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:
Mar. 05, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 30, 1999
Daniel K. Schlegel, Salem, WI (US);
Michael D. Morton, Newport Richey, FL (US);
Theodore M. Clarke, Western Springs, IL (US);
Case Corporation, Racine, WI (US);
Abstract
A link for a hitch of a work vehicle includes an elongate arm having a first end adapted for being coupled to the work vehicle and a second end adapted for being coupled to an implement. At least one of the first and second ends includes a socket. The draft link further includes a ball removably retained within the socket. In an exemplary embodiment, the ball has a first surface with a first hardness and the socket has a second surface facing the first surface and having a second hardness less than the first hardness. The second surface is preferably formed from a metal including an ausferrite matrix and graphite spheroids. The link is preferably formed by providing at least one mold member having a cavity defining the elongate arm having the first and second ends and at least a portion of a surface of the socket at the first end configured to engage the ball, depositing a molten material into the cavity, solidifying the molten material in the cavity and removing the at least one mold member from about the solidified material. The molten material preferably comprises a ductile iron which is austempered adjacent the socket such that the socket is provided with a surface including an ausferrite matrix and graphite spheroids.