Joints and connections – Articulated members – Pivoted
Patent
1997-01-07
1998-12-22
Dorner, Kenneth J.
Joints and connections
Articulated members
Pivoted
403122, 403132, F16C 1100
Patent
active
058510826
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to an axial ball-and-socket joint for linkages in motor vehicles comprising a metallic housing, which is open on one side and which has a fastening pin opposite the open side of the housing, and a likewise metallic joint ball, which is mounted in it in a bearing shell made of plastic and is provided at the end of a ball pivot, which projects from the open side of the housing coaxially with the fastening pin, wherein the said joint ball is held in the housing by material deformation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Axial ball-and-socket joints having these design features are used in very large numbers in motor vehicles. They are subject to natural wear as well as natural aging, and they often operate under different temperature and weather conditions. This leads to undesired joint clearances.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The basic object of the present invention is to avoid the development of joint clearance by design measures related to the joint.
According to the invention, an axial ball-and-socket joint for linkages in motor vehicles is provided including a metallic housing, which is open on one side and which has a fastening pin opposite the open side of the housing, and a likewise metallic joint ball, which is mounted in the housing in a bearing shell made of plastic. The joint ball is provided at the end of a ball pivot, which projects from the open side of the housing and may be positioned coaxially with the fastening pin. The said joint ball is held in the housing by material deformation. The bearing shell made of plastic is supported on the housing side with the fastening pin with an oblique surface against an oblique surface on the housing and against a buffer made of a material having selected elastic characteristics. The elastic buffer is inserted between the bearing shell and a radial support surface provided on the housing.
The elastic buffer preferably consists of a rubber ring of a sufficient elastic material stiffness. The radial support surface and a cylindrical inner wall area of the housing preferably pass over (transition) into each other with a flute or fluted region. The rubber ring is preferably arranged in the flute or fluted region. The flute or fluted region on the inside of the housing and the oblique surface at the bearing shell preferably form a cavity accommodating the rubber ring.
An axial ball-and-socket joint having these design features is mounted with slight pretension during the closing of the housing by deforming the material of the open edge of the housing. The oblique surfaces at the bearing shell and in the housing advantageously form an angle of about 45.degree. with the longitudinal axis of the axial joint. Movements of the parts of the axial ball-and-socket joint caused by changes in heat (expansions and shrinkages) are compensated by the pretension. However, the same design features also compensate bearing dimensions as a consequence of a natural wear or a natural aging. The buffer inserted between the bearing shell and the housing preferably consists of a rubber ring having a selected elastic material stiffness. High temperature resistance and low compressive set of the rubber ring can be readily achieved by judiciously selecting the material. The temperature resistance of the rubber blend should preferably reach about 140.degree. C. Due to the design features according to the present invention, the bearing shell has the possibility of expanding freely and without pretension during changes in temperature. No free bearing clearance is formed as a consequence of the automatic adjustment during natural wear or natural aging. The service life of an axial ball-and-socket joint having the new design features is increased.
The radial support surface and a cylindrical inner wall area on the inside of the housing preferably pass over into each other with a flute, and this flute accommodates the rubber ring which forms the elastic buffer. This flute on the inside of the housing and the oblique surface on th
REFERENCES:
patent: 4225260 (1980-09-01), Gaines
patent: 4353660 (1982-10-01), Parks
patent: 4995755 (1991-02-01), Hyodo et al.
patent: 5188477 (1993-02-01), Idosako et al.
Schmudde Norbert
Wellerding Martin
Dorner Kenneth J.
Lemforder Metallwaren AG
Miller William L.
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