Dust Cap and Shaft Scraper for Dampers and Actuators

1) A dust cap for use with a damper having a shaft, the dust cap comprising:

• a) a generally circular main body having a single center hole configured to allow the shaft to slide therethrough, the center hole having a diameter that is larger than an outer diameter of the shaft;
• b) a generally flat bottom surface forming an outer lip, the outer lip having a diameter greater than an internal diameter of the main body and configured to removably couple to an open end of the main body;
• c) a circular side wall extending away from the flat bottom surface, the side wall having a diameter less than the diameter of the outer lip and configured for insertion into the open end of the main body;
• d) an inner lip disposed along and extending from at least a portion of an outer surface of the side wall, the inner lip configured to secure the dust cap to an inner surface of the main body through frictional resistance;
• e) a cavity formed by an inner surface of the side wall and an interior surface of the bottom surface;
• and
• f) at least one vent hole disposed along the side wall, the vent hole configured to permit fluid communication between an exterior environment and the cavity to allow air, moisture, or material trapped between the dust cap and an outside surface of the shaft to escape to the exterior environment;
• wherein the dust cap is made from a single piece of material selected from plastic, metal, rubber, composite, or combinations thereof.