JPH0449379Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a flexible boot for covering and protecting a flexible joint of an automobile drive shaft, and more particularly to a flexible boot provided with a reinforcing structure against external impact forces.

[Prior Art] and [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Conventionally, this type of flexible boot has been used to cover, for example, a flexible joint J of an automobile drive shaft, as shown in FIG. In cases where the front and rear drive shafts S ₁ and S ₂ are connected at a predetermined angle via a flexible joint J, there is a boot body that covers these. 1, they rotate together while being bent at that angle. Therefore, on the obtuse angle θ ₁ side of the boot body 1, due to the rotational centrifugal force as shown by the arrow F,
The space between the peaks 2 and the valleys 3 is stretched in the direction of expansion and elongation, and as this tension is repeated, the material itself deteriorates over time. In addition to this deterioration over time, the boot body 1 may be damaged if it is hit by flying stones or the like while the car is running. Also,
Similarly, on the bending acute angle θ ₂ side, the peaks 2 and troughs 3
The materials come in contact with each other and wear down, resulting in material wear and tear, leading to deterioration and damage.

As described above, there is a problem in that the boot body 1 repeatedly expands and contracts between the obtuse angle θ ₁ side and the acute angle θ ₂ side, causing the above-mentioned problems.

The present invention was made to solve these conventional problems, and aims to provide a flexible boot that is reinforced to increase rigidity and improve durability.

[Problems that the invention attempts to solve] In order to solve the above problems and achieve the purpose,
The flexible boot according to the present invention is a flexible boot that is formed into a bellows shape and can be freely expanded and contracted. Annular reinforcing ribs are provided intermittently in the circumferential direction, and the reinforcing ribs are radially provided in the troughs at pitches equally dividing the circumferential angle around the boot axis C--C.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the flexible boot according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 and Figure 2 showing the Y-Y line cross section of this figure.
In the figure, the boot body 1 is formed into a rosette shape using the hollow molding method, and the crests 2 and troughs 3 are alternately arranged with equal or unequal pitches, and the ridges 2 and troughs 3 are alternately arranged with equal or unequal pitches.
The inclined surface portion 4 is shaped like a bellows that continues in a wavy manner, and the boot body 1 is expandable and contractible in any direction along the axis C-C. In each of the corrugations of the boot body 1, a plurality of stripes are formed on the outer surface of the inclined surface section 4 continuing from the peak section 2 to the valley section 3 on the circumference with different radii around the axis C-C. Reinforcing ribs 5 to 8 are formed in a protruding manner. These reinforcing ribs 5
8, the three reinforcing ribs 5, 6, and 7 extending from the top of the mountain portion 2 toward the slope portion 4 are not continuous on the circumference with a predetermined radius of curvature, but as shown in the figure. , annular horizontal ribs 5 ₁ to 5 _o , 6 ₁ to 6 _o , and 7 ₁ to 7 _o that are regularly and intermittently connected. In addition, the reinforcing rib 8 in the valley part 3
Only a plurality of radial vertical ribs 8 ₁ to 8 _o are substantially orthogonal to the horizontal ribs 5 ₁ to 5 o of the reinforcing rib 5 _.
Consisting of That is, the vertical ribs 8 ₁ to 8 _o are provided at pitches that equally divide a circumferential angle of 360° centered on the axis CC.

When various acting forces as explained in FIG.
On the obtuse angle θ ₁ side of the bend, a tensile force acts such that the spaces between the peaks 2 and troughs 2 and between the troughs 3 widen due to rotational centrifugal force or the like. The durability against deterioration over time can be improved by dealing with this tensile force, especially by the reinforcing ribs 8 provided in the valley portions 3 and increasing the rigidity of this portion.

On the other hand, on the bending acute angle θ ₂ side of the boot body 1, the crests 2 and the troughs 3 approach each other and try to rotate into contact, but the plurality of strips protruding from the outer surface of each of the adjacent sloped surface portions 4 Since the horizontal ribs 5 ₁ to 5 _o , 6 ₁ to 6 _o , and 7 ₁ to 7 _o of the reinforcing ribs 5 to 7 abut each other, the adjacent inclined surface portions 4 and 4 come into direct rotational contact. This avoids this and improves durability due to contact wear.

In this way, in a flexible boot in which, around the axis of the boot body 1, a tensile force due to rotational centrifugal force or the like acts alternately on the obtuse bend angle θ ₁ side, and rotational contact force acts alternately on the bend acute angle θ ₂ side. The plurality of reinforcing ribs 5 to 8 protruding from each of the inclined surface portion and the valley portion can respond to these acting forces with a synergistic effect.

[Effects of the invention] As explained above, when the flexible boot according to the invention is applied to cover and protect the flexible joints of automobile drive shafts, problems occur alternately around the axis of the boot body. Preferably multiple reinforcing ribs protruding from the outer surface increase the rigidity of the boot body and protect it from deterioration over time against the tensile force caused by rotational centrifugal force and the wear caused by rotational contact between the bellows-shaped waves. can do.
Therefore, even if, for example, the boot body is hit by a flying stone while running, the reinforcing ribs will provide reinforcement against deterioration of the boot body and maintain the required rigidity, so there will be no damage to the boot body. However, it is possible to obtain products with high durability over time and great practical effects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the flexible boot according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1 taken along the Y--Y line. FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a conventional example. Explanation of symbols, 1...Boot body, 2...Mountain part,
3... Valley portion, 4... Inclined surface portion, 5-8... Reinforcement rib, 5 ₁ - 5 _o , 6 ₁ - 6 _o , 7 _{1 -} 7 _o ... Horizontal rib,
8 ₁ ~ 8 _o ... Vertical rib, C-C... Axis of the boot body.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a flexible boot that is formed into a bellows shape and can be expanded and contracted, the outer surface of the sloped surface section from the peak to the valley of the boot body is provided with annular reinforcement that continues intermittently in the circumferential direction around the boot axis C-C. A flexible boot in which ribs are provided, and reinforcing ribs are provided radially in the trough at pitches equally dividing a circumferential angle centered on the boot axis C-C.