PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING A BALL AND SOCKET JOINT AND BALL AND SOCKET JOINT MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO THE PROCESS

摘要

A process for manufacturing a ball and socket joint and a joint manufactured according to that process are provided for a simple manufacture of a completely assembled ball and socket joint with a low torque and overturning moment. The joint housing is manufactured in an injection or casting process, in which the joint ball with the bearing shell placed on it is surrounded by a metallic material or a plastic. The joint shell is provided with a bulge, which behaves elastically with respect to the pressure acting during the injection or casting process and arches slightly outwardly after the conclusion of the injection or casting process. It is achieved as a result that the joint shell does not lie over its entire area on the joint ball after the injection or casting process.

主权项

1. A ball and socket joint comprising:
a pivot pin with a shaft and a joint ball formed at one end of said shaft; a joint housing which accommodates said joint ball, said joint housing comprising metal or plastic formed in an injection or casting process and said joint housing being open on one side; a permanently lubricated spherically shaped joint shell arranged between said joint ball and said joint housing; and a sealing bellows which seals the open side of said joint housing in an area of a transition between said joint ball and said shaft of said pivot pin, wherein said shaft projects from said joint housing, said joint ball having a pole and in an area of said pole of said joint ball, said joint shell has a outwardly arched bulge providing a bulge region, said bulge region having a shape to form a gap between an inner contour of said joint shell and said joint ball, said bulge region having an elastic behavior to move toward and away from said joint ball in relation to pressure from said joint housing during the injection or casting process, said elastic behavior moving said bulge towards said ball during the injection or casting process, said elastic behavior moving said bulge away from said ball at a conclusion of the injection or casting process.