# US 10,118,665 B2 · Pivot bearing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,665 B2 - Document ID: US10118665B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/003,430 - Filed: 2016-01-21 - Published: 2016-07-07 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-07-25 - Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Applicants: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft - Inventors: Josef Seidl - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118665B2 ## CPC - B62K 25/12: with rocking arm pivoted on each fork leg (in combination with telescopic fork B62K25/06) - B62K 25/24: for front wheel - F16C 11/06: Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints (universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts F16D3/16) - F16C 19/545: {Systems comprising at least one rolling bearing for radial load in combination with at least one rolling bearing for axial load} - F16C 19/386: {in O-arrangement} - F16C 19/50: Other types of ball or roller bearings - F16C 2326/26: Bicycle steering or suspension - B62K: CYCLES; CYCLE FRAMES; CYCLE STEERING DEVICES; RIDER-OPERATED TERMINAL CONTROLS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR CYCLES; CYCLE AXLE SUSPENSIONS; CYCLE SIDECARS, FORECARS, OR THE LIKE - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS ## Abstract A pivot bearing arrangement, in particular a pivot bearing for a front wheel suspension system of a motorcycle, is provided that substantially reduces bearing breakaway torque, temperature sensitivity, complexity, space requirements and cost. The pivot bearing arrangement includes a first bearing part which enables a component to pivot about a first pivot axis, and a second bearing part which enables a component to pivot about a second pivot axis. The two bearing parts are connected to each other and form a structural unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A pivot bearing for a front wheel suspension system of a motorcycle, comprising: a first bearing part configured to permit a first component supported thereon to pivot about a first pivot axis; and a second bearing part which permits a second component supported thereon to pivot about a second pivot axis, wherein the first and second pivot axes intersect, the second bearing part has an axial length centered on the first pivot axis, and the first and second bearing parts are coupled to form a structural unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pivot bearing as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first bearing part and the second bearing part include at least one rolling contact bearing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The pivot bearing as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one rolling contact bearing is a tapered roller bearing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The pivot bearing as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one rolling contact bearing includes at least two tapered roller bearings, a pair of the at least two tapered roller bearings is located on at least one of the first bearing part and the second bearing part, and the pair of the at least two tapered roller bearings is arranged in inclined relation to one another on a common one of the first or second pivot axes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The pivot bearing as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first bearing part includes a bearing housing in which a pin is rotatably mounted co-axially with the first pivot axis, the second bearing part includes an outer bearing shell in which a clamping bushing is rotatably mounted co-axially with the second pivot axis, and the outer bearing shell is formed at least one of coupled to and integral with the pin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The pivot bearing as claimed in claim 5, wherein a cylindrical portion of the pin facing away from the clamping bushing is hollow and includes a free edge flanged radially outward. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The pivot bearing as claimed in claim 5, wherein the clamping bushing is arranged in a portion of the pin that protrudes out of the bearing housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The pivot bearing as claimed in claim 6, wherein a cylindrical portion of the pin facing away from the clamping bushing is hollow and includes a free edge flanged radially outward. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The pivot bearing as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: a first bearing ring, the first bearing ring surrounding at portion of the cylindrical portion of the pin and being supported on the flanged free edge of the pin, wherein an outside diameter of the first bearing ring increases in a direction along the first pivot axis toward the flanged free edge. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The pivot bearing as claimed in claim 9, wherein first rolling contact bodies of the first bearing part are arranged between the bearing housing and the first bearing ring. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The pivot bearing as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pin includes an intermediate portion facing the clamping bushing, an outside diameter of the intermediate portion increases in a direction along the first pivot axis toward the clamping bushing, and further first rolling contact bodies of the first bearing part are arranged between the intermediate portion and the bearing housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The pivot bearing as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pin includes a cavity arranged to receive the clamping bushing co-axially along the second pivot axis, and second rolling contact bodies of the second bearing part are arranged between a wall of the cavity and the clamping bushing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The pivot bearing as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: at least one second bearing ring surrounding the clamping bushing, wherein the at least one second bearing ring is inclined relative to the second pivot axis, and the second rolling contact bodies rest on at least one ring surface of the cavity wall. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The pivot bearing as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one free edge of the clamping bushing is flanged radially outward, a respective one of the at least one second bearing ring is supported on each of the at least one flanged free edge of the clamping bushing, and an outside diameter of each of the at least one second bearing ring increased in a direction along the second pivot axis toward the respective flanged free edge of the clamping bushing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The pivot bearing as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: a spacer ring surrounding the clamping bushing, wherein the at least one second bearing ring includes two second bearing rings located at opposite ends of the clamping bushing, and the spacer ring is located axially between the two second bearing rings and is configured to axially prestress the second rolling contact bodies located between the two second bearing rings and respective adjacent portions of the wall of the cavity. ### Claim 16 A front wheel suspension system for a motorcycle, comprising: a wheel carrier; at least one of trailing and transverse links arranged to connect the wheel carrier to a supporting structure of the motorcycle; and at least one pivot bearing coupling the wheel carrier at least one of the at least one of trailing and transverse links, the at least one pivot bearing includes a first bearing part configured to permit a first component supported thereon to pivot about a first pivot axis and a second bearing part (38) which permits a second component supported thereon to pivot about a second pivot axis, the first and second pivot axes intersect, the second bearing part has an axial length centered on the first pivot axis, and the first and second bearing parts are coupled to form a structural unit. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The front wheel suspension system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the supporting structure of the motorcycle is at least one of a motorcycle frame and an engine housing. ### Claim 18 A front wheel suspension system for a motorcycle, comprising: a wheel carrier in a form of a telescopic fork; and at least one pivot bearing coupling the wheel carrier to a supporting structure of the motorcycle, wherein the at least one pivot bearing includes a first bearing part configured to permit a first component supported thereon to pivot about a first pivot axis and a second bearing part (38) which permits a second component supported thereon to pivot about a second pivot axis, the first and second pivot axes intersect, the second bearing part has an axial length centered on the first pivot axis, and the first and second bearing parts are coupled to form a structural unit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The front wheel suspension system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the supporting structure of the motorcycle is at least one of a motorcycle frame and an engine housing.