AU746055B2 - A device for maintaining a link through a failed joint - Google Patents

Description

P/00/0oII Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: A DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING A LINK THROUGH

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C A FAILED JOINT Applicant: JAMES GEORGE PANAS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: JUN 19 1 MLe 1999 C:XWNWORDTONA\BWISCEL-1\Pll.DOC 2 A DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING A LINK THROUGH A FAILED JOINT This invention relates to a device for maintaining a link between elements previously linked by a joint. More specifically the device is for use with a ball and socket joint for maintaining the socket in a position to contact the ball when the socket is no longer capable of retaining the ball. The device is applicable for use within a steering system of an automobile and it will be convenient to hereinafter describe the invention in relation to that exemplary application. It should be appreciated however, that the invention is not limited thereto.

Ball and socket joints, as used in automobile steering systems, function to provide a flexible path for transmitting forces from the steering wheel to the road wheels. The ball and socket joint will wear with use until the socket can no longer retain the ball. This will lead to the separation of the joint and ultimate failure of the steering system as the joint can no longer function to transmit the forces from S 15 the steering wheel to the road wheels. Failure of a steering system in this manner can be dangerous and should be avoided.

It is possible to avoid this type of failure by conducting regular inspections of the joints to monitor wear of the ball and socket and to replace the joint when it is considered necessary. Regular inspections can be inconvenient and increase 20 the cost of maintaining an automobile. Furthermore premature replacement of the joint adds to unnecessary costs of maintaining the automobile. While the converse may result in an accident. It would be advantageous to provide a device which addresses these problems.

0 It is an object of this invention to provide a device for use with a joint linking elements that can maintain the elements of the failed joint in a position to permit the failed joint to still link the elements.

According to this invention there is provided a device attachable to a joint linking a first element with a second element, said device including: an upper member including a recess extending from a free edge to a central portion thereof; a lower member having an aperture extending therethrough and being ST spaced from the upper member; a transverse member spacing the lower member from the upper member; W:Wary0BFSpedi38753-99.DoC Q OF 3 wherein in use the first element is located in a central portion of the upper member via the recess, the upper member is connected to the first element with the second element positioned adjacent the lower member such that should the joint fail to link the first element with the second element, the second element will engage the lower member and be maintained in a position to link with the first element.

This arrangement of features of the device maintains the elements of the failed joint in a position so that they can contact each other to continue transmitting forces through the failed joint. In use the recess will engage a threaded rod associated with the first element, with a nut brought to bear against the planar upper member. This feature permits the device to be connected to the first element without the joint being disassembled.

The device may be used with a ball and socket joint including a grease nipple adjacent the socket. To accommodate this type of joint the invention 15 provides the lower member with an aperture to permit access to the grease nipple. This feature will permit the joint to be greased whilst the device is attached to the joint.

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Preferably the upper member, lower member and transverse members are each substantially planar with the upper member and lower members extending substantially parallel to each other. The lower member being planar provides a surface that the second element can engage when the joint fails.

It is still further preferred that the device be formed from a single planar :member with the recess and aperture added to the single planar member before it is folded into a substantially c-shaped section.

It is still further preferred that the device be formed from metal.

It is yet still further preferred that the device be formed from plastic.

It will be convenient to describe the invention in greater detail by reference to the attached drawing which shows one example embodiment of the invention.

The particularity of these drawings and their related description is not to be understood as superseding the generality of the preceding broad description of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device connected to a ball and socket S joint according to the present invention.

W:\MaryO\BF\Spec 36753-99.DOC 4 Figure 2 is a front elevation of the device from Figure 1.

Figure 3 is Figure 2 with a failed joint.

Referring to the illustrations in general the device 1 includes a lower member 2 which is substantially planar. A transverse member 3 extends transverse to the lower member 2. The transverse member 3 is also substantially planar and extends substantially perpendicular to the lower member 2. An upper member 4 which is also substantially planar extends transverse to the transverse member 3. The upper member 4 is spaced from and substantially parallel to the lower member 2. This combination of features provides a substantially c-shaped device to engage a joint The joint 5 includes a first or ball portion 6 engaged by a second or socket portion 7. The ball element 6 includes a rod 8 and a ball substantially spherical member 15 (shown only in Figure 3) at one end of the rod 8. Generally the rod 8 is threaded. The socket portion 7 engages the ball member 15 of the ball portion 15 6 to provide a flexible path for transmitting forces between the ball portion 6 and the socket portion 7.

The device 1 is attached to the joint 5 via the rod portion 8. When the rod S.8 is threaded, a nut 9 can be used to secure the upper member 4 to the rod portion 8. Preferably the upper member 4 includes a recess 10 to accommodate 20 the rod 8 in a central portion 11 of the upper member 4. The recess 10 extends *from the central portion 11 to a free edge 12 of the upper member 4. By having the recess 10 extend to the free edge 12 permits the device 1 to be attached to the joint 5 without having to disassemble the joint Where the socket portion 7 includes a grease nipple for greasing the joint a 5, the lower member 2 is provided with an aperture 13 for providing access to the grease nipple.

When attached to a steering system of an automobile, the upper member 4 engages the rod 8 and is held relative to the rod 8 by clamping the upper member 4 between the nut 9 and a pitman arm 14. Accordingly the device 1 will rotate with the ball portion 6 and relative to the socket portion 7.

Referring now in particular to Figure 2, the lower member 2 should be spaced from the socket portion 7 so as to permit the socket portion 7 to freely SST 14 move relative to the ball portion 6. A spacing of between 2 mm to 5 mm has been S W:MaOyBsF\SpecI38753-99.DOC Q> OFOC' found to be suitable to still permit the free movement of the socket portion 7 relative to the ball portion 6.

Referring now to Figure 3, when the socket portion 7 fails to retain the ball portion 6 the socket portion 7 will move relative to the ball portion 6 and engage the lower member 2. Given the small spacing between the socket portion 7 and the lower member 2, the socket portion 7 will still be maintained in a position to maintain a link with the ball portion 6 so that forces can still be transmitted through the joint 5. More specifically the socket portion 7 will still be able to contact the ball portion 6 even when the socket portion 7 can no longer retain the ball member Finally it is to be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be introduced into the constructions and arrangement of the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambient of the invention.

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Claims (2)

1. A device attachable to a joint linking a first element with a second element, said device including: an upper member including a recess extending from a free edge to a central portion thereof; a lower member having an aperture extending therethrough and being spaced from the upper member; a transverse member spacing the lower member from the upper member; wherein in use the first element is located in a central portion of the upper member via the recess, the upper member is connected to the first element with the second element positioned adjacent the lower member such that should the joint fail to link the first element with the second element, the second element will engage the lower member and be maintained in a position to link with the first element. i A device according to claim 1 wherein the upper member, lower member and a transverse member are each substantially planar with the upper member and lower members extending substantially parallel to each other.

9. 2 3. A combination of a device according to any one of the preceding claims .9.attached to a ball and socket type joint wherein the ball potion is connected to the upper member and the socket portion is positioned adjacent the lower member 9wherein a base of the socket is positioned between 2 mm to 5 mm from the lower member. 4. A combination according to claim 3 wherein the ball portion includes a threaded rod extending from a substantially spherical ball member, an arm engages the rod whereby the device is attached to the joint between the arm and a nut. A device substantially as herein before described and illustrated. 7 6. A combination of a device attached to a ball and socket joint substantially as herein before described and illustrated. DATED: 29 January 2002 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: JAMES GEORGE PANAS W:AaryO\BF\Spmd\36753-99.DOC