Overmoulded Boot Can Assembly Seal Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing constant velocity joint boot can assemblies require additional components and risk damage during assembly, particularly with the use of o-rings, which can be missed or removed, leading to inefficiencies and potential contamination.
Innovation Solution
A boot can assembly where the boot and seal are formed from the same piece of material and overmoulded onto the boot can, eliminating the need for additional connection members like o-rings, and providing a secure, integral seal without additional fasteners or bonding agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an o-ring is used to seal the boot can assembly, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases and reliability decreases due to additional components that can be damaged or missed during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the seal and the boot into a single integral component, eliminating the need for separate o-rings and connection members. This merging of components reduces assembly complexity while maintaining sealing effectiveness, as the seal is now inherently part of the boot structure rather than a separate element that could be missed or damaged during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the o-ring component from the assembly, replacing it with an integral seal design. By removing this separate sealing element, the patent reduces the number of parts that need to be handled during assembly, thereby reducing complexity and potential assembly errors while maintaining the sealing function.
2Reliability
If additional connection members like o-rings are used, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases due to additional handling and assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The seal and boot are merged into a single integral component, eliminating the need for separate connection members. This reduces the number of assembly steps required, as the seal is now inherently part of the boot structure rather than a separate element that needs to be installed, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the boot and seal are formed as separate components, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but productivity decreases due to additional assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The boot and seal are combined into a single integral component formed from the same piece of material. This merging eliminates the need for separate assembly steps to install the seal, thereby improving productivity. The integral design allows the component to be manufactured as one piece, maintaining manufacturing flexibility while significantly reducing assembly complexity and time.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components are used in the boot can assembly, then adaptability is improved, but loss of time increases due to additional handling during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The boot and seal are merged into a single integral component, eliminating the need for separate handling and assembly of multiple parts. This reduces assembly time significantly, as the seal is now inherently part of the boot structure rather than a separate element that needs to be installed, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining design adaptability.
Data Source
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AI summary
In at least some implementations, a constant velocity joint includes a first rotational member and a boot can assembly coupled to the first rotational member. The boot can assembly includes a boot can, a boot and a seal carried by the boot can and arranged to engage and seal against the first rotational member when the boot can assembly is coupled to the first rotational member. The boot and seal may be formed from the same piece of material and may be bonded to the boot can. The boot and seal may be overmoulded onto the boot can.