Abstract:
A pin joint assembly is disclosed that includes a pin, a collar configured to engage the pin, and a plate defining holes through which the plate may be fastened to the collar and to a frame of a machine on which the assembly is mounted.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of the filing date of, and for all other purposes claims priority to, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/152,842, filed in the U.S. Patent &amp; Trademark Office on Feb. 16, 2009 and titled “PIN JOINT”. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The invention described herein relates to pin joint assemblies, including pin joint assemblies utilized in axle assemblies of machines. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    An axle may sustain multiple loads during use, some of sufficient intensity to cause the axle to break or otherwise fail. A pin joint assembly may be utilized to dampen such loads in order to prolong axle life. The pin joint assembly and associated components may be designed to enable easy removal of the pin joint assembly in order to ease maintenance and replacement. 
         [0004]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,182 to Schroeder discloses a pivot pin assembly that includes an end plate. Bolts secure the end plate to a pin and a thrust ring of the pivot pin assembly. Additional bolts secure the end plate to a bracket. The bracket is affixed to a bucket configured for attachment to boom arms of a loader. The bolts ensure that the end plate, the pin, and the thrust ring do not rotate relative to the bracket. However, the bracket, the pin, the thrust ring, and the end plate rotate as a unit relative to bearings in the boom arms of the loader. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    A pin joint assembly is disclosed that includes a pin, a collar configured to engage the pin, and a plate defining holes through which the plate may be fastened to the collar and to a frame of a machine on which the assembly is mounted. 
         [0006]    A pin joint assembly is disclosed that includes a pin, a collar configured to engage the pin, and a plate defining first and second pluralities of plate bolt holes configured such that the plate may be fastened to a frame of a machine through the first plurality of plate bolt holes and the plate may be fastened to the collar through the second plurality of plate bolt holes. The machine further includes an axle assembly including an axle body and an axle tube substantially perpendicular to the axle body, the pin joint assembly being at least partially housed in the axle tube. 
         [0007]    A pin joint assembly is disclosed that includes a pin, a collar configured to engage the pin, and a plate defining first and second pluralities of plate bolt holes configured such that the plate may be fastened to a frame of a machine through the first plurality of plate bolt holes and the plate may be fastened to the collar through the second plurality of plate bolt holes. The machine further includes an axle assembly including an axle body and an axle tube substantially perpendicular to the axle body, the pin joint assembly being at least partially housed in the axle tube. The pin joint assembly further includes first and second pluralities of bolts, wherein when the pin joint assembly is assembled, the first plurality of bolts is carried by the first plurality of plate bolt holes and the second plurality of bolts is carried by the second plurality of plate bolt holes, and the first plurality of bolts is substantially concentric with the second plurality of bolts. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a fragmentary perspective view of an axle assembly of a motor grader, including a pin joint assembly according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken through line  2 -- 2  in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a detail view of a region encompassed by line  3  in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    An axle assembly is shown broadly in  FIG. 1  at reference numeral  10 . The axle assembly  10  includes an axle body  12  engaging an axle tube  14 , and a pin joint assembly  16  ( FIG. 2 ) at least partially housed by the axle tube  14 . The axle body  12  is substantially perpendicular to the axle tube  14 . The pin joint assembly  16  includes first and second opposing end portions  18 ,  20 . The first end portion  18  of the pin joint assembly  16  is engaged by a first frame plate  22  of a machine “M” and includes a first collar  24 , a first thrust ring  26 , a first sleeve bearing  28 , and a first seal assembly  30 . The second end portion  20  of the pin joint assembly  16  is engaged by a second frame plate  32  of the machine “M” and includes a second collar  34 , a second thrust ring  36 , a second sleeve bearing  38 , and a second seal assembly  40 . The second frame plate defines a plurality of frame bolt holes  33  and the second collar  34  defines a plurality of collar bolt holes  35 . The pin joint assembly  16  also includes a pin  42  and a bushing  44 . The pin  42  defines a pin puller hole  43 . 
         [0012]    The pin joint assembly  16  also includes a joint retention assembly  46 . The joint retention assembly  46  includes a retaining plate  48  and first and second pluralities of bolts  50 ,  52 . The retaining plate  48  defines first and second pluralities of plate bolt holes  54 ,  56  for receiving the first and second pluralities of bolts  50 ,  52 , respectively. When the retaining plate  48  is installed, the first plurality of bolts  50  are carried by the first plurality of plate bolt holes  54  and the plurality of frame bolt holes  33 , while the second plurality of bolts  52  are carried by the second plurality of plate bolt holes  56  and the plurality of collar bolt holes  35 . When installed, the first plurality of bolts is substantially concentric with the second plurality of bolts. 
       INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
       [0013]    The illustrated axle assembly  10  is the front axle assembly of a motor grader. In the illustrated application, the pin joint assembly  16  enhances axle assembly compliance as the axle assembly  10  experiences lateral loads, radial loads, and other loads during motor grader operation, thereby helping to extend axle assembly life. 
         [0014]    The joint retention assembly  46  of the pin joint assembly  16  eases maintenance and assembly. Specifically, when the retaining plate  48  is removed, a pin pulling tool (not shown) may be inserted into the pin puller hole  43  defined by the pin  42  and actuated to remove the pin  42  and associated components of the pin joint assembly  16 . 
         [0015]    A pin joint assembly is disclosed. Variations of the pin joint assembly of the invention may be practiced without departing from the scope of the invention, as the scope of the invention is set forth in the following claims.