Pivot joint assembly
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsRonald F. Krzywanos, Timothy A. Schaper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A maintenance free pivot joint is disclosed that mounts a first member to a second member for relative rotation therebetween. The first member is positioned between a pair of brackets defined by the second member and both members define a plurality of bores aligned along a common axis (X). A pin assembly is positioned within the aligned bores and is secured on one end to one of the brackets and permits a small amount of axial and rotational movement of the pin assembly to allow the pin assembly to seek its own center upon connection of the two members to reduce wear and ease assembly.
Claims16
A pivot joint, comprising:
- a first member having a first end portion having a bore defined therethrough;
- a second member having a pair of laterally spaced first and second brackets extending therefrom, each of said brackets defining a bore that extends therethrough, said bores being aligned about a common axis, said brackets being positionable on opposing sides of the first member with the bore of the first member also positioned about the common axis;
- a bushing fixedly secured within the bore of the first member;
- a pin member having a first and second end portions and being slidably received within the bushing;
- a first collar slidably positioned between both the bore defined in one of the brackets and the pin member;
- a second collar slidably received in the bore defined by the other of the brackets and fixedly secured to the pin member;
- a plate secured to the first end portion of the pin member, said plate being adapted for sealing engagement with the pin member and the first collar;
- a first seal means positioned between the first collar and the bushing;
- a second seal means positioned between the second collar and the bushing;
- and
- means for securing the pin member and the first and second collars within the aligned bores of the first and second members, said securing means being connected between one of the brackets and the second end portion of the pin member and being adapted to maintain an axial and rotational orientation of the pin member with respect to the aligned bores.
A pivot joint between a first member having a bushing secured therein and a second member having first and second brackets positioned on opposite sides of the first member, each bracket defining a bore that is aligned with the bushing of the first member along a common axis, comprising:
- a pin assembly positionable within the aligned bores having a pin member slidably positioned within a bore defined by the bushing, a first collar positioned about a first end portion of the pin member and being slidably positionable within the bore of the first bracket and slidably positioned about the pin member, a second collar fixedly positioned on a second end portion of the pin member and slidably positionable within the bore of the second bracket, said first and second collars being sealably engaged with opposing end faces defined by the bushing, and a reservoir for communicating lubricating fluid to the interface between the pin member and the bushing;
- and
- means for securing the pin assembly within the aligned bores, said securing means being connectable to the second bracket to provide preselected axial and rotational orientation of the pin assembly with respect to the first and second members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.