US3962889A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Lubricated joint assembly
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-07-11
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Granted: 1976-06-15
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Expires: 1994-07-11
Abstract
Abstract A lubricated joint assembly comprises joint means received in a boot having cuffs which allow coupling members to connect between the joint means and external mechanisms. The boot cooperates with the coupling members to fully enclose the joint means. The boot is pressurized with a lubricant charged thereto whereby the boot is expanded and compresses the lubricant therein. In the preferred embodiments, the lubricant is charged to the boot in a fashion which displaces all air from the boot, thus preventing oxidation of the lubricant. Further, in the present invention, the external shape of the expanded boot is controlled by controlling the shape of the boot before pressurization thereof and by also controlling the wall thickness of the boot in selected areas thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 George B. Stillwagon, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 04:48
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16D; F16D3/00; F16D3/84; F16D3/843; F16D3/845; F16J; F16J15/00; F16J15/50; F16J15/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
In a lubricated joint assembly of the type comprising a torque transmitting joint mechanism enclosed by boot means containing a lubricant, said boot means sealingly engaged to said joint mechanism, the improvements wherein said boot means comprises an elastic material, wherein said lubricant supports said boot means in an expanded condition whereby said boot means compresses said lubricant, and wherein no substantial amount of gas resides in said boot means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
In a lubricated joint assembly of the type comprising a torque transmitting joint mechanism enclosed by boot means containing a lubricant, said boot means sealingly engaged to said joint mechanism, the improvements wherein said boot means comprises an elastic material, wherein said lubricant supports said boot means in an expanded condition whereby said boot means compresses said lubricant, and wherein no substantial amount of gas resides in said boot means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a lubricated joint assembly of the type comprising a torque transmitting joint mechanism enclosed by boot means containing a lubricant, said boot means having openings therein through which coupling members connect to said joint mechanism, and said boot means having cuff means sealed to said coupling members to confine said lubricant, the improvements wherein said boot means comprises an elastic material, wherein said lubricant supports said boot means in an expanded condition whereby said boot means compresses said lubricant, and wherein no substantial amount of gas resides in said boot means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a lubricated joint assembly of the type comprising a torque transmitting joint mechanism enclosed by boot means containing a lubricant, said boot means having openings therein through which coupling members connect to said joint mechanism, and said boot means having cuff means sealed to said coupling members to confine said lubricant, the improvements wherein said boot means comprises an elastic material, wherein said lubricant supports said boot means in an expanded condition whereby said boot means compresses said lubricant, and wherein no substantial amount of gas resides in said boot means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The lubricated joint assembly of claim 2 wherein said boot means comprises a hollow cylinder of said elastic material, and wherein said lubricant supports said boot means in an outwardly bulged condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The lubricated joint assembly of claim 2 in which one of said coupling members has a passage therethrough communicating to the interior of said boot means, and including removable means closing said passage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The joint assembly of claim 2 wherein said coupling members each have an annular groove thereabout, and including ferrules pressing said cuff means into said annular grooves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The joint assembly of claim 5 wherein at least one of said ferrules has a notch therein exposing a part of said cuff means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
In combination, a torque transmitting joint assembly having coupling members extending therefrom, a hollow cylindrical boot of elastic material surrounding said joint assembly and having its ends lapped over said coupling members, means pressing the ends of said boot against said coupling members, and lubricant means disposed within said boot to the exclusion of air and supporting said boot in an expanded condition whereby said boot compresses said lubricant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
In combination, a torque transmitting joint assembly having coupling members extending therefrom, a hollow cylindrical boot of elastic material surrounding said joint assembly and having its ends lapped over said coupling members, means pressing the ends of said boot against said coupling members, and lubricant means disposed within said boot to the exclusion of air and supporting said boot in an expanded condition whereby said boot compresses said lubricant.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 7 in which said coupling members, where lapped by said boot, are generally cylindrical, and said means compressing said boot against said coupling members comprise generally circular ferrules.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
In a joint assembly of the type comprising a torque transmitting joint mechanism protected by boot means sealingly engaged to said joint mechanism, the improvement wherein said boot means comprises an elastic material, and including lubricant means disposed within said boot means to the exclusion of air and supporting said boot means in an expanded condition whereby said boot means compresses said lubricant means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
64 words
In a joint assembly of the type comprising a torque transmitting joint mechanism protected by boot means sealingly engaged to said joint mechanism, the improvement wherein said boot means comprises an elastic material, and including lubricant means disposed within said boot means to the exclusion of air and supporting said boot means in an expanded condition whereby said boot means compresses said lubricant means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a lubricated joint assembly of the type comprising a joint mechanism enclosed by boot means containing a lubricant, said boot means having openings therein through which coupling members connect to said joint mechanism, and said boot means having cuff means sealed to said coupling members to confine said lubricant, the improvements wherein said boot means comprises an elastic material, wherein said lubricant supports said boot means in an expanded condition whereby said boot means compresses said lubricant, and wherein said boot means comprises a hollow generally cylindrical body of elastic material, a first portion of said body having a wall thickness smaller than the wall thickness of a second portion of said body, and wherein said lubricant supports said boot means in an outwardly bulged condition, the outward bulge of said first portion greater than the outward bulge of said second portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a lubricated joint assembly of the type comprising a joint mechanism enclosed by boot means containing a lubricant, said boot means having openings therein through which coupling members connect to said joint mechanism, and said boot means having cuff means sealed to said coupling members to confine said lubricant, the improvements wherein said boot means comprises an elastic material, wherein said lubricant supports said boot means in an expanded condition whereby said boot means compresses said lubricant, and wherein said boot means comprises a hollow generally cylindrical body of elastic material, a first portion of said body having a wall thickness smaller than the wall thickness of a second portion of said body, and wherein said lubricant supports said boot means in an outwardly bulged condition, the outward bulge of said first portion greater than the outward bulge of said second portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a lubricated joint assembly of the type comprising a joint mechanism enclosed by boot means containing a lubricant, said boot means having openings therein through which coupling members connect to said joint mechanism, and said boot means having cuff means sealed to said coupling members to confine said lubricant, the improvements wherein said boot means comprises an elastic material, wherein said lubricant supports said boot means in an expanded condition whereby said boot means compresses said lubricant, and wherein said boot means comprises an annular body of said elastic material, a first portion of said annular body having a first wall thickness and a second portion of said annular body having a second wall thickness whereby the expansion of said boot means by lubricant charged thereto differs in degree as between said first and second areas.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
137 words
In a lubricated joint assembly of the type comprising a joint mechanism enclosed by boot means containing a lubricant, said boot means having openings therein through which coupling members connect to said joint mechanism, and said boot means having cuff means sealed to said coupling members to confine said lubricant, the improvements wherein said boot means comprises an elastic material, wherein said lubricant supports said boot means in an expanded condition whereby said boot means compresses said lubricant, and wherein said boot means comprises an annular body of said elastic material, a first portion of said annular body having a first wall thickness and a second portion of said annular body having a second wall thickness whereby the expansion of said boot means by lubricant charged thereto differs in degree as between said first and second areas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The lubricated joint assembly of claim 11 wherein said first portion extends annularly about said boot means.
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) | 1979-06-15 | 1979-12-15 | 1980-06-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-06-15 | 1983-12-15 | 1984-06-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-06-15 | 1987-12-15 | 1988-06-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |