Pressure regulator assembly for use with a slip joint in a driveshaft assembly

Abstract

A slip joint includes a structure that prevents a negative pressure situation from occurring within a sealed lubricant chamber during operation thereof. The slip joint includes a male splined member having a plurality of external splines formed thereon that cooperate with a plurality of internal splines formed on a female splined member. The cooperating splines are disposed within a lubricant chamber defined at one end by a seal assembly and at the other end by a pressure regulator assembly that maintains a positive pressure situation within the lubricant chamber during operation thereof (i.e., a situation where the fluid pressure within the lubricant chamber is greater than or equal to than the fluid pressure outside of the lubricant chamber). To accomplish this, the pressure regulator assembly includes a housing having an open end that faces toward the lubricant chamber. A spring urges the pressure compensator assembly toward the lubricant chamber. As a result, the pressure compensator assembly compresses the lubricant disposed within the sealed lubricant chamber and, accordingly, functions to maintain a positive pressure situation within the lubricant chamber. This positive pressure situation deters contaminants from passing through the seal assembly into the region of the cooperating splines.