Socket joint bearing
AssigneeFederal-Mogul Motorparts LLC
InventorSeth Englebright
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bearing for a socket joint incorporates an internal grease groove pattern which may help to interlock an outer shell portion that is also used as a preload. The bearing includes a first grease groove extends along an inner shell surface and a second grease groove extends along the inner shell surface. At least one of the first grease groove or the second grease groove extend between one or more of the end side and the exit side of the inner shell surface, and the first grease groove and the second grease groove at least partially intersect at a groove junction. In one implementation, one or more grease grooves at least partially follow a geodesic path, and in another implementation, one or more grease grooves fluidly cooperate with a grease channel located in an overhanging retention lip of an outer shell portion.
Claims18
A bearing for a socket joint, comprising:
- an inner shell surface configured to at least partially contact a stud of the socket joint, the inner shell surface extending at least partially between an end side and an exit side;
- an outer shell portion located at least partially radially outward with respect to the inner shell surface;
- a first grease groove extending along the inner shell surface;
- a second grease groove extending along the inner shell surface, wherein at least one of the first grease groove or the second grease groove extend between one or more of the end side and the exit side of the inner shell surface, and wherein the first grease groove and the second grease groove at least partially intersect at a groove junction along the inner shell surface;
- and
- a third grease groove that at least partially intersects with the first grease groove and the second grease groove to form a plurality of groove junctions.
A bearing for a socket joint, comprising:
- an inner shell surface configured to at least partially contact a stud of the socket joint, the inner shell surface extending at least partially between an end side and an exit side;
- an outer shell portion located at least partially radially outward with respect to the inner shell surface;
- a first grease groove extending along the inner shell surface;
- and
- a second grease groove extending along the inner shell surface, wherein at least one of the first grease groove or the second grease groove extend between one or more of the end side and the exit side of the inner shell surface, and wherein the first grease groove and the second grease groove at least partially intersect at a groove junction along the inner shell surface, wherein an outer profile of the outer shell portion is configured to at least partially conform to an internal bore of a housing, the outer profile having an axially extending surface and a radially extending surface, and wherein a first grease channel is located at the axially extending surface, and a second grease channel is located at the radially extending surface.
A bearing for a socket joint, comprising:
- an inner shell surface configured to at least partially contact a stud of the socket joint, the inner shell surface extending at least partially between an end side and an exit side;
- an outer shell portion located at least partially radially outward with respect to the inner shell surface;
- a first grease groove extending along the inner shell surface;
- and
- a second grease groove extending along the inner shell surface, wherein at least one of the first grease groove or the second grease groove extend between one or more of the end side and the exit side of the inner shell surface, and wherein the first grease groove and the second grease groove at least partially intersect at a groove junction along the inner shell surface, wherein the outer shell portion has an overhanging retention lip configured to engage an edge extending from the inner shell surface, and wherein the overhanging retention lip has a bearing surface that at least partially conforms to a curvature of the inner shell surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.