# US 8,770,846 B2 · Zero radial play idler arm bracket bearing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,770,846 B2 - Document ID: US8770846B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/141,590 - Filed: 2008-06-18 - Published: 2008-10-30 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2004-12-07 - Applicants: Ernest E. Martin - Inventors: Ernest E. Martin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770846B2 ## CPC - B62D 7/166: {substantially perpendicular, e.g. between tie-rod and steering knuckle} - Y10T 403/32983: Rod in socket - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The joint assembly of claim 1, wherein the cross section of said fingers normal to said axis has a generally consistent outline along said axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The joint assembly of claim 1, wherein distal end of said fingers are adapted to displace in a radial direction with respect to said axis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The joint assembly of claim 1, wherein said fingers are resiliently biased away from said axis when said bracket is positioned therein. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The joint assembly of claim 1, 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. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The non-articulating joint assembly of claim 5, wherein the protrusions each include a head portion a neck portion extending from the head portion, a first shoulder portion extending from the neck portion, and a second should portion extending from the neck portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The non-articulating joint assembly of claim 6, wherein the first shoulder portion is arranged in a spaced-apart and opposing relationship with respect to a rearwardly-facing non-contacting surface of a first finger of the fingers, wherein the second should portion is arranged in a spaced-apart and opposing relationship with respect to a rearwardly-facing non-contacting surface of a second finger of the fingers, wherein the neck portion is arranged in a spaced-apart and opposing relationship with respect to a side-facing non-contacting surface of each of the first finger and the second finger, wherein the head portion includes a contacting surface that is substantially aligned with the contacting surface of each of the first finger and the second finger. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The non-articulating joint assembly of claim 7, wherein substantial alignment of the contacting surface of the head portion with the contacting surface of each of the first finger and the second finger forms an interrupted substantially arcuate contacting surface formed by the protrusions and fingers. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The joint assembly of claim 1, wherein the transition between the first axial portion and the second axial portion is gradual. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The non-articulating joint assembly of claim 1, wherein the substantially cylindrical end of the bracket includes a substantially cylindrical end portion having a bearing mating surface including a first mating surface including a first, substantially constant outer mating surface diameter, a second mating surface including a second, substantially constant outer mating surface diameter, and a tapered mating surface including a substantially non-constant, tapering outer mating surface diameter that extends between the first outer mating surface and the second outer mating surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The non-articulating joint assembly of claim 10, wherein the first, substantially constant outer mating surface diameter corresponds to but is slightly less than the first, substantially constant inner diameter of the first axial portion of the body of the bearing, wherein the second, substantially constant outer mating surface diameter corresponds to but is slightly less than the second, substantially constant inner diameter of the second axial portion of the body of the bearing, wherein the substantially non-constant tapering outer mating surface diameter corresponds to but is slightly less than the substantially non-constant, tapering transition diameter of the third axial portion of the body of the bearing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The non-articulating joint assembly of claim 11, wherein, upon connection of the bracket with the bearing: the first mating surface of the substantially cylindrical end of the bracket is disposed substantially adjacent the first axial portion of the body of the bearing, the second mating surface of the substantially cylindrical end of the bracket is disposed substantially adjacent the second axial portion of the body of the bearing, and the tapered mating surface of the substantially cylindrical end of the bracket is disposed substantially adjacent the third axial portion of the body of the bearing. ### Claim 13 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. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The rotational component of claim 13, wherein the cross section of said fingers normal to said axis has a generally consistent outline along the axial length of said fingers. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The rotational component of claim 13, wherein said distal end of said fingers are adapted to displace in a radial direction with respect to said axis. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The rotational component of claim 13, wherein said contacting surface is adapted for an interference fit with a rotational end of a mating component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The rotational component of claim 13, wherein said fingers are selectively adapted to be resiliently biased toward said body. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The rotational component of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of ribs extending from said body. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The rotational component of claim 13, wherein the transition between the first axial portion and the second axial portion is gradual. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The rotational component of claim 13 further comprising a bracket having a substantially cylindrical end, wherein the body is connected to the substantially cylindrical end, wherein the substantially cylindrical end includes a substantially cylindrical end portion having a body mating surface including a first mating surface including a first, substantially constant outer mating surface diameter, a second mating surface including a second, substantially constant outer mating surface diameter, and a tapered mating surface including a substantially non-constant, tapering outer mating surface diameter that extends between the first outer mating surface and the second outer mating surface. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The rotational component of claim 20, wherein the first, substantially constant outer mating surface diameter corresponds to but is slightly less than the first, substantially constant diameter of the first axial portion of the body, wherein the second, substantially constant outer mating surface diameter corresponds to but is slightly less than the second, substantially constant diameter of the second axial portion of the body, wherein the substantially non-constant tapering outer mating surface diameter corresponds to but is slightly less than the substantially non-constant, tapering transition diameter of the third axial portion of the body. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The rotational component of claim 21, wherein, upon connection of the bracket with the body: the first mating surface of the substantially cylindrical end of the bracket is disposed substantially adjacent the first axial portion of the body, the second mating surface of the substantially cylindrical end of the bracket is disposed substantially adjacent the second axial portion of the body, and the tapered mating surface of the substantially cylindrical end of the bracket is disposed substantially adjacent the third axial portion of the body. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The rotational component of claim 13, wherein the protrusions each include a head portion a neck portion extending from the head portion, a first shoulder portion extending from the neck portion, and a second should portion extending from the neck portion. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The rotational component of claim 23, wherein the first shoulder portion is arranged in a spaced-apart and opposing relationship with respect to a rearwardly-facing non-contacting surface of a first finger of the fingers, wherein the second should portion is arranged in a spaced-apart and opposing relationship with respect to a rearwardly-facing non-contacting surface of a second finger of the fingers, wherein the neck portion is arranged in a spaced-apart and opposing relationship with respect to a side-facing non-contacting surface of each of the first finger and the second finger, wherein the head portion includes a contacting surface that is substantially aligned with the contacting surface of each of the first finger and the second finger. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The rotational component of claim 24, wherein substantial alignment of the contacting surface of the head portion with the contacting surface of each of the first finger and the second finger forms an interrupted substantially arcuate contacting surface formed by the protrusions and fingers.