Retainer for universal joint bearing cups
AssigneeTorque-Traction Technologies, Inc.
InventorCharles D. Organ
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A retainer for retaining a pair of bearing cups on an opposed pair of trunnions of a universal joint cross includes a strap having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion extending between the first and second end portions. The first and second end portions are adapted to be adhered to the pair of bearing cups on the pair of trunnions of the cross. The first and second end portions are adapted to be adhered to the pair of bearing cups by first and second adhesive elements. The retainer prevents the bearing cups from becoming lost during shipment. When the cross is received at a second manufacturing location, the retainer can be quickly and easily removed, without the use of any tools.
Claims20
A combined universal joint cross and retainer assembly comprising:
- a cross having a central body portion with a pair of trunnions extending outwardly therefrom;
- a pair of bearing cups respectively supported on said pair of trunnions, each of said bearing cups having a circumferential side wall;
- and
- a retainer for retaining said pair of bearing cups on said pair of trunnions, said retainer including a strap having first and second end portions and an intermediate portion extending between said first and second end portions, said first and second end portions being adhered only to said circumferential side walls of said pair of bearing cups on said pair of trunnions of said cross by first and second adhesive elements, respectively.
A method for retaining a pair of bearing cups on a respective pair of trunnions of a universal joint cross, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a cross having a central body portion with a pair of trunnions extending outwardly therefrom and a pair of bearing cups respectively supported on said pair of trunnions, each of said bearing cups having a circumferential side wall;
- b) providing a retainer having a strap extending with first and second end portions having respective first and second adhesive elements and an intermediate portion between the first and second end portions;
- and
- c) adhering the first and second adhesive elements only to the circumferential side walls of the pair of bearing cups on the pair of trunnions of the cross.
A method for retaining a pair of bearing cups on a respective pair of trunnions of a universal joint cross, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a cross having a central body portion with a pair of trunnions extending outwardly therefrom and a pair of bearing cups respectively supported on said pair of trunnions, each of said bearing cups having a circumferential side wall;
- b) providing a retainer having a strap extending with first and second end portions having respective first and second adhesive elements and an intermediate portion between the first and second end portions, wherein said strap is generally flat and rectangular in shape, wherein said strap and said adhesive elements are pliable so as to be capable of being shaped to conform to said bearing cups, and wherein said retainer is provided from a package that includes a plurality of similar retainers adhered to a release paper;
- and
- c) adhering the first and second adhesive elements only to circumferential side walls of the pair of bearing cups on the pair of trunnions of the cross.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.