Ball joint mechanism

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ball joint mechanism which is adapted to permit setting of two members relative to each other, said members forming part of a set-table device for gas transport, whereby one of said members preferably consists of a gas conduit and the other member preferably of a nozzle which is connected with said gas conduit and settable in various positions in relation thereto. In order to permit, at a ball joint mechanism of this type, quick setting by hand of the spring forces without any operations in the ball joint mechanism itself, said mechanism (11) comprises two pivotally mounted balls (13, 14) of which one ball (13) is connected with one member (6 and/or 9) of the settable device (1) and the other ball (14) with the other member (10) of said settable device, whereby the balls (13, 14) cooperate with friction elements (17, 18 and/or 19, 20) for obtaining the required frictional resistance when said balls pivot, and whereby at least one spring element (21) is provided to compensate for eventual wear of said friction elements (17, 18 and/or 19, 20) and/or of surfaces cooperating therewith of the balls (13, 14); and the balls (13, 14) are provided in a joint housing (12) comprising two members (22, 23) which can be set relative to each other in such a way that the spring forces of the spring element can be changed by changing the mutual position of said members (22, 23) of the joint housing (12).

Description: The present invention relates to a ball joint mechanism which is adapted to permit setting of two members relative to each other, said members forming part of a settable device for gas transport, whereby one of said members preferably consists of a gas conduit and the other member preferably of a nozzle which is connected with said gas conduit and settable in various positions in relation thereto, and whereby the device for gas transport preferably is a settable device for the exhaustion or extraction of unhealthy gases from workplaces. Ball joint mechanisms for the above purpose are known from the US-PS 4 540 202. In this publication there is schematically shown a ball coupling, but this is not settable and adjustable in its friction distance. Ball joint mechanisms comprising two balls which cooperate with a spring element are known from the US-PS 1 827 432 and the FR-PS 699 369, but in these prior art ball joint mechanisms it is not possible to set or readjust the spring force by simple measures. The object of the present invention has therefore been to permit, at a ball joint mechanism of the above type, setting or readjustment by hand of the spring forces. This is arrived at according to the invention by means of the characterizing features of claim 1. By providing the ball joint mechanism with said characterizing features, its spring force can be set or readjusted by hand very quickly and precisely by changing the mutual position of the two members of the joint housing. By being able to carry out the change of the spring force in this way, no operations need to be done in the ball joint mechanism nor are any special tools required. The invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which fig. 1 with a side view illustrates a settable device for gas transport having a ball joint mechanism according to the invention; fig. 2 is a perspective view, partly broken up, of the ball joint mechanism according to the invention; fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the ball joint mechanism according to the invention; and fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the ball joint mechanism according to the invention. The device 1 illustrated in fig. 1 is a settable device for gas transport, e.g. for the exhaustion or extraction of unhealthy welding gases from welding work places. Such a device 1 is usually designated as a spot extraction device and it consists of substantially a stand 2 and a fan 3 mounted thereon, said fan 3 being connected with a passage system 4 for the discharge of extracted gases. An elbow pipe 5 is provided on the stand 2, which pipe can pivot about a vertical axis. A settable arm system 6 extends from the elbow pipe 5, said arm system having two links 7 and 8 permitting pivoting of the arms in said system about horizontal axes. The arm system 6 carries a gas conduit 9 and a nozzle 10 which is connected with said gas conduit. This nozzle 10 is connected with the arm system 6 and/or parts of the gas conduit through a link which is adapted to give extensive movability and many setting possibilities of the nozzle 10 relative to the gas conduit 9. In order to obtain the movability of the nozzle and being able to set it in many positions, this link is designed as ball joint mechanism 11 comprising a joint housing 12 with two rotatably or pivotally mounted balls 13, 14. One of the balls 13 is through a coupling means 15 connectable with the arm system 6 and/or gas conduit 9 and the nozzle 10 is connected with the other ball 14 through a coupling means 16. Each ball 13, 14 is mounted such that it can rotate about its centre C. Furthermore, the balls 13, 14 cooperate with friction elements 17, 18 and/or 19, 20 for obtaining the required frictional resistance. Also, spring elements 21 are provided for compensating eventual wear of said friction elements 17, 18 and/or 19, 20 and/or the ball surfaces cooperating therewith. The ball housing 12 preferably comprises two cylindrical members 22, 23 of