An assembly includes a spherical bearing race and a spherical bearing element. The bearing race includes a race first segment, a race second segment and a bore that extends along an axis into the bearing race. The bore also extends radially within the bearing race between the first segment and the second segment. The bearing element is arranged within the bore, and radially engages the first segment and the second segment.

A surgical tool including a socket having a housing and an aperture within the housing, the socket configured to receive a ball and a pin at least partially in the aperture. The ball is positioned at least partially in the socket and configured to rotate within the socket, the ball comprising an elongated opening extending through the ball. The pin is coupled to the socket and disposed at least partially in the socket on opposite sides of the socket, the pin including a first longitudinal axis and extending through the elongated opening of the ball between opposite sides of the socket. The ball is configured to partially rotate about the first longitudinal axis of the pin, and partially rotate, about a second axis perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis of the pin, in a plane aligned with the elongated opening.

This invention relates in general to ball joints, such as are commonly used in motor vehicle steering and suspension systems (inclusive of upper ball joints, lower ball joints and tie rod ends). The invention is particularly aimed at preventing motor vehicle accidents that are caused by accidental separation of ball joints or tie-rod ends. In particular this invention relates to a ball joint assembly having shafts on both sides of the ball and a socket with openings on both sides to accommodate the two shafts. The main shaft, as is found in standard ball joints, serves the purpose of joining components while the second shaft has a retainer/safety nut, which prevents accidental separation of the ball joint. The retainer nut ensures that the ball cannot come out of the socket in the event of ball and socket wear. The side of the socket that has the retainer nut can be closed by either welding, press-fitting or by way of a cap that is screwed into the socket. For the version with a screw-in cap, the cap can be screwed into the socket towards the ball to eliminate free play. After screwing in the cap, the retainer nut must also be adjusted accordingly. The cap can also be unscrewed and removed for the purpose of renewing the ball joint to replace worn out polymer bearing using pre-molded replacement polymer bearings. Both shafts are protected from dust and natural elements by rubber boots.

A surgical tool including a socket having a housing and an aperture within the housing, the socket configured to receive a ball and a pin at least partially in the aperture. The ball is positioned at least partially in the socket and configured to rotate within the socket, the ball comprising an elongated opening extending through the ball. The pin is coupled to the socket and disposed at least partially in the socket on opposite sides of the socket, the pin including a first longitudinal axis and extending through the elongated opening of the ball between opposite sides of the socket. The ball is configured to partially rotate about the first longitudinal axis of the pin, and partially rotate, about a second axis perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis of the pin, in a plane aligned with the elongated opening.

A ball joint, in particular, an axial joint, having a ball stud, which is enclosed in a ball socket. The ball socket is enclosed in a joint housing and is integrally formed having at least one spring element in a region of the ball socket that faces away from the opening of the joint housing. The spring element has discontinuities, in particular in the form of slots, so that wear compensation is created by the spring element within the ball joint.

In a socket assembly having a housing with a closed end and an open end and an axially slidable and rotatable bearing, a spring washer seated on the axially slidable and rotatable bearing with a protrusion or a recess on the external periphery for engagement with a cooperating recess or protrusion on an inner cavity of the housing to effectively stop movement of spring washer with the axially slidable and rotatable bearing during driving conditions.

A double cardan constant velocity joint including a housing extending between a housing first end and a housing second end. A first yoke is pivotably coupled to the housing first end by a first spider. The first yoke extends between a first end having a socket and a second end configured for attachment to a first shaft. A second yoke is pivotably coupled to the housing second end by a second spider. The second yoke extends between a first end having a ball stud and a second end configured for attachment to a second shaft. A ball is disposed in the socket, wherein the ball has a recessed pocket for receipt of the ball stud. A biasing member is disposed in the recessed pocket to impart a bias on the ball, wherein pivotal movement of the first yoke and the second yoke causes the ball to translate in the socket.

A universal joint is provided, including: a seat, including a receiving room extending in an axial direction and at least one through hole in communication with the receiving room; a connecting member, including a ball head rotatably received within the receiving room; and an assembling mechanism, including at least one blocking member and a sleeve member sleeved around the seat, the at least one blocking member being received within the at least one through hole and blockable with the ball head in the axial direction, the sleeve member covering the at least one through hole; wherein the seat has a first hardness, the sleeve member has a second hardness smaller than the first hardness, an outer circumferential wall of the seat is partially embedded within an inner circumferential wall of the sleeve member.

A surgical tool including a socket having a housing and an aperture within the housing, the socket configured to receive a ball and a pin at least partially in the aperture. The ball is positioned at least partially in the socket and configured to rotate within the socket, the ball comprising an elongated opening extending through the ball. The pin is coupled to the socket and disposed at least partially in the socket on opposite sides of the socket, the pin including a first longitudinal axis and extending through the elongated opening of the ball between opposite sides of the socket. The ball is configured to partially rotate about the first longitudinal axis of the pin, and partially rotate, about a second axis perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis of the pin, in a plane aligned with the elongated opening.