BELLOWS HAVING AERATING MEANS

Abstract

A boot is provided in which the formation of an internal pressure inside the boot during assembly is prevented. The boot has a first fastening region and a first diameter and having a second fastening region with a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter, and wherein the first fastening region comprises a binder seat region on its outer circumference, wherein at an inner circumference of the first fastening region at least one first and at least one second aerating means are arranged axially spaced from each other at the inner circumference which is formed with a flat surface, and protrude beyond said surface of the inner circumference.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A boot, comprising: a first fastening region having a first diameter and a second fastening region having a second diameter; wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter; wherein the first fastening region comprises a binder seat region on its outer circumference; and wherein at an inner circumference of the first fastening region at least one first and at least one second aerating means are arranged axially spaced from each other at the inner circumference that includes a flat surface, and protrude beyond the flat surface of the inner circumference.

17. The boot of claim 16, wherein the at least one first and the at least one second aerating means are arranged facing each other in pairs on the surface of the inner circumference of the first fastening region.

18. The boot of claim 16, wherein at least three first and at least three second aerating means are provided, and are arranged uniformly on the surface of the inner circumference of the first fastening region.

19. The boot of claim 16, wherein the first and/or the second aerating means have an approximately elliptical shape according to a plan view.

20. The boot of claim 19, wherein a main axis of an approximately elliptically shaped first or second aerating means is aligned in an approximately coaxial manner relative to the central axis of the boot.

21. The boot of claim 16, wherein the at least one first and/or the at least one second aerating means are integral with the first fastening region.

22. The boot of claim 16, wherein the at least one first or the at least one second aerating means are arranged at least partly below at least one first or at least one second positioning means on the surface of the inner circumference of the first fastening region.

23. The boot of claim 16, wherein one surface of the first binder seat region is formed approximately parallel to the surface of the inner circumference of the first fastening region.

24. A method for attaching a boot to a first machine part, wherein the boot includes a first fastening region having a first diameter and a second fastening region having a second diameter; wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second diameter; wherein the first fastening region comprises a binder seat region on its outer circumference; and wherein at an inner circumference of the first fastening region at least one first and at least one second aerating means are arranged axially spaced from each other at the inner circumference that includes a flat surface, and protrude beyond the flat surface of the inner circumference; the method comprising: attaching the first fastening region having the first diameter on the first machine part by means of a fastening means such that, while disposing the fastening means at least in subareas between the surface of the inner circumference of the first fastening region and the surface of the first machine part, a passage opening is provided.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first fastening region is widened for arranging the first machine part at the second machine part.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the first fastening region is widened for disposing the first machine part at a second machine part, such that a passage opening is provided at least in subareas between the surface of the inner circumference of the first fastening region and a surface of the first machine part.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising, before attaching the boot to the first machine part, attaching the boot with its second fastening region having the second, larger diameter to a second machine part.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the second machine part is an outer part of a joint housing.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein, through fastening the first fastening region by means of the fastening means between axially spaced first and second aerating means, a region having a bead-like material displacement is formed, which is in contact with the surface of the first machine part.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the machine part is a joint shaft.

Description

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The drawings show:

[0031] FIG. 1: a perspective view of an example boot;

[0032] FIG. 2: an enlarged perspective view of a first fastening region of the boot according to FIG. 1;

[0033] FIG. 3: a cross section through the first binder seat region of an embodiment of the boot having a first and a second aerating means arranged in pairs facing each other, in the unassembled state;

[0034] FIG. 4: a sectional view according to FIG. 3 of a boot arranged on a first machine part after widening; and

[0035] FIG. 5: a sectional view according to FIG. 3 showing the boot firmly attached to the first machine part by means of a fastening means.

DESCRIPTION

[0036] FIG. 1 shows in a perspective view a boot 10 having a first fastening region 12 with a first binder seat region 14 and a second fastening region 40 with a second binder seat region 42, wherein the second fastening region 40 has a significantly larger second diameter than the first diameter of the first fastening region 12. Between the first and the second fastening region 12, 40 a middle section 48 is arranged. This can for example be shaped as for a rolling bellow according to the embodiment in FIG. 1, but also for example like a folding bellow, if the boot is formed as a folding bellow. In case of the embodiment of the boot 10 according to FIG. 1, furthermore, a conical projection 50 tapering in the direction of the first fastening region 12, is arranged.

[0037] The first binder seat region 14 has ear-shaped first positioning means 16 and second positioning means 18, being arranged in pairs facing each other and axially displaced at the outer circumference of the first fastening region 12. Between them, the binder seat region 14 is formed, having a flat surface without any elevations and depressions.

