Abstract: A self-priming pump assembly comprises a series connection of a liquid ring pump functioning as a rotating displacement pump and a normally-priming centrifugal pump. The self-priming pump assembly improves the fluid mechanics conditions for the flow of fluids toward and into a return line through the inclusion of a first connection opening in the meridian plane of the centrifugal pump that possesses a bulge enclosing a sector of the longitudinal axis of the first connection opening, where the bulge is one-sided and oriented toward a rotary axis of the pump assembly, and the bulge continuously expands, directly or indirectly, the first connection opening toward the impeller plane. At its end section facing the impeller plane, a transitional surface of the bulge continuously transitions into the lateral boundary surface, or an inner peripheral wall of the ring channel adjoining the lateral boundary surface.

Abstract: A water pumping control device may include a primary power source and a secondary power source. The primary power source may be configured to provide a primary power input to a processing unit, and the secondary power source may be configured to provide a secondary power input to the processing unit. A primary pump and a secondary pump may be in communication with the processing unit, and the primary pump and the secondary pump may each be variable in speed. The primary pump and the secondary pump may each be in fluid communication with a sump so that when a pump is activated, the pump may remove water from the sump. A water level sensor may be in communication with the processing unit, and the water level sensor may be configured to provide a water level input describing a water level in the sump to the processing unit.

Abstract: A magnetic bearing vacuum pump comprises: a first displacement signal generation section configured to amplify, by a resolution multiplying factor K of K>1, a displacement modulated wave signal modulated according to a displacement of the rotor from a predetermined position to generate a high-resolution displacement signal in a first displacement region including the predetermined position; a second displacement signal generation section configured to generate a low-resolution displacement signal in a larger second displacement region including the first displacement region; a selection section configured to select either one of the high-resolution displacement signal or the low-resolution displacement signal based on an unsteady-state response signal obtained by excluding a steady-state whirling displacement component from the high-resolution displacement signal or the low-resolution displacement signal; and a bearing control section configured to control the magnetic bearing based on the displacement sig

Abstract: A motor-fan assembly includes a motor assembly having a tubular core with a rotatable shaft extending therethrough. The assembly includes a working fan assembly which has at least one working fan rotated by the rotatable shaft. A blower housing separates the motor assembly from the working fan assembly, wherein the rotatable shaft extends through the blower housing.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including a housing defining a top surface, a bottom surface, and first and second side surfaces. Also included is a first rail extending from the first side surface and a second rail extending from the second surface such that when the first and second rails are slidably engaged with a third surface. A blower device is included that is axially disposed between the top and bottom surface, wherein a first end of the housing defines a first plenum outlet, the top surface defines a plenum inlet, the bottom surface defines a second plenum outlet that is positioned on a second side of the blower device and that fluidly couples the first plenum chamber to the second plenum chamber. Further, the second plenum chamber is formed by the first and second rails, the bottom surface and the third surface has a third plenum outlet.

Abstract: A method of detecting surging in a turbocharger provided for an internal combustion engine, includes: a first characteristic quantity calculation step of calculating a first characteristic quantity in at least one first frequency region corresponding to at least one first peak frequency component unique to the time of occurrence of surging in the turbocharger on the basis of a time-variable waveform indicating a time-series change of a rotation speed of the turbocharger; a second characteristic quantity calculation step of calculating a second characteristic quantity in a second frequency region including the at least one first frequency region on the basis of the time-variable waveform; and a detection step of detecting surging in the turbocharger on the basis of a relationship between the first characteristic quantity and the second characteristic quantity.

Abstract: A certain material irregularly expressed in an observation area is effectively observed. An observing apparatus includes a first observing unit performing a time lapse shooting of a predetermined observation area, a first discriminating unit discriminating whether or not a first material is expressed in the observation area based on an image obtained by the first observing unit, and a second observing unit starting a time lapse shooting relating to a part where the first material is expressed at a timing when the first material is expressed in the observation area, in which a shooting frequency of the time lapse shooting by the second observing unit is higher than a shooting frequency of the time lapse shooting by the first observing unit.

Abstract: A centrifugal pump features a bearing housing; a rotor shaft configured in the bearing housing; an impeller configured on the rotor shaft; a sealing arrangement having a seal configured between the rotor shaft and the bearing housing; and a multiple sleeve bearing arrangement positioned on a rotor span between the impeller and the sealing arrangement to provide rotor stabilization, the multiple bearing arrangement having a primary sleeve bearing configured between the rotor shaft and the bearing housing near or in close proximity to the impeller on the rotor span, and a secondary sleeve bearing configured between the rotor shaft and the bearing housing near or in close proximity to the sealing arrangement on the rotor span.

