Joints and connections – Articulated members – Pivoted
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-10
2001-10-16
Browne, Lynne H. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Articulated members
Pivoted
C403S143000, C403S133000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302615
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a ball-and-socket joint preferably for vehicle suspensions or steering mechanisms of motor vehicles with a joint housing, with a housing cover closing the housing on one side, with a pivot pin, which is mounted rotatably and deflectably in at least one bearing shell by means of a spherical bearing surface, wherein the bearing shell is in turn fixed in the joint housing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ball-and-socket joints of this type have been known, in principle, from the state of the art and have been used, e.g., as tie rod joints in motor vehicle steering arrangements. In addition, they are also used in many areas of vehicle engineering. Corresponding to their design, they are used such that they can absorb mainly forces in the radial load direction. This type of installation is due to the fact that such balland-socket joints of this type are sensitive to axial load, especially pulse-like axial impact load. Such an axial impact load may lead to damage to the spherical bearing surface with high consequential moments of friction within the ball-and-socket joint. Such damaged joints compromise the driving behavior and the driving safety of the vehicles affected.
High pulse-like loads may have different causes. They occur mainly as a consequence of incorrect mounting within the framework of service activities, in which the ball-and-socket joints are brought into desired positions by, e.g., blows with a hammer. Moreover, pulsed loads in the axial direction may occur under crowded space conditions due to the joint housing striking adjacent chassis parts, e.g., in the case of full spring deflection. The damaged joints resulting from the axial stresses make replacement necessary and therefore they ultimately cause increased maintenance costs for the vehicle in question.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The primary object of the present invention is to improve a ball-and-socket joint of the type mentioned such that besides the stresses occurring in the principal radial load direction, extraordinary pulse-like axial stresses will not lead to damage to the ball-and-socket joint such that adverse consequences are avoided. The mounting of such ball-and-socket joints, accepting high axial loads without the development of consequential damage, would, moreover, lead to simplified handling especially during service activities in connection with the maintenance of the vehicle.
According to the invention, a ball-and-socket joint preferably for vehicle suspensions or steering mechanisms of motor vehicles is provided including a joint housing, with a housing cover closing the joint housing on one side, and with a pivot pin, which is mounted rotatably and deflectably in at least one bearing shell by means of a spherical bearing surface, wherein the bearing shell is in turn stationarily fixed in the joint housing. An elastic buffer element is arranged on the outside of the joint housing facing away from the pivot pin and/or an elastic deformation zone is arranged at the bearing shell in the end area of the bearing surface of the pivot pin.
A combination of the technical features of an elastic buffer element arranged on the outside of the joint housing facing away from the pivot pin and an elastic deformation zone arranged at the bearing shell in the end area of the bearing surface of the pivot pin offers protection against resulting damage to the ball-and-socket joint according to the present invention especially when very high axial loads occur.
Both the elastic buffer element and the deformation zone arranged inside the ball-and-socket joint are able according to the present invention to absorb all axial loads occurring if the size is selected properly without the sensitive bearing shell being affected. As a result, final mounting in the vehicle without damage is possible by fitting the ball-and-socket joint by means of impact pulses, which substantially facilitates handling during service. In addition, the ball-and-socket joints according to the present invention can assume a stop function due to their special shaping within the framework of the functional integration, as a result of which both a weight reduction and a cost reduction are achieved because of the smaller number of components. The weight reduction is especially advantageous from the viewpoint that the use of the present invention reduces the weight of the unsprung masses on the chassis of a motor vehicle.
It has proved to be particularly advantageous for the elastic buffer element to have an essentially hemispherical outer contour at its free end facing away from the housing. Manufacturing the buffer element of rubber or cellulose is particularly recommended for manufacturing technical reasons.
It has also proved to be advantageous for the elastic deformation zone to have at least one flexible tongue, which extends radially around the spherical bearing surface and is in contact with the bearing surface in the upper end of the bearing surface facing away from the pin area of the pivot pin.
Another special design provides for the elastic deformation zone being in contact over its entire surface with the bearing surface in the upper end of the bearing surface facing away from the pin area of the pivot pin and for the deformation zone being made of rubber. Such a design can be manufactured at a low cost especially as a molding.
Corresponding to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elastic deformation zone may have a plurality of individual flexible tongues distributed preferably uniformly over the circumference.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.
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Broker Klaus
Kleiner Wolfgang
Browne Lynne H.
Cottingham John R.
McGlew and Tuttle , P.C.
ZF Lemforder Metallwaren AG
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