Multipurpose protective cap for transmission drive shaft assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12398763-B2
Application number	US-202217682685-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2022
Priority date	Feb 28, 2022
Publication date	Aug 26, 2025
Grant date	Aug 26, 2025

Abstract

A multipurpose protective cap for a transmission prior to and during assembly with a drive shaft has a base portion having a cylindrical cross-section of a first inner diameter. The base portion comprises a side wall defining the cylindrical cross-section and having an outer edge and an inner edge, and a membrane spanning the cylindrical cross-section of the base portion at the outer edge of the side wall. An insertion portion extends from the base portion opposite the outer edge, the insertion portion having a cylindrical cross-section of a second inner diameter, the second inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter. A contamination removal portion is formed in an interior surface of the insertion portion and configured to remove debris as the drive shaft passes through the insertion portion. A handle extends from the side wall of the base portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multipurpose protective cap for a transmission prior to and during assembly with a drive shaft, the multipurpose protective cap comprising:
a base portion having a cylindrical cross-section of a first inner diameter, the base portion comprising:
a side wall defining the cylindrical cross-section and having an outer edge and an inner edge; and
a membrane spanning the cylindrical cross-section of the base portion at the outer edge of the side wall;

an insertion portion extending from the base portion opposite the outer edge, the insertion portion having a cylindrical cross-section of a second inner diameter, the second inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter;
a contamination removal portion formed in an interior surface of the insertion portion and configured to remove debris as the drive shaft passes through the insertion portion, wherein the contamination removal portion comprises a brush section formed in the interior surface; and
a handle extending from the side wall of the base portion.

2. The multipurpose protective cap of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is a flexible material configured to be punctured with a predetermined force.

3. The multipurpose protective cap of claim 2 , wherein the membrane comprises weakened segments radiating from a center point of the membrane.

4. The multipurpose protective cap of claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises overlapping sections of flexible material.

5. The multipurpose protective cap of claim 1 , wherein the brush section has elongated ridges extending parallel with an insertion direction, the elongated ridges formed in the interior surface around an inner circumference of the insertion portion.

6. The multipurpose protective cap of claim 1 , wherein the brush section is positioned adjacent the inner edge of the side wall of the base portion, the contamination removal portion further comprising a scraping section, the scraping section having an angled notch formed in the interior surface around an inner circumference of the insertion portion, the scraping section positioned adjacent the brush section opposite the inner edge of the side wall of the base portion.

7. The multipurpose protective cap of claim 6 , wherein the scraping section comprises a plurality of angled notches formed in the interior surface, each of the plurality of the angled notches formed at intervals along an insertion direction.

8. The multipurpose protective cap of claim 1 , wherein a width of the insertion portion is greater than a width of the side wall of the base portion.

9. The multipurpose protective cap of claim 1 , further comprising:
a split along an insertion direction of the multipurpose protective cap, wherein one side of the split has a concave V-shaped profile and another side of the split has a convex V-shaped profile that is received in the concave V-shaped profile when the split is in a closed configuration.

10. A multipurpose protective cap for a transmission prior to and during assembly with a drive shaft, the multipurpose protective cap comprising:
a base portion having a cylindrical cross-section of a first inner diameter, the base portion comprising:
a side wall defining the cylindrical cross-section and having an outer edge and an inner edge; and
a membrane spanning the cylindrical cross-section of the base portion at the outer edge of the side wall;

an insertion portion extending from the base portion proximate the inner edge, the insertion portion having a cylindrical cross-section of a second inner diameter, the second inner diameter smaller than the first inner diameter of the base portion; and
a contamination removal portion formed in an interior surface of the insertion portion and configured to remove debris as the drive shaft passes through the insertion portion, the contamination removal portion comprising a scraping section having an angled notch formed in the interior surface around an inner circumference of the insertion portion.

11. The multipurpose protective cap of claim 10 , wherein the membrane is a flexible material having weakened segments radiating from a center point of the membrane.

12. The multipurpose protective cap of claim 10 , wherein the membrane comprises overlapping sections of flexible material.

13. The multipurpose protective cap of claim 10 , wherein the contamination removal portion further comprises a brush section, the brush section having elongated ridges extending parallel with an insertion direction, the elongated ridges formed in the interior surface around an inner circumference of the insertion portion.

14. The multipurpose protective cap of claim 13 , wherein the brush section is positioned adjacent the inner edge of the side wall of the base portion, the scraping section positioned adjacent the brush section opposite the inner edge of the side wall of the base portion.

15. The multipurpose protective cap of claim 10 , wherein the scraping section comprises a plurality of angled notches formed in the interior surface, each of the plurality of the angled notches formed at intervals along an insertion direction.

16. The multipurpose protective cap of claim 10 , wherein a width of the insertion portion is greater than a width of the side wall of the base portion.

17. The multipurpose protective cap of claim 10 , further comprising:
a split along an insertion direction of the multipurpose protective cap, wherein one side of the split has a concave V-shaped profile and another side of the split has a convex V-shaped profile that is received in the concave V-shaped profile when the split is in a closed configuration.

18. The multipurpose protective cap of claim 10 further comprising:
a handle extending from the side wall of the base portion.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Contreras Sanchez Alberto

Classifications

• Y10T403/1608

  Holding means or protector functioning only during transportation, assembly or disassembly · CPC title

• F16J13/12

  attached by wedging action by means of screw-thread, interrupted screw-thread, bayonet closure, or the like · CPC title

• F16H57/031

  characterised by covers or lids for gearboxes · CPC title

• F16D3/223

  the rolling members being guided in grooves in both coupling parts · CPC title

• F16D2300/12

  Mounting or assembling · CPC title