Abstract: A turbopump is formed from a metal additive manufacturing process in which both the housing and the impeller are formed as a single piece with the impeller trapped within the single piece housing. The impeller is formed with an axial bore and a shaft is secured by a tie bolt on one end to secure forward and aft bearings within the housing after the impeller and housing have been formed.

Abstract: A centrifugal compressor includes a casing, an impeller, a motor, a diffuser, a magnetic bearing, and a magnetic bearing backup system including at least one dynamic gas bearing and at least one hydrostatic gas bearing. The impeller is attached to a shaft rotatable about a rotation axis. The motor is configured and arranged to rotate the shaft in order to rotate the impeller. The magnetic bearing rotatably supports the shaft. The magnetic bearing backup system is configured and arranged to support the shaft when the magnetic bearing stops operating. The at least one dynamic gas bearing and the at least one hydrostatic gas bearing of the magnetic bearing backup system are disposed radially inwardly relative to the magnetic bearing.

Abstract: A pump drive unit for conveying a process fluid includes a housing which surrounds a pump having an impeller, a drive for the pump, a shaft for driving the impeller which connects the drive to the pump, and a restrictor extending around the shaft and arranged between the impeller and the drive. The housing has a pump inlet and outlet for the process fluid, with an inlet for introduction of a barrier fluid into the drive and an outlet for draining the barrier fluid from the housing. A plurality of storage chambers for the barrier fluid are disposed at the shaft in the region between the restrictor and the drive. The storage chambers are arranged behind one another with respect to the axial direction, with a respective two adjacent storage chambers being in flow communication with one another.

Abstract: A centrifugal compressor having a stator which is designed as an inlet stator, in particular for a compressor, with at least one vane having a vane airfoil around which a fluid can flow, with a plurality of vanes arranged in the form of a ring, with an adjustment device for adjusting the vane, wherein a curvature of a profile center line of the vane airfoil has at least one inflection point.

Abstract: A centrifugal compressor impeller comprises a gas inlet, a gas outlet, and a disc having a plurality of blades extending therefrom. Each blade has a leading edge at the impeller inlet and a trailing edge at the impeller outlet, a blade base extending along the disc between the leading edge and the trailing edge, a blade tip extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge opposite the disc, a pressure side and a suction side. Each blade has a three-dimensional curvature in at least a portion of the surface, adjacent the leading edge. The leading edge has a curved, non-linear profile in a meridian plane. The blade portion has a double-curvature. Each blade has a first metal angle distribution at the blade base, a second metal angle distribution at the blade tip and at least a third metal angle distribution between the blade base and the blade tip.

Abstract: The invention relates to a blade, the platform (14) of which has at least one bumper (40) which rises, on the inner face, from a connection to an intermediate area of the blade located along a longitudinal axis of the blade, between the blade root and the outer face (143), towards a free side edge (145) of the platform. The platform bumper (40) locally has a thinned portion at a distance from said free side edge of the platform. The invention is applicable to turboshaft engine fans.

Abstract: A heat dissipation fan blade structure and a heat dissipation fan thereof. The heat dissipation fan blade structure includes a main fan blade and a subsidiary fan blade. The main fan blade has a root section and a free end section. The root section is connected with a hub. The free end section radially extends in a direction away from the hub. A main body section is formed between the root section and the free end section. The subsidiary fan blade extends from the free end section of the main fan blade toward the root section of the main fan blade to the main body section. The subsidiary fan blade and the main fan blade together form a loop structure defining a flow way between the main fan blade and the subsidiary fan blade.

Abstract: Provided is a propeller fan including a boss, and a blade fixed at an outer peripheral surface of the boss, wherein the blade has a second protrusion that protrudes toward a positive pressure surface side, at a trailing edge with respect to a rotation direction, the second protrusion is provided in a range on a radially outer side of a center of a radial distance from an inner peripheral end to an outer peripheral end of the blade, and has a protrusion tip end with a maximum protrusion height, a first base at a starting part of protrusion on a radially inner side of the protrusion tip end, and a second base at a starting part of protrusion on a radially outer side of the protrusion tip end, and the protrusion tip end is positioned nearer to the second base than to the first base in the radial direction.

