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US 5,902,050 AGranted
Spherical elastomeric bearing assembly
AssigneesLord Corporation, Alinabal, Inc.
InventorsPaul J. Balczun, Paul L. Becotte, Randall L. Solomon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spherical bearing used in a rod end housing is modified with an elastomeric member equally precompressed in an amount of about 30% of an unstressed thickness of the elastomeric member to isolate the transmission of vibrations and sound. Such spherical elastomeric bearings can be used in any application where a conventional spherical bearing is used such as cable connections, clutch linkages, etc., in trucks, farm tractors, and various other pieces of equipment.
Claims4
A spherical rod end, comprising:
- a) a rod end including
- i) a generally cylindrical rod end housing which has a first generally cylindrical portion with a first longitudinal axis and a first generally cylindrical opening in said first generally cylindrical portion defining an inner surface of said first generally cylindrical portion, and
- ii) a second elongated cylindrical portion integral with said first generally cylindrical portion, said second elongated cylindrical portion having a second longitudinal axis perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis and a threaded portion which is directly attachable to a complementarily threaded element;
- b) a spherical bearing subassembly, including:
- i) an inner element having a generally spherical external surface and an axial through bore, and
- ii) a unitary plastic intermediate element having a generally spherical inner surface which receives said generally spherical external surface of said inner element for pivotal movement therewith, said intermediate element including a generally cylindrical external surface;
- and
- c) a unitary elastomeric member which surrounds said intermediate element and is bonded to said generally cylindrical external surface of said intermediate element, said unitary elastomeric member having an external surface portion having a generally cylindrical shape which is press fit into said first generally cylindrical opening, said external surface portion of said elastomeric member contacting said inner surface of said first generally cylindrical portion such that said unitary elastomeric member is equally precompressed about a periphery of said external surface portion of said elastomeric member in an amount of about 30% of an unstressed thickness of said unitary elastomeric member, and a pair of flanges extending radially outwardly on both sides of the first generally cylindrical opening beyond both a radial extent of said external surface portion of said elastomeric member and a radial extent of said first generally cylindrical opening in said housing to capture said spherical bearing subassembly within said generally cylindrical rod end housing;
- wherein said subassembly is received in and retained by said first generally cylindrical opening of said housing and said unitary elastomeric member reduces transmission of vibrations to and from said rod end housing from and to said inner element.
6 more elements
A spherical rod end, comprising:
- a) a rod end including
- i) a generally cylindrical rod end housing which has a first generally cylindrical portion with a first longitudinal axis and a generally cylindrical opening in said first generally cylindrical portion defining an inner surface of said first generally cylindrical portion, said cylindrical rod end housing including first and second end portions, and
- ii) a second elongated cylindrical portion integral with said first generally cylindrical portion, said second elongated cylindrical portion having a second longitudinal axis perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis and a threaded portion which is directly attachable to a complementarily threaded element;
- b) a spherical bearing subassembly, including:
- i) an inner element having a generally spherical external surface and an axial through bore, and
- ii) first and second plastic intermediate element halves, each of said halves having a generally spherical inner surface, a generally cylindrical external surface, and an axial end portion;
- and
- c) an elastomeric member bonded to said generally spherical inner surface of said first and second plastic intermediate element halves and to said generally spherical external surface of said inner element, said elastomeric member including a centrally located gap positioned adjacent to said axial end portion of said first and second halves;
- wherein said spherical bearing subassembly is retained in said generally cylindrical opening by crimping of said first and second end portions of said cylindrical rod end housing which closes said gap, said elastomeric member being uniformly preloaded by an amount of about 30% of an unstressed thickness of said elastomeric member, and wherein said elastomeric member reduces transmission of vibrations between said rod end housing and said inner element.
6 more elements
A spherical rod end, comprising:
- a) a rod end including;
- i) a generally cylindrical rod end housing having a first generally cylindrical portion with a first longitudinal axis and a first generally cylindrical opening in said first generally cylindrical portion defining an inner surface of said first generally cylindrical portion, and
- ii) a second elongated cylindrical portion integral with said first generally cylindrical portion, said second elongated cylindrical portion having a second longitudinal axis perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis and a threaded portion which is directly attachable to a complementarily threaded element;
- b) a spherical bearing subassembly, including;
- i) an elongated stud having a head portion with a generally spherical external surface and having a threaded surface portion remote from said head portion;
- and
- ii) a unitary intermediate element having a generally spherical inner surface which receives said generally spherical external surface of said head portion for pivotal movement therewith, said intermediate element including a generally cylindrical external surface;
- and
- c) a unitary elastomeric member which surrounds said intermediate element and is bonded to said generally cylindrical external surface of said intermediate element, said unitary elastomeric member having a generally cylindrical external surface portion which is press fit into said first generally cylindrical opening, said external surface portion of said elastomeric member contacting said inner surface of said first generally cylindrical portion such that said unitary elastomeric member is equally precompressed about a periphery of said external surface portion of said elastomeric member in an amount of about 30% of an unstressed thickness of said unitary elastomeric member, and a pair of flanges extending radially outwardly on both sides of said first generally cylindrical opening beyond both a radial extent of said external surface portion of said unitary elastomeric member and a radial extent of said first generally cylindrical opening in said housing to capture said spherical bearing subassembly within said generally cylindrical rod end housing;
- wherein said subassembly is received in and retained by said first generally cylindrical opening of said housing and said unitary elastomeric member reduces transmission of vibrations to and from said rod end housing from and to said elongated stud.
7 more elements
A spherical rod end, comprising:
- a) a rod end including:
- i) a generally cylindrical rod end housing having a first generally cylindrical portion with a first longitudinal axis and a first generally cylindrical opening in said first generally cylindrical portion defining an inner surface of said first generally cylindrical portion, and
- ii) a second elongated cylindrical portion integral with said first generally cylindrical portion, said second elongated cylindrical portion having a second longitudinal axis perpendicular to said first longitudinal axis and a threaded portion which is directly attachable to a complementarily threaded element;
- b) a spherical bearing subassembly, including:
- ii) an inner element having a generally spherical external surface and an axial through bore, and
- ii) a unitary plastic intermediate element having a generally spherical inner surface which receives said generally spherical external surface of said inner element for pivotal movement therewith, said intermediate element including a generally cylindrical external surface;
- and
- c) a unitary elastomeric member which surrounds said intermediate element and is bonded to said generally cylindrical external surface of said intermediate element, said unitary elastomeric member having a trapezoidal cross sectional shape when in an unstressed condition and including a generally cylindrical external surface portion, said unitary elastomeric member being press fit into said first generally cylindrical opening, said external surface portion of said elastomeric member contacting said inner surface of said first generally cylindrical portion such that said unitary elastomeric member is equally precompressed about a periphery of said external surface portion of said elastomeric member in an amount of about 30% of an unstressed thickness of said unitary elastomeric member;
- wherein said subassembly is received in and retained by said first generally cylindrical opening of said housing and said unitary elastomeric member reduces transmission of vibrations to and from said rod end housing from and to said inner element.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.