Retaining cap for a protective bellows
View Patent ↗A retaining cap includes a sleeve-shaped basic body which has at least one protective bellows retaining segment on which a protective bellows can be supported. A component which is movable with respect to the retaining cap can penetrate into the installation space of the retaining cap, the retaining cap having a plurality of deformation regions which are arranged in the circumferential direction. When in contact with the movable component, these regions make possible a free passage for the movable component.
1. A retaining cap for a protective bellows, said retaining cap comprising
a sleeve-shaped basic body having a central axis, an inner wall with a plurality of clamping ribs extending in an axial direction, which ribs can contact a component carrying the retaining cap, and an outer wall with a plurality of retaining segments which can support said bellows, said retaining segments being separated circumferentially by recesses comprising first recesses which are radially aligned with respective said clamping ribs, and
a plurality of deformation regions formed circumferentially on said basic body between said first recesses, which deformation regions, when contacted by a movable component, can deform radially inward to allow free passage of the movable component.
2. A retaining cap as in claim 1 wherein said recesses further comprise second recesses provided between said first recesses.
3. A retaining cap as in claim 1 wherein said deformation regions each comprise a predetermined breaking point which allows a portion of said cap to be severed when contacted by said movable component.
4. A retaining cap as in claim 3 wherein the deformation regions are formed at a transition between the basic body and the retaining segments.
5. A retaining cap as in claim 3 wherein said deformation regions are formed within the sleeve-shaped basic body.
6. A retaining cap as in claim 5 wherein each said portion of said cap which can be severed comprises a cutout of the basic body and at least part of one of said retaining segments.
7. A retaining cap as in claim 1 wherein said retaining cap further comprises an end cap which is spatially separated from said sleeve-shaped basic body.