High strength ball end for a hitch link

A hitch link having a bearing assembly comprising:

• an elongated link member, the link member having one end defining a spherical socket having a spherical inner surface, the end of the link member having a ring shaped portion defining the spherical socket, the ring shaped portion having an enlarged cross sectional area on a plane dissecting the socket perpendicular to the length of the link member as compared to the cross sectional area on a plane dissecting the link member lengthwise thereof with the enlarged cross sectional area formed by projections on opposite lateral sides of the ring shaped portion;
• a bushing positioned in the spherical socket having a spherical outer surface and a cylindrical bore therethrough;
• the spherical socket having an entry slot extending perpendicular to the length of the link member for receiving the bushing when the bushing is aligned with the entry slot;
• a sleeve positioned in the bore in the spherical bushing;
• means at the ends of the sleeve for retaining the sleeve in the bore with the ends of the sleeve extending beyond the bore;
• and
• wherein the ends of the sleeve, when the sleeve is installed in the bore, prevent removal of the bushing from the spherical socket when the bushing is aligned with the entry slot.

A hitch link having a bearing assembly comprising:

• an elongated link member, the link member having one end defining a spherical socket having a spherical inner surface;
• a bushing positioned in the spherical socket having a spherical outer surface and a cylindrical bore therethrough;
• a sleeve positioned in the bore in the spherical bushing;
• and
• means at the ends of the sleeve for retaining the sleeve in the bore with the ends of the sleeve extending beyond the bore.