Housing Cap for a Joint, and Assembly Composed of a Joint and a Shaft

Abstract

A housing cap for a joint and a joint arrangement with a housing cap are provided. The housing cap includes a bellows section and a joint section. The bellows section includes at least one recess in the form of a hole configured to permit dirt and fluids to pass out of the housing cap. The bellows portion may also be provided with surface features such as funnel-shapes configured to enhance transport of contaminates and fluids to the at least one recess.

Claims

1. A housing cap for a joint, comprising: a folding bellows portion; and a joint portion, wherein the folding bellows portion includes a recess, and the recess is configured in the folding bellows portion in a manner that permits discharge of contamination and fluids introduced into the housing cap.

2. The housing cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folding bellows portion is cylindrical.

3. The housing cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess has a circular bordering portion.

4. The housing cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess has a linear bordering portion.

5. The housing cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess is arranged in a funnel-shaped embossing in the folding bellows portion, and the recess is arranged at an end face on a tapered portion of the funnel-shaped embossing.

6. The housing cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the folding bellows portion includes a bulbous shape, and the recess is provided at a height of a largest periphery of.

7. The housing cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess is one of a plurality of recesses, and the plurality of recesses have the same shape.

8. The housing cap as claimed in claim 7, wherein the plurality recesses are arranged at circumferentially around the folding bellows portion at regular spacings.

9. The housing cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess is one of a plurality of recesses, the plurality of recesses are arranged in a funnel-shaped embossing in the folding bellows portion, and the funnel-like embossings have the same shape.

10. The housing cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess is one of a plurality of recesses, and at least two of the recesses have a mutually different border.

11. The housing cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of recesses are arranged in a funnel-shaped embossing in the folding bellows portion.

12. The housing cap as claimed in claim 1, wherein the recess is one of a plurality of recesses, the plurality of recesses are arranged in a funnel-shaped embossing in the folding bellows portion, and at least two of the funnel-like embossings have different shapes.

13. An joint arrangement, comprising a joint; a shaft configured to be inserted into the joint and a housing cap configured to surround at least a portion of the joint, wherein the housing cap includes a folding bellows portion and a joint portion, the folding bellows portion includes a recess, and the recess is configured in the folding bellows portion in a manner that permits discharge of contamination and fluids introduced into the housing cap.

14. An joint arrangement, comprising a joint configured to receive a shaft; and a housing cap configured to surround at least a portion of the joint, wherein the housing cap includes a folding bellows portion and a joint portion, the folding bellows portion includes a recess, and the recess is configured in the folding bellows portion in a manner that permits discharge of contamination and fluids introduced into the housing cap.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the housing cap according to the invention,

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the housing cap according to the invention,

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the housing cap according to the invention,

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the housing cap according to the invention,

[0033] FIG. 5 shows an arrangement comprising a joint and a shaft with a housing cap according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the housing cap 1 according to the invention. The housing cap 1 has a folding bellows portion 3 and a joint portion 4. Both the folding bellows portion 3 and the joint portion 4 are formed in a cylindrical manner, wherein the outer diameter of the joint portion 4 is greater than the outer diameter of the folding bellows portion 3. In the folding bellows portion 3 there are four recesses 5. The recesses 5 are all constructed in an identical manner, that is to say, have a circular border 6. The recesses have such a size that contamination, for example, in the form of dirt particles, passes through unimpeded. The four recesses 5 are each arranged spaced apart from each other by 90, thus have a regular spacing with respect to each other. The recesses 5 are arranged on a peripheral line at the center of the longitudinal extent of the folding bellows portion 3.

[0035] The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2 of the housing cap 1 according to the invention differs from the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 as a result of the number and configuration of the recesses 5 in the folding bellows portion 3. The housing cap 1 has sixteen recesses 5 which are arranged with regular spacing with respect to each other. The recesses 5 themselves are constructed in an identical manner and have a substantially rectangular shape, wherein the corners of the recesses 5 are rounded. Furthermore, the recesses 5 are arranged on a peripheral line at the center of the longitudinal extent of the folding bellows portion 3. If a housing cap has a large number of recesses, the advantage is afforded that the weight of the housing cap is reduced by a non-negligible factor.

[0036] In order to direct the accumulated contamination or fluid in a selective manner to the recesses 5, the housing cap 1 illustrated in FIG. 3 has in the region of the folding bellows portion 3 funnel-like embossings 8. The funnel shape is produced by means of a pyramid-like construction, wherein the pyramid has a substantially rectangular base face and substantially four side faces. The base faces which follow each other in the longitudinal direction of the housing cap 1 have in this instance an additional embossing and are composed of four part-faces. The steep edges of the pyramid are each flattened. At the end face 9 of the funnel-like embossing 8, that is to say, at the tapered portion of the funnel-like embossing 8 there are the recesses 5 which have a circular periphery 6.

[0037] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the housing cap 1 according to the invention in which the folding bellows portion 3 has a bulbous shape 10. The largest periphery of the folding bellows portion 3 is at the center of the longitudinal extent of the folding bellows portion. At the height of the largest periphery there are five recesses 5 which, in the same manner as the recesses 5 illustrated in FIG. 1, have a circular border 6. The recesses 5 are arranged with regular spacings with respect to each other. As a result of the bulbous shape of the folding bellows portion 3, an influx of contamination to the recesses 5 is promoted so that self-cleaning of the joint or the housing cap is further promoted.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows an arrangement comprising a joint 2 and a shaft 11 with a housing cap 1 and a folding bellows 12. The joint 2 has an outer hub 13 and an inner hub 14. A ball 15 is supported between the outer hub 13 and the inner hub 14. The joint 2 is surrounded by a housing 16 which surrounds the outer hub 13. The folding bellows 12 adjoins the housing 16. The housing cap 1 has a folding bellows portion 3 and a joint portion 4, wherein the joint portion 4 comprises the outer hub 13 and a portion of the housing 16 which surrounds the joint 2, that is to say, the portion of the housing 16 in the region of the outer hub 13. The folding bellows portion 3 of the housing cap 1 surrounds a portion of the folding bellows 12. The housing cap 1 is constructed to be open at the end thereof facing the shaft 11. Contamination and fluids thereby reach the housing cap 1. The housing cap illustrated in FIG. 5 has a bulbous shape 10, whereby a discharge of accumulating contamination and fluids through recesses which cannot be seen in FIG. 5 is promoted.

[0039] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.