| 摘要 |
992,100. Ball and socket joints. W. C. WEHNER. Oct. 16, 1963, No. 40934/63. Heading E2F. [Also in Division B7] In a swivel joint comprising a stud with a head rotatably and tiltably received in a socket having a bearing surface against which the head is seated, a screw supported in the socket is urged towards the head by a spiral spring to press a bearing member against the side of the head opposite the bearing surface to urge the head on to its seat. In one embodiment, Figs. 1 and 4, a screw 46 engages the plane face of a half-ball bearing member 48 received in a recess 50 in the head 26. The screw 46 is threaded in a boss extending from a cup shaped member 54 held in the lower part of the socket 24 by a cover plate. A spiral spring 70 extends between a recess 78 in the wall of the cup member to a slot 74 in the head of the screw 46 which is thus urged against the bearing member 48 to hold the head 26 against its seating 34. In a modification, particularly for a vehicle steering knuckle, Fig. 3 not shown, the body is formed in two parts, and the cup member and a cover plate forming a lock nut are screwed into the body. A boot 80 forms a seal between the body and the shank of the stud. In another embodiment, Fig. 6, forming part of an automobile drag link, the head 26b engages a bearing surface 34b at one side, and a second bearing member 48b is pressed against the other side by a screw 46b tightened by a spring 70b. In this case the cup shaped member 54b and the cover plate 62b are both screwed into the body of the tubular member 20b forming the drag link. In another form of drag-link, Fig. 7, not shown, the spring and screw-pressed bearing member are located at the inner side of the joint. In an independent vehicle suspension, Fig. 11, the stud head carries a bearing cone 126 supported on flanges 128, and has a convex spherical bearing surface 50d co-operating with a hat-shaped bearing member 48d which is pressed against the head by a screw 46d and a spiral spring. In the arrangements of Figs. 14 and 15, not shown, the outer end of the spiral spring is held in the cover plate, which is dished to receive the spring, and the bearing insert in the socket is made of resilient material and itself has a dirt seal part. The rear take up screws engage an integral projection on the stud head, and a ball in a recess in the stud head respectively. In all the embodiments, the floating connection between the screw and the stud head compensate for variations within manufacturing tolerances. |