which one member 22 is a female member with a widened portion 24 having internal threads 25. The other member 23 is a male member with an end portion 26 having external threads 27 and dimensioned such that it can be screwed more or less into the female member 22. Said one member 22 has a bearing space 28 for one ball 13 and said other member 23 a bearing space 29 for the other ball 14. The bearing space 28 is defined preferably at one end portion by an inwardly directed annular flange 30, defining a circular opening 31 having less diameter than the ball 13. The bearing space 29 is defined preferably at one end portion by an inwardly directed, annular flange 32, defining a circular opening 33 having less diameter than the ball 14. The openings 31, 33 are sized or dimensioned such that a smaller portion of the balls 13, 14 protrude therethrough. Furthermore, the openings 31, 33 are dimensioned such that the balls 13, 14 can pivot from a neutral position N a limited number of degrees in all directions until the coupling means 15, 16 prevent further pivoting by engaging the joint housing 12 and preferably the flanges 30, 32 at the openings 31, 33. In connection with the openings 31, 33, the joint housing 12 preferably has obliquely outwardly directed edge portions 34, 35 such that the balls 13, 14 can pivot somewhat more outwards from their neutral position before the coupling means 15, 16 engage the joint housing 12 than if these oblique edge portions 34, 35 were lacking. Said edge portions 34, 35 can preferably extend in parallel with or substantially in parallel with extensions outwards to radii of the balls 13, 14. Each ball 13, 14 is preferably pivotable outwards from its neutral position N about 40-50° in all directions, preferably about 45°, before these coupling means 15, 16 engage the housing 12. At the same time, each ball is preferably rotatable about a centre line CL when it is located in its neutral position N as well as in all other setting positions, e.g. Y1 and Y2. Hereby, the ball joint mechanism 11 is capable of pivoting within a spherical sector of about ± 45° per ball 13 or 14, i.e. about ± 90° for both balls 13, 14. Furthermore, the ball joint mechanism 11 is capable of an unlimited rotating movement irrespective of whether it is set in neutral position N or in any other position Y1 or Y2. The friction elements 17, 18 are provided within the balls 13, 14 in the joint housing 12, and the friction element 19 is provided in the hearing space 28 of the joint housing 12 outside the ball 13, such that outer portions of said ball 13 engage this friction element 19. Also, the friction element 20 is mounted in the bearing space 29 of the joint housing 12 outside the ball 14, such that outer portions of said ball 14 engage said friction element 20. The friction elements 19, 20 are annular in shape and they engage preferably the inside of the respective annular flange 30, 32. In the joint housing 12 between the balls 13, 14 there are provided two movably mounted friction elements 17, 18. One friction element 18 consists preferably of a washer, one side of which defines a friction surface 36 through which said washer is adapted to engage one ball 14. From the other side 37 of the washer there is protruding an annular outer flange 38 and a centre pin 39. The centre pin 39 is adapted to define a bearing pin for the spring element 21 and the outer flange 38 is adapted to surround said spring element. The other friction element 17 consists preferably of another washer, one side of which defines a friction surface 40 through which said friction element 17 engages the other ball 13. The other side of the friction element 17 engages the spring element 21 and preferably includes a recess 42 for the centre pin 39. The spring element 21 preferably comprises a cup spring package including two pairs of cup springs 43-46. The cup springs in each pair are preferably located such that their outer portions engage each other. On both sides of the cup spring package there are preferably located washers 47, 48 and the cup springs 43-46 as well as said washers 47, 48 are threaded onto the centre pin 39 and held in position thereby. After mounting the various members of the ball joint mechanism in their operative positions, the spring element 21 is prestressed by screwing the male member 25 so far into the female member 22 that the ball joint mechanism 11 gets the predetermined friction. Thus in the completed ball joint mechanism 11, the joint housing 12 is capable of holding the balls 13, 14, friction elements 17-20 and spring element 21 in position, to protect the friction surfaces and inner parts of the joint from dirt and to apply the force giving the correct friction between the balls 13, 14 and the friction surfaces. Furthermore, the joint housing 12 has due to its partition an advantageous strength and the flow of power in tangential direction is not broken. Additionally, said construction of the joint housing 12 is aerodynamically advantageous and its construction also limits the movability of the balls 13, 14 so that no locking occurs. The friction elements 19, 20 permit fixing of the balls 13, 14 in the joint housing 12 and they also prevent dirt from penetrating into said housing 12, especially if the ball joint mechanism 11 is surrounded by a tight protective cover, e.g. a rubber bellows. The spring element 21 is provided to spring outwards e.g. for compensating eventual wear of said friction elements 17-20 and thereby