Assembly vent for boot/seal installation

摘要

A tool for installing a boot seal assembly having a boot seal and a clamp structure. The boot seal is formed from a resilient elastomeric material and includes a sealing lip and an annular groove. The clamp structure is disposed in the annular groove and is positionable between an uncompressed state and a compressed state. Placement of the clamp structure in the compressed state causes a radially directed clamp force to be exerted onto the boot seal to bring the sealing lip into contact with a sealing surface of a structure to be sealed. The tool includes a clip structure coupled to at least one of the boot seal and the clamp structure. The clip structure includes an axially projecting portion that extends radially inward of and axially across the sealing lip. Contact between the axially projecting portion of the clip structure and the sealing surface of the structure to be sealed creates a vent which inhibits the build-up of fluid pressure within the boot seal when the seal assembly is installed to the structure to be sealed.