Pivot bearing

• US 5,364,191 A
• Filed: 03/09/1993
• Issued: 11/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vibracoustic GmbH & Company KG (Freudenberg & Company KG)
• Original Assignee: Firma Carl Freudenberg
• Inventors: Gruber, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannon, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US08/028,416
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 354/192, 354/202, 354/203, 354/206-213, 354/215, 354/130, 354/140, 354/147, 354/151, 354/153
• US Class Current: 384/203
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 7/16 Arrangement of linkage connections pivots per se F16C
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0614 the female part of the joint being open on two sides
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0671 allowing operative relative movement of joint parts due to flexing of the sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 23/045 for radial load mainly, e.g. radial spherical plain bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/24 Steering systems, e.g. steering rods or columns in general B62D
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 27/063 Sliding contact bearings

Abstract

A guiding ring (4) having a spherical inside surface is supported inside an annular rubber cushion (3) which in turn is supported inside a metal case (1). A body (2) having a spherical outer surface cooperates with the inner surface of the ring to permit rotational movement. Bellows (5) attached to axial abutments (6,7) of the case protect the joint from abrasive elements. The case is preferably in two parts which are press fit together, the rubber cushion being fixed inside one of the parts.

Claims

1. Pivot bearing comprising

a case comprising two parts, each part having a cylindrical inside surface and a cylindrical outside surface, the inside surface of one of said parts being fit on the outside surface of the other of said parts,

a rubber cushion of annular shape positioned against the inside surface of the other of said parts, said cushion having a central axis,

a guiding ring coaxially inside said rubber cushion, said guiding ring having a spherical inner surface, and

a body having a spherical outer surface which cooperates with said inner surface of said ring to permit rotational movement.

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 hearing 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 rectangular cross-section having a radial extent perpendicular to said axis and an axial extent parallel to said axis.

5. Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said case parts each have an annular flange which extends radially inward toward said axis.

6. Pivot bearing as in claim 5 wherein said guiding ring has an outside diameter, said spherical body likewise having an outside diameter, said abutments each having an inside diameter which, relative to said axis, lies between said outside diameter of said guiding ring and said outside diameter of said spherical body.

7. Pivot bearing as in claim 5 further comprising bellows protecting said body, said abutments having holding means for fixing said bellows to said case.

8. Pivot bearing as in claim 1 further comprising a bellows protecting said body, said case having holding means for fixing said bellows to said case.

9. Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said rubber cushion is vulcanized to said inside surface of the other of said parts.

10. Pivot bearing as in claim 1 wherein said one case part is pressed axially onto said other case part.