Abstract: An axial fan comprises an impeller. The impeller comprises a hub and a plurality of blades disposed on an outer circumference of the hub. A pressure surface of each of the blades is at least partially a convex surface bulging from a suction surface side to a pressure surface side. The convex surface is provided within a predetermined region of the pressure surface of the blade on a hub side. The predetermined region is arranged as part of a radial width of the blade.

Abstract: A diffuser includes a lower element and an upper element. The upper element is fixed on the lower element, and the upper element and the lower element are formed separately. The lower element includes a lower inner wall and a lower outer wall, and the upper element includes an upper inner wall and an upper outer wall. The upper inner wall is connected to the lower inner wall to form an internal air-guiding surface, the upper outer wall is connected to the lower outer wall to form an external air-guiding surface, and the internal air-guiding surface and the external air-guiding surface define an air-guiding channel for air flow diffusion. The upper element includes an upper air-guiding wing for connecting the upper inner wall and the upper outer wall, and the lower element includes a lower air-guiding wing for connecting the lower inner wall and the lower outer wall.

Abstract: A flow machine includes a rotor rotatably arranged about an axis of rotation in a rotor space of a housing. For energy exchange between a flow energy of a flowing fluid and a mechanical rotational energy, the fluid can be supplied to the housing of the flow machine in so as to bring the fluid into flowing contact with the rotor for the energy exchange and can be led out of the housing of the flow machine. A flow guiding element running about the axis of rotation in a peripheral direction of the rotor is disposed in the rotor space between an inner wall of the rotor space and the rotor in such a way that the rotor is surrounded by the flow guiding element over a predeterminable axial width.

Abstract: A pumping apparatus includes an impeller, an inlet housing and at least one flow guiding element. The impeller is rotationally supported for the guidance of a pumpable medium about an axis of rotation. The inlet housing spans a suction region upstream of the impeller. The at least one flow guiding element is at least partly arranged within the suction region and the flow guiding element is provided to guide the medium flow in the direction of the impeller.

Abstract: A lift-out pump disconnect system is mounted to two parallel rails that are affixed to a pump enclosure. The disconnect system has a receiver body that is affixed to the rails and slidable along the rail axes with ear portions. The disconnect system further includes an outlet body that mates to the receiver body using tabs that slide on clamping ramped surfaces on the receiver body. Downward movement of the outlet body causes the clamping ramped surfaces to move the outlet body closer to the receiver body until flat sealing surfaces are in biased contact.

Abstract: Blower case provided in centrifugal blower of the present invention has side wall, suction port, a discharge port, and flow channel. In flow channel, when impeller is rotated by rotation action transmitted from motor, air sucked from suction port and passed through an inner peripheral side end and outer peripheral side end is guided to the discharge port along side wall. A shape of a cross section of flow channel including rotational axis is wider, toward an opposite side where the suction port is located relative to a side where suction port is located in a direction along axial center direction, in a second cross section located near the discharge port than in a first cross section located far from the discharge port in a direction in which impeller rotates.

Abstract: A blower includes a volute shaped casing having an air inlet, and an impeller including a disk-shaped backing plate, a ring-shaped rim, and a plurality of blades supported between the backing plate and the rim. The impeller is housed in the casing. Each of the blades includes a first blade segment adjacent to the backing plate, and a second blade segment provided between the first blade segment and the rim. Each of the blades has a blade outlet angle at a trailing edge of the second blade segment different from a blade outlet angle at a trailing edge of the first blade segment. At least one of a pressure surface of the second blade segment and a suction surface of the second blade segment includes a flat surface extending toward a leading edge of the second blade segment from the trailing edge of the second blade segment.

Abstract: A rotor for a gas turbine is disclosed which includes alternating first and second set of rotor blades, the first set of rotor blades having a baseline profile and the second set of rotor blades having a profile with a cutback relative to the baseline profile, the cutback removing a portion of the baseline profile surrounding a maximum deflection point of a natural vibration mode. The cutback may be a leading edge cutback at a span position located a distance away from the hub between 50% and 90% of the total span length. The natural vibration mode may be a natural vibration mode higher than the 1st natural vibration mode, more specifically may be the 4th natural vibration mode.

