Lubricant filled bellows for shafts

Claim 2

In combination with a housing and a shaft telescopingly reciprocable with respect to the housing, an axially extensible and contractable bellows mounted about said shaft, and means for connecting opposite end portions of the bellows respectively to said shaft and said housing; the bellows comprising: a hollow body portion, said body portion being substantially cylindrical and unstressed when said bellows is in its axially extended position; a plurality of circumferentially extending, axially spaced, internal ribs protruding inwardly of said body portion, said ribs engaging said shaft to form a plurality of discrete lubrication chambers between adjacent ones of said ribs; means providing lubricant in said lubrication chambers; and, said discrete lubrication chambers cooperating to provide substantially uniform lubrication along the shaft.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1, the bellows including: means defining communication ports between each of said lubrication chambers.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said means defining said communication ports comprises: a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally eXtending notched passageways in each of said ribs.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein: said notched passageways in each one of said ribs are longitudinally aligned with said notched passageways in the remainder of said ribs.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said means defining communication ports comprises: a plurality of circumferentially spaced, inwardly projecting nibs on each of said ribs.

Claim 7

The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein: said nibs on each one of said ribs are longitudinally aligned with said nibs on the remainder of said ribs.

Claim 8

The combination as defined in claim 2 and including: a bleed aperture in said bellows.

Claim 9

The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein: the internal diameter of each of said ribs is such that said bellows is in interference fit with the shaft when said bellows is in its axially extended position.

Claim 10

The combination as defined in claim 8 wherein: the axial spacing between adjacent ribs is substantially the same, thereby tending to induce uniform folding of said bellows.

Claim 11

The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein: said ribs and said body portion are integral.

Claim 12

A draft gear cushioning apparatus comprising: a cylinder having a closed end and an open end; a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder for relative movement with respect thereto; a piston rod for said piston, at least a portion of said piston rod being movable into and out of said cylinder through said open end; an axially extensible and contractable lubricant filled bellows mounted about said piston rod for lubricating said portion of said piston rod; means fixedly mounting one end of said bellows with respect to said cylinder; means fixedly mounting the other end of said bellows in sealing engagement with said piston rod; said bellows comprising: a foldable body portion, said body portion being substantially cylindrical and unstressed when said bellows is axially extended, a plurality of circumferentially extending longitudinally spaced, internal ribs protruding from said body portion, said ribs engaging said piston rod and, together with said piston rod, forming a plurality of discrete lubrication chambers, said discrete lubrication chambers cooperating to provide substantially uniform lubrication along said portion of said piston rod; and means defining communication ports between each of said lubrication chambers.

Claim 13

A draft gear cushioning apparatus comprising: a cylinder having a closed end and an open end; a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder for relative movement with respect thereto; a piston rod for said piston, at least a portion of said piston rod being movable into and out of said cylinder through said open end; an axially extensible and contractable lubricant filled bellows mounted about said piston rod for lubricating said portion of said piston rod; means fixedly mounting one end of said bellows with respect to said cylinder; means fixedly mounting the other end of said bellows in sealing engagement with said piston rod; said bellows comprising: a foldable body portion, said body portion being substantially cylindrical and unstressed when said bellows is axially extended, a plurality of circumferentially extending longitudinally spaced, internal ribs protruding from said body portion, said ribs engaging said piston rod and, together with said piston rod, forming a plurality of discrete lubrication chambers, said discrete lubrication chambers cooperating to provide substantially uniform lubrication along said portion of said piston rod; and means defining communication ports between each of said lubrication chambers.

Claim 14

A cushioning apparatus according to claim 12 wherein: said communication ports are defined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced notched passageways in each of said ribs said notched passageways in each of said ribs being longitudinally aligned.

Claim 15

A cushioning apparatus according to claim 12 wherein: said communication ports are defined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly projecting nibs on each of said ribs, said nibs on each of said ribs being longitudinally aligned, and said piston rod engaging said nibs in interference fit.

Claim 16

In combination with a housing and a shaft telescopingly reciprocable with respect to the housing, an axially extensible and contractable lubricating bellows seal mounted about said shaft, and means for connecting opposite end portions of the bellows respectively to said shaft and said housing; the bellows comprising: a hollow body portion; said body portion being substantially cylindrical and unstressed when said bellows is axially extended, means projecting inwardly from said body portion and engaging said shaft for forming a plurality of discrete lubrication chambers, said discrete lubrication chambers cooperating to provide substantially uniform lubrication along said shaft, and means for establishing communication between said lubrication chambers.

