Bellows for idle air control valve of vehicle

An idle air control valve for a vehicle, the idle air control valve comprising:

• a housing,
• a motor disposed in the housing,
• a shaft associated with the motor such that operation of the motor causes linear motion of the shaft, and
• a bellows assembly comprising:
• a bellows structure having a first end defining a base, a second, opened end, and a bellows between the first and second ends, the bellows structure including an internal annular rim member associated with the second opened end thereof, and
• a pintle having external surfaces defining an annular groove therein, the annular rim member of the bellows structure being received, in press-fit engagement, in the annular groove, thereby coupling the bellows structure with the pintle,
• wherein the base of the bellows is in press-fit engagement with a recess defined in the housing and the pintle is coupled with an end of the shaft, with the bellows structure together with the pintle surrounding the shaft and providing a barrier substantially preventing contaminants from entering the motor.

A method of providing a contaminant barrier for an idle air control valve of a vehicle, the idle air control valve including a housing, a motor disposed in the housing, a shaft associated with the motor such that operation of the motor causes linear motion of the shaft, the method comprising:

• providing a bellows structure having a first end defining a base, a second, opened end, and a bellows between the first and second ends, the bellows structure including an internal annular rim member associated with the second opened end thereof,
• providing a pintle having external surfaces defining an annular groove therein,
• sliding the second end of the bellows structure over a portion of the pintle so that the annular rim member of the bellows structure is received, in press-fit engagement, in the annular groove, thereby coupling the bellows structure with the pintle, and
• coupling the pintle to an end of the shaft, and
• press-fitting the base of the bellows structure into a recess in the housing, with the bellows together with the pintle surrounding the shaft and providing a barrier substantially preventing contaminants from entering the motor.