Vehicle driveline joint including a vent and seal assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11448265-B2
Application number	US-201916710596-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 11, 2019
Priority date	Dec 11, 2018
Publication date	Sep 20, 2022
Grant date	Sep 20, 2022

Abstract

A multi-piece propeller shaft includes a constant velocity joint disposed between and operably interconnecting first and second shaft segments. The constant velocity joint includes an outer race extending along an axis A from a first outer race end operably connected to the second shaft segment to a second outer race end to define an inner surface bounding an internal cavity. A vent and seal assembly is disposed inside the outer race and defines a plurality of venting cavities disposed serially along the axis A in fluid communication with one another. A first one of the venting cavities is disposed in fluid communication with the internal cavity and a last one of the venting cavities is disposed in fluid communication with an environment of the constant velocity joint for venting air from the internal cavity to the environment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-piece propeller shaft comprising:
a first shaft segment and a second shaft segment;
a constant velocity joint disposed between and operably interconnecting said first and second shaft segments;
said constant velocity joint including an outer race extending along an axis A from a first outer race end operably connected to said second shaft segment to a second outer race end to define an inner surface bounding an internal cavity;
a vent and seal assembly disposed inside said outer race in abutting relationship with said inner surface;
said vent and seal assembly defining a plurality of venting cavities disposed serially along said axis A in fluid communication with one another, with a first one of said plurality of venting cavities disposed in fluid communication with said internal cavity and a last one of said plurality of venting cavities disposed in fluid communication with an environment of said constant velocity joint for venting air from said internal cavity to said environment; and
a one-way valve member disposed in the path of fluid communication between said plurality of venting cavities.

2. The multi-piece propeller shaft as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:
said vent and seal assembly including a first outer wall disposed adjacent and facing said internal cavity, a second outer wall disposed axially opposite said first outer wall adjacent said first outer race end, and at least one inner wall disposed axially between said first and second outer walls; and
wherein each one of said plurality of venting cavities is defined by and disposed between adjacent ones of said first outer wall, said second outer wall, and said at least one inner wall.

3. The multi-piece propeller shaft as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said first outer wall defines at least one inlet hole for establishing fluid communication between said internal cavity and said first one of said plurality of venting cavities.

4. The multi-piece propeller shaft as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said at least one inner wall defines at least one inner hole for establishing fluid communication between adjacent ones of said plurality of venting cavities and allowing the air vented from said internal cavity into said first one of said plurality of venting cavities to serially pass to said last one of said plurality of venting cavities.

5. The multi-piece propeller shaft as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said outer race defines at least one outlet hole disposed adjacent said first outer race end and extending radially through said outer race from said environment of said constant velocity joint to said inner surface, and said last cavity of said plurality of venting cavities is disposed in fluid communication with said at least one outlet hole to vent air to said environment.

6. The multi-piece propeller shaft as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said one-way valve member is secured in said at least one inner wall and includes a head portion covering said at least one inner hole and being flexible and biased towards said first one of said plurality of venting cavities to normally block said at least one inner hole.

7. The multi-piece propeller shaft as set forth in claim 5 , further comprising:
said outer race defining an annular shoulder extending radially inward from said inner surface adjacent said internal cavity; and
said first outer wall of said vent and seal assembly disposed in abutting relationship with said annular shoulder to dispose said first one of said plurality of venting cavities into sealed fluid communication with said internal cavity.

8. The multi-piece propeller shaft as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said plurality of venting cavities is comprised of a pair of venting cavities and said at least one inner wall is comprised of a single, inner wall to define a first venting cavity disposed between said first outer wall and said inner wall and a second venting cavity disposed between said inner wall and said second outer wall.

9. The multi-piece propeller shaft as set forth in claim 8 , wherein said vent and seal assembly is comprised of a plurality of cup-shaped members assembled within said outer race to define said first and second venting cavities, with each of said plurality of cup-shaped members having a base portion defining a respective one of said first outer wall, said second outer wall, or said inner wall, and a wall portion extending radially from said base portion to terminate at a rim portion.

10. The multi-piece propeller shaft as set forth in claim 9 , wherein said plurality of cup-shaped members includes a first and second cup shaped member arranged in opposing relationship to dispose said respective rim portions in abutting relationship with one another for defining said first cavity and a third cup-shaped member arranged with said wall portion extending axially towards said second cup-shaped member to define said second cavity.

11. The multi-piece propeller shaft as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said rim portion of said third cup-shaped member is disposed in spaced relationship with said second cup-shaped member to dispose said second venting cavity in direct fluid communication with said at least one outlet.

12. The multi-piece propeller shaft as set forth in claim 10 , wherein said rim portion of said third cup-shaped member is disposed in abutting relationship with said second cup-shaped member to cover said at least one outlet of said outer race with said wall portion of said third cup-shaped member, and said wall portion of said third cup-shaped member defining at least one slot for establishing fluid communication between said second venting cavity and said at least one outlet.

13. The multi-piece propeller shaft as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said at least one slot includes a plurality of slots disposed in circumferentially spaced relationship around said wall portion of said third cup-shaped member and each extending from said rim portion towards said base portion.

14. The multi-piece propeller shaft as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said inner surface of said outer race defines a circumferential groove disposed adjacent said at least one outlet hole and in radially aligned relationship with said at least one slot for assisting in the venting of air from said second venting cavity to said environment of said CV joint.

15. A constant velocity joint comprising:
an outer race extending along an axis A from a first outer race end to a second outer race end to define an inner surface bounding an internal cavity;
a vent and seal assembly disposed inside said outer race in abutting relationship with said inner surface;
said vent and seal assembly defining a plurality of venting cavities disposed serially along said axis A in fluid communication with one another, with a first one of said plurality of venting cavities disposed in fluid communication with said internal cavity and a last one of said plurality of venting cavities disposed in fluid communication with an environment of the constant velocity joint for venting air from said internal cavity to said environment; and
a one-way valve member disposed in the path of fluid communication between said plurality of venting cavities.

16. The constant velocity joint as set forth in claim 15 , further comprising:
said vent and seal assembly including a first outer wall disposed adjacent and facing said internal cavity, a second outer wall disposed axially opposite said first outer wall adjacent said first outer race end, and at least one inner wall disposed axially between said first and second outer walls; and

Assignees

• Neapco Intellectual Property Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Seidel Richard L
• Hopson Michael
• Patel Riki

Classifications

• Y10S464/906

  Torque transmitted via radially spaced balls · CPC title

• F16D2003/846

  Venting arrangements for flexible seals, e.g. ventilation holes · CPC title

• Y10T403/22

  with fluid pressure responsive component · CPC title

• Y10S277/928

  Seal including pressure relief or vent feature · CPC title

• B60K17/22

  characterised by arrangement, location, or type of main drive shafting, e.g. cardan shaft · CPC title