Ball joint

Abstract: An orthopaedic instrument for comparing post-surgical joint geometry to pre-surgical joint geometry. The instrument has a head chuck which can be secured to the ball of a ball joint, and an arm having reference indicia thereon. Markings indicative of the pre-surgical joint geometry are made on the bone with reference to the center of the ball. After replacement with a prosthetic ball, the post-operative geometry is verified by securing the head chuck to the prosthetic ball, and comparing the location of the bone markings against the reference indicia on the arm. As needed, adjustments are made in the prosthetic components.

Abstract: An aircraft engine mount for mounting an engine to an aircraft includes a mounting frame fixedly joined to the aircraft, first and second prime links and a waiting failsafe link The first prime link is joined to the engine at a first joint and to the mounting frame at second and third joints The second prime link is joined to the engine at a fourth joint and to the mounting frame at fifth and sixth joints The waiting failsafe link is joined to the engine at a seventh joint and to the mounting frame at an eighth joint The first, third, fourth, sixth and seventh joints are ball joints, and the second and eighth joints are translating ball joints The fifth joint is a clearance pin joint All of the translating ball joints include a spherical bearing disposed in an opening in the respective link and a pin extending through the spherical bearing An inner bushing is disposed on the pin and an outer bushing disposed over the inner bushing The inner bushing has an oppositely disposed set of planar surfaces formed on its outside diameter, and the outer bushing has an oppositely disposed set of axially extending planar surfaces formed on its inside diameter Each one of the set of planar surfaces formed on the outer bushing slidingly engages a corresponding one of the set of planar surfaces formed on the inner bushing

Abstract: There are provided an artificial joint device that can realize an artificial limb enabling twisting motion without a drive source, and when with the drive source, reduce the size and costs of the device, and a parallel linkage that can realize the device. The linkage connects a foot portion and a mounting plate spaced from each other. A fixed link has one end fixed to the plate, and the other end connected to the foot portion via a ball joint, making the angle of the fixed link relative to the foot portion changeable in any direction. Expansible links extend between the foot portion and the plate in an expansible/contractible manner and each have opposite ends connected to the plate and the foot portion via respective upper and lower ball joints, making respective angles thereof relative to the foot portion and the plate changeable in any direction.