Swivel bearing and a steering axle equipped therewith

1. A bearing device comprising:

a first bearing part having a bearing opening therein;

a second bearing part;

a swivel bearing set in said bearing opening, said swivel bearing including:

a pivot axle having a longitudinal axis;

an elastic, radially prestressed bearing element encompassing at least a part of said pivot axle;

a metal outer sleeve encompassing said bearing element, disposed to exert a radial prestress on said bearing element, said outer sleeve being encompassed by and directly contacting said first bearing part; and

a connecting element for joining said first bearing part and said second bearing part, said connecting element having a longitudinal axis coaxial with said longitudinal axis of said pivot axle, said connecting element including a threaded bolt, and said bolt forms said pivot axle.

2. The bearing device of claim 1 , wherein said bearing element is operable to:

elastically bias said first bearing part and said second bearing part toward a starting position; and

elastically allow a specified swivel angle between said first bearing part and said second bearing part under torsion.

3. The bearing device of claim 1 , wherein said bearing element is ring-shaped.

4. The bearing device of claim 1 , wherein said bearing element comprises

a first elastic, radially prestressed bearing element encompassing at least a part of said pivot axle, located at a first side of said first bearing part;

further comprising a second elastic, radially prestressed bearing element encompassing at least a part of said pivot axle, located at a second side of said first bearing part such that said first bearing part is located between said first bearing element and said second bearing element.

5. The bearing device of claim 4 , wherein said swivel bearing further includes a metal, tubular inner sleeve having an outer surface, located between said pivot axle and said first bearing element, and located between said pivot axle and said second bearing element.

6. The bearing device of claim 5 , wherein said outer surface of said inner sleeve of said swivel bearing further includes a circumferential groove receiving said first bearing element or said second bearing element.

7. The bearing device of claim 6 , wherein said swivel bearing further includes a permanently lubricated slide bearing, roller bearing or needle bearing disposed between said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve.

8. The bearing device of claim 4 , wherein said first bearing element or said second bearing element is operable to elastically:

bias said first bearing part and said second bearing part toward a starting position; and

allow a specified swivel angle between said first bearing part and said second bearing part under torsion.

9. The bearing device of claim 4 , wherein said connecting element includes a threaded bolt, and said bolt forms said pivot axle.

10. The bearing device of claim 1 , wherein said swivel bearing comprises a

a first swivel bearing to be set in an opening of an axle beam, wherein:

said pivot axle comprises a first pivot axle having a first longitudinal axis;

said bearing element comprises a first elastic, radially prestressed bearing element encompassing at least a part of said first pivot axle;

said metal outer sleeve encompasses said first bearing element, disposed to exert a radial prestress on said first bearing element, said outer sleeve to be encompassed by and to directly contact the axle beam; and

said connecting element comprises a first connecting element for joining said axle beam and said steering fork, said first connecting element having a longitudinal axis coaxial with said first longitudinal axis;

further comprising:

a second swivel bearing to be set in an opening of a tie rod, said second swivel bearing including:

a second pivot axle having a second longitudinal axis;

a second elastic, radially prestressed bearing element encompassing at least a part of said second pivot axle, located at a first side of the tie rod;

a third elastic, radially prestressed bearing element encompassing at least a part of said second pivot axle, to be located at a second side of the tie rod such that the tie rod is located between said second bearing element and said third bearing element; and

a second connecting element for joining the tie rod and the steering fork, said second connecting element having a longitudinal axis coaxial with said second longitudinal axis.

11. The bearing device of claim 10 , further comprising a pair of washers, each washer of said pair having an undulated contact face which faces an undulated contact face of another washer of said pair;

wherein the steering fork further includes a recess for receiving the axle beam and a staying face therein, and a first washer of said pair is irrotatably fixed to the staying face;

wherein a second washer of said pair is irrotatably fixed to the axle beam;

wherein said pair of washers is operable to form a latched position, in which said first washer and said second washer are held against each other with substantially an entirety of said undulated contact faces contacting each other;

wherein said first washer of said pair is rotatable with respect to said second washer of said pair; and

wherein said pair of washers is operable to decrease an area of said undulated contact faces in contact with one another when a rotation angle between said first washer and said second washer is increased.

12. A bearing device comprising:

a first bearing part having a bearing opening therein:

a second bearing part;

a swivel bearing set in said bearing opening said swivel bearing including:

a pivot axle having a longitudinal axis:

an elastic, radially prestressed bearing element encompassing at least a part of said pivot axle;

a metal outer sleeve encompassing said bearing element disposed to exert a radial prestress on said bearing element, said outer sleeve being encompassed by and directly contacting said first bearing part; and

a connecting element for joining said first bearing part and said second bearing part, said connecting element having a longitudinal axis coaxial with said longitudinal axis of said pivot axle;

wherein said swivel bearing further includes a metal, tubular inner sleeve, having an outer surface, disposed between said pivot axle and said bearing element, and

wherein said bearing element is applied to said outer surface of said inner sleeve.

13. The bearing device of claim 12 , wherein said bearing element extends as a sleeve over substantially an entire length of said outer surface of said inner sleeve.

14. The bearing device of claim 12 , wherein said bearing element is secured to said inner sleeve and/or said outer sleeve by adhesion, vulcanization and/or form fit.

15. The bearing device of claim 12 , wherein said swivel bearing further includes a permanently lubricated slide bearing, roller bearing or needle bearing disposed between said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve.

16. The bearing device of claim 12 , wherein said swivel bearing further includes:

a roller bearing or needle bearing disposed between said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve; and

a seal disposed to seal an end of said roller bearing or needle bearing.

17. The bearing device of claim 16 , wherein said seal is operable to open to an exterior of said swivel bearing under internal pressure.

18. The bearing device of claim 12 , wherein said swivel bearing further includes:

a roller bearing or needle bearing disposed between said inner sleeve and said outer sleeve; and

a device for relubricating said roller bearing or needle bearing.

19. The bearing device of claim 12 , wherein said outer surface of said inner sleeve of said swivel bearing further includes a circumferential groove receiving said bearing element.