Ball-joint support for thin parts

• US 8,562,237 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2011
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations SL (Airbus SE)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations SL (Airbus SE)
• Inventors: Pina Lopez, Jose Maria, Vera Villares, Enrique
• Primary Examiner(s): MACARTHUR, VICTOR L
• Application Number:
  US13/339,578
• Publication Number:
  US 20120170971A1
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 403/131, 384/203, 384/206
• US Class Current: 403/131
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0614 the female part of the joint being open on two sides
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2226/60 with threaded parts, e.g. bolt and nut connections
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 23/045 for radial load mainly, e.g. radial spherical plain bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/02 in the case of sliding-contact bearings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32631 Universal ball and socket
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32704 Stud extends into ball

Abstract

A ball-joint support for thin parts, through which a ball-joint is operably coupled to a thin part, and where the ball-joint includes an inner part with a central coaxial orifice through which a longitudinal axis is introduced, and an outer part that engages complementarily to the inner part is provided. The ball joint support includes a cap including a central through hole in which the ball joint is embedded inside via the outer part, and externally, the cap is embedded in a cylindrical opening included in the thin part, and mechanical means for axial retention of the thin part to the cap, wherein the thickness of the cap is greater than the thickness of the thin part where the cap engages.

Claims

1. An assembly comprising:

a ball-joint support;

a thin part; and

a ball joint, wherein

the ball-joint is operably coupled to the thin part, and includes;

an inner part with a central coaxial orifice through which a longitudinal axis is operably introduced, and

an outer part that engages complementarily to the inner part,

the ball joint support comprises;

a cap including a central through hole in which the ball joint is embedded inside via the outer part, and externally, the cap is embedded in a cylindrical opening included in the thin part,

an annular end rib projection which abuts at an upper end of the cap against an upper side of the thin part,

a screw nut coupled to a front end threading at a lower end of the cap which abuts at a lower side of the thin part, and

an intermediate washer placed between the lower side of the thin part and the screw nut,

the thickness of the cap is greater than the thickness of the thin part where the cap engages,

the intermediate washer includes a radially outermost end and a radially innermost end, and

the radially outermost end and the radially innermost end of the intermediate washer are directed away from the thin part.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein on at least one part of a contact surface between the cap and the thin part there is adhesive material disposed so that the contact surface between the cap and the thin part are joined together by the contact surface.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the thickness of the cap coincides with a thickness of the outer part of the ball-joint.

4. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of the cap coincides with a thickness of the outer part of the ball-joint.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the ball-joint rotates inside of the cap.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the outer part of the ball-joint is parallel to an inner surface of the cap.