Seal and vent assembly for a vehicle driveline

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020003263-A1
Application number	US-201916449773-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 24, 2019
Priority date	Jun 27, 2018
Publication date	Jan 2, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A seal and vent assembly for a constant velocity joint including a vent plate for being disposed in a compartment of the constant velocity joint. The vent plate defines a mounting aperture. A vent valve is received in the mounting aperture for sealing the compartment of the constant velocity joint. The vent valve has a body portion extending along an axis and received by the mounting aperture and a rim portion extending from the body portion into engagement with, and biased against the vent plate. The vent valve defines a chamber between the rim portion, the body portion and the vent plate. A venting channel fluidly connects the chamber of the vent valve and the compartment of the constant velocity joint. The vent plate defines the at least one venting channel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A seal and vent assembly for a driveline of a vehicle, comprising:
a vent plate for being disposed in a compartment of the driveline to seal the compartment from contaminants, the vent plate defining a mounting aperture; a vent valve having a body portion extending along an axis and received by the mounting aperture and a rim portion extending from the body portion into engagement with and biased against the vent plate; the vent valve defining a chamber between the rim portion, the body portion and the vent plate; a venting channel fluidly connecting the chamber of the vent valve and the compartment of the driveline for allowing air to pass from the compartment, through the at least one venting channel into the chamber, and between the rim portion and the vent plate to the atmosphere during a pressure increase in the compartment, while preventing air from passing from the atmosphere between the rim portion of the vent valve and the vent plate; and the vent plate defining the at least one venting channel.

2 . The seal and vent assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the at least one venting channel is spaced from the mounting aperture.

3 . The seal and vent assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the at least one venting channel includes a plurality of venting channels.

4 . The seal and vent assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the at least one venting channel is a region of the mounting aperture.

5 . The seal and vent assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rim portion of the vent valve is comprised of a flexible material.

6 . The seal and vent assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rim portion of the vent valve extends annularly about the body portion.

7 . The seal and vent assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the body of the vent valve extends along the axis between a proximal end and a distal end.

8 . The seal and vent assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein the rim portion extends from the proximal end of the vent body to the vent plate.

9 . The seal and vent assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein the vent valve has a flange portion extending radially outwardly from the body portion on an opposite side of the vent plate as the rim portion and engages the vent plate for inhibiting axial movement of vent valve to the vent plate.

10 . The seal and vent assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein the flange portion extends from the distal end of the body portion of the vent valve.

11 . A constant velocity joint, comprising:
an outer race extending along an axis and defining a compartment; an inner race disposed in the compartment and pivotable relative to the outer race; a vent plate sealing the compartment from contaminants and defining a mounting aperture; a vent valve received in the mounting aperture and having a body portion extending along the axis and received by the mounting aperture, and a rim portion extending from the body portion into engagement with, and biased against the vent plate; the vent valve defining a chamber between the rim portion, the body portion and the vent plate; a venting channel fluidly connecting the chamber and the compartment of the outer race for allowing air to pass from the compartment through the at least one venting channel into the chamber and to the atmosphere between the rim portion and the vent plate during a pressure increase in the compartment, while preventing air from passing from the atmosphere between the rim portion of the vent valve and the vent plate; and the vent plate defining the at least one venting channel.

12 . The seal and vent assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein the at least one venting channel is spaced from the mounting aperture.

13 . The seal and vent assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein the at least one venting channel includes a plurality of venting channels.

14 . The seal and vent assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein the at least one venting channel is a region of the mounting aperture.

15 . The seal and vent assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein the rim portion of the vent valve is comprised of a flexible material.

16 . The seal and vent assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein the rim portion of the vent valve extends annularly about the body portion.

17 . The seal and vent assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein the body of the vent valve extends along the axis between a proximal end and a distal end.

18 . The seal and vent assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein the rim portion extends from the proximal end of the vent body to the vent plate.

19 . The seal and vent assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein the vent valve has a flange portion extending radially outwardly from the body portion on an opposite side of the vent plate as the rim portion and engaging the vent plate for inhibiting movement of the vent valve relative to the vent plate.

20 . The seal and vent assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein the flange portion extends from the distal end of the body portion of the vent valve.

Assignees

• Neapco Intellectual Property Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Dubiel Nick
• Wehner Robert J
• Patel Riki

Classifications

• F16D3/848

  allowing relative movement of joint parts due to sliding between parts of the cover · CPC title

• F16D3/223 Primary

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

• F16D2003/846

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

• F16D3/84 Primary

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

• Y10T137/789

  Central mount · CPC title