Patent Application
20080181719
The present invention concerns a rotating joint that may be integrated into a suspension link or yoke for a vehicle. More particularly, the invention concerns a compact, low friction, rotating joint that may be integrated into a wheel carrier member and that may bear high radial loads while also allowing for an angular misalignment and/or axial travel of a joint sleeve.
Rotating joints that are commonly associated with the suspension link or yoke of a vehicle are by nature often subjected to significant radial loads. As a result, prior art rotating joints have been specifically constructed to address these radial loads. However, where additional aggravating factors such as an angular misalignment of the link or yoke are also present, the additional strain on the rotating joint may result in the breakdown and premature failure of the joint. Therefore, it would be advantageous to have a rotating joint assembly capable of dealing with issues of joint misalignment and the like.
Disclosed is a component providing rotational, translational and angular movement to a shaft inserted therein. The component has a housing with a bearing aperture, the bearing aperture having an aperture axis, an inner concave surface and a placement ring surface. A combination joint including a hollow bearing and a placement ring are located at least partially within the bearing aperture. The hollow bearing has an outer convex surface adjacent to and at least partially in contact with the inner concave surface of the bearing aperture. The hollow bearing also has an aperture with a cylindrical inner surface. The placement ring has an outer surface adjacent to and at least partially in contact with the placement ring surface of the bearing aperture and has an inner concave bearing race surface adjacent to and at least partially in contact with the outer convex surface of the hollow bearing aperture. A sleeve with a sleeve axis can be located within the aperture of the hollow bearing and has an outer surface adjacent to and at least partially in contact with the cylindrical inner surface of the hollow bearing. The sleeve is slidable within the hollow bearing and the hollow bearing with the sleeve therein can rotate about the sleeve axis and tilt about the bearing aperture axis. In this manner, a component is provided that affords rotational, translational and angular movement to a shaft inserted therein. A seal can be included to protect the combination joint from dust, dirt, debris and the like.
The present invention includes a component that affords rotational, translational and angular movement to a shaft inserted therein. As such, the present invention has utility as a component as well as a combination joint. The component of the present invention is an assembly including a housing, a hollow bearing, a placement ring and a sleeve. The housing has a bearing aperture with an aperture axis into which a combination joint including the hollow bearing, placement ring and sleeve can be inserted at least partially within. The hollow bearing has an outer convex surface that generally matches an inner concave surface of the bearing aperture. The hollow bearing also has an aperture with a cylindrical inner surface that affords for the sleeve to fit within. The placement ring has an outer surface adjacent to and at least partially in contact with a placement ring surface of the bearing aperture and an inner concave bearing race surface that generally matches the outer convex surface of the hollow bearing. The sleeve, having a sleeve axis, is slidable within the hollow bearing, the combination joint thereby affording translational movement of the sleeve along the sleeve axis. The outer convex surface of the hollow bearing and the inner convex surfaces of the bearing aperture and the placement ring afford the hollow bearing and the sleeve therein to rotate about the sleeve axis and tilt relative to the bearing aperture axis.
Referring now to
The housing 100 can be a structural suspension link or yoke, or part thereof, for a motor vehicle. In addition, the housing 100 may be constructed of steel, metal alloys, thermoplastics or other synthetic composite materials. The inner concave surface 222 and placement ring surface 242 of the bearing aperture 200 can be formed by casting, machining and the like. Optionally, the surfaces 222 can be coated.
Inserted at least partially within the bearing aperture 200 is a hollow bearing 300. The hollow bearing 300 has an outer convex surface 302 and an aperture 304. The aperture 304 has an internal surface 305 which can be cylindrical in shape. The hollow bearing 300 can be truncated such that a flat end surface 306 is present. In some instances, the outer convex surface 302 is spheroidal in shape and can include indentations in the form of channels, dimples and the like wherein lubricant can be located. The outer convex surface 302 generally matches the inner concave surface 222 such that the surface 302 is adjacent to and at least partially in contact with the surface 222. In addition, the term “generally matches” is defined herein to mean a fit or tolerance between two adjacent surfaces such that general engineering standards within the automotive industry are met for the component and/or application being disclosed. The hollow bearing 300 may be constructed of steel, metal alloys or a thermoplastic material. For example, the hollow bearing 300 may be constructed of a polyamide, a polyoxymethylene, a polyether ether ketone, a polyphenylene sulfide, or a similar thermoplastic material.
Also inserted at least partially within the bearing aperture 200 is a placement ring 320, the ring 320 having an outer surface 322 and an inner concave surface 324. The placement ring 320 can secure the placement and/or location of the hollow bearing 200. The outer surface 322 can be cylindrically shaped and generally matches the placement ring surface 242 of the bearing aperture 200. The inner concave surface 324 generally matches the outer convex surface 302 of the hollow bearing 300. In some instances, the inner concave surface 324 can be spheroidal in shape. It is appreciated that the inner concave surfaces 222 and 324 can afford bearing race surfaces for hollow bearing 300.
Placement of the hollow bearing 300 within the bearing aperture 200 affords for the outer convex surface 302 to be adjacent to and at least partially in contact with the inner concave surface 222 of the bearing aperture 200. Insertion of the placement ring 320 within the bearing aperture 200 affords for the inner concave surface 324 to be adjacent to and at least partially in contact with the outer convex surface 302. In this manner, movement of the hollow bearing 300 is afforded within the bearing aperture 200 by sliding of the outer convex surface 302 against the inner concave surfaces 222 and 324.
A sleeve 340 can be included and can fit within the aperture 304 of hollow bearing 300. An outer surface 342 of sleeve 340 generally matches the inner surface 305 of the aperture 304. The inner surface 344 of the sleeve 340 affords for a shaft (not shown) to be inserted therein. The tolerance between the outer surface 342 of the sleeve 340 and the inner surface 305 of aperture 304 affords for axial translation of the sleeve 340 within the bearing 300 as illustrated by arrow 1 shown in
Optionally included are seals 350 which afford for the operation of the combination seal within the housing 100 free of debris, dirt, dust and the like. In addition, the seals 350 afford for lubricant that can be included within the combination joint to not leak out therefrom. The seals 350 can be made from any material known to those skilled in the art, illustratively including elastomers and plastics.
Turning now to
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The foregoing drawings, discussion and description are illustrative of specific embodiments of the present invention, but they are not meant to be limitations upon the practice thereof. Numerous modifications and variations of the invention will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art in view of the teaching presented herein. It is the following claims, including all equivalents, which define the scope of the invention.
This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/834,243 filed Jul. 28, 2006, entitled “Rotating Joint”, which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60834243 | Jul 2006 | US |
