Pivot bearing

• US 5,342,128 A
• Filed: 03/09/1993
• Issued: 08/30/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DB Regio Bus Rhein-Mosel GmbH (Government of Germany)
• Original Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
• Inventors: Gruber, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannon, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US08/028,417
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 384/192, 384/202, 384/203, 384/206-213, 384/215, 384/130, 384/140, 384/147, 384/151, 384/153
• US Class Current: 384/203
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/16 Arrangement of linkage connections pivots per se F16C
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0633 the linings being made of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0671 allowing operative relative movement of joint parts due to flexing of the sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/24 Steering systems, e.g. steering rods or columns
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 27/063 Sliding contact bearings

Abstract

An annular body (2) having a spherical outside surface is fixed coaxially on an annular rubber cushion (3) which in turn is fixed coaxially on a mounting rod (10). A guiding ring (4) is supported inside a case (1) and has a spherical inside surface which cooperates with the spherical outside surface of the annular body to permit rotational movement. The case has axial abutments (6,7) which limit rotational movement and serve as fixing points for bellows which protect the joint.

Claims

1. Pivot bearing comprising

a mounting rod having an axis,

an annular rubber cushion mounted coaxially about said mounting rod,

a annular body mounted on said annular rubber cushion and having a spherical outside surface,

a guiding ring having a spherical inside surface which cooperates with said spherical outside surface of said annular body to permit rotational movement, and an outside surface,

a case coaxially surrounding said guiding ring, said case comprising a first case portion and a second case portion, each portion comprising a tubular portion fit over the outside surface of the guiding ring, an abutment flange which limits rotational movement of the mounting rod in the guiding ring, and an intermediate portion extending radially inward form said tubular portion to said abutment flange, each said intermediate portion having a concave surface facing said rubber cushion, and

bellows means extending between said case and said mounting rod.

2. Pivot bearing as in claim 1 further comprising a friction reducing coating on at least one of said spherical inner surface and said spherical outer surface.

3. Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said guiding ring is made of glass fiber reinforced PTFE.

4. Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said rubber cushion has a substantially rectangular cross-section having a radial thickness perpendicular to said axis and an axial length parallel to said axis, said axial length being 2 to 5 times greater than said radial thickness.

5. Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said cushion is adhesively fixed to said annular body and to said mounting rod.

6. Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said flanges each include holding means for attached said bellows.

7. Pivot bearing as in claim 6 wherein each said abutment flange is rolled to form said holding means for attaching said bellows.

8. Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said mounting rod has an expanded outside diameter where said annular rubber cushion is mounted coaxially, said rubber cushion being vulcanized on said expanded outside diameter.

9. Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said guiding ring and said spherical body each have an axial length, the axial length of the guiding ring being not longer than the axial length of the spherical body.

10. Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said outside surface of said guiding ring is cylindrical.

11. Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said case is axially divided between the tubular portions of the first and second case portions.

12. Pivot bearing as in claim 11 wherein the first and second case portions are identical.