Elastomeric bearing assembly and associated pin structure

Abstract

An elastomeric bearing assembly including a concentric outer member operable for securely engaging a bore structure associated with a first structural member, wherein the concentric outer member is disposed substantially within the bore structure. The elastomeric bearing assembly also including a concentric inner member operable for securely engaging a pin structure associated with a second structural member, wherein the concentric inner member is disposed substantially within the concentric outer member. The elastomeric bearing assembly further including an elastomeric section disposed between the concentric inner member and the concentric outer member, wherein the elastomeric section is bonded to a surface of the inner member and a surface of the outer member, and wherein the elastomeric section is operable for accommodating axial, cocking, and torsion motions of the second structural member relative to the first structural member.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An elastomeric bearing assembly, comprising: 
 a concentric outer member operable for securely engaging a bore structure associated with a first structural member, wherein the concentric outer member is disposed substantially within the bore structure;    a concentric inner member operable for securely engaging a pin structure associated with a second structural member, wherein the concentric inner member is disposed substantially within the concentric outer member; and    an elastomeric section disposed between the concentric inner member and the concentric outer member, wherein the elastomeric section is bonded to a surface of the inner member and a surface of the outer member, and wherein the elastomeric section is operable for accommodating axial, cocking, and torsion motions of the second structural member relative to the first structural member.    
     
     
         2 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the concentric outer member comprises a substantially barrel-shaped member.  
     
     
         3 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the concentric outer member comprises a substantially cylinder-shaped member.  
     
     
         4 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the concentric inner member comprises a substantially barrel-shaped member.  
     
     
         5 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the concentric inner member comprises a substantially cylinder-shaped member.  
     
     
         6 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more concentric shim members disposed within the elastomeric section, wherein the one or more concetric shim members are operable for providing the elastomeric section with rigidity.  
     
     
         7 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a plate structure having a slot, wherein the plate structure is fixedly attached to the second structural member.  
     
     
         8 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 7 , wherein an end of the pin structure comprises a notch operable for non-rotatably engaging the slot of the plate structure.  
     
     
         9 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the notch is formed by a collar associated with the end of the pin structure.  
     
     
         10 . An elastomeric bearing assembly for use in conjunction with the equalizer link of a tractor or other earth-moving vehicle, comprising: 
 a concentric outer member operable for securely engaging a bore structure associated with a first structural member, wherein the concentric outer member is disposed substantially within the bore structure;    a concentric inner member operable for securely engaging a pin structure associated with a second structural member, wherein the concentric inner member is disposed substantially within the concentric outer member; and    an elastomeric section disposed between the concentric inner member and the concentric outer member, wherein the elastomeric section is bonded to a surface of the inner member and a surface of the outer member, and wherein the elastomeric section is operable for accommodating axial, cocking, and torsion motions of the second structural member relative to the first structural member.    
     
     
         11 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the concentric outer member comprises a substantially barrel-shaped member.  
     
     
         12 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the concentric outer member comprises a substantially cylinder-shaped member.  
     
     
         13 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the concentric inner member comprises a substantially barrel-shaped member.  
     
     
         14 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the concentric inner member comprises a substantially cylinder-shaped member.  
     
     
         15 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more concentric shim members disposed within the elastomeric section, wherein the one or more concetric shim members are operable for providing the elastomeric section with rigidity.  
     
     
         16 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a plate structure having a slot, wherein the plate structure is fixedly attached to the second structural member.  
     
     
         17 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 16 , wherein an end of the pin structure comprises a notch operable for non-rotatably engaging the slot of the plate structure.  
     
     
         18 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the notch is formed by a collar associated with the end of the pin structure.  
     
     
         19 . An elastomeric bearing assembly, comprising: 
 a concentric outer member;    a concentric inner member, wherein the concentric inner member is disposed substantially within the concentric outer member; and    an elastomeric section disposed between the concentric inner member and the concentric outer member, wherein the elastomeric section is bonded to a surface of the inner member and a surface of the outer member, and wherein the elastomeric section is operable for accommodating axial, cocking, and torsion motions of the concentric inner member relative to the concentric outer member.    
     
     
         20 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the concentric outer member comprises a substantially barrel-shaped member.  
     
     
         21 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the concentric outer member comprises a substantially cylinder-shaped member.  
     
     
         22 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the concentric inner member comprises a substantially barrel-shaped member.  
     
     
         23 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the concentric inner member comprises a substantially cylinder-shaped member.  
     
     
         24 . The elastomeric bearing assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising one or more concentric shim members disposed within the elastomeric section, wherein the one or more concetric shim members are operable for providing the elastomeric section with rigidity.  
     
     
         25 . A method for installing an elastomeric bearing assembly, comprising: 
 providing: 
 a concentric outer member operable for securely engaging a bore structure associated with a first structural member;  
 a concentric inner member operable for securely engaging a pin structure associated with a second structural member, wherein the concentric inner member is disposed substantially within the concentric outer member; and  
 an elastomeric section disposed between the concentric inner member and the concentric outer member, wherein the elastomeric section is bonded to a surface of the inner member and a surface of the outer member, and wherein the elastomeric section is operable for accommodating axial, cocking, and torsion motions of the second structural member relative to the first structural member; and  
   pressing the concentric outer member, the concentric inner member, and the elastomeric section into the bore structure using a ram apparatus, thereby precompressing the elastomeric section.