Patent ID: 9488224
Filing Date: 2016-11-08
CPC Classification: F16C,F16L

Claim Text:
1. A ball plug for a bearing race where the bearing race has an end opening for loading a plurality of ball and grease, the bearing race having a secondary circumferential groove formed therein adjacent the end opening thereof, the ball plug comprising: a plug body formed of a flexible, compressible material, the plug body having a top surface, generally cylindrical sidewalls and a bottom surface; a pair or rigid disks attached to the plug top surface, the rigid disks being separated by a gap at one central location on the top surface of the plug, each of the disks having an arcuate outer periphery and a planar internal wall, the planar internal walls of the disks being separated by the gap, and wherein an upright wall section extends generally normal to the top surfaces of each of the disks at a location adjacent the planar internal walls thereof; whereby a user can grasp the disk upright wall sections and squeeze the upright wall sections together so that the rubber body is compressed or expanded and so that the outer peripheries of the metal disks can be received within the circumferential groove formed in the bearing race, and whereby upon release of the upright wall sections the rubber body relaxes and the plug is securely retained within the opening of the bearing race.