Shaft with a venting system

摘要

A shaft for a vehicle including a first member 16 having an internal spline (18 Fig. 1) and defining an inner cavity, a second member 12 having an external spline (14), and a boot (26) mounted over a vent 80 and adapted to substantially prevent contaminants from entering the inner cavity through the vent. The internal and external splines co-operatively allow an axial sliding of the second member into the inner cavity of the first member and substantially prevents rotational movement between the first and second members. One of the first and second members defines the vent 80 which communicates with the inner cavity. The first and second members and the boot co-operatively form a substantially airtight enclosure. The boot may be radially and axially expandable and of thermoplastic polymer. Controls air pressure within the cavity to reduce noise and ease sliding.