Spring-biased Patents (Class 403/144)
  • Patent number: 10746164
    Abstract: A linear compressor includes a piston with a piston head and a cylindrical side wall. An inner surface of the cylindrical side wall defines a ball seat. A coupling extends between a mover and a piston. The coupling includes a flex mount that extends between a first end portion and a second end portion. The flex mount is connected to the mover away from the first end portion of the flex mount. A ball nose is positioned at the first end portion of the flex mount. The ball nose contacts the piston at the ball seat of the piston. A spring urges the ball nose against the ball seat of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory William Hahn
  • Patent number: 10100819
    Abstract: The present subject matter provides a linear compressor. The linear compressor includes a coupling that extends between an inner back iron assembly and a piston. The coupling includes a shaft and a ball seat mounted to the shaft at an end portion of the shaft. A ball is positioned on the ball seat at a seating surface of the ball seat. A ball shoe is positioned opposite the ball seat about the ball, and the ball is positioned on the seating surface of the ball shoe. A spring urges the ball shoe against the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory William Hahn, Thomas Robert Barito
  • Patent number: 10087826
    Abstract: An exhaust-gas turbocharger with a compressor with a charge pressure control device. An actuator is provided which moves a control rod arrangement. The control rod arrangement is in turn rotatably connected to a lever. The charge pressure control device is actuated by the lever. A pin is arranged on the lever. The control rod arrangement has a bushing which is pushed onto the pin. The connection between pin and bushing constitutes a rotatable connection for enabling the lever to be actuated by the control rod arrangement. This arrangement is very simple to produce and very simple to assemble because the bushing must merely be pushed onto the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: BorgWarner Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Keller
  • Patent number: 10066615
    Abstract: The present subject matter provides a linear compressor. The linear compressor includes a coupling having a ball seat that is press-fit on a post of a piston. A shaft defines a chamber at an end of the shaft. A pin is press-fit to the shaft at the chamber of the shaft. A ball is positioned on the seating surface of the ball seat. The pin extends through the ball. A ball shoe is positioned opposite the ball seat about the ball. The ball shoe defines a seating surface. The ball is positioned on the seating surface of the ball shoe. A spring urges the ball shoe against the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory William Hahn
  • Patent number: 9664276
    Abstract: An electronic shifter can include a base, a shift lever assembly, a detent system and a clutch system. The shift lever assembly can include a pivot base having a coupling member. The detent system can include a biasing member and a detent member associated with the shift lever assembly. The biasing member can bias the detent member into engagement with a cam member. The clutch system can include a flexible clutch member and a bearing area having a bearing surface. The bearing area can be associated with the base and can receive the coupling member and clutch member to pivotably couple the shift lever assembly to the base. The detent system can apply a downward force onto the coupling member thereby forcing the clutch member against the bearing surface and providing frictional damping of the shift lever assembly during movement thereof proportional with a biasing force of the biasing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: FCA US LLC
    Inventors: Jay T TenBrink, Robert L Brown, Donald Niskanen, Kirk Ypma
  • Patent number: 8925939
    Abstract: A steering system includes a rack shaft, a rack housing, a rack end, and an impact absorbing member that is provided between a restriction face formed within the rack housing and an end face of the rack end, and that absorbs an impact generated when the restriction face and the end face come into contact with each other. The impact absorbing member includes an elastic portion, and a restriction portion having an elastic modulus higher than that of the elastic portion and having a length in the axial direction, which is shorter than that of the elastic portion. A compression allowance, which is a difference in length in the axial direction between the elastic portion and the restriction portion, is brought to zero when the restriction face and the end face come into contact with each other via the impact absorbing member due to a steering input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ohashi
  • Publication number: 20140301772
    Abstract: A ball joint includes a ball member, a socket member, and a resilient pressing mechanism. The ball member couples with the socket member. The resilient pressing mechanism is positioned between the ball member and the socket member, applying compression to cause the ball member to tightly contact the socket member. The resilient pressing mechanism includes a plurality of springs positioned in parallel between the ball member and the socket member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventor: BO LONG
  • Publication number: 20140205366
    Abstract: A ball joint comprising: a housing having an inner cavity defined inward of a seat end, a side wall and a closure end having an opening, an edge about the opening in an assembly position extending upwardly; a ball stud having: a lower ball end with an outer convex spherical surface, a middle portion, and a connector end; a first bearing, slidably housed within the cavity, having an inner concave spherical surface; a retention plate, housed within the cavity inward of the edge about the opening, wherein the edge of the opening extends inwardly engaging an outer surface of the retention plate in a closed position; a first disc annular recess disposed in: an outward surface of the first bearing; an inward surface of the retention plate; or an inward surface of the seat end of the housing, and a first disc spring disposed in the first disc annular recess, the first disc annular recess laterally restraining: an outer circular edge of the first disc spring; or an inner circular edge of the first disc spring, during
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: MEVOTECH INC.
