| 摘要 |
<p>A ball joint of the type having a ball stud (l2) and a preformed plastics socket (20) includes means for sealing the socket opening (32) receiving the stud head, and for ensuring maintenance of the seal irrespective of accumulated tolerance variations.</p><p>A cap (38) having an inwardly converging peripheral closure surface (44) fits within and conforms closely to a matching closure surface (36) within the socket opening. Deformable protuberances (52;94) on the outer side of the cap (38;82) are arranged to be engaged and deformed by a surface (56) of a suspension control arm (54) to which the socket is mounted, or alternatively by a surface (l00) of a cover (98) which fixes the socket (68) to the control arm (96).</p><p>The protuberances extend far enough from the outer side of the cap to ensure that the engagement and deformation occur irrespective of accumulated tolerance variations in the components of the ball joint. The deformation of the protuberances forces the cap into the socket opening as the ball joint is completed, to interengage the closure surfaces more tightly and ensure maintenance of the seal of the socket opening. </p> |
