Patent US3901049A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3901049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Universal joint
Assignee: Deere and Co
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Filing: 1974-05-13
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Granted: 1975-08-26
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Expires: 1994-05-13
Abstract
Abstract A universal joint including bearing seals which assure each bearing fresh lubrication each time the universal joint is lubricated. It consists of a journal cross with bearings mounted on each of the trunnions. Lubrication to each of the bearings enters the bearing cup and is retained by an annular seal including a boot of an elastomeric material which has a seal lip at one end sealingly engaging the bearing cup and has a seal lip on its other end slidably and sealingly engaging the trunnion. The boot means is capable of extending under lubricant pressure from a normal contracted unstressed condition to an extended stressed condition in which the lips remains substantially lubricant-tight until the lubricant pressure exceeds the pressure required to extend the boot at which pressure the lips will yield to permit escape of lubricant. Once the pressure is relieved, the lips close and the boots remain extended until rotation of the universal joint at a predetermined speed causes the lips to yield under the pressure created by the centrifugal force on the seals and the boots contract to their normal condition.
Inventors
- 👤 Saul Herscovici
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:50
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D3/00; F16D3/16; F16D3/26; F16D3/38; F16D3/40; F16D3/41; F16C; F16C33/00; F16C33/30; F16C33/66; F16C33/6603; F16C33/6622; F16D3/382; F16D3/385; F16C21/00; F16C21/005; F16C2361/00; F16C2361/41; F16D2300/00; F16D2300/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A universal joint comprising: a journal cross having a plurality of trunnions; bearing means surrounding each of the trunnions; lubrication means associated with the journal cross for conducting lubricant to each of the bearing means; a bearing cup on each of the bearing means; and an annular seal of yiEldable elastomeric material for each bearing cup including normally contracted, extendable and contractable annular boot means extending between the bearing cup and the trunnion, annular seal lip means at the outer end of the boot means sealingly engaging the cup, and annular seal lip means at the inner end of the boot means slidingly and sealingly engaging the trunnion; said annular seal being so constructed and arranged that upon lubricant being conducted to the bearing means, the lip means will not yield under lubricant pressure until after complete extension of the boot means, then upon rotation of the universal joint at a predetermined speed, the pressure caused by centrifugal force acting on the seal causes the lip means to yield, the lubricant in the boot means to escape and the boot means to contract.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
A universal joint comprising: a journal cross having a plurality of trunnions; bearing means surrounding each of the trunnions; lubrication means associated with the journal cross for conducting lubricant to each of the bearing means; a bearing cup on each of the bearing means; and an annular seal of yiEldable elastomeric material for each bearing cup including normally contracted, extendable and contractable annular boot means extending between the bearing cup and the trunnion, annular seal lip means at the outer end of the boot means sealingly engaging the cup, and annular seal lip means at the inner end of the boot means slidingly and sealingly engaging the trunnion; said annular seal being so constructed and arranged that upon lubricant being conducted to the bearing means, the lip means will not yield under lubricant pressure until after complete extension of the boot means, then upon rotation of the universal joint at a predetermined speed, the pressure caused by centrifugal force acting on the seal causes the lip means to yield, the lubricant in the boot means to escape and the boot means to contract.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A universal joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material of the boot means has a convoluted configuration when in the contracted condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A universal joint as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inward lip means of the seal includes weight means which aids contraction of the boot means upon rotation of the universal joint.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
177 words
A universal joint comprising: a journal cross having a plurality of trunnions; bearing means surrounding each of the trunnions; lubrication means associated with the journal cross for conducting lubricant to each of the bearing means; and an annular seal of yieldable elastomeric material for each bearing cup including normally contracted, extendable and contractable annular boot means extending between the bearing cup and the trunnion, annular seal lip means at the outer end of the boot means sealingly engaging the cup, and a plurality of annular seal lip means at the inner end of the boot means slidingly and sealingly engaging the trunnion; said annular seal being so constructed and arranged that upon lubricant being conducted to the bearing means, the lip means will not yield under lubricant pressure until after complete extension of the boot means, then upon rotation of the universal joint at a predetermined speed, the pressure caused by centrifugal force acting on the seal causes the lip means to yield, the lubricant in the boot means to escape, and the boot means to contract.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
177 words
A universal joint comprising: a journal cross having a plurality of trunnions; bearing means surrounding each of the trunnions; lubrication means associated with the journal cross for conducting lubricant to each of the bearing means; and an annular seal of yieldable elastomeric material for each bearing cup including normally contracted, extendable and contractable annular boot means extending between the bearing cup and the trunnion, annular seal lip means at the outer end of the boot means sealingly engaging the cup, and a plurality of annular seal lip means at the inner end of the boot means slidingly and sealingly engaging the trunnion; said annular seal being so constructed and arranged that upon lubricant being conducted to the bearing means, the lip means will not yield under lubricant pressure until after complete extension of the boot means, then upon rotation of the universal joint at a predetermined speed, the pressure caused by centrifugal force acting on the seal causes the lip means to yield, the lubricant in the boot means to escape, and the boot means to contract.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A universal joint as claimed in claim 4 wherein the elastomeric material of the boot means has a convoluted configuration when in the contracted condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A universal joint as claimed in claim 4 wherein the inward lip means of the seal include weight means which aids contraction of the boot means upon rotation of the universal joint.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-08-25 | 1979-02-24 | 1979-08-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-25 | 1983-02-24 | 1983-08-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-25 | 1987-02-24 | 1987-08-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |