H.G. Heim Company

H.G. Heim Company was an American manufacturer of mechanical components, recognized for inventing and popularizing the heim joint (spherical rod end bearing) during the 20th century. The company’s name became synonymous with this component, and in North America the term "heim joint" is still widely used to describe rod end bearings.[1]

History

The company was established in the early [20th century] by Herman Gustav Heim, who patented one of the first designs of the spherical rod end bearing in the United States.[2]

Heim joints were first applied in military aircraft during World War II, providing articulation in control linkage (mechanical) where compact, high-strength joints were required.[3] After the war, the design spread into car suspension systems, agricultural machinery, and various industrial applications. [4][5]

Industry impact

The introduction of the heim joint marked a significant development in motion transfer and linkage (mechanical) systems. Its ability to allow both rotational and angular misalignment made it especially suitable for heavy-duty and performance applications.[6]

The success of the product led to the company’s name being permanently associated with spherical rod end bearings in the U.S. market, even after other manufacturers began producing similar components.

Legacy

Although H.G. Heim Company no longer dominates the market, the "heim joint" designation remains a lasting contribution to engineering terminology. The trademarked term "Heim Joint" was later passed to successors, while the equivalent "rose joint" is commonly used in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "What is a heim joint?" SYZ Rod Ends Technical Blog
  2. ^ US Patent 2308798, "Spherical Rod End Bearing," 1943.
  3. ^ Milliken, William F., and Milliken, Douglas L. Race Car Vehicle Dynamics. SAE International, 1995.
  4. ^ Norman Beaumont, Automobile Steering and Suspension Systems (McGraw-Hill, 1964)
  5. ^ James Halderman, Automotive Steering, Suspension, and Alignment (Pearson, 2017)
  6. ^ SAE International. Automotive Steering Systems, SAE J490, 2019.
  7. ^ Automotive Engineering Handbook, Society of Automotive Engineers, 2015.
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