Ball joint for a washing machine suspension system

• Main Author: Coxon, David John
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 12.06.2018
• Subjects: BEARINGS; BLASTING; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LAUNDERING; LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILEARTICLES; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; SHAFTS; TEXTILES; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; WEAPONS

A ball joint for use within a washing machine suspension system may generally comprise a joint body including a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion may define an outer surface having a curved profile. In addition, the joint body may define at least one lubrication inlet port extending between the upper and lower portions and at least one lubrication channel extending circumferentially around at least a portion of the lower portion along the outer surface. The lubrication channel(s) may be in fluid communication with the lubrication inlet port(s) such that, when a lubricant is injected into the lubrication inlet port(s) at the upper portion of the joint body, the lubricant flows from the lubrication inlet port(s) into the lubrication channel(s) and then flows circumferentially within the lubrication channel(s) along the outer surface.