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:
Jul. 10, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 30, 1999
James A. Duggan, Temperance, MI (US);
Robert G. Joyner, Toledo, OH (US);
Dana Corporation, Toledo, OH (US);
Abstract
A half round end yoke includes a pair of opposed arms, each terminating in an end surface having a recess and a pair of threaded bores. A cross includes a central body portion having four trunnions extending outwardly therefrom. A bearing cup is rotatably mounted on the end of each of the trunnions. The cross is initially positioned adjacent to the half round end yoke such that a pair of the bearing cups is received in the recesses formed in the arms. Then, a retainer strap is positioned adjacent to the cross and the half round end yoke. The retainer strap includes an elongated central body portion having a pair of transversely extending retainer portions. Each of the retainer portions includes a curved region having a pair of end regions extending outwardly therefrom. Each of the curved regions has an inner surface formed therein. The inner surfaces of the curved regions of the retainer strap receive portions of the bearing cups therein. The end regions of the retainer portions have respective holes formed therethrough that are sized to be aligned with threaded bores formed in the arms of the half round end yoke. Threaded bolts can then extend through the holes formed through the end regions of the retainer strap into cooperation with the threaded bores formed in the arms of the half round end yoke to secure the retainer strap thereto. Either the arms of the half round end yoke or the end regions of the retainer strap have retaining tangs formed thereon that positively restrain the bearing cups from being removed from the cross. The central body portion of the retainer strap extends between the two retainer portions thereof to increase the overall rigidity of the half round end yoke, which minimizes undesirable relative movement of the two arms and provides increased support to the cross.