SEALED SPHERICAL JOINT

摘要

A spherical joint comprises a socket, a ball stud, and a seal. The ball stud comprises a shaft, an inner ring positioned within an outer ring of the socket and within which the shaft is positioned, and a ring retainer attached to the shaft and retaining the inner ring to the shaft. The ring retainer provides an axial end of the ball stud relative to the axis. The outer ring and the inner ring comprise respectively a first spherical surface and a second spherical surface. The first and second spherical surfaces spherically mate with one another. The seal establishes a sealed connection between the outer ring and the inner ring. The socket and the ring retainer cooperate to provide a motion limiter that limits relative movement between the socket and the ball stud so as to prevent contact between the ring retainer and the seal.

主权项

1. A spherical joint, comprising
a socket comprising an outer ring, a ball stud comprising a shaft, an inner ring within which the shaft is positioned, and a ring retainer attached to the shaft and retaining the inner ring to the shaft, the inner ring positioned within the outer ring, the ring retainer providing an axial end of the ball stud relative to an axis of the shaft, the outer ring and the inner ring comprising respectively a first spherical surface and a second spherical surface, the first and second spherical surfaces spherically mating with one another, and a seal establishing a sealed connection between the outer ring and the inner ring, the socket and the ring retainer cooperating to provide a motion limiter that limits relative movement between the socket and the ball stud so as to prevent contact between the ring retainer and the seal.