Combined seal and boot for steering shaft assembly
US5525112A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 6, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jun 11, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 6, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T403/32524
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A combined seal and boot assembly for protectively covering a telescoping connection between two shaft members in a steering shaft assembly includes a cylindrical body portion, a flexible boot portion, and a pair of sealing lips. The body portion is frictionally mounted on the end of the female splined steering shaft member. The flexible boot portion is formed from a plurality of alternating inwardly and outwardly extending corrugations. The sealing lips extend inwardly into resilient engagement with the splines formed on male splined steering shaft member. The metallic band is provided to maintain the resilient engagement with the splines formed on male splined steering shaft member. The sealing lips are urged into engagement with a higher friction portion of the male splined steering shaft member during normal use, wherein only a small amount of relative axial movement occurs between the male and female splined steering shaft members. However, when the male and female splined steering shaft members are telescopically extended by a relatively large amount, the sealing lips are moved axially off of the higher friction portion of the male splined steering shaft member.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.