Bushing assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12012990-B2
Application number	US-202117334581-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 28, 2021
Priority date	Jun 1, 2020
Publication date	Jun 18, 2024
Grant date	Jun 18, 2024

Abstract

A bushing assembly comprises a bushing element having a first surface, which is adapted to come into contact with a shoulder, and a threaded hole, which defines and axis and is adapted to be engaged by a screw; and a cage element, which is fitted around the bushing element so that the bushing element is supported and is floating; the cage element is adapted to be fixed to the shoulder and is provided with at least one opening; the opening defines an end abutment of the cage element; the bushing element comprises at least one stop portion, which engages the opening with an angular clearance and is movable around the axis at least between a first angular position, in which the stop portion is spaced apart from the abutment, and a second angular position, in which the stop portion is in contact with the abutment so as to prevent the bushing element from rotating past the second angular position; the stop portion is defined by an appendage element, which is distinct from the surface and the surface is circular.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bushing assembly comprising:
a bushing element comprising a first surface, which is adapted to come into contact with a shoulder, and a threaded hole, which is adapted to be engaged by a screw; said hole defining a longitudinal axis; and
a cage element, which is at least partially fitted around said bushing element so that the bushing element is supported and is floating, the cage element being adapted to be fixed to said shoulder and being provided with at least one first opening; said first opening defining an end abutment of said cage element;
said bushing element comprising at least one stop portion, which engages said first opening with an angular clearance; said bushing element being movable around said longitudinal axis at least between a first angular position, in which said stop portion is spaced apart from said abutment, and a second angular position, in which said stop portion is in contact with said abutment so as to prevent, in use, the bushing element from rotating past said second angular position;
said stop portion being defined by an appendage element, which is distinct from said first surface; wherein said first surface is circular;
wherein said cage element includes:
a first wall, which is transverse to said longitudinal axis; and
a second wall, which extends in a transverse manner from said first wall and radially external with respect to said bushing element relative to said longitudinal axis and is adapted to be fixed to said shoulder;
said first opening being obtained at said second wall;
wherein said cage element has a second opening, which is coaxial to said longitudinal axis at said first wall; said bushing element including a first portion and a second portion, which overlap one another and are crossed by said hole; said second portion engaging said second opening;
said bushing assembly further including a spacer and a ring, which overlap one another and are fitted onto said second portion in a coaxial manner.

2. The bushing assembly according to claim 1 ,
said first portion comprising said first surface at an axial end opposite said second portion; and
said first surface being orthogonal to said longitudinal axis.

3. The bushing assembly according to claim 2 , wherein said appendage element is arranged at said first portion.

4. The bushing assembly according to claim 3 , wherein said appendage element extends in a radial manner from said first portion relative to said longitudinal axis.

5. The bushing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said appendage element has a free end, which is axially spaced apart from an ideal plane on which said first surface lies.

6. The bushing assembly according to claim 1 , characterized in that said first opening is defined by a notch in said second wall.

7. The bushing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said spacer at least partially engages said second opening and is interposed between said ring and said cage element along said longitudinal axis.

8. The bushing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said second portion has plastic deformation regions, which are adapted to prevent, in use, said spacer and said ring from slipping off;
said plastic deformation regions being arranged at an end of the second portion opposite said first portion along said longitudinal axis.

9. The bushing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said bushing element can be removed from said bushing assembly when said cage element is fixed, in use, to said shoulder, said spacer is not fitted at said second opening and said ring is removed from said bushing assembly.

10. The bushing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein said spacer is adapted to prevent, in use, said bushing element from being removed from said bushing assembly when, in use, it is fitted on said second portion.

11. A bushing assembly comprising:
a bushing element comprising a first surface, which is adapted to come into contact with a shoulder, and a threaded hole, which is adapted to be engaged by a screw; said hole defining a longitudinal axis; and
a cage element, which is at least partially fitted around said bushing element so that the bushing element is supported and is floating;
said cage element comprising a first wall, which is transverse to said longitudinal axis; and a second wall, which extends orthogonally from said first wall and radially external with respect to said bushing element relative to said longitudinal axis;
said second wall being adapted to be fixed to said shoulder and being provided with at least one first opening; said first opening defining an end abutment of said cage element,
said bushing element comprising at least one stop portion, which engages said first opening with an angular clearance; said bushing element being movable around said longitudinal axis at least between a first angular position, in which said stop portion is spaced apart from said abutment, and a second angular position, in which said stop portion is in contact with said abutment so as to prevent, in use, the bushing element from rotating past said second angular position;
said stop portion being defined by an appendage element, which is distinct from said first surface;
wherein said first surface is circular and said second wall is cylindrical;
wherein said cage element has a second opening, which is coaxial to said longitudinal axis at said first wall; said bushing element comprising a first portion and a second portion, which overlap one another and are crossed by said hole; said second portion engaging said second opening; and
said bushing assembly further including a spacer and a ring, which overlap one another and are fitted onto said second portion in a coaxial manner.

12. The bushing assembly according to claim 11 ,
said first portion comprising said first surface at an axial end opposite said second portion;
said first surface being orthogonal to said longitudinal axis.

13. The bushing assembly according to claim 12 , wherein said appendage element is arranged at said first portion.

14. The bushing assembly according to claim 13 , wherein said appendage element extends in a radial manner from said first portion relative to said longitudinal axis.

15. The bushing assembly according to claim 11 , wherein said appendage element has a free end, which is axially spaced apart from an ideal plane on which said first surface lies.

16. The bushing assembly according to claim 11 , wherein said bushing element can be removed from said bushing assembly when said cage element is fixed, in use, to said shoulder, said spacer is not fitted at said second opening and said ring is removed from said bushing assembly.

17. The bushing assembly according to claim 11 , wherein said spacer is adapted to prevent, in use, said bushing element from being removed from said bushing assembly when, in use, it is fitted on said second portion.

18. The assembly according to claim 11 , wherein said first opening extends along an angular sector of said second wall in a circumferential direction of said second wall;
said first opening extending parallel to said longitudinal axis from said first wall for the whole axial size of said second wall.

Assignees

• Fca Italy Spa

Inventors

• Vicari Marcello
• Iacovangelo Danilo Raffaele
• Gariano Saverio

Classifications

• F16B37/044 Primary

  Nut cages · CPC title

• F16B37/061

  by means of welding · CPC title

• F16C17/02 Primary

  for radial load only · CPC title