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US 10,415,632 B2Granted
Bearing for vehicle suspension
AssigneeZhejiang CFMOTO Power Co., Ltd.
InventorXiayang Hu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bearing device includes two co-axially arranged radial spherical bearings and can be used for mounting a pivoting swing arm of a vehicle suspension to a vehicle frame. By using the two radial spherical bearings together the pivot attachment only has a single degree of freedom. The radial spherical bearings are positioned against shoulders in a sleeve of the swing arm and around a spacer sleeve. One or more lubricant grooves are formed at the sliding interface of the bearings. A bushing with a lip holds a lubricant seal for each bearing, and a dust cover protects each lubricant seal. A pivot pin rod is inserted through openings in the vehicle frame and through the two bearings and other components, and is tightened in place such as with a nut.
Claims18
A bearing device for mounting a pivoting swing arm of a vehicle suspension to a vehicle frame, the bearing device comprising:
- a first radial spherical bearing and a second radial spherical bearing, each of the first and second radial spherical bearings having a ball swivel portion mating with a socket portion, the outer surface of the ball swivel portion defining a portion of a sphere having a sphere center, with the sphere centers of the first and second radial spherical bearings defining a pivot axis;
- a portion of a vehicle frame rigidly secured to the ball swivel portion of each of the first and second radial spherical bearings;
- and
- a swing arm rigidly secured to the socket portion of each of the first and second radial spherical bearings;
- such that the swing arm can pivot about the pivot axis with a single degree of freedom,
- wherein the swing arm comprises a swing arm sleeve with ends, each end having a shoulder defined on an inside diameter of the swing arm sleeve, with the socket portions of the first and second radial spherical bearings press fitted into the ends of the swing arm sleeve in abutment with one of the shoulders, such that shoulders define spacing longitudinally separating the first radial spherical bearing from the second radial spherical bearing.
3 more elements
A bearing device for mounting a pivoting swing arm of a vehicle suspension to a vehicle frame, the bearing device comprising:
- a first radial spherical bearing and a second radial spherical bearing, each of the first and second radial spherical bearings having a ball swivel portion mating with a socket portion, the outer surface of the ball swivel portion defining a portion of a sphere having a sphere center, with the sphere centers of the first and second radial spherical bearings defining a pivot axis;
- a portion of a vehicle frame rigidly secured to one of the ball swivel portion and the socket portion of each of the first and second radial spherical bearings;
- and
- a swing arm rigidly secured to the other of the ball swivel portion and the socket portion of each of the first and second radial spherical bearings;
- such that the swing arm can pivot about the pivot axis with a single degree of freedom, and further comprising:
- a sleeve containing the first and second radial spherical bearings, the sleeve having first and second ends;
- a first annular lubricant seal for the first radial spherical bearing on the first end of the sleeve, the first lubricant seal being fixed relative to the sleeve;
- a first L-shaped annular bushing opposing the first lubricant seal, the L-shape of the first bushing retaining the first lubricant seal, the first bushing moving relative to the sleeve during pivoting of the swing arm about the pivot axis;
- a second annular lubricant seal for the second radial spherical bearing on the second end of the sleeve, the second lubricant seal being fixed relative to the sleeve;
- and
- a second L-shaped annular bushing opposing the second lubricant seal, the L-shape of the second bushing retaining the second lubricant seal, the second bushing moving relative to the sleeve during pivoting of the swing arm about the pivot axis.
8 more elements
A method of assembling a vehicle suspension, comprising:
- attaching a first bearing on a first end of a sleeve, wherein the first end of the sleeve comprises a first shoulder on its inner diameter, with the first bearing being pressed into the first end of the sleeve into abutment with the first shoulder;
- attaching a second bearing on a second end of a sleeve, wherein the second end of the sleeve comprises a second shoulder on its inner diameter, the second shoulder being longitudinally spaced in the sleeve from the first shoulder, with the second bearing being pressed into the second end of the sleeve into abutment with the second shoulder, such that the first bearing and the second bearing are coaxially arranged to define a pivot axis;
- positioning the sleeve between a first and a second mounting plate, the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate being fixed relative to each other, each mounting plate having an pivot pin opening defined therein;
- inserting a pivot pin rod through the pivot pin opening of the first mounting plate, through the first bearing, through the sleeve, through the second bearing and through the pivot pin opening of the second mounting plate;
- and
- securing the pivot pin rod such that it is fixed relative to the first and second mounting plates;
- such that the sleeve can pivot relative to the first and second mounting plates about the pivot axis with a single degree of freedom.
4 more elements
A method of assembling a vehicle suspension, comprising:
- attaching a first bearing on a first end of a sleeve;
- attaching a second bearing on a second end of a sleeve, such that the first bearing and the second bearing are coaxially arranged to define a pivot axis;
- positioning the sleeve between a first and a second mounting plate, the first mounting plate and the second mounting plate being fixed relative to each other, each mounting plate having an pivot pin opening defined therein;
- inserting a pivot pin rod through the pivot pin opening of the first mounting plate, through the first bearing, through the sleeve, through the second bearing and through the pivot pin opening of the second mounting plate;
- and
- securing the pivot pin rod such that it is fixed relative to the first and second mounting plates;
- such that the sleeve can pivot relative to the first and second mounting plates about the pivot axis with a single degree of freedom,
- wherein the sleeve is rigidly attached to a swing arm of a rear wheel suspension, and wherein the first and second mounting plates are rigidly secured to the frame of the vehicle.
5 more elements
A rear swing arm pivot assembly for a rear wheel vehicle suspension, comprising:
- a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate rigidly disposed relative to each other, the first mounting plate having a first pivot pin opening, the second mounting plate having a second pivot pin opening;
- a sleeve positioned between the first and second mounting plates, the sleeve having a first end and an opposing second end, one of the sleeve or the mounting plates rigidly secured to a rear swing arm of a rear wheel suspension, the other of the sleeve or the mounting plates rigidly secured to the frame of a vehicle;
- a first bearing on the first end of the sleeve;
- a second bearing on the second end of the sleeve, such that the first bearing and the second bearing are coaxially disposed so as to define a pivot axis;
- and
- a pivot pin rod extending through the pivot pin opening of the first mounting plate, through the first bearing, through the sleeve, through the second bearing and through the pivot pin opening of the second mounting plate
- such that the rear swing arm can pivot relative to the frame of the vehicle about the pivot axis with a single degree of freedom.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.