Ball joint

• US 6,902,345 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Kur, Jaromir
• Primary Examiner(s): Cottingham, John R.
• Application Number:
  US10/483,970
• Publication Number:
  US 20040202507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 403/135, 403/122, 403/140
• US Class Current: 403/135
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0623 Construction or details of the socket member
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32737 including liner, shim, or discrete seat

Abstract

The invention relates to a ball joint (10), particularly for chassis parts of motor vehicles, comprising a joint housing (12), at least one bearing seat (14) and one pivot pin (18) with a joint ball (16), which is mounted inside the bearing seat, and comprising a sealing cup (22) between the pivot pin and the housing, whereby the pivot pin is made of steel and the housing is made of a material having a low modulus of elasticity. Reinforcements (32, 34) made of a higher strength material, particularly also of steel, are placed inside the housing in order to provide the ball joint with a stronger construction.

Claims

1. A ball joint comprising:

a housing having a longitudinal centerline and a bearing seat surface provided with a center of curvature on said centerline;

a member having a modulus of elasticity greater than that of said housing, including a ball portion seated on said bearing seat surface and a stud portion; and

at least one reinforcing element having a modulus of elasticity greater than that of said housing, embedded in said housing.

2. A ball joint according to claim 1 wherein said reinforcing element is disposed on said housing centerline.

3. A ball joint according to claim 2 wherein said reinforcing element includes a surface forming a continuation of said bearing seat surface.

4. A ball joint according to claim 1 including at least two reinforcing elements disposed on opposite sides of said housing centerline.

5. A ball joint according to claim 3 including at least two reinforcing elements disposed on opposite sides of said housing centerline.