US 12,065,009 B2
Bearing assembly for a wheel unit
Alex Connell, Polk, PA (US); and Chris Stewart, Oil City, PA (US)
Assigned to JOY GLOBAL UNDERGROUND MINING LLC, Warrendale, PA (US)
Filed by Joy Global Underground Mining LLC, Warrendale, PA (US)
Filed on Aug. 26, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/896,999.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/237,935, filed on Aug. 27, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0061119 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. B60G 3/20 (2006.01)
CPC B60G 3/20 (2013.01) [B60G 2200/144 (2013.01); B60G 2200/422 (2013.01); B60G 2200/44 (2013.01); B60G 2204/416 (2013.01); B60G 2300/026 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A suspension system for a wheel of a vehicle, the suspension system comprising:
a first arm;
a second arm;
a support structure positioned between the first arm and the second arm, the support structure configured to be coupled to the wheel that is rotatable about a wheel rotation axis;
a first bearing assembly coupled to the first arm and supporting the support structure for movement, the first bearing assembly including a single spherical bearing; and
a second bearing assembly coupled to the second arm and supporting the support structure for movement, the second bearing assembly including a first spherical bearing and a second spherical bearing;
wherein the first spherical bearing of the second bearing assembly is a first half spherical bearing and the second spherical bearing is a second half spherical bearing, wherein the first half spherical bearing is positioned vertically above the second half spherical bearing, the first half spherical bearing supporting a housing relative to the second arm against loads exerted in a direction toward the first arm, the second half spherical bearing supporting the housing relative to the second arm against loads exerted in a direction away from the first arm.