Secure Universal-Joint
AssigneeAshot Ashkelon Industries Ltd.
InventorJulian Cohen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for securing a first joint member to a second joint member in a universal-joint comprising at least one pin for insertion along a Y axis, at least one pin for insertion along an X axis, a coupler between the joint members configured to receive these pins, and a security pin configured to traverse the coupler along a Z axis when each of these pins are within the coupler, such that the security pin penetrates at least a partial hole in each of these pins. The at least one pin for insertion along the Y axis may be a main pin having two recesses. The at least one pin for insertion along the X axis may be two bracket pins each having a bracket extension. Grease may be injected into a center of a joint member through a fitting. Retaining rings may shrink the boot to a pre-defined limit.
Claims28
An apparatus for securing a first joint member to a second joint member in a universal-joint, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one pin for insertion along a Y axis;
- at least one pin for insertion along an X axis;
- a coupler between the first and second joint members, the coupler configured to receive the at least one pin for insertion along a Y axis and the at least one pin for insertion along an X axis;
- and
- a security pin configured to traverse the coupler along a Z axis at a time when (i) each of the at least one pin for insertion along a Y axis and (ii) each of the at least one pin for insertion along an X axis, is within the coupler, such that the security pin penetrates at least a partial hole in (i) each of the at least one pin for insertion along a Y axis and in (ii) each of the at least one pin for insertion along an X axis.
An apparatus for securing a main pin to a coupler coupling two joint members, the main pin having a first recess and a second recess, the coupler having a central aperture, the apparatus comprising:
- a first bracket pin having a first bracket extension and configured to be inserted into the coupler along an X axis such that the first bracket extension mates with the first recess when the main pin is inserted in the coupler along a Y axis perpendicular to the X axis;
- a second bracket pin having a second bracket extension and configured to be inserted into the coupler along the X axis such that the second bracket extension mates with the second recess when the main pin is inserted in the coupler along the Y axis.
A method of securing a booted universal joint, the method comprising:
- inserting at least one pin through a coupler along a Y axis;
- inserting at least one pin through the coupler along an X axis;
- and
- inserting a security pin configured to traverse the coupler along a Z axis at a time when (i) each of the at least one pin for insertion along a Y axis and (ii) each of the at least one pin for insertion along an X axis, is within the coupler, such that the security pin penetrates at least a partial hole in (i) each of the at least one pin for insertion along a Y axis and in (ii) each of the at least one pin for insertion along an X axis.
A booted universal-joint, comprising:
- a first joint member and a second joint member, at least one of the first joint member and second joint member having a grease fitting for injecting grease into a center of the joint member;
- at least one pin for insertion along a Y axis;
- at least one pin for insertion along an X axis;
- and
- a coupler between the first and second joint members, the coupler configured to receive the at least one pin for insertion along a Y axis and the at least one pin for insertion along the X axis.
A booted universal-joint, comprising:
- a first joint member and a second joint member;
- a coupler between the first and second joint members;
- a boot covering the coupler and at least opposite ends of the first and second joint member, the boot having a convoluted outer surface including at least one wider section and at least two narrower sections;
- at least one pin for insertion along a Y axis;
- at least one pin for insertion along an X axis, the coupler configured to receive the at least one pin for insertion along a Y axis and the at least one pin for insertion along the X axis;
- and
- a springy retaining ring fitted on each of the at least two narrower sections, the retaining rings configured, when in place, to shrink the boot to a pre-defined limit without damaging the boot, and to not shrink the boot further beyond the pre-defined limit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.