Ball-and-socket joint with ball retention device

Details Ball-and-socket joint with ball retention device Ball-and-socket joint with ball retention device

1996-08-23

1998-07-21

Dorner, Kenneth J.

Joints and connections

Articulated members

Pivoted

403144, 403132, F16C 1100

Patent

active

057825734

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to a ball-and-socket joint with the ball of the joint fashioned on a journal and a housing, preferably made of plastic, in which the ball of the joint is installed directly so as to be capable of rotation and tilting.
Such ball-and-socket joints with the ball of the joint installed directly in the housing are known.
The fundamental objective of the invention is to refine these ball-and-socket joints in such a way that, with the simplest design of the housing and a minimal number of individual parts, a secure and easily assembled installation of the ball of the joint in the housing results.


SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The realization of this objective in accordance with the invention is characterized in that numerous bearing surfaces in the form of segments of a sphere are formed in the housing by slits running in the radial direction and extending axially from the opening of the housing at least to the equator of the spherical bearing surface, which are elastically deformable by means of an ring groove encircling them in their part extending from the opening of the housing approximately to the equator for retaining the ball of the joint and can be fixed in their position, ensuring the proper positioning of the ball of the joint in the housing by a locking ring insertable into the ring groove to ensure said proper positioning of the ball of the joint.
By virtue of the slits extending axially from the opening of the housing at least to the equator of he spherical bearing surface, the depth of which runs in the radial direction, the spherical bearing surface is divided into a number of individual bearing surfaces, which are curved to match the surface of the ball of the joint and have an approximately trapezoidal surface form in projection. The ball of the joint is in direct contact with these bearing surfaces.
Since the diameter represented by the combined individual bearing surfaces is smaller in the area of the opening of the housing than that of the ball of the joint to be inserted into the housing, said individual bearing surfaces are elastically deformable in their part preferably extending from the opening of the housing to the equator by means of an ring groove radially encircling them on the face of the opening of the housing, so that the ball of the joint can be fitted into the one-piece housing by utilizing the elasticity of these parts of the individual bearing surfaces.
In order that the ball of the joint is dependably retained inside the housing following its insertion, a locking ring is inserted into the ring groove, which fixes the elastically deformable individual bearing surfaces in place so as to ensure the proper positioning of the ball of the joint in the housing, i.e., it eliminates the elastic deformability of the parts of the individual bearing surfaces between the opening of the housing and the equator.
This locking ring is secured in the ring groove against dislodgement from the housing by clamping action or an appropriately structured jacket surface, e.g., knurled or denticulated.
According to a further characteristic of the invention, the locking ring is provided with an extension which, following its installation, protrudes out of the ring groove of the housing and forms an ring groove for securing the housing-side rim of the sealing boot with the aid of an attachment ring.
In one refinement of the joint in keeping with the invention, the extension of the locking ring, preferably made of a metallic material, protruding out from the ring groove of the housing following its installation is plastically deformed radially, for example, rolled or pressed, so that it clamps and thus secures the housing-side rim of the sealing boot between itself and the inner cylindrical jacket surface of the ring groove extending toward the opening of the housing.
All together, the refinement of the known ball-and-socket joints according to the invention results in a constructively simple ball-and-socket joint with a one-piece housing, the bearing surf

REFERENCES:
patent: 3497247 (1970-02-01), Fister et al.
patent: 3787129 (1974-01-01), Kohler et al.
patent: 3909084 (1975-09-01), Snidar et al.
patent: 4118131 (1978-10-01), Schnitzius
patent: 4318627 (1982-03-01), Morin
patent: 4714368 (1987-12-01), Sawada et al.
patent: 4993863 (1991-02-01), Inoue
patent: 5152628 (1992-10-01), Broszat et al.
patent: 5395176 (1995-03-01), Zivkovic

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