    Inventors: EZER MEVORACH, ROSAN LUIZ
  • Patent number: 8757916
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bearing shell assembly for a ball joint includes the following steps: a) a bearing shell having a plastic extension is produced; b) a spring element is arranged in a region of the plastic extension; and c) the spring element is fastened to the bearing shell by deformation of the plastic extension. The invention further relates to a bearing shell assembly for a ball joint, including a bearing shell and a spring element, the spring element being non-detachably connected with the bearing shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Sven-Helgi Orend
  • Patent number: 8714862
    Abstract: A ball joint comprising: a housing having an inner cavity defined inward of a seat end, a side wall and a closure end having an opening, an edge about the opening in an assembly position extending upwardly; a ball stud having: a lower ball end with an outer convex spherical surface, a middle portion, and a connector end; a first bearing, slidably housed within the cavity, having an inner concave spherical surface; a retention plate, housed within the cavity inward of the edge about the opening, wherein the edge of the opening extends inwardly engaging an outer surface of the retention plate in a closed position; and a first disc spring disposed in a disc annular recess in at least one of: an outer surface of the first bearing; and an inner surface of the retention plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Mevotech Inc.
    Inventors: Ezer Mevorach, Rosan Luiz
  • Patent number: 8695463
    Abstract: A pivoting assembly for a hand tool includes first and second stems pivotally connected with each other, and a positioning device. The first stem includes first and second jaw portions extending from an end thereof. An opening is formed between the first and second jaw portions. An inner periphery surface is formed between the first and second jaw portions. An aperture is extended in the inner periphery surface. The second stem includes at least one arm portion extending from an end thereof. An engaging portion is formed at an end of the arm portion. The engaging portion is engaged with the first and second jaw portions. The positioning device is received in the aperture and abutted against the engaging portion of the second stem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hong Ann Tool Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Cheng-Wei Su
  • Publication number: 20130121756
    Abstract: A ball joint comprising: a housing having an inner cavity defined inward of a seat end, a side wall and a closure end having an opening, an edge about the opening in an assembly position extending upwardly; a ball stud having: a lower ball end with an outer convex spherical surface, a middle portion, and a connector end; a first bearing, slidably housed within the cavity, having an inner concave spherical surface; a retention plate, housed within the cavity inward of the edge about the opening, wherein the edge of the opening extends inwardly engaging an outer surface of the retention plate in a closed position; and a first disc spring disposed in a disc annular recess in at least one of: an outer surface of the first bearing; and an inner surface of the retention plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: MEVOTECH INC.