[0038] The second binder seat region 42 is defined by first and second positioning means 44 and 46, being shaped similarly to the first fastening region 12, as ear-shaped protrusions in pairs facing each other and axially displaced. Here, the binder seat region 42 has a plurality of circumferential annular grooves, such that its surface is not shaped flatly at its outer circumference, as compared to the first binder seat region 14.

[0039] FIG. 2 shows in an enlarged view the embodiment of the first fastening region 12 of the boot 10 according to FIG. 1. Here, in particular the arrangement of the second positioning means 18 in the area of a wall can be seen, which is formed by a material thickening in the conical projection 50. Moreover, the first and second aerating means 20, 22 arranged on a surface 24 at an inner circumference 25 can be seen, which are arranged in pairs facing each other and axially spaced from each other. In a plan view, they have an approximately elliptical shape. A main axis 26, passing through the first and second aerating means 20 respectively 22, is aligned coaxially to a central axis 28 (see FIG. 1) of the boot 10.

[0040] The exact arrangement of the first and the second aerating means 20 respectively 22 can be seen easily in the cross-sectional view according to FIG. 3. The first aerating means 20 as well as the second aerating means 22 has a convex form as seen in a cross-sectional view. Both are protruding beyond the surface 25 of the inner circumference 24. In a middle section between them they are shaped flatly. The surface of the middle section is formed approximately parallel to the surface 25 of the inner circumference 24 respectively the surface of the first binder seat region 14.

[0041] The first aerating means 20 is partly arranged beneath the first positioning means 16. It is in particular disposed beneath an inner side face 52.2 and at least partly beneath a surface 54 of the first positioning means 16, which furthermore has an outer side face 52.1. The second aerating means 22 is partly arranged beneath the second positioning means 18 in the area of an inner side face 56.1 and at least partly beneath an upper surface 58 of it. The second positioning means furthermore has an outer side face 56.2.

[0042] FIG. 4 shows an example embodiment of the boot, especially one being already attached to a second machine part via the second fastening region 40, in a cross-sectional view through the first fastening region 12 after widening caused by passing through of a first machine part having an upper surface 60. This state can also be described as preassembled state. Between the first aerating means 20 and the second aerating means 22, a part of a passage opening 62 is formed, which extends before and behind the first and second aerating means 20 respectively 22 further to the inner and outer end of the first fastening region 12. In this state, air but also grease can escape from an interior of the boot in the direction of an arrow 66. Due to the elastic properties of the material for the boot 10, pressure is applied in the direction of an arrow 32, in a way that the boot 10 which is preassembled on the first machine part, is retained in a flat annual bead there provided.

[0043] FIG. 5 shows a finish-mounted state of the first fastening region 12 according to FIGS. 3 and 4, after attachment of a fastening means 70, for example a compression ring, in the first binder seat region 14. In this way, material of the first binder seat region 14 is displaced between the first aerating means 20 and the second aerating means 22 in the form of a bead-like material displacement 64, in a way that a surface of the bead 64 comes into contact with the surface 60 of the first machine part. This generates a sufficient sealing effect of the boot 10 on the first machine part.

[0044] The features shown in the figures are not limited to these specific embodiments. Rather, each of them can be combined with those features indicated in the description including the description of the figures and drawings, in order to obtain further embodiments. The boot can for example also be designed as a folding bellow. The same also applies with regard to the design of the first fastening region 12 and of the second fastening region 14 including the first and second positioning means 16, 18 respectively 42 and 46, being provided there. The same furthermore applies with regard to the design of the surface of the first binder seat region 14 and of the second binder seat region 42. Finally, the same also applies with regard to the design and arrangement of the first and second aerating means 20 respectively 22, which may for example also have another form, or which can be arranged in a larger or in a lesser number and not only in pairs facing each other, but also displaced to one another, may be axially displaced on the surface 25 of the inner circumference 24 of the first fastening region 12. Corresponding aerating means can for example also be arranged in the second fastening region 40 at the inner circumference of it.

[0045] The present disclosure advantageously provides a boot by means of which the generating of an internal pressure during the mounting of the boot onto a first and a second machine part is prevented, and which after assembly provides a sufficient sealing effect, which prevents grease of the boot's grease filling from escaping. This is especially advantageous in cases where the boot has already been assembled on a second machine part with its large diameter with its second fastening region, such that subsequently, the first machine part has to be pushed through the small opening at the small diameter in the first fastening region of the boot.