Articulation joint linkage

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016252192-A1
Application number	US-201415030415-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 28, 2014
Priority date	Nov 5, 2013
Publication date	Sep 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an articulation joint linkage. The articulation joint linkage includes a first socket having a ball seat at a distal end. The articulation joint linkage includes a ball stud having a ball and a shank extending from the ball, the ball is arranged in the ball seat such that the ball stud is configured to articulate with respect to the first socket. The articulation joint linkage includes a locking ferrule. The locking ferrule includes a cavity receiving the ball therein, wherein the locking ferrule is attached to the first socket to hold the ball within the ball seat. The locking ferrule includes an opening, wherein the shank extends through the opening. The articulation joint linkage further includes a second socket having a bore receiving the shank of the ball stud therein.

First claim

1 . An articulation joint linkage comprising:
a first socket having a ball seat at a distal end; a ball stud having a ball and a shank extending from the ball, the ball arranged in the ball seat such that the ball stud is configured to articulate with respect to the first socket; a locking ferrule including:
a cavity receiving the ball therein, wherein the locking ferrule is attached to the first socket to hold the ball within the ball seat; and
an opening, wherein the shank extends through the opening; and
a second socket having a bore receiving the shank of the ball stud therein.

2 . The articulation joint linkage of claim 1 , wherein the locking ferrule includes a flange extending inwardly towards the cavity, the flange defining the opening.

3 . The articulation joint linkage of claim 1 further including a seal disposed around the ball stud, wherein the seal is partially received in the cavity of the locking ferrule.

4 . The articulation joint linkage of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the ball seat is threaded and an inner surface of the locking ferrule is threaded.

5 . The articulation joint linkage of claim 1 , wherein the first socket has a threaded opening at a proximal end.

6 . The articulation joint linkage of claim 5 , wherein the first socket is configured to receive a linkage arm within the threaded opening.

7 . The articulation joint linkage of claim 1 , wherein the second socket defines a spool opening.

8 . The articulation joint linkage of claim 7 , wherein the spool opening is configured to receive a spool of a spool valve.

9 . The articulation joint linkage of claim 7 , wherein the second socket further includes a first hole and a second hole.

10 . The articulation joint linkage of claim 9 , wherein the second socket is further configured to receive a locking member extending through the spool opening and between the first hole and the second hole.

11 . An implement actuation assembly for a spool valve in a machine, the implement actuation assembly comprising:
at least one lever; a spool valve including a spool extending from the spool valve and wherein the spool includes a through-hole; and a linkage assembly including:
at least one linkage arm coupled to the lever and the spool of the spool valve; and
an articulation joint linkage connecting the linkage arm and the spool, the articulation joint linkage including:
a first socket connected to the linkage arm at a proximal end and having a ball seat at a distal end;
a ball stud having a ball and a shank extending from the ball, the ball arranged in the ball seat such that the ball stud is configured to articulate with respect to the first socket;
a locking ferrule including:
a cavity receiving the ball therein, wherein the locking ferrule is attached to the first socket to hold the ball within the ball seat; and
an opening, wherein the shank extends through the opening; and

a second socket having a bore to receive the shank of the ball stud therein and a spool opening receiving the spool of the spool valve.

12 . The implement actuation assembly of claim 11 , wherein the locking ferrule includes a flange extending inwardly towards the cavity, the flange defining the opening.

13 . The implement actuation assembly of claim 11 , further including a seal disposed around the ball stud, wherein the seal is partially received in the cavity of the locking ferrule.

14 . The implement actuation assembly of claim 11 , wherein an outer surface of the ball seat is threaded and an inner surface of the locking ferrule is threaded.

15 . The implement actuation assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first socket has a threaded opening at the proximal end.

16 . The implement actuation assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second socket further includes a first hole and a second hole.

17 . The implement actuation assembly of claim 16 , wherein the second socket receives a locking member extending through a through-hole of the spool between the first hole and the second hole of the spool opening.

18 . The implement actuation assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first socket is configured to receive a linkage arm within the threaded opening.

19 . The implement actuation assembly of claim 11 , wherein the second socket defines a spool opening.

20 . The implement actuation assembly of claim 19 , wherein the spool opening is configured to receive a spool of a spool valve.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Inc

Inventors

• Sheehan Paul Anthony

Classifications

• F16K31/602 Primary

  Pivoting levers, e.g. single-sided (F16K31/605 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E02F9/006

  Pivot joint assemblies (in general F16C11/04) · CPC title

• F16C11/06

  Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints (universal joints in which flexibility is produced by means of pivots or sliding or rolling connecting parts F16D3/16) · CPC title

• E02F9/0841

  Articulated frame, i.e. having at least one pivot point between two travelling gear units (tractor-trailer combinations B62D53/00) · CPC title

• F16C11/069 Primary

  with at least one separate part to retain the ball member in the socket; Quick-release systems · CPC title