Rod End Bearings

About Rod End Bearings

Arod end bearing, also known as aheim joint(North America) orrose joint(UK and elsewhere), is a mechanical articulatingjoint. Such joints are used on the ends of control rods,steering links,tie rods, or anywhere a precision articulating joint is required, and where aclevis end(which requires perfect alignment between the components) is unsuitable. A ballswivelwith an opening through which a bolt or other attaching hardware may pass is pressed into a circular casing with a threaded shaft attached. The threaded portion may be either male or female. The heim joint's advantage is that the ball insert permits the rod or bolt passing through it to be misaligned to a limited degree. A link terminated in two heim joints permits misalignment of their attached shafts.

A linkage with heim joints on both of its ends transmits force in one direction only: directly along its long axis. It cannot transmit forces in any other direction, or any moments. This makes these types of joints useful forstatically determinate structures.