GB418801A - Improvements in or relating to self aligning bearings or universal joints - Google Patents

Abstract

418,801. Ball joints. O. & S. BEARING CO., 303, South Livernois Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.-(Assignees of Skillmann, N.; 19212, Canterbury Road, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.) April 17, 1934, No. 11502. Convention date, April 17, 1933. [Class 65 (ii).] A self-lubricating universal joint, particularly for motor-vehicle steering-gear, comprises an outer housing formed with a converging inner surface at one end, an inner bearing member of variable cross-section, a compressible lubricantimpregnated bushing in the housing and enclosing the inner member, and another outer member telescoped into the housing, to compress the bushing round the inner member, and locked therein. In the ball-joint shown in Fig. 4, the bushing 10 is formed of an inner layer of asbestos woven wire with an outer layer of woven cotton material, the whole being impregnated with graphite or other lubricant ; alternatively, the bushing may be woven completely from any fibrous material. The bushing 10 may be wrapped round the ball 8 and then inserted with it into the housing 3, or may be first placed in the housing, the ball being then pressed into it. A cap 13 is then pressed into the housing to close the bushing round the ball, the inner surfaces of cap and housing being shaped to produce approximately uniform pressure, which is determined by the force with which the cap 13 is pressed into position. The cap is locked in place by flanging over the top edges of the housing. In a modification, the ball stud projects through an aperture in the cap 13 instead of the housing. In a further modification, Fig. 9, the cap is formed of a stamping, instead of being die-cast. Specifications 309,989 and 309,990, [both in Class 12 (i)], are referred to.