Link with swivel ball bushing rotatable in opposing directions

An end link for use with heavy equipment, comprising:

• a body having first and second openings, the body having a longitudinal axis and defining a main body plane that includes the longitudinal axis, the first opening having a slot located on a side thereof proximate the second opening and a truncated substantially spherical inner surface,
• a lateral axis extending laterally through the body in the main body plane and intersecting the longitudinal axis at an intersection within the first opening, and a perpendicular axis extending from the intersection perpendicular to the longitudinal and lateral axes;
• and
• a swivel ball bushing seated within the first opening, the swivel ball bushing having a truncated substantially spherical outer surface in nesting engagement with the inner surface of the body and a projection at one end seated in the slot, wherein engagement between the projection and slot prevents the swivel ball bushing from rotating relative to the body about the perpendicular axis,
• wherein the projection has a modified cylinder shape with an opposing pair of curved surfaces defining a diameter of the cylinder shape separated by an opposing pair of reduced diameter dimension planar surfaces having a reduced dimension less than the diameter, wherein the slot and the projection seated in the slot are symmetrical relative to the main body plane and a perpendicular plane perpendicular to the main body plane that includes the perpendicular axis,
• wherein the engagement between the projection and the slot permits allows the swivel ball to be rotatable relative to the longitudinal axis in opposing directions and relative to the lateral axis in opposing directions, and
• wherein a range of rotation in each of the opposing directions includes a position of the swivel ball bushing rotated out of alignment with the body.

A swivel ball bushing arrangement for use with rigging components for heavy equipment, comprising:

• a race having an opening, a slot in the opening, an inner mating surface and an outer surface configured for coupling within an opening of rigging component;
• the race having a longitudinal axis and defining a main body plane that includes the longitudinal axis, a lateral axis extending laterally through the race in the main body plane and intersecting the longitudinal axis at an intersection within the opening, and a perpendicular axis extending from the intersection perpendicular to the longitudinal and lateral axes;
• a swivel ball bushing seated within the opening of the race, the swivel ball bushing having a truncated substantially spherical outer surface in nesting engagement with the inner surface of the race and a projection at one end seated in the slot, wherein the engagement between the projection and slot prevents the swivel ball bushing from rotating relative to the race about the perpendicular axis,
• wherein the slot and the projection seated in the slot are symmetrical relative to the main body plane and a perpendicular plane perpendicular to the main body plane that includes the perpendicular axis,
• wherein the projection and slot are shaped to prevent rotation of the swivel ball bushing relative to the body about the longitudinal axis and to allow rotation of the swivel ball bushing relative to the race about at least the lateral axis in two opposing directions, and wherein a range of rotation in each of the opposing directions includes a position of the swivel ball bushing rotated out of alignment with the race.