Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1(~39615
The present invention relates to a valve for venting the ~-
interior of a rotatable hollow element-which is at least partially
filled with liquid, more particularly, to such a valve which is
normally closed and opens when the rotatable element rotates-at
a predetermined speed.
It has been known to provide various forms of rotatable
hollow elements, such as universal joints and telescoping shaft
connections, which are partially filled with a li~uid such as a
lubricant with a valve for venting the interior of the rotatable
hollow element. These valves function primarily for lubricating
and venting these components which are subjected to wear. The
; valves are generally provided with a passage that remains open -`
after the lubri~ant has been introduced into the valve. The con-
tinuously open passage thus accomplishes the venting function.
- Such valves are generally disclosed in the German Gebrauchmuster
7 040 440 and the German Offenlegungschrift 2 055 066.
Such valves have been generally unsa~isfactory since
they could only be used in those rotatable elements which when
stationary the lu~ricant could not escape because of the arrange- -
ment of the valve. The valve opening was located outside of the
level of the lubricant or the lubricant had such a high viscosity
i,
, that lea~age thereof was not possible.
It is therefore the pr~ipal object of the present inven-
tion to provide a novel and improved valve for venting the interior
of a rotatable hollow element which is at least partially filled
with a liquid.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
such a valve which will vent those rotatable elements filled with
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liquids of low viscosity and wherein the valve could be located
below the level of the liquid existing when the rotatable member
is at a standstill.
It is another object of the present invention to provide
; such a valve for venting rotatable hollow elements which would
avoid losses of liquids from the element after the valve has
opened.
According to one aspect of the present invention a valve
for venting the interior of a rotatable hollow element which is
at least partially filled with liquid may comprise a valve hous-
ing having a valve passage therethrough with a valve seat in the
valve passage. The valve passage has one end opening into the
interior of the rotatable hollow element and the other end opens
:, ,
to the exterior of the element. A valve member is within the
valve housing and is movable transversely of the axis of rotation
of the rotatable element. The valve member is engagable with the
valve seat to open and close the valve passage. The one end of
the passage within the hollow element is offset from the axis of
rotation and the major portion of the mass of the valve member is
also offset from the axis of rotation but opposed from the one
end of the passage. The valve member is acted upon by spring
means which urge the valve member into engagement with the valve -
seat to close the valve passage when the rotatable element is
stationary. The mass of the valve member is such that at a pre-
determined rotary speed the centrifugal force acting upon the
valve member will overcome the spring force to open the valve
passage and thereby provide communication between the interior of
the rotatable hollow element and the exterior thereof.
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` 1~396~5
The present invention has the advantage of permitting the
location of the valve opening in the region of the level of the
liquid since the valve is closed when the rotatable element is
at a standstill. Because of the arrangement of the valve member
and the valve seat and of the valve passage which opens into the
interior of the rotatable member, any liquid which flows into the
~ valve passage and also into the area of the valve seat ~hen the
rotatable member is stationary, will be thrown off by centrifugal
force when the element begins to rotate. The valve is opened only
after a certain predetermined rotary speed is attained at which
rotary speed the liquid is subjected to such a centrifugal force
so as to form a liquid jacket or coating within the interior of
the rotatable element. A venting valve according to the present
invention is particularly advantageous with respect to rotatable
elements rotating at high speeds because of over-- pressure and
the risk of expansion in elastic gaskets which leads to high wear
; .
and the possibility of destruction of the gaskets and seals.
Such venting valves are particularly useful in the case
of driving couplings such as in motor vehicles which may be cov-
ered with a sleeve or a bellows to prevent expansion of the sleevebecause of heating of any gases present or forming in the interior
of the joint. Such a valve also may prevent damage to a drive
joint because of o~er pressure occurring as a result of a
change in volume produced by reciprocating displacement or bending
of elements of a joint coupling or a universal joint.
-Other objects and advantages of the present invention
will be apparent upon reference to the accompanying description
when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, which are
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` 103961S
exemplary, wherein;
FIG. 1 is an elevational view partially in section of a
universal joint provided with the venting valve according to the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of the valve of
FIG. 1 but in enlarged scale and showing the construction of the
venting valve; and
- FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing
- the venting valve mounted on the exterior of the hollow rotatable ~ ;
; 10 element.
Proceeding next to the drawings wherein like reference ~
symbols indicate the same parts throughout the various views a ~ -
specific embodiment and modifLcations of the present invention
` will be described in detail.
In FIG. 1, there is illustrated a constant velocity
universal joint having a hollow inter-ior 8 in which is mounted
a venting valve 1 according to the present invention. The valve
' 1~ is secured on a rear wall 2 of an outer joint element 3 and
disposed transversely with respect to the axis of rotation 15 of
the universal joint. The valve 1 comprises a housing 17 having
a connection 14 extending laterally therefrom which is in the
form of a threaded soc~et and protrudes outwardly of the outer
joint element 3 to be secured in position by an hexagonal nut 4.
