Ball end for a link
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsRobert Lee Wood, Jr., Michael Dean Kollath
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ball/socket link end assembly includes a link opening formed in the link end. A portion of the opening forms a spherical inner surface. A pair of ball entry slots are formed in the link end. The slots are spaced apart and positioned on opposite sides of the opening, and extend only part way into the link end from one side thereof. The assembly also includes a removable truncated ball member with a spherical perimeter which matches the spherical inner surface. A clamp member is attachable to the link end. The clamp member is engagable with the ball to prevent removal of the ball from the link end when the ball is aligned with the entry slots. The clamp member is received in a recess formed in the link end adjacent to the opening.
Claims5
A ball/socket link end, comprising:
- an elongated link member having a longitudinal axis, the link member having a link opening adjacent an end of the link, the opening having a central transverse axis which is oriented perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis;
- a removable truncated ball member having a width defined by substantially flat opposing sides and having a spherical perimeter, and having a cylindrical bore extending therethrough substantially perpendicular to said opposing sides;
- said link opening having a spherical inner surface matching the spherical perimeter of the ball member,
- said link opening having a pair of entry slots, said slots being spaced apart and positioned on opposite sides of said longitudinal axis, and said slots extending only part way into the link end in a direction parallel to said transverse axis, and said slots receiving the ball member when the ball member is oriented with its opposing sides parallel to said transverse axis;
- and
- a clamp member attachable to the link end to prevent removal of the ball member from the opening when the ball member is aligned with the entry slots, the clamp member being attached to the link end by a bolt which is inserted through the clamp member and into the link end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.