Abstract: An accumulator piston configured to be situated within an accumulator bore of a housing for use in vehicle transmissions. The accumulator piston including a casing, the casing including a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a side wall situated between the top surface and the bottom surface, a pin guide protruding from the top surface of the casing, the pin guide including a centrally disposed aperture, the aperture configured to receive an elongated pin, and a sealing member encircling the side wall of the casing such that the sealing member covers any exposed surface of the side wall.

Abstract: In an elastic tube as a driving force source of a fluid pressure actuator that is driven by supplying and discharging fluid such as air or liquid, a wear-resistant flocked layer is provided on an entire outer circumferential surface of the elastic tube, and the wear-resistant flocked layer being formed by an electrostatic flocking process in which short fibers made of synthetic resin are flocked to be perpendicular to the outer circumferential surface, and the wear-resistant flocked layer being further formed by the electrostatic flocking process in which the short fibers made of the synthetic fiber are flocked in a number of strips along an axial direction or in a number of dots on the entire outer circumferential surface.

Abstract: A monitoring device includes a first pressure sensor that detects a first pressure value of a pressurized fluid in a first pipe, a second pressure sensor that detects a second pressure value of a pressurized fluid in a second pipe, and a detector that determines, on the basis of the first pressure value and the second pressure value, whether or not a piston has reached one end or the other inside a cylinder body.

Abstract: A filter band assembly for a solenoid-actuated valve includes a filter band adapted to be disposed about a valve body of the solenoid-actuated valve. The filter band has a first end at one end and a second end at another end. The filter band assembly also includes a separate bracket affixed to one of the first end and the second end and adapted to support the one of the first end and the second end on the valve body to allow the first end and the second end to be joined together in a closed position.

Abstract: A hydraulic spool valve assembly comprising a housing defining a bore having a longitudinal axis (L), a hydraulic spool valve, a sleeve disposed within the bore and a temperature compensation device disposed between the sleeve and the housing. The hydraulic spool valve having a first end for connection to a drive arm, and an opposing second end disposed within the bore. The sleeve disposed between the hydraulic spool valve and the housing. The temperature compensation device configured to expand in a first longitudinal direction in response to a temperature increase, to oppose movement of the sleeve in an opposing second longitudinal direction caused by the temperature increase.

Abstract: A mounting device (10) is disclosed having a one-piece body (11). A slot (20) extends into this body (11), and is defined by a slot base (22) and a pair of spaced slot sidewalls (24a, 24b) that each extend from the slot base (22). The slot sidewalls (24a, 24b) are disposed in non-parallel relation to each other.

Abstract: A system and method including a a fastener clip assembly including a tub configured to engage and be secured to a slot in a chassis. The tub is configured to be secured to the slot bases at least upon the tub comprising two or more tabs. The tabs are attached to the tub along a top portion of each of the tabs, and each of the tabs are configured to bend along the top portion of the tabs. Each of the tabs are configured to bend in response to the tub being inserted into the slot and to bend back to original positions of each of the tabs. Bottom portions of each the tabs secure the tub to the slot.

Abstract: Disclosed is a precursor for a clip and a clip formed by the precursor. The clip is configured for mounting a furring channel to a load-bearing member and is a generally U-shaped member having a pair of sidewalls, each of which includes a pair of tabs projecting therefrom. The clip is arranged to receive the load-bearing member between its sidewalls, such that the tabs can be snap-fit under inwardly directed flanges of the furring channel. Also disclosed is a method of forming the clip from the precursor, by bending portions of the precursor to form the sidewalls of the clip, and a method for mounting a furring channel onto a load-bearing member using the clip.

Abstract: An arrangement for a tool-less locking connector to secure relative motion between two or more structural elements. The connector comprises a user interface that can be toggled between at least two positions including a retracted and an engaged position. The interface may be a button, thumb wheel, slider, twist knob, or any other structure that can be manipulated without the use of tools. The connector will also have a locking element which is controlled by the user interface. There will be at least two structural elements that this connector will be used to lock together. One of these structural elements will have a male fitting and another will have a female fitting. When the locking element of the connector is toggled to the retracted position, the structural element with the male fitting can move independently from the structural element with the female fitting.

Abstract: A fastening device for fastening an object to a wall includes a fastening element, a bearing element adapted for bearing against the wall, and a holding element configured to hold at least a part of the object. The holding element has a through opening running at least through the holding element and the bearing element for allowing passage of the fastening element. A connecting element constructed as an eccentric connects the bearing element and the holding element to one another. The holding element together with the connecting element and the bearing element form a single-piece fastening unit.

