. This longitudinal extension provides effective drainage pathway length without requiring excessive radial depth that would compromise structural stability.
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 significantly reduces corrosion susceptibility and extends the service life of the housing cap by facilitating easy removal of contaminants, with enhanced self-cleaning effects in both static and rotating states, and contributes to weight reduction without compromising stability.
Implementation Method 1
In the rotating operating state, the self-cleaning effect is of course greater than in the static state, since the accumulated liquids and/or dirt are thrown outwards through the recesses due to the centrifugal forces acting on them.
Data Source
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AI summary
Described and depicted is a housing cap for a joint, comprising a bellows section and a joint section. The aim is to design a housing cap that is less prone to dirt deposits. Said aim is achieved by providing the housing cap with at least one hole in the bellows section. An assembly composed of a joint and a shaft is also described.