The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 23, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 29, 1999
David W. Daugherty, Jr., Plainfield, IL (US);
Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerding, PA (US);
Abstract
A ball and race assembly having a one piece race assembly integrally formed onto the ball is provided. This ball having an integrally formed race assembly thereon has particular utility in the railway coupling industry for use in connection assemblies which are utilized in articulated coupling arrangements and slackless drawbar assemblies. The ball and race assembly comprises a ball member having a substantially spherical shape with a predetermined diameter and a one piece race member which is formed integrally with at least a portion of the ball member in a manner so as to enable rotational movement of the ball member with respect to the one piece race member. The one piece race member is a filament wound composite type material which is wound about the ball member so as to produce an outer surface which is capable of being positioned within an appropriate holding device depending upon the environment for which the ball and race assembly is to be used. In the railway industry, this outer surface of the one piece race member has a shape which is capable of being placed within an aperture of a male connection member in a railway coupling device so as to enable rotational movement of the male connection member with respect to a car connection member of the coupling device.