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US 8,770,846 B2Granted
Zero radial play idler arm bracket bearing
OwnerErnest E. Martininventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An idler arm bracket bearing includes a plurality of inwardly extending fingers to contact the bracket. The fingers deflect toward the bearing body as the fingers contact the bracket, thereby ensuring a full contact fit that provides a tighter joint assembly. Rib members are located between the fingers to center the bracket and limit the resilient deflection of the fingers.
Claims25
A non-articulating joint assembly, comprising:
- a bearing having a body including
- a first axial portion with a first, substantially constant inner diameter that transitions to
- a second axial portion having a second, substantially constant inner diameter that is different from the first, substantially constant inner diameter, and
- a third axial portion including a substantially non-constant, tapering transition diameter that is located intermediate of and connects the first, substantially constant inner diameter to the second, substantially constant inner diameter, wherein each of the first axial portion, the second axial portion and the third axial portion surround a common axis of rotation, wherein a surface of the second axial portion includes
- a plurality of fingers extending circumferentially therefrom near the transition between the first axial portion and the second axial portion, and
- protrusions extending radially therefrom between adjacent fingers, the protrusions limiting deflections of the fingers;
- and
- a bracket having a substantially cylindrical end rotatably coupled to said bearing, wherein said fingers contact said cylindrical end.
5 more elements
A rotational component for a non-articulating joint extending along a central longitudinal axis of rotation assembly comprising:
- a body including a first axial portion with a first, substantially constant diameter that transitions to a second axial portion having a second, substantially constant diameter different from the first diameter, and a third axial portion with a substantially non-constant, tapering transition diameter that is located intermediate of and connects the first, substantially constant diameter to the second, substantially constant diameter, wherein an inner surface of the second axial portion defines a surface having a plurality of fingers extending radially therefrom near the transition between the first axial portion and the second axial portion, and protrusions extending radially therefrom between adjacent fingers, the protrusions limiting deflections of the fingers, wherein the fingers include a body surface, a contacting surface, a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the proximal end extends from the body surface and the distal end is defined, at least in part, by the contacting surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.