Claim 17

In combination with a housing and a shaft telescopingly reciprocable with respect to the housing, an axially extensible and contractable lubricating bellows seal mounted about said shaft, and means for connecting opposite end portions of the bellows respectively to said shaft and said housing; the bellows comprising: a hollow body portion; said body portion being substantially cylindrical and unstressed when said bellows is axially extended, means projecting inwardly from said body portion and engaging said shaft for forming a plurality of discrete lubrication chambers, said discrete lubrication chambers cooperating to provide substantially uniform lubrication along said shaft, and means for establishing communication between said lubrication chambers.

Claim 18

The combination according to claim 15 wherein the bellows includes: bleed means for preventing overfill of said bellows. 16. In combination with a housing and a shaft telescopingly reciprocable with respect to the housing, an axially extensible and contractable bellows mounted about said shaft, and means for connecting opposite end portions of the bellows respectively to said shaft and said housing; the bellows comprising: a hollow body portion, said body portion being substantially cylindrical when said bellows is in its axially extended position; a plurality of circumferentially extending, axially spaced, internal ribs protruding inwardly of said body portion, said ribs engaging said shaft to form a plurality of discrete lubrication chambers between adjacent ones of said ribs; means providing lubricant in said lubrication chambers; and said discrete lubrication chambers cooperating to provide substantially uniform lubrication along the shaft.

Claim 19

An axially extensible and contractable bellows adapted to be connected at opposite end portions to a housing and to a shaft about which the bellows is mounted and which is telescopingly reciprocable with respect to the housing, the bellows being adapted to be filled with a lubricant when so mounted, the bellows comprising: a hollow body portion, said body portion being substantially cylindrical when said bellows is in its axially extended position; a plurality of circumferentially extending, axially spaced, internal ribs protruding inwardly of said body portion; said ribs being engageable with the shaft and maintaining said body portion out of engagement with the shaft to form a plurality of discrete lubrication chambers between adjacent ones of said ribs when said bellows is mounted about the shaft.

Claim 20

An axially extensible and contractable bellows adapted to be connected at opposite end portions to a housing and to a shaft about which the bellows is mounted and which is telescopingly reciprocable with respect to the housing, the bellows being adapted to be filled with a lubricant when so mounted, the bellows comprising: a hollow body portion, said body portion being substantially cylindrical when said bellows is in its axially extended position; a plurality of circumferentially extending, axially spaced, internal ribs protruding inwardly of said body portion; said ribs being engageable with the shaft and maintaining said body portion out of engagement with the shaft to form a plurality of discrete lubrication chambers between adjacent ones of said ribs when said bellows is mounted about the shaft.

Claim 21

A bellows unit as defined in claim 18 including: means defining communication ports between each of said lubrication chambers when said bellows is mounted about the shaft. 19 A bellows unit as defined in claim 19 wherein said means defining said communication ports comprises: a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending notched passageways in each of said ribs.

Claim 22

A bellows unit as defined in claim 20 wherein: said notched passageways in each one of said ribs are longitudinally aligned with said notched passageways in the remainder of said ribs.

Claim 23

A bellows unit as defined in claim 19 wherein said means defining communication ports comprises: a plurality of circumferentially spaced, inwardly projecting nibs on each of said ribs.

Claim 24

A bellows unit as defined in claim 21 wherein: said nibs on each one of said ribs are longitudinally aligned with said nibs on the remainder of said ribs.

Claim 25

A bellows unit as defined in claim 19 including: said hollow body portion is substantially unstressed in its axially extended position.

Claim 26

A bellows unit as defined in claim 19 wherein: the internal diameter of each of said ribs is such that said bellows is in interference fit with the shaft when said bellows is in its axially extended position.

Claim 27

A bellows unit as defined in claim 25 wherein: the axial spacing between adjacent ribs is substantially the same, thereby tending to induce uniform folding of said bellows.

Claim 28

A bellows unit as defined in claim 19 wherein: said ribs and said body portion are integral.