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US 7,282,166 B2Granted
Constant velocity joint plunge boot
AssigneeGKN Driveline North America, Inc.
InventorShen-Ling Allen Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of forming a flexible component includes performing a stress analysis on potential configurations of the component. A desired as-molded shape can be selected from the configurations that were analyzed based upon the stresses resulting from manipulation.
Claims20
A method of manufacturing a flexible component for a joint assembly, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a desired first component having a first configuration that is manipulated into a second configuration when said first component is installed into the joint assembly, wherein the selected first component experiences a deformation of shape when manipulated into said second configuration resulting in induced stresses in selected portions of said first component;
- performing an analysis of said induced stresses in said first component, wherein said analysis is performed on said second configuration of said first component;
- selecting a desired configuration representative of a predetermined operational mode of said first component;
- and
- molding a second component, wherein said molding includes at least partially curing said second component generally in said desired configuration and said second component requires less manipulation from an as-molded shape than said first component for a similar operating mode.
2 more elements
A method of manufacturing a flexible component for a joint assembly, comprising the steps of:
- selecting a desired first component having a first configuration that is manipulated into a second configuration when said first component is installed into the joint assembly, wherein the selected first component experiences a deformation of shape when manipulated into said second configuration resulting in induced stresses in selected portions of said first component;
- performing a finite element analysis of said induced stresses in said first component, wherein said analysis is performed on said second configuration of said first component;
- selecting a desired configuration representative of a predetermined operational mode of said first component;
- and
- molding a second component, wherein said molding includes at least partially curing said second component generally in said desired configuration.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.