The connection 14 comprises a venting passgag 11 thèrein ~`
.
which opens into the interior of the valve housing indicated at
10 and this interior communicates through a bore 12. Thus the ~-
components 11, 10 and 12 define a valve passage through the valve
housing.
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; Within the valve passage is formed a valve seat 7 which
is engagable by a radially displaceable valve member 5 to open
and close the valve passage. The spring 6 acts upon the valve
member 5 to urge the valve member into the closed position against
the valve seat 7. The valve member 5 thus has a reciprocating
movement which is transverse of the axis of rotation 15 of the
universal joint.
The valve housing 17 is mounted on the joint with respect
to the axis of rotation 15 such that the major portion of the mass
~Q of the valve member 5 is on one side of the axis of rotation and
' valve seat 7 is on the other side of the axis of rotation opposed
from the va~e member. When the constant velocity universal joint
attains a certain rotational speed at which the centrifugal force
acting upon the valve member 5 is greater than the spring force
u~ging the valve member in the closed direction, the valve member
5 will be displaced radially outwardly so that the valve 1 will be -~
opened. Any over pressure within the interior 8 of the joint can
then be reduced through the valve passage and vent passage 11 of
; the valve.
The housing 17 is also provided with an additional opening -
9 to the valve passage 12 which opening 9 is located radially be~
tween the axis of rotation 15 and the jacket or coating of liquid
formed by centrifugal force during rotation of the joint. The
, opening 9 is particularly usefull in those situations when the
;l opening to the bore 12 is located within the level of liquid.
l Under these circumstances the opening 9 will permit an accelerated
venting of the interior 8.
:
During venting through the bore 9 any lubricant which may
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1~)39615
have reached the opening of the bore 12 and even the area of the
valve seat 7 will be thrown back in a radial direction through
the bore 12 into the interior of the joint as a result of centri-
fugal force.
In FIG. 3 there is illustrated a venting valve 1' which
has essentially the same structure as the valve 1 of FIG. 2 except
that the valve 1' is located outside of the interior 8 of the
outer joint element 3. The valve 1' is provided with a bore 13
which is at an a~gle to or oblique to the axis of rotation 15 and
opens into the interior 8 for pu~poses of venting. The bore 13
is oblique in an outward radial direction with respect to the axis
of rotation 15 but may also extend radially with respect to the
axis of rotation.
The venting valve 1' of FIG. 3 functions in the same man-
ner as previously described in that when a certain predetermined
rotational speed is attained any liquid or lubricant within the
bore 13 of the valve 1' will be thrown by centrifugal force back
into the interior 8. `
With respect to the valve shown in FIG. 2, the additional
opening 9 located radially between the axis of rotation of the
joint and the liquid jacket formed by rotational force will pre-
vent liquid particles to be carried by the air or gas entering
or leaving the interior of the joint during changes in volume.
If the opening of the valve passage is located within the level
.... . .
of the liquid formed by centrifugal force during rotation of the
; joint an additional opening may be provided between the valve seat -
and the liquid jacket to connect the valve passage to the interior
of the joint. The oblique or radial positioning of that portion
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of the valve passage ending in the interior of the rotatable
` hollow element will provide for a rapid evacuation of the interior.
As described above, the venting valve may be located either
in the interior or on the exterior surface of the hollow element.
The valve structure should be so located that any unbalances are
prevented particularly when the rotatable element is rotating at
particularly high speeds.
Thus it can be seen that the present inventionh s disclosed
a venting valve for a rotatable hollow element wherein the valve
j 10 member is movable transversely with respect to the axis of rota-
tion of the hollow element and the valve seat located in the valve
passage which opens into the interior of the element is disposed
on one side of the axis of rotation and the major portion of the
mass of the valve member is on the other side of this axis opposite
from the valve seat. The valve passage has one end opening into
the interior of the hollow element and the other end opening to ~-
the exterior thereof. The mass of the valve member is such with
respect to the force of the spring acting upon the valve member
! ` .
to urge the valve member to the closed position that when the
....
~, 20 hollow element is stationary the valve passage is closed by the:.j
valve member. At a predetermined rotational speed which depends
substantially on attaining a centrifugal force which will cause
the liquid to form a substantiaUy cylindrical coating or jacket
within the interior of the joint, the centrifugal force acting
;~;i to displace the valve member will exceed and overcome the spring
... .
force and will thus open the valve to provide open communication
between the interior of the hollow rotatable element and the out-
side of this element.
1039615 ~
It will be understood that this invention is susceptible
to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and con-
ditions, and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifi-
cations within this invention as may fall within the scope of
appended claims.
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