A boot that protects a moveable joint and retains lubricant associated with the joint. The wall of the boot includes a venting aperture that is protected by a surrounding barrier structure.

A drivetrain assembly for a motor vehicle including a venting system. The drivetrain assembly includes an output shaft from a vehicle prime moreover component such as a transmission or transaxle. The output shaft is coupled to a propeller shaft through a constant velocity joint (CVJ) assembly. A flexible sealing boot encloses the CVJ between the output shaft and the propeller shaft. Internal components of the CVJ are vented by a first longitudinal passageway exposed to the internal volume of the CVJ extending longitudinally along the output shaft. A second radial passageway joins the longitudinal passageway and extends to the radially outer surface of the output shaft forming a second aperture. The passageways combine to provide pressure equalization between the CVJ internal volume and the atmosphere. An optional semi-permeable membrane may be mounted at the second aperture.

A gaiter (4) for a lubricated joint (1) comprises a sidewall structure (9) defining an enclosure (5) for receiving a lubricant and a passageway (24) for conveying a gas. In use, the passageway (12) conveys gas in isolation from said enclosure (5). Gaiters (4) in accordance with the invention find application in vehicle central tire inflation systems (CTIS).

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.

A vehicle joint has a drive sleeve, a pinion shaft and a drive nut. The sleeve has a vent hole, a first set of splines and a first set of venting grooves. The pinion shaft has a second set of splines engaged with the first set of splines. A fluid gap radially outboard of the engaged spines extends the length of the engaged splines. A second set of venting grooves is engaged with the first set of venting grooves. The pinion shaft also has a first set of threads. The drive nut has a second set of threads engaged with the first set of threads. The drive nut also has a radial aperture extending through the drive nut. The first vent hole is in fluid connection with the radial aperture through some of the features described above.

A fluid path for a plug-in constant velocity joint assembly between a boot sleeve and a boot. The boot sleeve has a first end portion and a second end portion. The first end portion is disposed against and is in driving engagement with an inner race. The boot sleeve second end portion defines an inner ridge, a sleeve channel and an outer ridge. The boot has a first end portion and a second end portion. The second end portion comprises an inner seal where the inner seal comprises an inner axial groove and an outer axial groove. A fluid path is formed between the inner ridge and the boot, between inner axial groove and the sleeve, in the sleeve channel, between the outer axial groove and the sleeve and between the outer ridge and the boot.

A boot assembly for a constant velocity joint includes a boot having a neck portion arranged to be received over a shaft that is coupled to the constant velocity joint, and a retainer or insert which may include a vent. The retainer or insert may be carried by the neck portion and has at least one flex feature to facilitate flexing thereof. The insert may have at least one projection that extends radially inwardly from the neck portion and defines part of an inner surface of the boot, or at least one vent path defined therein to facilitate venting of one or more chambers defined at least in part by the boot.

A half-shaft assembly includes a first constant velocity (CV) joint, a second CV joint and an axial movement joint connected between the first CV joint and the second CV joint. The axial movement joint includes a first shaft coupled to the first CV joint and a second shaft coupled to the second CV joint, wherein mechanical input received on the first shaft is communicated to the second shaft, and wherein the second shaft slides axially within the first shaft. The axial movement joint further includes an axial boot cover coupled on a first end to the first shaft and on a second end to the second shaft that accommodates axial movement of the first shaft relative to the second shaft. The first constant velocity (CV) joint is coupled to provide torsional input received at an input to the first shaft, the first CV joint having a first CV boot cover. The second CV joint coupled to provide torsional output received from the second shaft to an output, the second CV joint having a second CV boot cover.

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.

An air circulation cover which provides circulation of air between the inner volume and the external environment and the yoke shaft and the sleeve yoke of the cardan shaft, and prevents the ingress of foreign matter into the inner volume. The cover has a ring-shaped main body providing air passage to the center part, a body support member that seats the main body inside the cover assembly housing, a diaphragm mounted in the center section of body support element, air slots providing air passage located on the body of diaphragm, a wide surface filter element, a filter support element and a body outer edge.