Maintenance-free swing arm swivel and bearing device
AssigneeReinke Manufacturing Co., Inc.
InventorsBrennan Joos Ziegelmeier, Mark Randall Virus
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A novel steering tube assembly is provided having a steering tube with a first end and a second end. An upper plate assembly is coupled to the first end of the steering tube and a drive gear plate is coupled to the second end of the steering tube. A bearing steering tube plate is coupled to the steering tube at a location between the first end and the second end. The bearing steering tube plate has a first surface and a second surface. A bearing support is coupled to the first surface of the bearing steering tube plate and includes a cylindrical portion and a flange portion. A bearing block is coupled to the bearing support and the bearing block comprises a low-friction, non-metallic material.
Claims20
A steering tube assembly comprising:
- a steering tube having a first end and a second end;
- an upper plate assembly coupled to the first end of the steering tube, the upper plate assembly having:
- a top plate having a first opening therein;
- and
- a bottom plate having a second opening therein;
- a drive gear plate coupled to the second end of the steering tube;
- a bearing steering tube plate coupled to the steering tube at a location between the first end and the second end of the steering tube, the bearing steering tube plate having a first surface and a second surface;
- a bearing support coupled to the first surface of the bearing steering tube plate, wherein the bearing support comprises a cylindrical portion and a flange portion having a diameter;
- and
- a bearing block coupled to the bearing support, wherein the bearing block comprises a low-friction, non-metallic material.
A bearing block assembly, comprising:
- a bearing steering tube plate having a first surface and an opposing second surface;
- a bearing support coupled to the first surface of the bearing steering tube plate, the bearing support comprising:
- a cylindrical portion having an outer diameter;
- and
- a flange portion coupled to the cylindrical portion of the bearing support, the flange portion having an internal diameter generally equal to the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion, an outer diameter larger than the internal diameter of the flange portion, and a thickness;
- a top plate having a first opening therein;
- a bottom plate having a second opening therein;
- and
- a bearing block having an internal diameter generally equal to the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion, wherein the bearing block is received on the cylindrical portion and comprises a low-friction, non-metallic material.
A swivel and bearing assembly, comprising:
- a steering tube having a first end and a second end;
- an upper plate assembly coupled to the first end of the steering tube, the upper plate assembly having:
- an outer housing having a sidewall having a top portion and a bottom portion;
- a top plate coupled with the top portion of the sidewall, the top plate having a first opening therein;
- and
- a bottom plate coupled with the bottom portion of the sidewall, the bottom plate having a second opening therein;
- a drive gear plate coupled to the second end of the steering tube;
- a bearing steering tube plate coupled to the steering tube at a location between the first end and the second end of the steering tube, the bearing steering tube plate having a first surface and a second surface;
- a bearing support coupled to the first surface of the bearing steering tube plate, wherein the bearing support comprises a cylindrical portion and a flange portion having a diameter;
- and
- a bearing block coupled to the bearing support, wherein the bearing block comprises a low-friction, non-metallic material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.