Joints and connections – Articulated members – Pivoted
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-07
2001-01-09
Kim, Harry C. (Department: 3629)
Joints and connections
Articulated members
Pivoted
C403S132000, C403S135000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06171012
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a radial ball-and-socket joint for a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ball-and-socket joints for various applications have been known. While the principal load is directed in the case of axial ball-and-socket joints mainly in the axial direction relative to the nondeflected ball pivot, a radial ball-and-socket joint is designed for a predominantly radial load. Thus, such joints differ in terms of their function and partly also in terms of their design.
For example, an axial ball-and-socket joint, which comprises a metallic housing that is open on one side, in which a ball pivot is mounted in a bearing shell, which is held in the housing by material deformation of the open housing edge, has been known from DE 295 09 566. The bearing shell consists of plastic and is supported on the side of the housing, with which a fastening pin is made in one piece on the outside, with an oblique surface against a complementary oblique surface on the housing, and against a buffer inserted between the bearing shell and a radial support surface formed on the housing. This buffer may consist of a rubber ring possessing a selected elastic material stiffness. As a result, the compensation of the clearance between the bearing shell and the joint housing is said to be achieved. In addition, a support joint, in which the joint ball of the ball pivot is mounted in a bearing shell, has been known from DE 44 01 639 A1. To make it possible to apply a progressive pretension to the joint ball, a pressure shell is inserted between the joint ball and the cover closing the joint, and both the cover and the pressure shell have, on at least one side, partially the surface shape of a ball each with different radii.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The basic technical object of the present invention is to develop a radial ball-and-socket joint that has low friction and a damping action and compensates tolerances, in addition to having a simple design.
According to the invention, a radial ball-and-socket joint for a motor vehicle is provided. The joint includes a housing with a bearing shell disposed in the housing. A ball pivot is provided with a joint ball mounted movably in all directions in the bearing shell. A damping element is provided. The damping element has a lower Shore hardness than the bearing shell. The bearing shell contacts the joint ball in one of punctiform or linear manner. In an unloaded state of the joint, the joint ball of the ball pivot is radially progressively pretensioned by the damping element.
The radial ball-and-socket joint according to the present invention for motor vehicles has a housing and a ball pivot, whose joint ball is mounted movably in all directions in a bearing shell. The bearing shell may have a one-part or multipart design. In the case of a two-part design of the bearing shell, at least one damping element, which radially progressively pretensions the joint ball of the ball pivot, is inserted into the housing between the upper shell and the lower shell. Progressive pretensioning is defined here as a pretension increasing with increasing radial load.
The damping element has a lower Shore hardness than the bearing shell, and the bearing shell is only in punctiform or linear contact with the joint ball of the ball pivot in the unloaded state of the joint.
In the case of a one-part bearing shell, it is advantageous to insert the damping element directly into the bearing shell.
Depending on the corresponding damping means selected, radial pretension and elasticity of the mount can be achieved corresponding to the needs. A modular system was thus created, which makes it possible to select the characteristics of a ball-and-socket joint mount as desired. Consequently, to reach other characteristics in one type of joint, only a damping means having a higher or lower Shore hardness must be used. Such a radial ball-and-socket joint is characterized by good damping characteristics. The driving behavior of a motor vehicle can thus be decisively influenced by the use of the radial ball-and-socket joints according to the present invention.
It is also achieved due to the punctiform or linear contact of the bearing shell that a low break-away torque of a radial ball-and-socket joint according to the present invention and thus, on the whole, very low coefficients of friction can be guaranteed under normal load.
The bearing shell may be provided with ribs on its outer contact surface contacting the housing. Lubricant recesses may additionally also be provided on the inner and/or outer surface of the bearing shell in the known manner.
Other embodiments of the present invention are the subject of the subclaims. Thus, a punctiform or linear contact of the bearing shell with the joint ball of the ball-and-socket joint can be achieved by the radius of the joint ball being selected to be smaller than the radius of the spherical inner jacket surface of the bearing shell. The bearing shell should have at least one bead-like area, which is a limited area when viewed in the circumferential direction, which is directly in contact with the joint ball.
However, the gap may also be brought about either by the ball or the inner geometry of the bearing shell deviating from the geometry of a ball at least in some areas. For example, an oval shape is considered according to the present invention.
In another embodiment of the idea of the present invention, the damping element may be a rubber ring with a defined elastic characteristic. This damping element may advantageously have a spherical contour. Other cross-sectional shapes, e.g., an annular cross section, an approximately triangular cross section, or a square cross section are, of course, also within the scope of the idea of the present invention.
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.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2553743 (1951-05-01), Booth
patent: 4102585 (1978-07-01), Herbenar
patent: 4430016 (1984-02-01), Matsuoka et al.
patent: 4564307 (1986-01-01), Ito
patent: 4995754 (1991-02-01), Ishii
patent: 5188477 (1993-02-01), Idosako et al.
patent: 5655848 (1997-08-01), Catron
patent: 5697723 (1997-12-01), Wood
patent: 5851082 (1998-12-01), Schmudde et al.
patent: 44 01 639 A1 (1995-08-01), None
patent: 295 09 566 (1995-10-01), None
Kim Harry C.
Lemförder Metallwaren AG (DE)
McGlew and Tuttle, PC.
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