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US 2009/0050342 A1Published application
Grease actuated ball and socket joint
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorSteven J. Ditzler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A socket assembly including a housing having a bore; an insert member disposed in the bore, the insert member defining a socket; and a cap attached to the housing proximate an inlet of the bore and having an opening to receive a connecting member that extends into the socket.
Claims25
A vehicle including:
- a chassis;
- at least one ground engaging mechanism configured to propel the chassis over the ground;
- an engine operatively coupled to the at least one ground engaging mechanism to power propulsion of the chassis;
- a ground engaging tool configured to move relative to the chassis;
- and
- a socket assembly that couples the ground engaging tool to the chassis, the socket assembly including:
- a ball;
- a housing having a bore with an inlet;
- and
- an insert member disposed within the bore and defining a socket that receives the ball to couple the ground engaging tool to the chassis, the insert member configured to move axially within the bore.
7 more elements
A vehicle including:
- a chassis;
- at least one ground engaging mechanism configured to propel the chassis over the ground;
- an engine operatively coupled to the at least one ground engaging mechanism to power propulsion of the chassis;
- a ground engaging tool configured to move relative to the chassis;
- and
- a socket assembly that couples the ground engaging tool to the chassis, the socket assembly including:
- a ball;
- a cylinder having a bore with an inlet;
- and
- a piston disposed within the cylinder and defining a socket that receives the ball to couple the ground engaging tool to the chassis, the piston and the cylinder together defining a reservoir within the bore, the piston being configured to move axially within the bore when a fluid is introduced into the reservoir.
7 more elements
A method of adjusting a socket assembly of a vehicle, the method including the steps of:
- providing a vehicle that includes:
- a chassis;
- at least one ground engaging mechanism configured to propel the chassis over the ground;
- an engine operatively coupled to the at least one ground engaging mechanism to power propulsion of the chassis;
- a ground engaging tool configured to move relative to the chassis;
- and
- a socket assembly that couples the ground engaging tool to the chassis, the socket assembly including:
- a ball;
- a cylinder having a bore with an inlet;
- and
- a piston disposed within the cylinder and defining a socket that receives the ball to couple the ground engaging tool to the chassis, the piston and the cylinder together defining a reservoir within the bore;
- and
- introducing a fluid into the reservoir of the socket assembly to urge the piston axially within the bore against the ball, the ball moving in the socket when the piston is urged against the ball.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.