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US 12,631,219 B2Granted
Couplers and mechanical joint assemblies including same
AssigneeModec America, Inc.
InventorsStephen P. Lindblade, Jamie Clay Gamble, Quoc Anh Dang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A coupler configured to provide an articulated connection about two axes of rotation between a first member and a second member. The coupler can include a first end that defines a first bore therethrough and a second bore at least partially therethrough and a second end that defines a third bore therethrough. The first bore and the second bore can partially intersect one another.
Claims24
A coupler configured to provide an articulated connection about two axes of rotation between a first member and a second member, comprising:
- a first end that defines a first bore therethrough and a second bore at least partially therethrough, wherein the first bore and the second bore partially intersect one another, and wherein a central axis through the first bore and a central axis through the second bore are substantially orthogonal to one another;
- and
- a second end that defines a third bore therethrough.
A dual axis joint, comprising:
- a coupler comprising a lug disposed at a first end thereof and a pair of arms disposed at a second end thereof, wherein the lug defines a first bore therethrough and a second bore at least partially therethrough, wherein the first bore and the second bore defined by the lug partially intersect one another, and wherein the pair of arms define a pair of axially aligned bores therethrough;
- a first pin disposed within the first bore, wherein the first pin comprises an engagement surface formed on a portion of an external surface of the first pin between a first end and a second end thereof;
- a first wedge disposed within the second bore, wherein the first wedge comprises an engagement surface formed on a portion of an external surface of the first wedge between a first end and a second end thereof, and wherein the engagement surface of the first wedge contacts the engagement surface of the first pin thereby restricting relative movement between the first pin and the coupler;
- an arm defining a first bore therethrough and a second bore at least partially therethrough, wherein the first bore and the second bore defined by the arm partially intersect one another, and wherein the first bore defined by the arm and the second bore defined by the arm are disposed toward a first end of the arm;
- a second pin disposed within the pair of axially aligned bores defined by the pair of arms of the coupler and the first bore defined by the arm, wherein the second pin comprises an engagement surface formed on a portion of an external surface of the second pin between a first end and a second end thereof;
- and
- a second wedge disposed within the second bore defined by the arm, wherein the second wedge comprises an engagement surface formed on a portion of an external surface of the second wedge between a first end and a second end thereof, and wherein the engagement surface of the second wedge contacts the engagement surface of the second pin thereby restricting relative movement between the second pin and the arm.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.