Socket joint
AssigneeFederal-Mogul Motorparts LLC
InventorTrevor Seibert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A socket joint having a stud, a bearing, and a housing. The housing extends from an end portion to an exit portion having an exit surface. The housing has an internal bore with a housing internal bore diameter. The bearing and the housed stud portion are located at least partially in the internal bore, and the housing internal bore diameter is consistent or at least partially expanding between the exit surface of the bearing and the exit surface of the housing so as to have a radially unobstructed stud swing area at the exit portion of the housing. The bearing may be mechanically interlocked with the internal bore of the housing. The compact structure can help with achieving a desired preload while maximizing stud swing.
Claims18
A socket joint, comprising:
- a stud having a housed stud portion and an attachment stud portion;
- a bearing at least partially surrounding the stud at the housed stud portion, the bearing having an end surface and an exit surface, the exit surface being opposite from the end surface;
- and
- a housing at least partially surrounding the bearing, the housing extending from an end portion to an exit portion having an exit surface, the end portion having an end portion diameter, the housing having an internal bore with a housing internal bore diameter, the housing internal bore diameter being greater than the end portion diameter, the bearing and the housed stud portion being located at least partially in the internal bore, wherein the housing internal bore diameter is consistent or at least partially expanding between the exit surface of the bearing and the exit surface of the housing so as to have a radially unobstructed stud swing area at the exit portion of the housing, wherein a preload step delineates the end portion and the exit portion, and wherein the preload step is a radially extending stop for the end surface of the bearing.
A socket joint, comprising:
- a stud having a housed stud portion and an attachment stud portion;
- a bearing at least partially surrounding the stud at the housed stud portion;
- and
- a housing at least partially surrounding the bearing, the housing extending from an end portion to an exit portion, the end portion having an end portion diameter, the housing having an internal bore with a housing internal bore diameter, the housing internal bore diameter being greater than the end portion diameter, the exit portion having a radially unobstructed stud swing area, the housing having an internal bore with the bearing and the housed stud portion being located at least partially in the internal bore, wherein at least a portion of the bearing has a mechanical interlock to the internal bore of the housing, wherein a preload step delineates the end portion and the exit portion, and wherein the bearing makes surface contact with a radial extent of the preload step.
A socket joint, comprising:
- a stud having a housed stud portion and an attachment stud portion;
- a bearing at least partially surrounding the stud at the housed stud portion;
- and
- a housing having an internal bore at least partially surrounding the bearing and the housed stud portion of the stud, wherein the internal bore of the housing is configured to provide a stud swing maximum between 20-30°, and wherein at least a portion of the bearing has a mechanical interlock to the internal bore of the housing, wherein the internal bore has a housing internal bore diameter that is consistent or at least partially expanding between the exit surface of the bearing and the exit surface of the housing so as to have a radially unobstructed stud swing area at an exit portion of the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.