preferably maintain the desired frictional force of the ball joint mechanism 11. By selecting cup springs 43-46 as spring element 21, said element gets a degressive spring constant, whereby washers 47, 48 located on opposite sides of the cup spring package prevent wear of adjacent friction elements 17, 18. In summary, the present ball joint mechanism has a resilience of flattened or level characteristic and the friction elements allow a small "slip-stick"-effect, giving a uniform and constant frictional moment also after some wear of said friction elements. Furthermore, the embodiment of the ball joint mechanism 11 described above has the advantage of being totally independent of the direction of the load moment. One coupling means 15 of the completed and mounted ball joint mechanism 11 is connected with the arm system 6 and/or the gas conduit 9 and the other coupling means 16 to the nozzle 10. If there is a need for changing the spring forces of the ball joint mechanism 11, this change is carried out by altering the mutual position of the members 22, 23 of the joint housing 12 until the desired spring forces are obtained. Thereafter, a flexible hose 49 is threaded onto and over the ball joint mechanism 11 and said hose is connected with the nozzle 10 and with a pipe portion 50 such that it defines a part of the gas conduit 9. If readjustment of the spring forces of the ball joint mechanism 11 is required, the hose 49 is released from the nozzle 10 or the pipe portion 50, whereafter the hose 49 is moved aside for exposure of the ball joint mechanism 11. After the readjustment, the hose 49 is reconnected such that the gas conduit 9 is reestablished. The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the ball joint mechanism 11 according to the invention described above and shown in the drawings, but may vary within the scope of the following claims as to its construction and position. Thus, as an alternative, the joint housing 12 can have another shape and consist of another number of members which are connected with each other in other ways; the joint housing 12 can include two members which can be connected with each other by means of a bayonet mount instead of threads; the spring element 21 can be of another type, consist of another number of members and be located in other ways; the friction elements can be of another type, consist of another number of members and be located in other ways; the ball joint mechanism 11 can be mounted between other members of a gas transport device or said device can comprise a plurality of ball joint mechanisms 11; finally, the gas transport device can be of another type than for extracting welding fume or similar.

Claims: Ball joint mechanism at a settable device for gas transport, said device comprising a gas conduit (9) and a nozzle (10) connected with said gas conduit through a flexible conduit (49), whereby said ball joint mechanism (11) is adapted to permit setting of the nozzle (10) in various positions relative to the gas conduit (9), and whereby said device (1) for gas transport preferably is adapted for exhaustion or extraction of unhealthy gases from work places, the ball joint mechanism (11) being provided inside the flexible conduit (49) connecting the nozzle (10) with the gas conduit (9), said ball joint mechanism (11) comprising two pivotally mounted balls (13, 14) of which one ball (13) is connected with an arm system (6) carrying said gas conduit (9) through a coupling means (15) while the other ball (14) is connected with said nozzle (10) through another coupling means (16), said balls (13, 14) cooperating with friction elements (17, 18) provided between said balls for obtaining the required frictional resistance when said balls pivot, a spring element (21) being provided between said friction elements (17, 18) and consists preferably of at least one spring washer (43-46), said balls (13, 14) being provided in a joint housing (12) comprising two members (22, 23) which preferably can be set relative to each other in such a way that the spring forces of the spring element (21) can be changed by changing the mutual position of said members of the joint housing, and whereby said flexible conduit (49) can be released from said gas conduit (9) and/or from said nozzle (10) and moved aside for exposure of said joint housing (12) of the ball joint mechanism (11). Ball joint mechanism according claim 1, characterized in that the spring element (21) consists of several spring washers (43-46) which are located such that outer portions of at least some of them engage each other. Ball joint mechanism according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each ball (13, 14) is journalled such that it can pivot 40-50°, preferably about 45°, in all directions from a neutral position (N) and rotate about a centre line (CL) in said neutral position (N) as well as in various positions (Y1, Y2) different from said neutral position (N). Ball joint mechanism according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said spring element (21) is provided to exert spring forces directed so that said friction elements (17, 18) are pressed in a direction towards the balls (13, 14) and/or said balls in a direction towards said friction elements, and that the spring forces of the spring element (21) are settable for setting the frictional resistance of the ball joint mechanism (11) and for eventual readjustment thereof. Ball joint mechanism