PIVOT JOINT

PIVOT JOINT An improved pivot joint has a rotatable and tiltable stud. A rotational preload force is applied to the stud by a bearing which is circumferentially stressed in tension to apply a clamping force to the stud. This clamping force resists rotation of the stud relative to a housing until a predetermined minimum rotational force is applied to the stud. A tilting or sidewise preload force is applied to the stud by a resiliently compressible bushing which is disposed between the bearing and the housing. Since the tilting preload force is applied to the stud by the bushing, the bearing can be designed to provide an optimum rotational preload force without regard to tilting preload force design considerations. Similarly, the bushing can be designed to provide optimum tilting preload forces without regard to design considerations influenced by the rotational preload forces. The pivot joint is advantageously assembled by resiliently expanding the bearing, moving the stud into alignment with the bearing then releasing the bearing so that it contracts part way back to its initial condition The diameter of the stud surface engaged by the bearing is large enough so that the bearing cannot fully retract back to its initial condition. This results in tension stresses being set up in the bearing so that it applies a clamping force against the stud to hold it against rotation. In one embodiment of the invention the bearing is provided with projections which limit sideward tilting movement of the stud.