A bearing assembly is for movably coupling first and second members, one being movable relative to the other. A plain bearing section includes an inner ring connectable with the first member and an outer convex bearing surface. An outer ring is disposed about the inner ring and has an inner concave bearing surface disposed against the inner ring bearing surface. The two bearing surfaces are formed such that one bearing surfaces slides against the other when the movable member displaces about a first axis and two bearing surfaces engage to prevent displacement between the two rings when the movable member displaces about a second axis. An elastomeric bearing section is disposed about the plain bearing section, is connected with the second member and formed such that at least a portion of the elastomeric bearing section flexes when the movable member angularly displaces about the second axis.

A mounting head, a system incorporating the mounting head and a support such as a monopod, and a system including the mounting head, the monopod, and a camera enable a photographer to tilt a monopod or other camera support while maintaining a substantially level horizon of an image. An upper head assembly and a lower head assembly are connectable to the camera and the monopod respectively. The assemblies are interconnected by a universal joint which allows the upper assembly to remain level as roll and pitch vary. A resilient member dampens relative motion of the head assemblies. As a photographer moves the camera to capture a scene, force is transmitted from the photographer's hands via the mounting head through the monopod. The photographer maintains a level horizon as the monopod tilts. A test apparatus enables design of a resilient member for desired interaction with selected classes of equipment.

The ball joint assembly includes a housing with an inner wall that surrounds an axially extending open bore. A ball portion of a ball stud is received in the open bore of the housing, and a shank portion of the ball stud projects out of the open bore. A pair of bearings are disposed in the inner bore of the housing and are interposed between the ball portion and the inner wall. Each bearing has a curved bearing surface which slidably contacts the ball portion for allowing the ball stud and the housing articulate relative before use. Each bearing also has an outer surface that slidably contacts the inner wall. A pair of biasing elements bias the bearings in opposite directions against the ball portion of the ball stud such that the ball stud is movable relative to the housing in the axial direction before use of the assembly.

The socket assembly includes a housing with an inner surface that surrounds an inner bore which extends along a central axis. An elastomeric boot extends between first and second boot ends and is sealed with the housing and a shank portion of the stud. The first boot end is received in the inner bore of the housing. An insert, which is fabricated as a separate piece from the boot, is received in the inner bore of the housing. The insert has an outer periphery which presents a plurality of radial teeth that are spaced from one another in a circumferential direction. The teeth are angled at an acute angle relative to the central axis and compress portions of the elastomeric material of the first boot end of the boot to improve the seal between the first boot end of the boot and the inner surface of the housing.

A device (1) for removably securing an actuating member to an input or output element, such as to a gear shift lever or a transmission of a motor vehicle, has a mounting point (10) for the actuating member, and a receptacle (20) for a mounting element of the input or output element. The receptacle (20) has an outer receptacle element (30) and an inner receptacle element (40) arranged therein, between which is an elastic damping element (50). To reduce undesired vibrations from the transmission or the actuating member to the interior of the vehicle, while securing the actuating member to the mounting device in a simpler manner, the damping element is a separate component which has a wave profile (52) on its wall (51) facing the outer receptacle element (30), and the mounting point (10) has a threaded insert (11) for securing the actuating member.

A mounting head, a system incorporating the mounting head and a support such as a monopod, and a system including the mounting head, the monopod, and a camera enable a photographer to tilt a monopod or other camera support while maintaining a substantially level horizon of an image. An upper head assembly and a lower head assembly are connectable to the camera and the monopod respectively. The assemblies are interconnected by a universal joint which allows the upper assembly to remain level as roll and pitch vary. A resilient member dampens relative motion of the head assemblies. As a photographer moves the camera to capture a scene, force is transmitted from the photographer's hands via the mounting head through the monopod. The photographer maintains a level horizon as the monopod tilts. A test apparatus enables design of a resilient member for desired interaction with selected classes of equipment.

A rotatable bushing for use in automotive suspension, steering, and other suitable joints is provided. The rotatable bushing includes a housing, an elastomeric portion engaging the outer surface of the housing, and a sleeve positioned within the housing. The sleeve is configured to rotate with respect to the housing and generally includes a central bore for receiving a rod or fastener therethrough. The elastomeric portion is configured to deform such that the sleeve is moveable in at least one of an axial direction and a radial direction with respect to an outer surface of the elastomeric portion.

The technology disclosed provides a joint for connecting carrier units together so as to dissipate and absorb axial forces experienced by the carrier units. The joint may be comprised of a joint housing and an elastomeric insert. The housing may be comprised of a body portion and a head portion and the head portion may include an annular flange in which the elastomeric insert is configured to be secured. The elastomeric joint is capable of absorbing and dissipating horizontal, rotational, and vertical forces experienced by the carrier units in non-linear travel along a track.

Drying device for drying hygroscopic material, for example wood, has a drying chamber for accommodating material to be dried, and air conditioning for setting a drying climate in drying chamber during drying process. Air conditioning sets drying climate, at least in part, as a function of moisture of material to be dried. There are bar-like support devices for storing material to be dried in drying chamber during drying process. At least one bar-like support device has scale for measuring weight of material to be dried that is stored on support device. Scale is in signal transmission connection with a control apparatus designed and programmed so that moisture of material to be dried is determined from weight measured by scale. Control apparatus is designed and programmed for controlling air conditioning so drying climate is set as a function of moisture of material to be dried, and determined in each case.

A bearing assembly is for movably coupling first and second members, one being movable relative to the other. A plain bearing section includes an inner ring having a bore for receiving the first member and an outer cylindrical bearing surface. An outer ring is disposed about the inner ring and has an inner cylindrical bearing surface disposed against the inner ring bearing surface, one bearing surface sliding against the other when the movable member displaces about a first axis. The two rings engage to prevent relative displacement between the rings when the movable member displaces about a second axis. An elastomeric bearing section is disposed about the plain bearing section, is connected with the second member and is formed such that at least a portion of the elastomeric bearing section flexes when the movable member angularly displaces about the second axis.