according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the members (22, 23) of the joint housing (12) are connected directly with each other, whereby one ball (13) is mounted in a bearing space (28) in one member (22) of said joint housing (12) and the other ball (14) in a bearing space (29) in the other member (23) of said joint housing (12), that the spring element (21) is mounted in the joint housing (12) between the balls (13, 14) and that said balls (13, 14) are mounted such that they transfer setting movements generated by changing position of the members (22, 23) of the joint housing (12) relative to each other, whereby the spring force of said spring element (21) can be set, changed or adjusted by setting and changing the position of the members (22, 23) of the joint housing (12) relative to each other. Ball joint mechanism according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the spring element (21) is movably mounted between the balls (13, 14) and prestressed in such a way that it directly or indirectly exerts a spring force on said balls (13, 14) such that said balls engage annular friction elements (19, 20) which are provided at openings (31, 33) in the joint housing (12) for the balls (13, 14). Ball joint mechanism according to claim 6, characterized in that the spring element (21) is mounted in prestressed condition between two friction elements (17, 18) provided between the balls (13, 14) and engaging inner portions of said balls (13, 14), that outer portions of each ball (13, 14) engage other friction elements (19, 20) and that the spring element (21) is provided to spring-load the friction elements (17, 18) between the balls (13, 14) in opposite directions. Ball joint mechanism according to claim 7, characterized in that one friction element (18) of the friction elements provided between the balls (13, 14) consists of a washer, one side of which defines a friction surface (36) through which said friction element (18) is adapted to engage one ball (14) and the other side of which the spring element (21) is adapted to engage, and that the other friction element (17) provided between the balls (13, 14) consists of a washer, one side of which defines a friction surface (40) through which said other friction element (17) is adapted to engage the other ball (13) and the other side of which the spring element (21) is adapted to engage. Ball joint mechanism according to any preceding claim, characterized in that each member (22, 23) of the joint housing (12) has a bearing space (28 and 29 respectively) for a ball (13 and 14 respectively) and a circular opening (31 and 33 respectively) for said ball, which opening has a less diameter than a ball partially protruding therethrough, whereby each opening (31 and 33 respectively) is dimensioned such that the edge portions (34 and 35 respectively) thereof limit pivoting of the balls (13 and 14 respectively) in outwards direction from a neutral position (N) since coupling means (15 and 16 respectively) provided thereon engage said edge portions, whereby the edge portions (34 and 35 respectively) preferably are obliquely outwardly directed and whereby each member (22, 23) of the joint housing (12) for the respective ball (13 and 14 respectively) has friction elements (19 and 20 respectively) which are annular in shape and located such that outer portions of said ball engage said elements. Ball joint mechanism according to any preceding claim, characterized by a joint housing (12) comprising two cylindrical members, one of which is a female member (22) with internal threads (25) and the other a male member (23) with external threads (27), whereby the male member (23) can be screwed into the female member (22), that each cylindrical member (22, 23) comprises an annular flange (30, 32) defining an opening (31, 33) through which a portion of a ball (13, 14) provided within said opening can protrude, that an annular friction element (19, 20) is provided to engage each annular flange (30, 32), that outer portions of the balls (13, 14) engage the annular friction elements (19, 20) and inner portions of the balls engage friction elements (17, 18) provided between said balls and that the spring force of the spring element (21) can be set and eventually adjusted by screwing the female and male members (22, 23) of the joint housing (12) further into or out of each other. Ball joint mechanism according to claim 10, characterized in that the two cylindrical members (22, 23) when screwed together define, together with the balls (13, 14) and the friction elements (19, 20) provided at the openings (31, 33) for said balls, completely closed bearing spaces for the spring element (21) and for the friction elements (17, 18) located between the balls. Ball joint mechanism according to any of claims 1-9, characterized by a joint housing (12) comprising two members, one of which is a female member (22) having first portions for a bayonet mount and the other a male member (23) having second portions for said bayonet mount, which portions of the bayonet mount permit snapping together of the female and male members (22, 23).

Inventors: HOULTZ ROBERT MIKAEL, KARLSSON LARS GOERAN, SJOEBECK LARS MAGNUS, TROEDSSON NILS INGVAR, HOULTZ, ROBERT MIKAEL, KARLSSON, LARS GOERAN, SJOEBECK, LARS MAGNUS, TROEDSSON, NILS INGVAR, Karlsson, Lars Göran, Sjöbeck, Lars Magnus
Applicants: NEDERMAN PHILIP & CO AB, AB PH. NEDERMAN & CO.
Application year: 1993
Main classification: F16L27
IPC codes: F16C11, F16M11, F16L3