Adjustment for a ball joint assembly

• US 5,997,208 A
• Filed: 06/02/1998
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: THK RHYTHM AUTOMOTIVE GmbH (THK Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: TRW Limited (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Jaroneski, Jack, Decker, Gordon J., Urbach, Brian A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Harry C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cottingham, John R.
• Application Number:
  US09/089,193
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 403/122, 403/132, 403/133, 403/135, 403/137, 403/140, 403/362, 411/393
• US Class Current: 403/137
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0633 the linings being made of plastics
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0642 Special features of the plug or cover on the blind end of the socket
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0647 Special features relating to adjustment for wear or play; Wear indicators
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 11/0671 allowing operative relative movement of joint parts due to flexing of the sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32721 Elastomeric seat
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32737 including liner, shim, or discrete seat
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/32754 Variably preloaded

Abstract

A ball joint assembly (10) includes a housing (12) having a socket chamber (20). A bearing (22) is disposed in the socket chamber. A ball stud has a head end portion (30) enclosed by the bearing (22) and a shank portion (34) which extends out of the housing (12). A retainer (38) applies force against an outer end portion (40) of the bearing (22) to press an inner end portion (44) of the bearing firmly against a locating surface (46) of the housing. A torque adjustment assembly (64) is operable to adjust the torque required to rotate the ball stud (32) about a longitudinal central axis (36) of the shank portion (34). The torque adjustment assembly (64) includes a force transmitting member (70) and an adjustment member (72). The adjustment member (72) is operable to press the force transmitting member (70) against the flexible inner end portion (26) of the bearing to vary the force applied against the head end portion (30) of the ball stud (32).

Claims

1. A ball joint assembly comprising:

a housing having a socket chamber;

a polymeric bearing disposed in said socket chamber, said bearing having a bearing chamber, a first end portion defining an opening into said bearing chamber, and a second closed end portion opposite said first end portion, said second closed end portion being closed by a flexible end wall of said bearing;

a ball stud having a head end portion located in said bearing chamber and a shank portion extending out of said housing and out of said bearing chamber through said opening defined by said first end portion of said bearing;

a retainer disposed in engagement with said first end portion of said bearing, said retainer being effective to press said bearing against a surface on said housing to hold said bearing and head end portion of said ball stud against movement in a direction parallel to a longitudinal central axis of said shank portion of said ball stud; and

torque adjustment means for adjusting torque required to rotate said ball stud about the central axis of said shank portion of said ball stud, said torque adjustment means including means for applying force against said flexible end wall of said bearing in the direction of said longitudinal central axis and for changing the force applied against said flexible end wall of said bearing;

said means for applying force against said flexible end wall of said bearing and for changing the force applied against said flexible end wall of said bearing includes a force transmitting member disposed in engagement with said flexible end wall and an adjustment screw threaded into said housing and disposed in engagement with said force transmitting member, said adjustment screw being movable relative to said housing to change a force which is applied to said flexible end wall by said force transmitting member,

said flexible end wall of said bearing and said force transmitting member having circular central surface portions in abutting engagement and radially outward flaring surface portions which flare radially outwardly as they extend axially from said circular central surface portions, said radially outward flaring surface portions of said flexible end wall and said force transmitting member being in abutting contact throughout the extent of said radially outward flaring surface portion of said force transmitting member.

2. A ball joint assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said adjustment screw has a socket for receiving a tool to rotate said adjustment screw to effect movement of said adjustment screw relative to said housing to change the force applied to said flexible end wall by said force transmitting member.

3. A ball joint assembly comprising:

a housing having a socket chamber;

a one-piece bearing disposed in said socket chamber, said bearing having a bearing chamber, a first end portion defining an opening into said bearing chamber, and a second closed end portion opposite said first end portion, said second closed end portion being closed by a flexible end wall of said bearing;

a ball stud having a head end portion located in said bearing chamber and a shank portion extending out of said housing and out of said bearing chamber through said opening defined by said first end portion of said bearing;

a retainer disposed in engagement with said first end portion of said bearing, said retainer being effective to press said bearing against a surface on said housing to hold said bearing and head end portion of said ball stud against movement in a direction parallel to a longitudinal central axis of said shank portion of said ball stud; and

torque adjustment means for adjusting torque required to rotate said ball stud about the central axis of said shank portion of said ball stud, said torque adjustment means including means for applying force against said flexible end wall of said bearing in the direction of said longitudinal central axis and for changing the force applied against said flexible end wall of said bearing;

said means for applying force against said flexible end wall of said bearing and for changing the force applied against said flexible end wall of said bearing includes a force transmitting member disposed in engagement with said flexible end wall and an adjustment screw threaded into said housing and disposed in engagement with said force transmitting member, said adjustment screw being movable relative to said housing to change a force which is applied to said flexible end wall by said force transmitting member,

said flexible end wall of said bearing and said force transmitting member having circular central surface portions in abutting engagement and radially outward flaring surface portions which flare radially outwardly as they extend axially from said circular central surface portions, said radially outward flaring surface portions of said flexible end wall and said force transmitting member being in abutting contact throughout the extent of said radially outward flaring surface portion of said force transmitting member.