Flexible ball joint
Patent 4165107 Issued on August 21, 1979. Estimated Expiration Date: 
November 22, 1997. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
November 22, 1997. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent References 1155495 2502753 2613087 2712456 2840394 3504904 3733092 3901539 InventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 05/853855 filed on 11/22/1977US Classes:285/41, WITH HEATING OR COOLING285/226, Bellows285/263Radially spaced spherical surfacesExaminersPrimary: Callaghan, Thomas F.Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassesF16L 27/02 (20060101)F16L 27/073 (20060101) AbstractThe flexible ball joint is provided with a bellows which is protectively mounted inside a shell. A portion of the shell serves as the spherical socket and a portion of a sphere serves as the ball for the ball joint. The ball is mounted in the socket and is concentric therewith. One end of the bellows is attached to the shell and the other end is attached to the ball. A plurality of generally equally angularly-spaced Purbon buttons are mounted on a support ring which is mounted on the surface of the socket. These buttons are in engagement with the surface of the ball so the ball joint can pivot freely over a wide range of temperatures. A generally spherical shell-like member is mounted in fixed and closely-spaced concentric relation to the outer surface of the spherical socket to limit axial movement between the socket and the ball and hold the Purbond button on the support ring. In addition, the shell-like member has formations shaped to define cooling channels for the protective bellows. | |
