Air vent system for constant velocity joints

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10920832-B2
Application number	US-201615775076-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 8, 2016
Priority date	Nov 11, 2015
Publication date	Feb 16, 2021
Grant date	Feb 16, 2021

Abstract

An air venting system for a constant velocity joint (20) having an inner race (24), an outer race (22), a cage (26), a plurality of torque transferring elements (28), a drive sleeve, a drive nut and a boot assembly. The outer race has a wall portion (90) having a vent hole (88, 242) with a first and a second axially extending channel (224, 264). A radially extending wall integrally connects the second axially extending channel to the first axially extending channel. A valve (256) having a stopper portion (264), a disk portion (258) and a breather portion (260) is at least partially located within the vent hole. The breather portion (260) further includes an axially extending ring (292) that terminates in a radially extending wall. At least a portion (300) of an edge portion of the radially extending wall of the breather portion of the valve is in direct contact with at least a portion (250) of an outer surface of the wall portion of the outer race.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An air vent system for a constant velocity joint, comprising:
a constant velocity joint having an inner race, an outer race, a cage, and a plurality of torque transferring elements;
wherein said outer race of said constant velocity joint has a wall portion with a vent hole having a first axially extending channel and a second axially extending channel;

a valve is at least partially located within said vent hole in said wall portion of said outer race, wherein said valve comprises:
a stopper portion comprising a first axial inner portion, a second axial outer portion, and a radially outward extending portion interposed between said first and second axial inner portions;
wherein said first axial inner portion is at least partially located within said first axially extending channel in said wall portion of said outer race;
wherein said second axial outer portion is located within said second axially extending channel in said wall portion of said outer race;

a disk portion located axially adjacent to and extends outward from said second axial outer portion of said stopper portion of said valve;
a breather portion comprising a ring; and
a channel comprising a first aperture, a second aperture, a first portion, a second portion and a cantilever elbow fluidly connecting said first portion of said channel in said valve with said second portion of said channel in said valve.

2. The air vent system of claim 1 , wherein said disk portion of said valve further comprises an axially inward depression on an outer surface of said disk portion of said valve.

3. The air vent system of claim 1 ,
wherein said channel has a diameter D 3 ;
wherein said diameter D 3 of said channel in said valve is smaller than said diameter D 2 of said second axially extending channel of said wall portion of said outer race of said constant velocity joint;
wherein said diameter D 3 of said channel in said valve is smaller than said diameter D 1 of said first axially extending channel in said wall portion of said outer race of said constant velocity joint;
wherein said first aperture of said channel is located on an end surface of said first axial inner portion of said stopper portion of said valve;
wherein said first portion of said channel in said valve extends axially in said stopper portion of said valve from said first aperture;
wherein said second aperture of channel in said valve is located on an outer surface of said second axial outer portion of said stopper portion of said valve; and
wherein said second portion of said channel in said valve extends radially in said second axial outer portion of said valve from said second aperture.

4. The air vent system of claim 1 , wherein said wall portion of said outer race further includes a rib, wherein said rib comprises an aperture;
wherein said rib extends radially inward from an inner surface of said wall portion of said outer race;
wherein said rib in said wall portion of said outer race is located axially inward from said first axially inward extending channel in said wall portion of said outer race;
wherein said aperture in said rib in said wall portion of said outer race has a diameter D 4 that is smaller than a diameter D 2 of said second axially extending channel in said wall portion and a diameter D 1 of said first axially extending channel in said wall portion.

5. The air vent system of claim 4 , wherein said aperture in said rib in said wall portion of said outer race has a diameter D 4 that is smaller than a diameter D 3 of said channel in said valve.

6. The air vent system of claim 1 , wherein said wall portion of said outer race further comprises a step having a diameter D 5 ;
wherein said step extends radially inward from an inner surface of said wall portion of said outer race;
wherein said step axially encroaches on said first axially extending channel in said wall portion of said outer race; and
wherein said step is located directly adjacent to said first axial inner portion of said stopper portion of said valve.

7. The air vent system of claim 6 , wherein said diameter D 5 of said step is smaller than said diameter D 1 of said first axially extending channel of said wall portion of said outer race; and
wherein said diameter D 5 of said step is larger than said diameter D 2 of said second axially extending of said wall portion of said outer race.

8. The air vent system of claim 1 , wherein said wall portion of said outer race further comprises a step and a rib, wherein said rib comprises an aperture;
wherein said rib extends radially inward from an inner surface of said wall portion of said outer race;
wherein said rib in said wall portion of said outer race is located axially inward from said first axially inward extending channel in said wall portion of said outer race;
wherein said aperture in said rib in said wall portion of said outer race has a diameter D 4 that is smaller than a diameter D 2 of said second axially extending channel in said wall portion and a diameter D 1 of said first axially extending channel in said wall portion;
wherein said step having a diameter D 5 ;

wherein said step extends radially inward from an inner surface of said wall portion of said outer race;
wherein said step axially encroaches on said first axially extending channel in said wall portion of said outer race;
wherein said step is located directly adjacent to said first axial inner portion of said stopper portion of said valve; and
wherein said step is axially outward from said rib on said inner surface of said wall portion of said outer race between said first axially extending channel and said rib.

9. The air vent system of claim 1 , wherein said valve further comprises:
a lip portion comprising a ring;
wherein said ring of said lip portion of said valve extends radially inward from said breather portion of said valve; and
wherein an end surface of said ring of said lip portion of said valve is in direct contact with at least a portion of an outer surface of said wall portion of said outer race.

10. The air vent system on claim 9 , wherein said lip portion of said valve further comprises a protrusion;
wherein said protrusion extends radially inward from said ring of said lip portion of said valve; and
wherein said protrusion extends from said ring of said lip portion of said valve is in direct contact with at least a portion of said outer surface of said wall portion of said outer race.

11. The air vent system of claim 1 , wherein said first axially extending channel has a diameter D 1 that is greater than a diameter D 2 of said second axially extending channel.

12. The air vent system of claim 1 , wherein said ring of said breather portion of said valve terminates in a radially extending wall; and
wherein at least a portion of an edge portion of said radially extending wall of said breather portion of said valve is in direct contact with at least a portion of an outer surface of said wall portion of said outer race.

13. The air vent system of claim 1 , wherein an amount of centrifugal force and an amount of air-pressure is exerted onto said valve to selectively open said valve and reduce said air pressure within said constant velocity joint assembly.

14. The air vent system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said second aperture of said channel in said valve is disposed proximate to at least a portion of said second axially extending channel in said outer race of said constant velocity joint assembly.

15. The air vent system of claim 1 , wherein ring of said breather portion of said va

Assignees

• Dana Automotive Systems Group

Inventors

• Oh Seung Tark

Classifications

• F16K7/17

  the diaphragm being actuated by fluid pressure · CPC title

• F16D3/84

  Shrouds, e.g. casings, covers; Sealing means specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• F16H57/04 Primary

  Features relating to lubrication or cooling {or heating} (control of lubrication or cooling in hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4165) · CPC title

• F16D2300/0214

  Oil or fluid cooling · CPC title

• F16D3/843 Primary

  enclosed covers · CPC title