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. 12, 2010
Filed:
Jan. 17, 2006
George Schmidt, St. Louis, MO (US);
Larry Fitch, Chakokia, IL (US);
Donald Doherty, St. Peters, MO (US);
George Schmidt, St. Louis, MO (US);
Larry Fitch, Chakokia, IL (US);
Donald Doherty, St. Peters, MO (US);
Federal-Mogul World Wide, Inc., Southfield, MI (US);
Abstract
A method for assembling a ball and socket assembly () includes loading a housing () with a resilient preload washer (), an inner bearing (), a ball stud () and an outer bearing (). A loading tool () forcefully compresses the assembled components, as a unit, to an overload compression condition (), and then reduces the compression until an ideal compression condition () is achieved. The outer bearing () is staked in position while the loading tool () holds the assembled components in the ideal compression condition (). Following the staking operation, the loading tool () can be removed, and a final crimping operation permanently sets the outer bearing () in position and holds the articulating components in the ideal, pre-load clearance established. The subject method is particularly well-suited for high production set-ups in which precise pre-load clearances must be achieved at high through put rates.