    Inventors: Ezer MEVORACH, Rosan LUIZ
  • Patent number: 8418473
    Abstract: An exemplary turbine engine link assembly includes a link extending longitudinally from a rod end and terminating at a hemispherical end. The rod end is secured to an engine liner or an engine casing. The hemispherical end is biased toward a corresponding hemispherical recess in the engine liner or in the other of the engine liner or the engine casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Dale William Petty, Gonzalo F. Martinez
  • Patent number: 8366189
    Abstract: A coupling/uncoupling device is disclosed for joining and disjoining first and second segments of a transmission and/or connection means. An end fitting of the device is arranged on the first segment. The end fitting creates a snap connection with a receiver part arranged on the second segment. The device may be adapted for use in vehicles, such as for a vehicle seat, a tailgate, an engine cover, a storage compartment, a battery pole connection, or for securing transported or loaded items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventor: Andreas Schmitz
  • Publication number: 20120301214
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ball joint which comprises a joint housing, a bearing shell received in the joint housing, and a ball stud having a ball head arranged for pivoting movement in the bearing shell. The ball head is prestressed by a spring system substantially in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the ball stud against the joint housing. The spring system is composed of spring elements connected in parallel and/or in series, at least one spring element of the spring system being made of a polymer material or of an elastomer material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventors: Uwe Forthaus, Vat Phiaphakdy, Lothar Schaumann, Harald Walter, Dagmar Woelki
  • Publication number: 20120294028
    Abstract: A ball and socket assembly includes a support having a plurality of arms extending between a face plate and a base, and defining a socket cup. A spherical end of a ball stud is disposed within the socket cup in a snap fit engagement with the plurality of arms. A radial biasing device is disposed annularly about an outer periphery of an upper portion of the plurality of arms to resist movement of the plurality of arms radially outward relative to the longitudinal axis, thereby increasing a retention force resisting removal of the spherical end of the ball stud from within the socket cup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Larry E. Wainscott, Mark R. Gordon
  • Patent number: 8308392
    Abstract: A friction ball joint and a method for using the friction ball joint are provided. A clam shell is formed from at least two segments and has a mechanical element extending from one of the clam shell segments. A cap that has a mechanical element extending from the rounded portion of the cap is also provided. This cap covers the joined clam shell segments opposite the mechanical element extending from the clam shell. The clam shell surrounds a spring that pushes the cap against the fixed outer clam shell, creating friction that retains the friction ball joint in the desired position. Further embodiments provide a locking assembly and an external spring or clamp. In these embodiments the spring or clamp is placed over the outside of the ball and clam shell. The ball has holes disposed over its surface to receive a locking assembly to hold the ball joint in the selected position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Inventors: David Chen Yu, Michael David Yu
  • Publication number: 20120155952
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bearing shell assembly for a ball joint includes the following steps: a) a bearing shell having a plastic extension is produced; b) a spring element is arranged in a region of the plastic extension; and c) the spring element is fastened to the bearing shell by deformation of the plastic extension. The invention further relates to a bearing shell assembly for a ball joint, including a bearing shell and a spring element, the spring element being non-detachably connected with the bearing shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
    Inventor: Sven-Helgi Orend
  • Publication number: 20110211905
    Abstract: The invention relates to a coupling rod (1) having a first rod part (2) which has a ball head (3); and having a second rod part (4) which has a joint socket (5) for holding the ball head (3), wherein a guide element (8, 9) is arranged between an inner peripheral surface (6) of the joint socket (5) and an outer peripheral surface (7) of the ball head (3), which guide element (8, 9) has at least one spring tongue (10, 11) which bears against the outer peripheral surface (7) and is connected to a support section (12, 13) which is supported on the inner peripheral surface (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: BORGWARNER INC.
    Inventor: Silvio Koch
  • Patent number: 7762972
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an orthopedic knee joint brace, which permits smooth knee exercise, increases the durability of a spring, and ensures structural rigidity in a shock absorbing operation. To this end, the orthopedic knee joint brace includes an upper cuff assembly (100) having an anatomical shape of a thigh to support the thigh, and a lower cuff assembly (200) provided under the upper cuff assembly and spaced apart from the upper cuff assembly. The orthopedic knee joint brace includes a pair of damping pivot assemblies (300) coupling facing ends of both sides of the upper and lower cuff assemblies to each other. Each of the damping pivot assemblies has a multiple pivot link structure and a guide damping structure to correspond to the movement of the knee joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Davincimeditec Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang deog Cho
