Air vent system for constant velocity joints

An air vent system for a constant velocity joint, comprising:

• a constant velocity joint having an inner race, an outer race, a cage, a plurality of torque transferring elements, a drive sleeve, a drive nut and a boot assembly;
• wherein said outer race of said constant velocity joint has a wall portion having a vent hole;
• wherein said vent hole has a first axially extending channel and a second axially extending channel;
• wherein said second axially extending channel is integrally connected to said first axially extending channel by a radially extending wall;
• wherein said first axially extending channel has a diameter and said second axially extending channel has a diameter D2;
• wherein said diameter D1 of said first axially extending channel is greater than said diameter D2 of said second axially extending channel;
• a valve is at least partially located within said vent hole in said wall portion of said outer race, said valve comprising:
• a stopper portion comprising a first axial inner portion, a second axial outer portion and a radially outward extending portion;
• wherein said radially outward extending portion is located between said first axial inner portion and said second axial outer portion;
• wherein said first axial inner portion is at least partially located within said first axially extending channel in said wall portion of said outer race;
• wherein said second axial outer portion is located within said second axially extending channel in said wall portion of said outer race;
• a disk portion comprises an inner surface and an outer surface;
• wherein said disk portion is located axially adjacent to said second axial outer portion of said stopper portion of said valve;
• wherein said disk portion extends radially outward from said second axially outer portion of said stopper of said valve;
• a breather portion comprising an axially extending ring having an inner surface and an outer surface;
• a lip portion comprising ring;
• wherein said ring of said lip portion of said valve extends radially inward from said breather portion of said valve;
• and
• wherein an end surface of said ring of said lip portion of said valve is in direct contact with at least a portion of an outer surface of said wall portion of said outer race of said constant velocity joint.

A method of venting air from a constant velocity joint, comprising:

• providing a constant velocity joint, wherein said constant velocity joint comprises an inner race, an outer race, a cage, a plurality of torque transferring elements, a drive sleeve, a drive nut, a boot assembly and an interior having air and a lubricant;
• forming a vent hole in a wall portion of said outer race of said constant velocity joint, wherein said vent hole comprises a first axially extending channel and a second axially extending channel that is integrally connected to said first axially extending channel by a radially extending wall;
• providing a valve, wherein said valve comprises a-stopper portion, a disk portion, a breather portion and a lip portion;
• inserting at least a portion of said valve into said vent hole in said wall portion of said outer race of said constant velocity joint;
• determining an amount of force needed to seal said lubricant within said interior of said constant velocity joint when said constant velocity joint is in a static condition;
• applying said amount of force onto at least a portion of an outer surface of said wall portion of said outer race by said breather portion and/or said lip portion of said valve to seal said lubricant within said interior of said constant velocity joint when said constant velocity joint is in a static condition;
• determining constant velocity joint static condition-internal air pressure that is undesirable;
• applying a radial and/or an axial force onto said disk portion, said breather portion and/or said lip portion of said valve by said air within said interior of said constant velocity joint;
• opening said valve when said pre-determined undesirable constant velocity joint static condition internal air pressure is reached;
• venting an amount of said air from said interior of said constant velocity joint;
• closing said valve when said internal air pressure within said constant velocity joint falls below said pre-determined undesirable constant velocity joint static condition internal pressure;
• determining a constant velocity joint dynamic condition internal air pressure that is undesirable;
• applying a radial and/or an axial force onto said disk portion, said breather portion and/or said lip portion of said valve by said air in said interior of said constant velocity joint;
• applying a centrifugal axial force onto said disk portion, said breather portion and/or said lip portion of said valve by said rotation of valve within said wall portion of said outer race of said constant velocity joint;
• opening said valve when said pre-determined undesirable constant velocity joint dynamic condition internal air pressure is reached;
• venting an amount of said air from said interior of said constant velocity joint;
• and
• closing said valve when said internal air pressure within said constant velocity joint falls below said pre-determined undesirable constant velocity joint dynamic condition internal pressure.