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. 08, 2008
Filed:
Oct. 25, 2005
Scott J. Perrow, Freeland, MI (US);
David H. Ritter, Midland, MI (US);
Scott J. Perrow, Freeland, MI (US);
David H. Ritter, Midland, MI (US);
Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
A ball assembly () for a tripot-style joint includes an annular outer ball () having a central axis (L) extending therethrough and a depression () formed therein. A plurality of needle rollers () is positioned along an interior of the outer ball (). A needle roller retainer () is provided for retaining the needle rollers () within the outer ball () during operation of the ball assembly (). The retainer () has a base portion () axially opposed to an end portion () of the needle roller (), and a flange portion () extending from the base portion () into the depression (), the flange portion () of the retainer () being resiliently pivotable within the depression () in response to application of an axial load to the retainer (). In a particular embodiment, an inner ball () is positioned in the interior of the outer ball (), and a series of resilient tabs () extends from the base portion () of the retainer (). The tabs () are axially opposed to a portion of the inner ball () and are resiliently deflectable in response to application of an axial load thereto by the inner ball (), thereby permitting at least a portion of the inner ball () to move out of the interior of the outer ball ().