  • Publication number: 20100124455
    Abstract: A pivot joint assembly includes a housing having a bore therethrough and a coaxial central axis. A stud is disposed coaxially with the bore, and has a bearing surface. A resilient member disposed between the housing and the stud is biased against the housing to accommodate radial loads transferred therebetween. An inner metal ring disposed between the resilient member and the bearing surface substantially surrounds the bearing surface and is sized for a sliding fit between the bearing surface and an interface surface of the inner metal ring. The stud is configured to pivot about the central axis by a range of at least 40 degrees. The pivot joint assembly may further include a sealing element configured to seal the bearing surface and the interface surface. Another embodiment includes an axial restraint element configured to prevent axial separation of the stud and housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Miroslaw Zaloga, George E. Doerr, Christopher N. Bither, Christopher J. Mielke, Marco E. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 7686530
    Abstract: Socket housing has a hemispherical ball socket and a plurality of circumferentially spaced retaining tongues which extend toward an insertion opening, the tongues being radially pivotable to engage over the equator of a ball head. An outer part has an insertion region and a receiving opening into which the socket housing can be inserted in an insertion direction via the insertion region, the insertion region having an inside surface defining an opening with a cross-sectional area which is larger than a cross-sectional area defined by an inside surface of the receiving opening. The retaining tongues are in contact with the inside surface of the receiving opening when the socket housing is in the installed position. A locking device prevents movement of the socket housing counter to the insertion direction when the socket housing is in the installed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Stabilus GmbH
    Inventors: Arnold Schilz, Richard Strupp, Reiner Weber
  • Patent number: 7461995
    Abstract: A socket retainer for retaining a ball of a support post. The socket retainer includes a body with a channel formed therein for receiving the ball. A rotatable pin is disposed in the body substantially perpendicular to the channel. The pin has a cutout formed therein which corresponds to a diameter of the ball. The cutout aligns with the channel to allow entry of the ball into the channel. A spring is disposed at the pin for preventing an unintended rotation of the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Inventor: Michael Burnley
  • Patent number: 7452154
    Abstract: A universal joint component is used for connecting two members, such as a reflector and a lamp body. The universal joint component includes a shaft, an installation section formed on one end of the shaft, and a spherical head formed on the other end of the shaft. The spherical head includes a joint base, a top end, and at least one gap formed on a side of the spherical head between the top end and the joining base. The gap is formed of a groove or through hole so as to straddle a phantom line substantially passing through a center of the spherical head and perpendicularly intersecting a shaft axis of the shaft. Split head sections are defined by the at least one gap so that the split head sections flexibly deform when the spherical head is inserted into a spherical socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignees: NIFCO Inc., Koito Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Aoshima, Nobuhiro Hara, Takeyuki Tachiiwa
  • Patent number: 7114869
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes drywall tools that employ rotatable joints, e.g., ball joints, and methods of using such tools. One particular implementation of a drywall tool includes a body having a recess adapted to pivotably receive a rounded connector of a handle. A retainer carried by the body includes first and second rods. Each of the rods is rotatable about an axis and has a non-uniform circumference with respect to that axis such that such that a surface of the rod is spaced farther from a recess axis of the recess when in its open position than when in its closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Northstar Tool Corporation
    Inventor: Donald Mark MacMillan
  • Patent number: 7086802
    Abstract: A steering assembly is provided that incorporates a system for controlled damping of vibration between a steering knuckle and tie rod end. A bushing formed from a damping material is inserted within an aperture formed in a tie rod arm of the steering knuckle. The shank from a ball stud member of a tie rod end is then inserted through the aperture and through a spring washer. The combination of the bushing and spring washer reduces and/or eliminates transmission of vibration from the steering knuckle to the tie rod end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph W. Larson, Thomas Barton
  • Patent number: 7083356
