Patent ID: 9157471
Filing Date: 2015-10-13
Classification: F16C,F16M,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A spherical bearing for releasably immobilizing an attachment to a shaft comprising: a truncated spherical core comprising opposing top and bottom surfaces connected by a spherical outer periphery, and further comprising an annular hole through the center of the core for appending the core to the shaft, the core comprising: a flexible housing surrounding the spherical core; and a releasable clamping mechanism for radially clamping the flexible housing to compress the spherical core, the clamping mechanism being positioned to reduce the diameter of the flexible housing when the clamping mechanism is tightened to cause the segments to deflect about the deflection flexure points and conform to the outer surface of the shaft, thereby immobilizing the core on the shaft and immobilizing the housing on the core; the spherical core having a spherical core diameter and the shaft having a shaft diameter wherein the ratio of said spherical core diameter to said shaft diameter is greater than about 1.5.