Ball and socket bearing assembly having replaceable composite stationery

Abstract

A bearing comprising a spherical ball removably mounted in an outer socket. The ball has a bore axis, an insertion axis and are orientation axis orthogonally arranged, an outer spherical bearing surface, diametrically opposed truncations on the outer spherical bearing surface parallel to the bore axis spaced apart a first dimension and end surfaces spaced apart on the bore axis a second axial dimension. The outer socket includes a socket axis, a socket bore extending axially therethrough end portions spaced apart on the socket axis, and an annular inner raceway having a concave configuration presenting a maximum diameter between the socket end portions sufficient to rotatably receive the outer spherical bearing surface of the ball and a minimum socket bore diameter adjacent the end portions that this greater than the spherical ball first and second dimensions so that coaxial alignment of the insertion and socket axis will allow the spherical ball to be inserted into the inner raceway of the outer socket for rotation about the orientation axis to replaceably seat the spherical ball in an installed position within the inner raceway. The ball and socket bearing assembly further includes a clamp member for securing the spherical ball in anti-rotational relation to any support member on which the spherical ball is mounted.