    Abstract: A ball joint restriction system provides a cylindrical extension in the end of the ball, and also provides an oblong housing in the closing cover of the ball joint to restrict movement of the extension. A positioning member positions the cover with respect to the box so that the oblong opening of the housing is provided in the same direction that the oblong opening in the other end of the ball joint box, through which pin or stem of the ball type pin passes. The ball joint will guarantee the maintenance of the connecting rod, whatever is its curve and weight, perfectly aligned with the other components of the system, as well as it will allow that the ball type pin to be always positioned in its designed geometrical axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Dana Industrial S/A
    Inventor: Enzo Paduano
  • Patent number: 6902343
    Abstract: An element for fixing or a fastener for plates, particularly for sheets of glass, which includes an elongate pivot to be fixed to a framework and which has a free end and a hollow housing the free end in a moveable way. Tilting movements of the longitudinal axis of the pivot in the hollow housing are possible. The free end of the pivot is introduced with limitable axial mobility into a bore of an articulation element pivotably supporting the pivot in the hollow housing. The articulation element may be in the form of a ball and of an elastic sleeve element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Ulrich Hermens, August Dederichs
  • Patent number: 6860670
    Abstract: The end connector assembly (12) for a gas spring (44) enables the connector body to be connected with and disconnected from a ball (14) on the end of a ball stud (16) by relatively moving the connector body (26) and ball along a path generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the gas spring (44) to which the connector body (26) is connected. The ball (14) enters the connector body (26) through an opening (32) in the body's front surface, that is, the surface generally perpendicular to the gas spring's longitudinal axis. A slot in the body's bottom surface, that is, the surface facing the ball (14), accommodates the shaft portion (22) of the ball stud (16), adjacent the ball (14), as the ball moves into or out of the connector body (26) through the opening (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: AVM, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark S. Jeffries
  • Patent number: 6821047
    Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint (1) is provided with a housing (2) closed by a cover (3), with a bearing shell (5, 6) and a joint ball (4) accommodated therein rotatably and tiltably with a ball pivot. The bearing shell (6) provided with projections and offsets on its outside as well as an entropy-elastic, pretensioned spring element (7) are fixed by the cover (3) in the housing (2). The bearing shell is formed by lower and upper bearing shells (5, 6), both of which are closed, and the lower bearing shell (5) extending partially over the upper bearing shell (6) is provided on its overarching inside (5b) and the upper bearing shell (6) is provided on its outside (6a) with the projections and offsets (20, 21; 11, 12) with which the entropy-elastic spring element (7) cooperates in a positive-locking and/or non-positive manner under the action of the cover (3) in its closed position and nonrotatably couples the two bearing shells (5, 6) with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventor: Klaus Bröker
  • Patent number: 6767153
    Abstract: A positional arm device is a series of multiple rods connected to each other by a spherical housing and ball joint with a spring-loaded locking piston providing a multiple position holding device serving as an anchor to hold tools in a certain position, and also as a connector between two object where a certain secure fixed position between the two objects is desired. The arm device has a spherical terminal rod, a plurality of intermediate rods and a terminal housing rod connected together by a spherical housing adjustably positioned and locked by a spring-loaded piston shaft engaging a sphere end retained within the housing, the piston shaft lockingly engaging one of a multiplicity of grooved indentations on the surface of the sphere end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Inventor: Dana W. Holbrook
  • Patent number: 6676325
    Abstract: A pivot socket of the present invention incorporates a stud shaft component having a tapered head portion disposed within a housing cavity, and an axial pin extension extending upward into the cavity therefrom. The tapered head portion seats against a tapered bearing surface disposed within the housing cavity, and the axial pin extension is enclosed within a resilient bushing. During use, lateral and axial loads imparted on the stud shaft are transformed into radial and axial component forces at the bearing surfaces. Angulation loads are resisted by the tapered head portion, and converted to axial forces. The radial force components are distributed to the interior walls of the housing cavity, while the axial force components are transferred axially through the resilient bushing to the end closure components secured to the housing, or directly to the housing through the tapered bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: George R. Schmidt, Dale Spence
  • Patent number: 6672788
