Universal joint with breather valve

Claim 2

In a universal joint comprising an outer member affording a chamber in which is received a part of an inner member and means for transmitting torque between the members so that relative rotation about a longitudinal axis of the joint is prevented, the members being relatively movable angularly about axes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and relatively displaceable along the longitudinal axis, the improvement comprising means defining a passageway into said chamber and movable closure means for normally closing the passageway and for opening the passageway under the action of centrifugal force when the joint rotates to flow both into and out of the chamber.

Claim 3

In a universal joint comprising an outer member affording a chamber in which is received a part of an inner member and means for transmitting torque between the members so that relative rotation about a longitudinal axis of the joint is prevented, the members being relatively movable angularly about axes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and relatively displaceable along the longitudinal axis, the improvement comprising a valve opening offset from the longitudinal axis of the joint and communicating with said chamber, a closure element mounted for movement transversely of said axis between a closed position and an open position with respect to the valve opening and means biasing the closure element towards its closed position, the open position of the valve element being a radially outer position whereby the closure element tends to be moved to its open position by centrifugal force when the joint is rotated.

Claim 4

In a universal joint comprising an outer member affording a chamber in which is received a part of an inner member and means for transmitting torque between the members so that relative rotation about a longitudinal axis of the joint is prevented, the members being relatively movable angularly about axes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis and relatively displaceable along the longitudinal axis, the improvement comprising a valve opening offset from the longitudinal axis of the joint and communicating with said chamber, a closure element mounted for movement transversely of said axis between a closed position and an open position with respect to the valve opening and means biasing the closure element towards its closed position, the open position of the valve element being a radially outer position whereby the closure element tends to be moved to its open position by centrifugal force when the joint is rotated.

Claim 5

The improvement according to claim 1 wherein the joint has a longitudinal axis about which said outer member rotates in use, the outer member includes a peripheral wall defining a peripheral boundary of said chamber and the passageway communicates with said chamber at a position nearer to said axis than to said peripheral boundary.

Claim 6

The improvement according to claim 3 wherein the passageway extends transversely of said longitudinal axis and a radially inner end of the passageway communicates directly with said chamber.

Claim 7

The improvement according to claim 1 further comprising a control member and wherein the joint has a longitudinal axis about which said outer member rotates in use, the centre of gravity of the control member is off-set from said axis, the control member is mounted for movement transversely of said axis, the control member is constrained to rotate about said axis with said outer member, the closure means comprises a closure element movable between a closed position and an open position with respect to said passageway, and the control member is operatively associated with the closure means for urging the closure means to its open position under centrifugal action when the joint is rotated about said axis.

Claim 8

The improvement according to claim 5 wherein the control member is disposed within said passageway.

Claim 9

The improvement according to claim 5 wherein the closure element is a ring mounted eccentrically with respect to said axis, the control member is disposed within the ring at the side thereof spaced furthest from the axis, said passageway extends transversely of said axis and the control member normally closes the radially outer end of the passageway.

Claim 10

The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said means defining the passageway includes structure defining a valve opening, and said closure means comprises a closure element which is resiliently biased in a direction inwardly of the chamber with respect to the passageway and into sealing engagement with said structure, whereby the closure element can be displaced out of sealing engagement with said structure by excess pressure within the chamber and alternatively by the action of centrifugal force when the joint rotates.

Claim 11

The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said outer member has an end wall, said passageway is formed in said end wall, said closure means comprises a closure element of resiliently deformable material, and the respective shapes of said end wall and closure element are complementary whereby the closure element normally closes the passageway.

Claim 12

The improvement according to claim 3 wherein said passageway communicates with said chamber at a position off-set from said axis.

Claim 13

The improvement according to claim 1 wherein the joint has a longitudinal axis about which said outer member rotates in use, said means defining the passageway includes structure defining a valve opening which faces radially outwardly of said axis and said closure means is situated at the radially outer side of and is biased towards said valve opening, whereby the closure member is urged away from the valve opening by centrifugal action when the joint rotates.