AXIAL BALL AND SOCKET JOINT MORE PARTICULARLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLE STEERING LINKAGES

摘要

An axial ball and socket joint particularly for steering suspensions of motor vehicles comprises a joint housing which has a first opening at one end and an opposite second opening at the opposite end and an interior surface which is at least partially spherical. A joint pin extends through the first opening and has a spherical ball head disposed within the housing and is journalled on a socket of elastic plastic for universal pivotal movement in the housing. The housing has a rim edge adjacent the second opening extending outwardly from the spherical surface with an inturned edge forming a ledge or underface which is partially spherical and is opposite to and spaced from the ball head. A connecting screw extends into the interior of the housing through the second opening and has a shank portion and a head portion connected to the shank portion which is larger than the shank portion and has a spherically curved intermediate portion disposed between the head portion and the shank portion which bears against the spherical curved interior ledge portion. The head portion has an exterior face disposed toward the ball head with a partially concave spherical recess which is engageable on the surface of the ball head.