    Abstract: A ball and socket joint incorporating a detent mechanism that provides positive biasing toward a desired position. The ball and socket joint can be used in flexible supports that hold and support items such as lamps, tools and faucets. The detent mechanism comprises two corresponding parts, one in the ball portion and the second in the socket portion of the joint. The first detent part is a protrusion of some type and the second detent part is a groove or indentation that is adapted to accept and engage the protrusion. If the ball contains the detent protrusion, then the socket contains the detent indentation. And conversely, if the socket contains the detent protrusion, then the ball contains the detent indentation. The detent tensioning force can be provided by a spring, a spring band, the characteristics of the material from which the joint is made, or by some other similar tensioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Clarence Eduard Hathaway
  • Patent number: 6644328
    Abstract: A stick such as a ski-stick, walking stick or same, provided with a handle comprising a gripping element and a length-adjustable pole in addition to a regulating device that contains a joint and is arranged outside the pole, whereby the gripping element can be positioned at an angle to the pole and a tubular part of the pole can be pushed through the joint into the gripping element of the pole when the regulating device is oriented in a rectilinear position. This ensures that the regulating device is substantially protected against the effects of the environment and the diameter of the pole is increased to a lesser degree. In order to achieve this, a regulating element is respectively formed by the handle on a lower extension piece of the gripping element and a cap that is firmly connected to the upper end of the pole, whereby one respective regulating element is pivotally and moveably accommodated in a recess of the other regulating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Inventor: Klaus Lenhart
  • Patent number: 6485218
    Abstract: In the case of a holder (1) which is intended for a motor vehicle and is for a ball head (10) of a tappet (11), the ball head (10) is enclosed in a sealing manner between an elastic insert body (13) and a sintered insert body (8) forming a ball socket (7), and is fixed in a hollow body (2) by a securing element (21). The securing element (21) and the elastic insert body (13) are provided with openings (15) which enable the ball head (10) to be passed through. As a result, the holder (1) can be fitted in a particularly simple manner. Furthermore, the ball head (10) is protected against the escape of lubricant and against the ingress of dirt particles and, because of the damping properties of the elastic insert body (13), is free of play for its entire working life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventor: Jan Martinovsky
  • Publication number: 20020127048
    Abstract: A pivot socket of the present invention incorporates a stud shaft component having a tapered head portion disposed within a housing cavity, and an axial pin extension extending upward into the cavity therefrom. The tapered head portion seats against a tapered bearing surface disposed within the housing cavity, and the axial pin extension is enclosed within a resilient bushing. During use, lateral and axial loads imparted on the stud shaft are transformed into radial and axial component forces at the bearing surfaces. Angulation loads are resisted by the tapered head portion, and converted to axial forces. The radial force components are distributed to the interior walls of the housing cavity, while the axial force components are transferred axially through the resilient bushing to the end closure components secured to the housing, or directly to the housing through the tapered bearing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: George R. Schmidt, Dale Spence
  • Patent number: 6422779
    Abstract: A ball joint (10) includes a socket (40) with a housing (42) and a stem portion (44). The housing (42) defines a chamber (60). A ball stud (80) has a ball portion (82) in the chamber (60) and a stud portion (84) extending from the ball portion. The ball portion (82) has a center (90) and the stud portion (84) has an axis (86) intersecting the center. The ball portion (82) has an equator (92) extending perpendicular to the axis (86) and dividing the ball portion into first and second hemispheres (94, 96). First and second bearings (110, 120) are located in the chamber (60) and engage the first and second hemispheres (94, 96), respectively, of the ball portion (82). First and second dampers (130, 132) act between the socket (40) and the respective first and second bearings (110, 120) and bias the first and second bearings toward the equator (92) and provide first and second clearances (131, 133), respectively, between the socket (40) and the first and second bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Steven P. Spagnuolo
  • Patent number: 6413003
    Abstract: A pivot socket of the present invention incorporates a stud shaft component having a partially spherical head portion disposed within a housing cavity, and an axial pin extension extending upward into the cavity therefrom. The partially spherical head portion seats against a partial spherical bearing surface disposed within the housing cavity, and the axial pin extension is enclosed within a resilient cushion. During use, lateral and axial loads imparted on the stud shaft are transformed into radial and axial component forces at the bearing surfaces. The radial force components are distributed to the interior walls of the housing cavity, while the axial force components are transferred axially through the resilient cushion to the end closure components secured to the housing. Little or no lateral force components are transferred to the resilient cushion from lateral loads imparted on the stud shaft, thereby reducing wear on the pivot socket components and extending the useful life thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Worle Wide, Inc.
