Patent US3898546A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3608937A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3608937A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coupling device
Assignee: Bendix Corp
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Filing: 1970-05-04
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Granted: 1971-09-28
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Expires: 1990-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A coupling device for connecting rotatable and pivotable relatively movable first and second members wherein an annular member fixedly secured to one of the relatively movable members is provided with an annular recess or bearing race in the inner wall thereof. A shaft portion of the other MEMBER extends into the cup-shaped portion and is provided with a diametrical bore having oppositely disposed spherical bearing elements which are urged outwardly from the diametrical bore into seating engagement with the annular recess or race by an intermediate spherical bearing element urged between and into alignment with the oppositely disposed bearing elements to secure the first and second members together. The intermediate spherical bearing element is engaged by and held in position by a spring-loaded spherical bearing element disposed in an axial bore which intersects the diametrical bore. The first and second members are prevented from pulling apart by the aligned spherical bearing elements in the diametrical bore which permit relative rotation of the first and second members and/or relative pivotal movement thereof on an axis passing through the aligned spherical bearing elements.
Inventors
- 👤 William E Nave
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 04:02
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B2/00; F16B2/02; F16B2/16; F16B21/00; F16B21/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32008; Y10T403/32041; Y10T403/32606; Y10T403/32975; Y10T403/60; Y10T403/602
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
233 words
A coupling device for two movable members at least one of which is movable relative to the other, said coupling device comprising: a housing member fixedly secured to one of said movable members; a circular cavity in said housing; an annular groove in the wall of said circular cavity; a generally circular end portion of the other movable member adapted to be received by said circular cavity; an axially extending channel in said end portion; a diametrically extending channel in said end portion and intersecting said axially extending channel; first and second spherical bearing members rotatably carried by said diametrically extending channel; at least one-third spherical bearing member interposed between said first and second spherical bearing members for urging the same radially outwardly into seating engagement with said annular groove; means slidably carried in said axially extending channel and bearing against said third spherical bearing member to establish point contact therewith; and resilient means in said axially extending channel for imposing a force load against said last named means to maintain said third spherical bearing in position intermediate said first and second spherical bearing members said one movable member and housing is rotatable about said circular end portion; and said other movable member and circular end portion is rotatably fixed and pivotally actuatable about an axis defined by a straight line extending through the centers of said first and second spherical bearing members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
A coupling device for two movable members at least one of which is movable relative to the other, said coupling device comprising: a housing member fixedly secured to one of said movable members; a circular cavity in said housing; an annular groove in the wall of said circular cavity; a generally circular end portion of the other movable member adapted to be received by said circular cavity; an axially extending channel in said end portion; a diametrically extending channel in said end portion and intersecting said axially extending channel; first and second spherical bearing members rotatably carried by said diametrically extending channel; at least one-third spherical bearing member interposed between said first and second spherical bearing members for urging the same radially outwardly into seating engagement with said annular groove; means slidably carried in said axially extending channel and bearing against said third spherical bearing member to establish point contact therewith; and resilient means in said axially extending channel for imposing a force load against said last named means to maintain said third spherical bearing in position intermediate said first and second spherical bearing members said one movable member and housing is rotatable about said circular end portion; and said other movable member and circular end portion is rotatably fixed and pivotally actuatable about an axis defined by a straight line extending through the centers of said first and second spherical bearing members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A coupling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said one movable member is rotatably actuated; and said other movable member is rotatably fixed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A coupling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said one movable member is rotatably and axially actuatable in response to axial movement of said one movable member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
62 words
A coupling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said annular groove includes spaced-apart first and second beveled wall portions separated by an annular recess extending radially outwardly therefrom; said first and second spherical bearing means bearing against said spaced-apart first and second beveled wall portions and adapted to prevent relative axial movement between said housing member and said circular end portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A coupling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said means slidably carried in said axially extending channel is a fourth spherical bearing member interposed between said third spherical bearing member and said resilient means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
A coupling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said generally circular end portion is removably secured to said movable member to permit access to said axially extending channel; said resilient means together with said means slidably carried in said axially extending channel and said third spherical bearing members being removable from said axially extending channel to permit said first and second spherical bearing members to move radially inwardly relative to said annular groove thereby disengaging said end portion from said housing member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A coupling device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said resilient means is a compression spring.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A coupling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said circular end portion of said other movable member is relatively smaller in diameter than said circular cavity to provide the desired degree of pivotal movement of said other movable member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A coupling device as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said axially and diametrically extending channels are arranged with intersecting longitudinal axes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-27 | 1975-03-29 | 1975-09-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-27 | 1979-03-29 | 1979-09-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-27 | 1983-03-29 | 1983-09-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |