Patent ID: 8157656

Claim:
A bearing cup assembly for a universal joint, the assembly comprising: a cylindrically elongated bearing cup, the bearing cup having a cylindrical side wall, a closed bottom wall, and an open top, the walls and open top defining an open interior cavity, the bearing cup being disposed about a cylindrically elongated trunnion associated with the universal joint such that the trunnion is disposed within the open interior cavity of the bearing cup and rotates freely thereon; a powder metal mass disposed within the bearing cup and being positioned between the sidewall and closed bottom wall of the bearing cup and the trunnion, the powder metal mass having a plurality of pores being impregnated with a lubricant, the lubricant being disposed within the pores, the bearing cup being without the presence of a discrete lubricant well of predetermined configuration disposed within the mass, the lubricated powder metal mass facilitating free rotation of the bearing cup relative to the trunnion; and a circular seal having an open center and being disposed about the open top of the bearing cup, the trunnion extending through the open center of the circular seal, the seal further being in close interfitment with the open top and the trunnion so as to form an impenetrable closure therebetween.