    Inventors: George R. Schmidt, Glen C. Parker, Roger Sellers, June M. Jeffries
  • Patent number: 6352227
    Abstract: A segmented, ball jointed support, which is an improvement over other support devices which make use of ball joints to provide universal flexibility of the support. This support is made up of a plurality of individual hollow segments, each segment shaft having a male ball at one end that is received by an adjacent segment's female socket. The socket is sized to fit snugly over the received ball. A spring-detent arrangement within the segment shaft acts against a receiving hole at the top of the corresponding ball. The spring-detent allows the ball joint to be “snap returned” to a straight, axially aligned arrangement. The spring-detent also provides greater joint stability over a longer length of assembled support, without compromising useful flexibility of the support. A radial compression device around the segment socket maintains appropriate joint tightness and compensates for joint wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Inventor: Clarence Eduard Hathaway
  • Patent number: 6227751
    Abstract: A mount for plate-shaped components, more particularly glass plates is disclosed. The mount comprises a socket element, which penetrates a recess in the plate-shaped component, thereby fixing the component, and a hinged bolt. At its first end, the hinged bolt comprises ball element, which is rotatably mounted in a recess of the socket element, and can be secured with its opposite second end to a support structure, thereby fixing the socket element. In this respect, the ball element (6) is at least slightly linearly displaceable in the recess (7) of the socket element (2) along tile longitudinal axis of the hinged bolt (3), and at least one spring element (12, 13) acts indirectly or directly upon the ball element (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Mero Systeme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Kemmer, Wolfgang Stühler
  • Patent number: 6030141
    Abstract: A ball joint, particularly a steering joint for motor vehicles, with a joint housing (1) having a spherical ring-shaped bearing surface (1b), in which a ball (2c) arranged on a ball pin (2) is seated so as to be able to rotate and tilt to a limited extent and which is closed off by a lid (3) which is formed in the initial state with an outer diameter exceeding the inner diameter of a smooth-walled cylindrical drillhole (1a) of the joint housing (1) and which in the installed state is supported at its rim (3c) in a force fit on the inner surface of the smooth-walled cylindrical drillhole (1a) in the joint housing (1), characterized in that the lid (3) is formed with a spherical ring-shaped bearing surface (3a) for the ball (2c) on the side of the ball equator away from the spherical ring-shaped bearing surface (1b) of the joint housing (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Fahrwerksysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hanno Lieber, Sabine Schmermbeck, Erhart Welchert, Horst Kozlowski
  • Patent number: 6010272
    Abstract: A ball joint (10) comprises a socket (60), a bearing (100), and a stud (80). The bearing (100) supports a first end portion (82) of the stud (80) in the socket (60) for movement relative to the socket. The stud (80) has a second end portion (84, 86) projecting from the socket (60) for connecting the stud for movement with the first suspension member (14). The socket (60) has a mounting portion (64) for connecting the socket for movement with the second suspension member (40) relative to the stud (80) and the first suspension member (14). The bearing (100) includes first and second relatively movable bearing elements (110, 130). The first bearing element (110) is movable with the first end portion (82) of the stud (80) in the socket (66), and has a pivot center (118). The second bearing element (130) is disposed between the first bearing element (110) and the socket (60), and supports the first bearing element and the stud (80) for pivotal movement relative to the socket about the pivot center (118).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventor: Gary W. Littman
  • Patent number: 6010271
    Abstract: A joint assembly (10) includes a metal housing which encloses a head end portion (24) of a movable stud member (22). A metal outer (30) bearing engages the head end portion (24) of the stud member (22). The outer bearing (30) has a cylindrical outer side surface (44) with a diameter which is larger than a diameter of a cylindrical inner side surface (42) of a chamber (18) in the housing (12). The outer bearing (30) is retained against movement relative to the housing (12) by an interference fit. During fabrication of the joint assembly (10), a spring (34) and inner bearing (32) are inserted into the housing (12). An interference fit is established between the outer bearing (30) and the housing (12) by sliding the cylindrical outer side surface (44) of the outer bearing along the cylindrical inner side surface (42) of the chamber (18) in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond W. Jackson, Donald E. Szczesny
  • Patent number: 5782573
    Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint includes a journal (1) having a ball (2) on one end. A plastic housing (3) has a socket and an opening through which the ball (2) is inserted into the socket. The socket is defined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced segmented bearing surfaces (3b) having a partially spherical shape and being formed by a plurality of circumferentially spaced radially extending slits (3a). The plurality of slits (3a) extend axially from the opening to at least an equator (3e) of said socket. The housing (3) includes a ring groove (3f) extending axially from the opening to at least the equator (3e). The ring groove (3f) encircles the plurality of segmented bearing surfaces (3b). A locking ring (4) is in the ring groove (3f) in the housing (3). The locking ring (4) elastically deforms the plurality of segmented bearing surfaces (3b) to position the ball (2) in a first position in the socket against the plurality of segmented bearing surfaces (3b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: TRW Fahrwerksysteme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Christoph Dorr, Hans-Joachim Schutt
