US3741591A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ball joint assembly
Assignee: Flexonics Inc
•
Filing: 1971-12-29
•
Granted: 1973-06-26
•
Expires: 1991-12-29
Abstract
Abstract Compact ball joint assembly for piping system has ball and socket portions which may be formed of pipe. A reaction member held internally of the socket portion by retaining means such as a retaining ring or radially extending socket screws provides a support for a plurality of adjustment screws which can be moved in a direction parallel to the axis of the socket portion for forcing a pressure ring positioned for axial movement within the socket against a sealing ring which bears against the ball portion of the joint.
Inventors
- 👤 L Fessler
- 👤 W Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:24
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16L; F16L27/00; F16L27/02; F16L27/04; F16L27/06; F16L27/053
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
323 words
A ball joint assembly comprising a socket member defining an interior chamber and a hollow ball member having a ball shaped outer surface portion and a tubular portion, said ball member being adapted to be recieved in said interior chamber through a first end thereof with said tubular portion extending outwardly therefrom, first sealing means mounted in said chamber for resisting axial movement of said ball member into said socket and second sealing means in said chamber adapted to be compressed against said ball member in a direction to force it against said first sealing means, said first and second sealing means being positioned in said interior chamber between the interior surface of said socket member and the ball shaped outer surface of saiD ball member; pressure ring means in said chamber and in contact with said second sealing means; thrust ring means spaced radially from said ball member and located within said interior chamber in surrounding relationship to said tubular portion and at a predetermined distance relative to said first end of said interior chamber; said thrust ring means having a greater crosssectional dimension in the axial direction than in the radial direction and having an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of said socket member for preventing rotation of said thrust ring means relative to said socket member, fastening means for holding said thrust ring means at at least a plurality of points around its periphery and preventing it from moving closer than said predetermined distance relative to said first end of said interior chamber after it has been located at said predetermined distance; and adjusting means mounted in said thrust ring means and movable into engagement with said pressure ring means for forcing said pressure ring means against said second sealing means, said thrust ring means and said fastening means being removable from said socket member with said adjusting means in their mounted position in said thrust ring means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
323 words
A ball joint assembly comprising a socket member defining an interior chamber and a hollow ball member having a ball shaped outer surface portion and a tubular portion, said ball member being adapted to be recieved in said interior chamber through a first end thereof with said tubular portion extending outwardly therefrom, first sealing means mounted in said chamber for resisting axial movement of said ball member into said socket and second sealing means in said chamber adapted to be compressed against said ball member in a direction to force it against said first sealing means, said first and second sealing means being positioned in said interior chamber between the interior surface of said socket member and the ball shaped outer surface of saiD ball member; pressure ring means in said chamber and in contact with said second sealing means; thrust ring means spaced radially from said ball member and located within said interior chamber in surrounding relationship to said tubular portion and at a predetermined distance relative to said first end of said interior chamber; said thrust ring means having a greater crosssectional dimension in the axial direction than in the radial direction and having an outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of said socket member for preventing rotation of said thrust ring means relative to said socket member, fastening means for holding said thrust ring means at at least a plurality of points around its periphery and preventing it from moving closer than said predetermined distance relative to said first end of said interior chamber after it has been located at said predetermined distance; and adjusting means mounted in said thrust ring means and movable into engagement with said pressure ring means for forcing said pressure ring means against said second sealing means, said thrust ring means and said fastening means being removable from said socket member with said adjusting means in their mounted position in said thrust ring means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The ball joint assembly of claim 1 characterized in that said socket member includes an outer wall which defines the major diameter of said ball joint assembly, said outer wall comprising the outer surface of a length of cylindrical pipe.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
71 words
The ball joint assembly of claim 1 characterized in that inner and outer sealing rings are positioned between said interior surface of said socket member and the ball-shaped outer surface of said ball member at locations along the axis of said ball member which are on opposite sides of a plane normal to the axis of the ball member and passing through the center of curvature of the ball-shaped outer surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
106 words
The ball joint assembly of claim 1 wherein said second sealing means comprises a sealing ring member and said pressure ring means comprises an annular member having an outer, transverse bearing surface in contact with a plurality of said adjusting means mounted in the thrust ring means, the inner, transverse surface of said annular member having at least one angled portion in contact with said at least one sealing means, said angled portion being at such an angle as to force said second sealing means in a generally normal direction into engagement with said ball-shaped surface when said adjusting means are moved toward said annular member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The ball joint assembly of claim 4 wherein said sealing ring member is formed of elastomeric material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
A ball joint assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fastening means is a retaining ring which is carried in a groove in the inner wall of said socket member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
72 words
A ball joint assembly in accordance with claim 6 wherein said retaining ring is discontinuous at one portion of its curcumference, the portions of said retaining ring adjacent said discontinuous portion extending radially inwardly so as to form ears which are adapted to be engaged by external means for squeezing them together to reduce the maximum diameter of the retaining ring and permit the retaining ring to be assembled into said groove.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
53 words
A ball joint assembly in accordance with claim 7 and further including means to force said ears away from each other so as to increase the outer diameter of said retaining ring and permit it to more firmly engage the outer wall of the groove in said inner wall of the socket member.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A ball joint assembly in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means to hold said ears apart comprises a turnbuckle member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
A ball join assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fastening means comprise radially positioned screws which pass through the outer wall of said socket member and into said thrust ring means at positions intermediate said adjusting means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A ball joint assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ball memBer is mounted within said socket member for pivotal movement of at least 15*.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A ball joint assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein said ball member is mounted for pivotal movement within said socket member over a movement range of at least 18*.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US908414A
Cited
US900603A
Cited
US1197588A
Cited
US1346524A
Cited
US2877732A
Cited
US3236544A
Cited
US3602532A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-25 | 1976-12-25 | 1977-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-25 | 1980-12-25 | 1981-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-25 | 1984-12-25 | 1985-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |