In a state where a pair of protrusion portions of a ring portion is clamped by front end engagement portions of a pair of claw members (71) (72), the front end engagement portions of the pair of claw members are swung in a direction approaching each other about a pivotal supporting portion (80). A sliding body (77) slides with the contact of the front end engagement portion to the ring portion or to the protrusion portion thereof so as to follow a radial and circumferential displacement of the protrusion portion accompanying a diameter reduction of the ring portion.

The current invention discloses a thrust lever ball head assembly comprising a thrust lever ball hinge and a thrust lever ball head. The thrust lever ball head comprises a main body of the thrust lever ball head and flange structures on both sides of the main body of the thrust lever ball head, wherein the flange structures and the main body of the thrust lever ball head are an integral part, and the flange structures on both sides of the main body of the thrust lever ball head work together with the thrust lever ball hinge to limit the thrust lever ball hinge inside the thrust lever ball head. The thrust lever ball head assembly of the present invention has a simple structure, high assembling efficiency, low manufacture costs, light weight, free of maintenance and completely fulfills the requirements of light weight.

A device for handling a shaft forming a pivoting link between two parts, including a body configured to be inserted into the shaft, and blocked in translation with respect to the shaft along a longitudinal axis in a first direction, a compression nut screwed onto a threaded outer portion of the body along the axis in a second direction opposite the first direction, a bearing member positioned against one of the parts, and a return member configured to be compressed between the compression nut and the bearing member by the screwing of the compression nut and to be decompressed in the second direction under the action of the compression nut. This device allows the shaft of the pivoting link to be handled rapidly, and makes it possible to control the load applied onto the shaft during the handling thereof.

The current invention discloses a thrust lever ball head assembly comprising a thrust lever ball hinge and a thrust lever ball head. The thrust lever ball head comprises a main body of the thrust lever ball head and flange structures on both sides of the main body of the thrust lever ball head, wherein the flange structures and the main body of the thrust lever ball head are an integral part, and the flange structures on both sides of the main body of the thrust lever ball head work together with the thrust lever ball hinge to limit the thrust lever ball hinge inside the thrust lever ball head. The thrust lever ball head assembly of the present invention has a simple structure, high assembling efficiency, low manufacture costs, light weight, free of maintenance and completely fulfills the requirements of light weight.

A universal joint assembly includes a hollow upper shaft, a lower shaft extending at least partially within the upper shaft, and a cage having a plurality of bearing apertures. Each bearing aperture includes a pair of opposed loading pads having a distinct inner wall surface sector extending radially inward into the at least one bearing aperture. The cage receives at least a portion of the lower shaft and is positioned within the hollow upper shaft. The assembly further includes at least one upper tilt pin extending through the upper shaft and a bearing aperture of the plurality of bearing apertures, and a lower tilt pin extending through the lower shaft and a bearing aperture of the plurality of bearing apertures.

A method of manufacturing an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal includes forming cup and shaft members of medium carbon steel, preparing, as the cup member, a cup member having cylindrical and bottom portions integrally formed by forging, and a joining end surface formed on an outer surface of the bottom portion after the forging, preparing, as the shaft member, a shaft member having a joining end surface to be joined to the bottom portion of the cup member, and bringing the joining end surfaces of the cup and shaft members into abutment against each other. The method also includes welding the cup and shaft members from an outer side of the cup member to an abutment portion between the cup and shaft members in a radial direction of the cup member.

A ball joint assembly includes a ball stud, a generally cylindrical bearing, a housing and a retainer which retains the bearing in the housing, The generally cylindrical bearing has an upper end, a lower end, a generally cylindrical exterior sidewall, an upper flange located between the upper end and a ring groove formed in the exterior sidewall, a lower flange proximate the lower end and extending outwardly from the exterior sidewall and a socket cavity that opens toward the lower end. The ball portion of the ball stud is engaged in and retained within the socket cavity. The bearing is secured within the housing in a bore within the housing by virtue of the working of the lower flange which is located within a counterbore of the housing and the upper flange and retainer located in the ring groove. Ball joints of the type described are able to resist a pull-out force of greater than 650 lbs and up to about 1200 lbs. They may also be sealed by incorporation of a dust boot which is attached to extends between the housing and the stud portion of the ball stud.

A method of manufacturing an outer joint member of a constant velocity universal joint includes forming cup and shaft members of medium carbon steel, forging the cup member to have integrally formed cylindrical and bottom portions, and machining a joining end surface on an outer surface of the bottom portion after the forging. The method also includes preparing the shaft member to have a joining end surface to be joined to the bottom portion of the cup member, which is formed by machining, bringing the joining end surfaces of the cup and shaft members into abutment against each other and welding the cup and shaft members by radiating a beam from an outer side of the cup member to an abutment portion between the cup and shaft members in a radial direction of the cup member.

A modeling assembly (100) for layout of rigid tubing comprises a first releasable coupling assembly (110) and a second releasable coupling assembly (120). The modeling assembly (100) also comprises a lockable adjustment assembly (130) comprising a first component (140) and a second component (150). The first component (140) is configured to be removably coupled to an end A of a first rigid tube (102) via the first releasable coupling assembly (110). The second component (150) is configured to he removably coupled to an end C of a second rigid tube (104) via the second releasable coupling assembly (120). With the lockable adjustment assembly (130) in the loose coupled state, the first component (140) and the second component (150) have only three degrees of freedom relative to each other. With the lockable adjustment assembly (130) in the locked coupled state, the first component (140) and the second component (150) have zero degrees of freedom relative to each other.

Provided is a method and apparatus for refining a ball joint stud. The method includes receiving and releasably securing the ball joint stud in a holder between a first die and a second die. The method further includes translating one or more of the first die and the second die towards the remaining die to apply a compression pressure to the ball joint stud. The compression pressure causes a plastic radial compression of the ball joint stud to a stroke length. The stroke length may be to induce a residual stress in the ball joint stud or increase a surface hardness of the ball joint stud. The first die and second die each include a contact surface configured to interface with the ball joint stud. The method may further include rotating one or more of the first die and the second die during the application of the compression pressure.