Rigid joint sealing system

Abstract

A rigid joint sealing system is provided that includes an inner joint part, a hard boot, an outer joint part and a seal. The hard boot includes an internal surface and is axially secured to the inner joint part. The outer joint part includes an external surface and is rotationally secured to the inner joint part. Wherein the seal is connected to one of the surfaces while having sealing engagement with the other surface. Also, a hard boot for use with a rigid joint sealing system is provided. Further, a rigid joint sealing system is provided having a hard boot optimisation ratio.

1 . A rigid joint sealing system comprising: 
 an inner joint part comprising inner ball tracks;    a hard boot axially secured to said inner joint part, and comprising an inner surface defining an internal radius (R 1 );    an outer joint part comprising outer ball tracks and an outer surface defining an external radius (R 2 );    a membrane seal having a designed compression thickness (CT) coupled to one of said surfaces having sealing engagement with the other of said surfaces;    a cage between the inner joint part and outer joint part; and    a plurality of balls held by said cage and engaging pairs of the inner and outer ball tracks,    wherein 0.7≦((R 2 +CT)/R 1 )≦1.3 is satisfied.    
   
   
       2 . A rigid joint sealing system according to  claim 1  wherein 0.9≦((R 2  +CT)/R 1 )≦1.1 is satisfied.  
   
   
       3 . A rigid joint sealing system according to  claim 1  wherein 0.98≦((R 2 +CT)/R 1 )≦1.02 is satisfied.  
   
   
       4 . A rigid joint sealing system according to  claim 1  wherein said membrane seal is coupled to said outer surface of said outer joint part providing sealing between said membrane seal and said inner surface of said hard boot.  
   
   
       5 . A rigid joint sealing system according to  claim 1  wherein said inner joint part further comprises a spline hole adapted to engage a journal shaft of a drive unit, and said outer joint part is directly connected to a torque transmitting shaft, whereby direct torque flow assembly is achieved.  
   
   
       6 . A rigid joint sealing system according to  claim 1  wherein said hard boot is made from carbon steel and said membrane seal is made from rubber.  
   
   
       7 . A rigid joint sealing system according to  claim 1  wherein said membrane seal is a two wiper blade seal.  
   
   
       8 . A rigid joint sealing system according to  claim 1  wherein said membrane seal further includes at least one retention spring.  
   
   
       9 . A rigid joint sealing system according to  claim 1  wherein said inner joint part is comprised of an inner race and an extension part directly coupled thereto, whereby said hard boot is axially coupled to said extension part.  
   
   
       10 . A hard boot for sealing a joint comprising: 
 a first end adapted for axial retention on an inner joint part, the inner joint part being rotationally coupled to an outer joint part; and    a boot housing extending from said first end having an inner semi-spherical surface, said boot housing adapted for partially surrounding the outer joint part while engaging a membrane seal there between.    
   
   
       11 . A hard boot for sealing a joint of  claim 10  wherein said boot housing is made from carbon steel.  
   
   
       12 . A hard boot for sealing a joint of  claim 10  wherein said boot housing is bell shaped and said inner semi-spherical surface defining an internal radius (R 1 ) when axial retained on the inner joint part.  
   
   
       13 . A rigid joint sealing system comprising: 
 an inner joint part;    a hard boot having an internal surface and axially secured to said inner joint part;    an outer joint part having an external surface and rotationally secured to said inner joint part; and    a seal coupled to one of said surfaces having sealing engagement with the other of said surfaces.    
   
   
       14 . A rigid joint sealing system according to  claim 13  further comprising a cage and a plurality of balls, wherein said inner joint part comprising inner ball tracks and comprising an inner surface defining an internal radius (R 1 ), said outer joint part comprising outer ball tracks and an outer surface defining an external radius (R 2 ), said seal having a designed compression thickness (CT), said cage positioned between said inner joint part and said outer joint part and said plurality of balls held by said cage and engaging pairs of the inner and outer ball tracks, wherein 0.7≦((R 2 +CT)/R 1 )≦1.3 is satisfied.  
   
   
       15 . A rigid joint sealing system according to  claim 13  wherein said seal is coupled to said outer surface of said outer joint part providing sealing between said seal and said inner surface of said hard boot, and wherein said hard boot is made from carbon steel and said seal is made from rubber.  
   
   
       16 . A rigid joint sealing system according to  claim 13  wherein said inner joint part further comprises an axial hole adapted to engage a journal shaft of a drive unit, and said outer joint part is directly connected to a torque transmitting shaft, whereby direct torque flow assembly is achieved.  
   
   
       17 . A rigid joint sealing system according to  claim 13  wherein said seal is a double bladed seal that includes at least one retention spring.  
   
   
       18 . A rigid joint sealing system according to  claim 13  wherein said inner joint part is comprised of an inner race and an extension part directly coupled thereto, whereby said hard boot is axially coupled to said extension part.  
   
   
       19 . A rigid joint sealing system according to  claim 13  further comprising a cage and a plurality of balls for rotationally securing said joint parts, wherein said inner joint part comprising inner ball tracks, said outer joint part comprising outer ball tracks, said cage positioned between said inner joint part and said outer joint part, and said plurality of balls held by said cage and engaging pairs of the inner and outer ball tracks.  
   
   
       20 . A rigid joint sealing system according to  claim 13  further comprising a wiper and a backup seal, said wiper enclosing an outer end of said hard boot sealing said outer joint part, and said backup seal axially engaging said hard boot and said inner joint part, whereby said wiper and said backup seal provide additional assurance of environmental containment.