  • Patent number: 5772352
    Abstract: A ball joint generates play when wear of a ball sheet reaches a predetermined allowable amount so that the end of service life of the ball joint can be recognized by a simple inspection. A spherical portion of a ball stud is interposed between an upper sheet and a lower sheet. The upper sheet is displaced toward the lower sheet when the upper sheet or the lower sheet has been worn due to sliding of the spherical portion. The displacement of the upper sheet is restricted so that the upper sheet is supported at a predetermined position relative to the lower sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Otics Corporation
    Inventors: Yasutaka Fukumoto, Junichi Kato, Yukio Okamura, Yasuhiro Ishikawa, Tetsuo Kondo, Yoshimi Suzuki, Hidetomi Nagai
  • Patent number: 5704726
    Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint used in a linkage mechanism of the motor vehicle steering device has a ball head of a shank, encompassed by a bearing in a housing. The housing has an end opening at the opposite side of the shank. A joining member made up of a head part and a male screw portion is fitted in the opening at the head part. The head part is integrally formed with a peripheral flange, preferably a flange of flared shape. The surface of the flange is covered with an elastic layer. A fixing ring abuts against the flange to prevent detachment of the joining member from the housing. A closure plate may be interposed between the flange and the bearing and between the flange and the housing. Vibration and shocks imparted to the ball head through the shank is absorbed by the elastic layer without increasing the diametrical dimension of the joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Musashi Seimitsu Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Nemoto
  • Patent number: 5672023
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a ball joint, having a ball joint socket (1), inside of which the ball (3c) of a ball-ended spindle (3) is arranged in a rotatable and tiltable manner by means of a bearing shell (2) that supports the ball (3c) below its largest diameter on a bearing surface that has the shape of a ball race, namely under the influence of spring force generated by a spring element (4) that simultaneously forms the upper bearing shell and is supported on the underside of a cover (5) that closes the ball joint socket (1). In order to entirely eliminate all manufacturing tolerances during assembly of the ball joint and provide defined spring forces that compensate for the wear-related elasticity of the ball joint until a defined wear is reached after assembly, the cover (5) which is realized in such a way that its outer diameter exceeds the inner diameter of the ball joint socket (1) in the initial state is nonpositively supported in the ball joint socket (1) with its edge (5c).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: TRW Fahrwerksystems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Hanno Lieber, Erhard Welchert
  • Patent number: 5607249
    Abstract: A non-oscillating joint comprises a housing with an annular inner surface, an annular sleeve wedged within the housing, a stud with a radially outer bearing surface received in said housing, a radially outer bearing surface of the stud adjacent a radially inner surface of the sleeve, and an annular bearing wedged within the sleeve, the bearing having a longitudinally inner bearing surface contacting a longitudinally outer bearing surface of the stud. In a first embodiment of the present invention, both the radially outer bearing surface of the stud and the radially inner surface of the sleeve are generally conical, the stud wedged within the sleeve. In a second embodiment, a second bearing is wedged between the sleeve and the stud. The joint is subjected to additional compression pre-load when the housing is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventor: Garth Maughan
  • Patent number: 5597258
    Abstract: A pitman arm incorporates a preloaded pivot joint that has a stud that rotates and angulates. The preloaded pivot joint is designed so that different internal components transfer the respective lateral loads, axial compression loads and angulation loads of the stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: American Axle & Manufacturing Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Kincaid, Manoj Bhandiwad, Kenneth G. Kraft
  • Patent number: 5564664
    Abstract: The suspension (1) permits of the almost frictionless swinging into equilibrium position of an instrument (53) fastened to an instrument holder (5). For the balancing of the weight or the swinging into the position of equilibrium, the spherical end (7) of the instrument holder (5) is raised. In the raised position, there is an approximately punctiform resting surface between the holding part (3), the suspension (1), and the instrument holder (5). After the instrument has swung into the equilibrium position, the spherical end (7) of the instrument holder (5) can be held clamped fast over a large surface by turning the shaft (19) which has eccentric disks (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Inventor: Max Oschwald