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:
Feb. 18, 2003
Filed:
May. 09, 2001
Daniel Benjamin Kletzli, Waterloo, IA (US);
Shane Michael Boden, Waterloo, IA (US);
Deere & Company, Moline, IL (US);
Abstract
A bearing assembly for a hitch link having a removable spherical bushing within a socket is arranged to be symmetrical about a plane dissecting the socket lengthwise of the link. The socket is formed with laterally extending protrusion to increase the socket strength at the location of the greatest tension forces. The socket is configured with an entry slot for the bushing that is normal to the length of the link so that the slot does not interfere with the area of the contact wear surface between the busing and the socket. Once the bushing is installed in the socket, a sleeve is inserted into a bore of the bushing. One end of the sleeve has a raised retaining lip and the opposite end of the sleeve carries a snap ring groove. A snap ring is seated in the groove and retains the sleeve in the bushing.