Abstract: A clip may include a base to which an attaching member is connected, and an anchor configured to be attached to a plate-shaped subject member and having a pillar, at least one pair of flexible engagement strips and at least one pair of blocks. The pillar is configured to be inserted into an attaching hole formed in the subject member. Each of the at least one pair of engagement strips is configured to engage a periphery of the attaching hole when the pillar is inserted into the attaching hole. Each of the at least one pair of blocks has a stopper surface that is configured to prevent each of the at least one pair of engagement strips from being folded back when an extraction load is applied to the anchor in a condition in which the anchor is attached to the subject member.

Abstract: An asymmetrical-force connector system includes a socket having a longitudinally-oriented shaft bore defining a bore axis. A spring-receiving cavity is coaxial with the bore axis and extends laterally around the shaft bore. The spring-receiving cavity has an inner circumference that is open to the shaft bore. A toroidal canted coil spring is located at least partially within the spring-receiving cavity. The toroidal canted coil spring has an inner spring circumference. A connector pin including a maximum shaft circumference is configured for selective sliding insertion into the shaft bore longitudinally from the front housing face. A v-groove extends laterally inward from the maximum shaft circumference toward the pin axis and defines a minimum shaft circumference. The connector pin is located in a maintenance position within the shaft bore when at least a portion of the toroidal canted coil spring laterally extends into the v-groove beyond the maximum shaft circumference.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a shim plate which is inserted between components that are assembled to and disassembled from one another via at least one shaft may be provided. The shim plate includes a plurality of plate pieces that are separable from one another, wherein the plurality of plate pieces are configured such that one plate piece is connected to the other plate piece in a circumferential direction, and an internal ring-shaped empty space is formed.

Abstract: In one preferred form of the present invention, there is provided hook system 10 for hanging school bags 18. The hook system 10 comprises: a body 10 providing a series of protective recesses 14 each having a projection 16. Each projection 16 allows a school bag to be hung therefrom using a top hanging strap 20 of the school bag 18. Each protective recess 14 shields the corresponding projection 16 to assist with preventing personal injury or eye damage associated with a person accidently moving towards the projection.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a profiled hollow shaft for a telescopic steering shaft of a motor vehicle. A hollow shaft to be machined and a roller forming head having at least one roller are provided. A groove is produced in the hollow shaft by moving the hollow shaft relative to the roller forming head. In order to provide an improved and less expensive method for producing a profiled hollow shaft for a telescopic steering shaft of a motor vehicle, the hollow shaft is moved relative to the roller forming head exclusively in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the hollow shaft. The disclosure also relates to a steering shaft having rolling body raceways.

Abstract: A ball stud (12) with a relatively short grip length, adapted for use with a turbocharger, having a flexible flange (18) extending from a center of the ball stud (12). The flexible flange (18) is between a ball section (14) and a first shaft portion (20) adjacent to the flexible flange (18) and preferably a narrower threaded shaft portion (22) extending further from the ball section (14). The first shaft portion (20) may be tapered to fit in a complementary aperture (32) of a plate (30). The flexible flange (18) preferably includes a narrow circumference (24) adjacent to a center of the ball stud (12) with a circumferential lip (26) adapted to engage a plate (30). The flexible flange (18) allows subtle flex for thermal expansion and essentially changes a spring rate of the ball stud (12) to emulate a longer fastener.

Abstract: In an angular contact ball bearing (10), an outer ring (12) has at least one radial hole (15) passing through in the radial direction from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring (12), and the axial-direction position of an inner-diameter-side opening part of the radial hole (15) is located between the groove bottom of the outer ring (12) and the point of contact between a ball (13) and the outer ring (12), as well as being separated from a contact ellipse between the ball (13) and an outer ring track groove (12a).

Abstract: A method of assembling a thrust bearing arrangement is disclosed. The method includes (a) providing a thrust bearing assembly. The thrust bearing assembly includes a support washer. The support washer includes a radially outer rim defining a plurality of slots extending radially outward from the radially outer rim. The method includes (b) providing a spring plate. The spring plate includes projections at a radially outer region. The projections extend in an axial direction. The method includes (c) aligning the projections of the spring plate with the slots of support washer. The method includes (d) deforming the projections of the spring plate to retain the thrust bearing assembly with the spring plate.

