Steering bellows
A steering bellows ( 1 ) has a sleeve ( 2 ) delimited by a peripheral lateral wall ( 3 ). The sleeve ( 2 ) has, in succession in the axial direction, at least one first annular end, referred to as the large base ( 4 ), a part ( 5 ) which can be deformed in the direction of an elongation or shortening of said bellows ( 1 ) and which is formed of a succession of coaxial turns, and a second annular end referred to as the small base ( 6 ). The sleeve ( 2 ) has a zone ( 7 ) of transition between the deformable part ( 5 ) and the large base ( 4 ) and having, in the transition zone ( 7 ), a radial outlet ( 8 ) provided in the peripheral lateral wall ( 3 ) of the sleeve ( 2 ). The radial outlet ( 8 ) is closed by a tubular endpiece ( 9 ) that is mounted on the radial outlet ( 8 ) and that has a first end ( 10 ) connected to the radial outlet ( 8 ) and an opposite closed end ( 11 ). This endpiece ( 9 ) extends outside the sleeve ( 2 ), this endpiece ( 9 ) internally delimiting a cavity ( 10 ) housing at least one fluid-tightness sensor ( 13 ) of the bellows.
1 . A steering bellows comprising:
a sleeve delimited by a peripheral lateral wall, said sleeve comprising, in succession in the axial direction, at least one first annular end, called large base, a part that is deformable in the direction of an elongation or of a shortening of said bellows formed by a succession of coaxial turns and a second annular end, called small base, said sleeve comprising a transition zone between the deformable part and the large base, and having, in the transition zone, a radial output formed in the peripheral lateral wall of the sleeve,
wherein the radial output is closed by a tubular end connector added onto said radial output and having a first end connected to the radial output and a closed opposite end, this end connector extending outside of the sleeve, this end connector internally delimiting a cavity housing at least one sensor of fluid-tightness of said bellows.
2 . The steering bellows as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the end connector is provided with a peripheral flange positioned pressed onto a perimeter of the radial output when the end connector is in the state coupled to the sleeve.
3 . The steering bellows as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor of fluid-tightness of said bellows is an electrical sensor equipped with at least one electrical wire and in that the or at least one of the electrical wires protrudes from the end connector through the closed end of the end connector.
4 . The steering bellows as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the end connector comprises a tubular body that is open at each of its ends and a cover for closure of one end of the body to form the closed end of the end connector.
5 . The steering bellows as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the cover is at least snap-fitted or screwed or glued or welded onto the body and in that the or at least one of the sensors is secured to the cover.
6 . The steering bellows as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the end connector is a one-piece monolithic part.
7 . The steering bellows as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the or at least one of the sensors of fluid-tightness of said bellows is a gas concentration measurement sensor.
8 . The steering bellows as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the or at least one of the sensors of fluid-tightness of said bellows is a liquid detection sensor.
9 . The steering bellows as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the or at least one of the sensors of fluid-tightness of said bellows is a pressure sensor or a flow rate sensor.
10 . The steering bellows as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the end connector is fixed by overmolding to the radial output.
11 . The steering bellows as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the peripheral lateral wall of the sleeve is provided, on the inner face side turned toward the interior of the sleeve, with an internal circumferential groove emerging in the radial output of the sleeve.
12 . The steering bellows as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the internal circumferential groove extends over a part of an inner perimeter of the sleeve.