IP Library Granted Patent US 12,025,180
Granted Patent B2
US 12,025,180 · App. 17/156,340 · Granted Jul 2, 2024

Controlled torque bushing with shouldered two-piece inner sleeve

Inventor: Brent D. Johnston (Lake Forest, IL)
Assignee: The Pullman Company
F16C17/10F16F1/3842B60G7/04B60G2204/41F16F1/3863F16F1/393
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,025,180
App. No.
17/156,340
Granted
Jul 2, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A bushing assembly includes an inner sleeve, a bearing, an elastomeric bushing, and an outer sleeve. The inner sleeve includes two pieces. Each of the two pieces includes a distal end portion and a proximal end portion. Each of the proximal end portions includes an external shoulder having an outer radial face and an inner axial face. The bearing is rotationally mounted around the inner sleeve and captured between each of the inner axial faces of the external shoulders. The elastomeric bushing is disposed around the bearing and abutting the outer radial faces of the external shoulders. The outer sleeve is disposed around the elastomeric bushing and extending at least partially over the external shoulders.

Claims (32)

1. A bushing assembly comprising:

an inner sleeve comprising two pieces, wherein each of the two pieces comprises a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, each of the proximal end portions comprising an external shoulder having an outer radial face and an inner axial face;

a bearing rotationally mounted around the inner sleeve and captured between each of the inner axial faces of the external shoulders;

an elastomeric bushing disposed around the bearing and in frictional contact with the outer radial faces of the external shoulders to resist movement between the elastomeric bushing and the inner sleeve; and

an outer sleeve disposed around the elastomeric bushing and extending at least partially over the external shoulders.

2. The bushing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric bushing comprises beads proximate the outer radial faces of the external shoulders.

3. The bushing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric bushing abuts the inner axial faces of the external shoulders.

4. The bushing assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the elastomeric bushing comprises beads proximate the inner axial faces of the external shoulders.

5. The bushing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each of the two pieces of the inner sleeve are symmetrical.

6. The bushing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each of the two pieces of the inner sleeve are asymmetrical.

7. The bushing assembly according to claim 6 , wherein each of the two pieces of the inner sleeve comprise a locking feature.

8. The bushing assembly according to claim 7 , wherein one of the two pieces of the inner sleeve comprises an axial tab at its distal end portion and the other piece of the inner sleeve comprises an axial recess at its distal end portion, wherein the axial tab is press fit into the axial recess to form the locking feature.

9. The bushing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the inner sleeve comprises a locking feature configured to secure the two pieces together.

10. The bushing assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the external shoulders each define a width and an outer diameter, wherein at least one of the outer diameters and the widths of the external shoulders are sized to radially and/or conically tune the elastomeric bushing.

11. A bushing assembly comprising:

an inner sleeve consisting of two pieces, wherein each of the two pieces comprises a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, each of the proximal end portions comprising an external shoulder having an outer radial face and an inner axial face;

a bearing rotationally mounted around the inner sleeve and captured between each of the inner axial faces of the external shoulders;

an elastomeric bushing disposed around the bearing and abutting the outer radial faces and the inner axial faces of the external shoulders; and

an outer sleeve disposed around the elastomeric bushing and extending at least partially over the external shoulders.

12. The bushing assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the elastomeric bushing comprises beads proximate the outer radial faces of the external shoulders.

13. The bushing assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the elastomeric bushing comprises beads proximate the inner axial faces of the external shoulders.

14. The bushing assembly according to claim 11 , wherein each of the two pieces of the inner sleeve are symmetrical.

15. The bushing assembly according to claim 11 , wherein each of the two pieces of the inner sleeve are asymmetrical.

16. The bushing assembly according to claim 15 , wherein each of the two pieces of the inner sleeve comprise a locking feature.

17. The bushing assembly according to claim 16 , wherein one of the two pieces of the inner sleeve comprises an axial tab at its distal end portion and the other piece of the inner sleeve comprises an axial recess at its distal end portion, wherein the axial tab is press fit into the axial recess to form the locking feature.

18. The bushing assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the external shoulders each define a width and an outer diameter, wherein at least one of the outer diameters and the widths of the external shoulders are sized to radially and/or conically tune the elastomeric bushing.

19. A bushing assembly comprising:

an inner sleeve comprising two pieces, wherein each of the two pieces comprises a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, each of the proximal end portions comprising an external shoulder having an outer radial face and an inner axial face;

a bearing rotationally mounted around the inner sleeve and captured between each of the inner axial faces of the external shoulders;

an elastomeric bushing disposed around the bearing and abutting the outer radial faces and the inner axial faces of the external shoulders; and

an outer sleeve disposed around the elastomeric bushing and extending at least partially over the external shoulders,

wherein each of the two pieces of the inner sleeve comprise a locking feature.

Assignments (5)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 72553 FRAME 230. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Feb 11, 2026
From: THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: THE PULLMAN COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 075530/0507 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 20, 2025
From: THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: THE PULLMAN COMPANY LLC
Reel/Frame 072553/0230 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Apr 7, 2023
From: TENNECO INC.; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063268/0506 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Nov 22, 2022
From: DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; TENNECO INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061989/0689 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 23, 2021
From: JOHNSTON, BRENT D.
To: THE PULLMAN COMPANY
Reel/Frame 056017/0246 →