# US 5,342,128 A · Pivot bearing

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- Number: US 5,342,128 A
- Document ID: US5342128A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/028,417
- Filed: 1993-03-09
- Granted: 1994-08-30
- Earliest claimed: 1992-05-02
- Assignees: Firma Carl Freudenberg
- Inventors: Walter Gruber
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5342128A

## CPC

- B62D 7/16: Arrangement of linkage connections (pivots per se F16C)
- F16C 11/0633: {the linings being made of plastics}
- F16C 11/0671: {allowing operative relative movement of joint parts due to flexing of the sealing means}
- F16C 27/063: {Sliding contact bearings}
- F16C 2326/24: Steering systems, e.g. steering rods or columns
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS

## Abstract

An annular body (2) having a spherical outside surface is fixed coaxially on an annular rubber cushion (3) which in turn is fixed coaxially on a mounting rod (10). A guiding ring (4) is supported inside a case (1) and has a spherical inside surface which cooperates with the spherical outside surface of the annular body to permit rotational movement. The case has axial abutments (6,7) which limit rotational movement and serve as fixing points for bellows which protect the joint.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Pivot bearing comprising
a mounting rod having an axis,
an annular rubber cushion mounted coaxially about said mounting rod,
a annular body mounted on said annular rubber cushion and having a spherical outside surface,
a guiding ring having a spherical inside surface which cooperates with said spherical outside surface of said annular body to permit rotational movement, and an outside surface,
a case coaxially surrounding said guiding ring, said case comprising a first case portion and a second case portion, each portion comprising a tubular portion fit over the outside surface of the guiding ring, an abutment flange which limits rotational movement of the mounting rod in the guiding ring, and an intermediate portion extending radially inward form said tubular portion to said abutment flange, each said intermediate portion having a concave surface facing said rubber cushion, and
bellows means extending between said case and said mounting rod.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Pivot bearing as in claim 1 further comprising a friction reducing coating on at least one of said spherical inner surface and said spherical outer surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said guiding ring is made of glass fiber reinforced PTFE.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said rubber cushion has a substantially rectangular cross-section having a radial thickness perpendicular to said axis and an axial length parallel to said axis, said axial length being 2 to 5 times greater than said radial thickness.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said cushion is adhesively fixed to said annular body and to said mounting rod.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said flanges each include holding means for attached said bellows.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

Pivot bearing as in claim 6 wherein each said abutment flange is rolled to form said holding means for attaching said bellows.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said mounting rod has an expanded outside diameter where said annular rubber cushion is mounted coaxially, said rubber cushion being vulcanized on said expanded outside diameter.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said guiding ring and said spherical body each have an axial length, the axial length of the guiding ring being not longer than the axial length of the spherical body.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said outside surface of said guiding ring is cylindrical.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said case is axially divided between the tubular portions of the first and second case portions.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

Pivot bearing as in claim 11 wherein the first and second case portions are identical.