Abstract: Rotating machines and rotors therefor are disclosed. The bearings may be magnetic bearings configured to magnetically levitate the rotor. The rotors may include a hollow fiber-reinforced composite shaft and a magnetic bearing rotor core disposed on the shaft and configured for use with the magnetic bearing. In some examples, the rotating machines may be electrical machines.

Abstract: A rolling bearing for a sliding door includes an inner ring, an outer ring, a plurality of rolling elements arranged in a rollable manner in an annular space between the inner ring and the outer ring, and a jacket member formed of a resin composition and provided so as to cover the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring. The resin composition contains polyamide 66 and glass fiber. The polyamide 66 has a number average molecular weight of 34000 to 60000. The number average molecular weight is measured by gel permeation chromatography using hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) as a solvent and poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) as a reference material. The content of the glass fiber is 10 to 40 mass %.

Abstract: A hub unit bearing includes: an outer ring member; an inner ring member; and a cage. The cage includes a large-diameter side annular portion, a small-diameter side annular portion, pillar portions which axially couple the large-diameter side annular portion and the small-diameter side annular portion, and pockets which are formed between the pillar portions adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction. The pillar portions are formed to be inclined from the small-diameter side annular portion toward the large-diameter side annular portion. An outer diameter surface of the small-diameter side annular portion is formed as a tapered surface which is diameter-expanded toward the large-diameter side annular portion. At least one of the outer diameter surface of the cage and an inner diameter surface of the cage is formed as a cylindrical surface.

Abstract: A cage and roller assembly includes rollers to be brought into rolling contact with a raceway surface provided on the outer periphery of a shaft, and an annular cage that retains the rollers. Lubricating oil is supplied through an oil supply hole that is provided inside the shaft and is open at an axial center region of the raceway surface. The cage includes annular portions having guide surfaces that are brought into contact with an inner peripheral surface of an outer member that is brought into rolling contact with the rollers, and cage bars that couple the annular portions together and are arranged with intervals in a circumferential direction. Clearances formed between the cage bars and the rollers housed in the pockets are larger in axial center portions of the cage bars between axial ends of the cage bars than at the axial ends of the cage bars.

Abstract: In a tapered roller bearing, neighboring pillar parts constitute a first engagement allowance in which an inner diameter-side opening width of each of the pockets becomes smaller than a roller diameter at a position of the opening width in a direction of a rotation axis of each of the tapered rollers at at least a part of an inner diameter side of each of the pockets, and constitute a second engagement allowance in which an outer diameter-side opening width of each of the pockets becomes smaller than the roller diameter at a position of the opening width in the direction at at least a part of an outer diameter side of each of the pockets. Bumps are formed on an inner surface of the small diameter ring part in the pockets. Small diameter-side end faces of the tapered rollers facing the bumps are substantially flat surfaces.

Abstract: A rotary seal is used for a horizontal rotation axis or an inclined rotation axis, and has a slinger including a cylindrical portion and an outward flange portion, a core metal including a cylindrical portion and an inward flange portion, and a seal member including a base joined to the core metal and an axial lip brought into sliding contact with an axially inner surface of the outward flange portion. The rotary seal includes a lip wetting inhibitor located radially outward of the axial lip, in which a gap is provided between a tip end of the lip wetting inhibitor and the axially inner surface of the outward flange portion, and the tip end of the lip wetting inhibitor does not contact the axially inner surface even if the lip wetting inhibitor is applied with a water pressure and elastically deformed.

Abstract: In at least some implementations, a clip for restricting the axial movement of at least one of an inner shaft or an outer shaft relative to the other shaft includes a first free end, a second free end, an opening defining an open end of the clip between the first free end and the second free end, a closed end opposite the open end, at least three control zones, and a plurality of intermediate zones. Each intermediate zone has a varying width and each is disposed adjacent to at least one of the at least three control zones.

Abstract: A constant velocity universal joint includes a body which encloses the constant velocity joint components and provides a smooth outer surface. A semi-rigid plastic boot has a spherical surface sized to generally match the outer surface of the body. The material of the boot is sufficiently elastic to allow the boot to fit over the body, yet sufficiently resilient to snap the open end closed after the boot is placed over the body to provide a substantial seal preventing entry of debris under the seal. A retaining ring is positioned on the boot near the truncated end, the ring establishing the location of an elastic seal that contacts the outer surface of the body.