Protective covering for a mechanical linkage

Abstract

A covering for a mechanical linkage comprises a material which is substantially impermeable to both liquid and particle contaminants and conforms to the outer surface of the mechanical linkage. Because the covering conforms to the surface of the mechanical linkage, the covering does not have loose portions that billow and rub together as the mechanical linkage operates. This lessens the possibility of pieces of the covering and contaminating material detaching and falling from the mechanical linkage. The covering also comprises access openings whereby the mechanical linkage can be serviced without removing the entire covering. In a preferred embodiment, the covering comprises a plurality of sections, each section having fasteners for securing the sections about the mechanical linkage. The separate sections can be individually removed and replaced in a relatively short period of time. In a more preferred embodiment, the covers comprise a non-woven polymeric fabric which is a barrier to industrial coatings and finishes such as paint. The non-woven fabric comprises a central layer of melt-blown polymer fibers placed between and bonded to two layers of spunbonded polymeric fibers. The outer layer of spunbonded polymeric fibers is preferably calendered to prevent linting and bonded to resist abrasion. The outer layer of the cover comprises a fluorocarbon as a barrier to industrial coatings and finishes and an inorganic salt to prevent static electricity buildup on the outer layer. In addition, the polymeric fibers of the outer layer preferably have a non-white color which is distinctive from the color of the polymeric fibers of the inner layer so that the outer layer is distinguishable from the inner layer and any fibers from the outer layer that might detach from the covering during operation of the mechanical linkage are identifiable. The covers are particularly suited for protecting spraypainting robots from incident paint or varnish spray.