Abstract: A bearing assembly is for movably coupling a first member having a centerline and displaceable about a rotation axis perpendicular to the centerline and a second member displaceable about the centerline and/or another axis perpendicular to the centerline. The bearing assembly includes a laminated bearing having an inner axial end coupled with the second member and an outer axial end spaced from the inner end along the first member centerline and coupleable with the first member. A clutch mechanism releasably couples the bearing outer axial end with the first member when the first member angularly displaces about the rotation axis. The clutch mechanism preferably has a first portion connected with the bearing outer axial end, a second portion coupled with the first member and engageable with the first portion to couple the two members, and a biasing member spaces apart the two clutch portions when the first member is non-rotational.

Abstract: A bearing assembly is for movably coupling a first member having a centerline and displaceable about a rotation axis perpendicular to the centerline and a second member displaceable about the centerline and/or another axis perpendicular to the centerline. The bearing assembly includes a laminated bearing having an inner axial end coupled with the second member and an outer axial end spaced from the inner end along the first member centerline and coupleable with the first member. A clutch mechanism releasably couples the bearing outer axial end with the first member when the first member angularly displaces about the rotation axis. The clutch mechanism preferably has a first portion connected with the bearing outer axial end, a second portion coupled with the first member and engageable with the first portion to couple the two members, and a biasing member spaces apart the two clutch portions when the first member is non-rotational.

Abstract: A bearing assembly is for movably coupling first and second members, one being movable relative to the other. A plain bearing section includes an inner ring connectable with the first member and an outer convex bearing surface. An outer ring is disposed about the inner ring and has an inner concave bearing surface disposed against the inner ring bearing surface. The two bearing surfaces are formed such that one bearing surfaces slides against the other when the movable member displaces about a first axis and two bearing surfaces engage to prevent displacement between the two rings when the movable member displaces about a second axis. An elastomeric bearing section is disposed about the plain bearing section, is connected with the second member and formed such that at least a portion of the elastomeric bearing section flexes when the movable member angularly displaces about the second axis.

Abstract: A bearing assembly is for movably coupling first and second members, one being movable relative to the other. A plain bearing section includes an inner ring having a bore for receiving the first member and an outer cylindrical bearing surface. An outer ring is disposed about the inner ring and has an inner cylindrical bearing surface disposed against the inner ring bearing surface, one bearing surface sliding against the other when the movable member displaces about a first axis. The two rings engage to prevent relative displacement between the rings when the movable member displaces about a second axis. An elastomeric bearing section is disposed about the plain bearing section, is connected with the second member and is formed such that at least a portion of the elastomeric bearing section flexes when the movable member angularly displaces about the second axis.

Abstract: A seal assembly which acts as a piston in a vehicle power steering unit. The seal includes a casing and an elastomeric seal body and is affixed to a movable rack at two attachment points. One point is the tail portion of an axial flange swaged into a groove in the rack, and a second part of the same axial flange has a groove for retaining a locking ring in a second groove in the rack. The rack moves within a housing having a first bore, a counterbore, and an enlarged bore. The seal comprises two oppositely facing lips and a lip body bonded to a radial flange of the seal assembly and engaging the enlarged bore which divides the space into two pressurizable fluid receiving cavities. An auxiliary seal is seated in the counterbore and seals the first bore. The seal assembly has a nose portion which engages the auxiliary seal to fully seat it in the counterbore. The nose portion, in one case, is a separate axially extending plastic piece that seats in a groove in the seal body.

Abstract: A seal assembly which acts as a piston in a vehicle power steering unit. The seal includes a casing and an elastomeric seal body and is affixed to a movable rack at two attachment points. One point is the tail portion of an axial flange swaged into a groove in the rack, and a second part of the same axial flange has a groove for retaining a locking ring in a second groove in the rack. The rack moves within a housing having a first bore, a counterbore, and an enlarged bore. The seal comprises two oppositely facing lips and a lip body bonded to a radial flange of the seal assembly and engaging the enlarged bore which divides the space into two pressurizable fluid receiving cavities. An auxiliary seal is seated in the counterbore and seals the first bore. The seal assembly has a nose portion which engages the auxiliary seal to fully seat it in the counterbore. The nose portion, in one case, is a separate axially extending plastic piece that seats in a groove in the seal body.