Sealed self-adjusting bearing

Claim 2

A sealed ball and socket connection mounted in a bore formed in a support member comprising an inner race having a convex spherical bearing surface formed exteriorly thereon, an outer race, mounted in said bore, having a concave spherical bearing surface formed internally thereon to substantially conform to said convex spherical bearing surface and universally mounted thereon, and a combined sealing and retaining means disposed on each lateral side of said outer race including an annular retainer secured within said bore, annular recess means solely formed on an inboard side and radially inner corner of said retainer to extend to a limited depth axially in said retainer and to a limited depth radially outwardly from said inner race and an annular lip seal disposed in said recess and clamped axially between said outer race and said retainer and having a flexible lip extending radially inwardly substantially past said retainer and into sealing contact with the convex spherical bearing surface of said inner race.

Claim 3

The ball and socket connection of claim 1 wherein saId support member constitutes a hydraulic cylinder.

Claim 4

The ball and socket connection of claim 2 further comprising a bore formed transversely through an end of said cylinder adapted to receive a pivot shaft therein for mounting said cylinder on a vehicle.

Claim 5

The ball and socket connection of claim 1 further comprising lubrication means for continuously communicating lubricant between said convex and concave spherical bearing surfaces.

Claim 6

The ball and socket connection of claim 4 wherein said lubrication means comprises a fill passage formed radially through said support member and a fitting normally closing said passage.

Claim 7

The ball and socket connection of claim 5 wherein said lubrication means further comprises a first annular groove formed on the outer periphery of said outer race, a second annular groove formed on the outer periphery of said inner race and a plurality of circumferentially spaced ports formed in said outer race to communicate said first and second grooves with each other.

Claim 8

The ball and socket connection of claim 1 wherein each of said retainers has a generally rectangular cross section and a flat, annular inboard sidewall abutting a respective flat, annular outboard sidewall of said outer race.

Claim 9

The ball and socket connection of claim 7 wherein an inboard sidewall of said seal, between said outer race and said retainer, is substantially flush with respect to the inboard sidewall of said retainer.

Claim 10

A sealed ball and socket connection mounted in a bore formed in a support member comprising an inner race having a convex spherical bearing surface formed exteriorly thereon, an outer race, mounted in said bore, having a concave spherical bearing surface formed internally thereon to substantially conform to said convex spherical bearing surface and universally mounted thereon, and a combined sealing and retaining means disposed on each lateral side of said outer race including an annular retainer secured within said bore, annular recess means formed on an inboard side of said retainer to extend radially inwardly toward said inner race and an annular lip seal disposed in said recess between said outer race and said retainer and having a flexible lip extending radially inwardly into sealing contact with the convex spherical bearing surface of said inner race, each of said retainers having a generally rectangular cross section and a flat, annular inboard sidewall abutting a respective flat, annular outboard sidewall of said outer race and an inboard sidewall of said seal, between said outer race and said retainer, and the inboard sidewall of said seal being disposed substantially flush with respect to the inboard sidewall of said retainer.

Claim 11

A sealed ball and socket connection mounted in a bore formed in a support member comprising an inner race having a convex spherical bearing surface formed exteriorly thereon, an outer race, mounted in said bore, having a concave spherical bearing surface formed internally thereon to substantially conform to said convex spherical bearing surface and universally mounted thereon, and a combined sealing and retaining means disposed on each lateral side of said outer race including an annular retainer secured within said bore, annular recess means formed on an inboard side of said retainer to extend radially inwardly toward said inner race and an annular lip seal disposed in said recess between said outer race and said retainer and having a flexible lip extending radially inwardly into sealing contact with the convex spherical bearing surface of said inner race, each of said retainers having a generally rectangular cross section and a flat, annular inboard sidewall abutting a respective flat, annular outboard sidewall of said outer race and an inboard sidewall of said seal, between said outer race and said retainer, and the inboard sidewall of said seal being disposed substantially flush with respect to the inboard sidewall of said retainer.

Claim 12

The ball and joint connection of claim 9 wherein said lip seal is secured to said retainer.