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US 4,155,670 AGranted
Ball and socket swivel with conduit therethrough and torque transfer capability
AssigneeChicago Bridge & Iron Company
InventorDonald C. Stafford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ball joined to a first element, a hole through the ball and first element, a socket, having a spheroidal internal surface, joined to a second element, a hole through the socket and second element, said socket containing the ball in mating and nesting arrangement with the hole in the ball communicating with the hole in the socket, one of the ball and the socket containing at least one cam slot extending along a line of longitude, a cam follower having an axle joined to one of the ball and the socket at the equator and extending into the slot in the other one, and said ball and socket being rotatable relative to each other around only two of three orthogonal axes intersecting at a point in the radial center of the ball.
Claims10
In combination:
- a ball joined to a first element,
- a hole through the ball and first element,
- a socket, having a spheroidal internal surface, joined to a second element,
- a hole through the socket and second element,
- said socket containing the ball in mating and nesting arrangement with the hole in the ball communicating with the hole in the socket,
- one of the ball and the socket containing at least one cam slot extending along a line of longitude,
- a cam follower having an axle joined to one of the ball and the socket at the equator and extending into the slot in the other one,
- said ball and socket being rotatable relative to each other around only two of three orthogonal axes intersecting at a point in the radial center of the ball,
- the ball and socket being centrally and radially positioned in a second ball and socket joint, said second ball and socket joint comprising:
- a ball joined to a first element,
- a hole through the ball and first element,
- a socket, having a spheroidal internal surface, joined to a second element,
- a hole through the socket and second element, said socket containing the ball in mating and nesting arrangement with the hole in the ball communicating with the hole in the socket, and
- said ball and socket being rotatable relative to each other around three orthogonal axes intersecting at a point in the radial center of the ball.
11 more elements
In combination:
- a ball slidably joined axially to a first element by a splined connection,
- a hole through the ball and first element,
- a socket, having a spheroidal internal surface, joined to a second element,
- a hole through the socket and second element,
- said socket containing the ball in mating and nesting arrangement with the hole in the ball communicating with the hole in the socket,
- one of the ball and the socket containing at least one cam slot extending along a line of longitude,
- a cam follower having an axle joined to one of the ball and the socket at the equator and extending into the slot in the other one,
- said ball and socket being rotatable relative to each other around only two of three orthogonal axes intersecting at a point in the radial center of the ball,
- the ball and socket being centrally and radially positioned in a second ball and socket joint, said second ball and socket joint comprising:
- a ball joined to a first element,
- a hole through the ball and first element,
- a socket, having a spheroidal internal surface, joined to a second element,
- a hole through the socket and second element,
- said socket containing the ball in mating and nesting arrangement with the hole in the ball communicating with the hole in the socket, and
- said ball and socket being rotatable relative to each other around three orthogonal axes intersecting at a point in the radial center of the ball.
12 more elements
In combination:
- a ball joined to a first element,
- a hole through the ball and first element,
- a socket, having a spheroidal internal surface, joined to a second element,
- a hole through the socket and second element,
- said socket containing the ball in mating and nesting arrangement with the hole in the ball communicating with the hole in the socket,
- one of the ball and the socket containing at least one cam slot extending along a line of longitude,
- a cam follower having an axle joined to one of the ball and the socket at the equator and extending into the slot in the other one, and
- said ball and socket being rotatable relative to each other around only two of three orthogonal axes intersecting at a point in the radial center of the ball,
- the ball and socket being centrally and radially positioned in a second ball and socket joint, said second ball and socket joint comprising:
- a ball joined to a first element,
- a hole through the ball and first element,
- a socket, having a spheroidal internal surface, joined to a second element,
- a hole through the socket and second element,
- said socket containing the ball in mating and nesting arrangement with the hole in the ball communicating with the hole in the socket, and
- said ball and socket being rotatable relative to each other around three orthogonal axes intersecting at a point in the radial center of the ball,
- one of the first and second elements of the second ball and socket joint being a base adapted to rest on a sea floor, and the other of the first and second elements being an elongated buoyant tower intended to extend above sea level at an offshore location.
13 more elements
In combination:
- a ball slidably joined axially to a first element by a splined connection,
- a hole through the ball and first element,
- a socket, having a spheroidal internal surface, joined to a second element,
- a hole through the socket and second element,
- said socket containing the ball in mating and nesting arrangement with the hole in the ball communicating with the hole in the socket,
- one of the ball and the socket containing at least one cam slot extending along a line of longitude,
- a cam follower having an axle joined to one of the ball and the socket at the equator and extending into the slot in the other one,
- said ball and socket being rotatable relative to each other around only two of three orthogonal axes intersecting at a point in the radial center of the ball,
- the ball and socket being centrally and radially positioned in a second ball and socket joint, said second ball and socket joint comprising:
- a ball joined to a first element,
- a hole through the ball and first element,
- a socket, having a spheroidal internal surface, joined to a second element,
- a hole through the socket and second element,
- said socket containing the ball in mating and nesting arrangement with the hole in the ball communicating with the hole in the socket, and
- said ball and socket being rotatable relative to each other around three orthogonal axes intersecting at a point in the radial center of the ball,
- one of the first and second elements of the second ball and socket joint being a base adapted to rest on a sea floor, and the other of the first and second elements being an elongated buoyant tower intended to extend above sea level at an offshore location.
13 more elements
In combination:
- a ball joined to a first element,
- a hole through the ball and first element,
- a socket, having a spheroidal internal surface, joined to a second element,
- a hole through the socket and second element,
- said socket containing the ball in mating and nesting arrangement with the hole in the ball communicating with the hole in the socket,
- one of the ball and the socket containing at least one cam slot extending along a line of longitude,
- a cam follower having an axle joined to one of the ball and the socket at the equator and extending into the slot in the other one,
- the axle having a roller thereon with a crown surface having a diameter slightly smaller than the slot width, but contacting the slot walls during movement of the roller in the slot, and
- said ball and socket being rotatable relative to each other around only two of three orthogonal axes intersecting at a point in the radial center of the ball.
6 more elements
In combination:
- a ball slidably joined axially to a first element by a splined connection,
- a hole through the ball and first element,
- a socket, having a spheroidal internal surface, joined to a second element,
- a hole through the socket and second element,
- said socket containing the ball in mating and nesting arrangement with the hole in the ball communicating with the hole in the socket,
- one of the ball and the socket containing at least one cam slot extending along a line of longitude,
- a cam follower having an axle joined to one of the ball and the socket at the equator and extending into the slot in the other one, and
- said ball and socket being rotatable relative to each other around only two of three orthogonal axes intersecting at a point in the radial center of the ball.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.