U.S. patent application number 12/295877 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-12 for radial joint and process for manufacturing such a radial joint for a motor vehicle.
Invention is credited to Michael Heuer Hallmann, Horst Pott, Christian Rziczny, Jurgen Schmitz, Benjamin Ziebart.
Application Number | 20090279944 12/295877 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38328220 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090279944 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schmitz; Jurgen ; et
al. |
November 12, 2009 |
RADIAL JOINT AND PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH A RADIAL JOINT FOR
A MOTOR VEHICLE
Abstract
A radial joint is provided for a motor vehicle with a metallic
housing (1), through the opening (2) on one side of which a ball
pivot (3) can be inserted into an interior space (4) of the housing
(1). The joint ball (5) of the ball pivot (3) is mounted pivotably
and rotatably in a bearing area of the interior space (4), and a
pivot section (6) of the ball pivot (3), which section is connected
to the joint ball (5), protrudes from the housing (1) through
opening (2) of housing (1). The housing (1) has, in the area of its
opening (2), a section (7), which is prepared by machining and
which is deformed by a cold forming process. Furthermore, a process
for manufacturing a radial joint is provided that includes the
steps: manufacturing of the housing blank, machining of section (7)
close to the opening (2) of housing (1), inserting the joint ball
(5) of ball pivot (3) into the interior space (4) of housing (1),
cold forming of the opening-side edge section of housing (1) until
a metallic overlap (13), which guarantees a sufficient extraction
strength for the joint to be manufactured and thus makes possible a
positive-locking connection between the components contacting each
other, is attained between the joint ball (5) and housing (1).
Inventors: |
Schmitz; Jurgen; (Diepholz,
DE) ; Rziczny; Christian; (Neuenkirchen-Vorden,
DE) ; Pott; Horst; (Espelkamp, DE) ; Ziebart;
Benjamin; (Wallenhorst, DE) ; Hallmann; Michael
Heuer; (Ostercappeln, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCGLEW & TUTTLE, PC
P.O. BOX 9227, SCARBOROUGH STATION
SCARBOROUGH
NY
10510-9227
US
|
Family ID: |
38328220 |
Appl. No.: |
12/295877 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
March 12, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DE2007/000443 |
371 Date: |
October 3, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
403/135 ;
29/428 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 29/49826 20150115;
Y10T 403/32737 20150115; F16C 2326/20 20130101; F16C 11/0628
20130101; Y10T 29/49648 20150115; Y10T 403/32778 20150115; Y10T
29/49654 20150115; F16C 11/0685 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
403/135 ;
29/428 |
International
Class: |
F16C 11/06 20060101
F16C011/06; B23P 11/00 20060101 B23P011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 4, 2006 |
DE |
10 2006 016 060.6 |
Claims
1-19. (canceled)
20. A radial joint for a motor vehicle, the radial joint
comprising: a ball pivot with a joint ball; and a one-piece
metallic housing, said metallic housing having an opening on one
side, said joint ball of said ball pivot being inserted into an
interior space of said metallic housing, wherein said joint ball of
the ball pivot is mounted pivotably and rotatably in a bearing area
of said interior space and a pivot section of said ball pivot,
which pivot section is connected to said joint ball, protrudes from
said housing through said opening of said housing, in an area of
said opening of said housing, said housing having a section
prepared by machining and deformed by a cold forming process.
21. A radial joint in accordance with claim 20, wherein said
housing is manufactured by a hot forming process.
22. A radial joint in accordance with claim 21, wherein said hot
forming process is a forging process.
23. A radial joint in accordance with claim 20, wherein said
housing is closed by cold forming said section in the area of said
opening of said housing and is at first regular cylindrical prior
to cold forming.
24. A radial joint in accordance with claim 20, wherein said
opening of said housing has a circular or oval geometry after it
being closed.
25. A radial joint in accordance with claim 20, wherein a diameter
of said joint ball is larger, after the mounting of the joint, than
said opening of said housing.
26. A radial joint in accordance with claim 20, further comprising:
a bearing shell inserted into said interior space of said housing,
said bearing shell accommodating said joint ball and mountings said
joint ball movably.
27. A radial joint in accordance with claim 26, wherein: said
bearing shell consists of at least one of a plastic, a plastic
composite, a multicomponent material or at least partly of a
plastic-metal composite.
28. A radial joint in accordance with one of the claim 26, wherein:
said bearing shell has a support flange; said housing has a flange
in said interior space of said housing and corresponding to said
support flange, said housing flange supporting said support
flange.
29. A radial joint in accordance with claim 20, wherein said
housing comprises a shaft.
30. A radial joint in accordance with claim 29, wherein said shaft
has a bend.
31. A radial joint in accordance with claim 29, wherein said
housing with said shaft are manufactured together by a hot forming
process.
32. A radial joint in accordance with claim 29, wherein said shaft
is welded to remainder of said housing.
33. A radial joint in accordance with claim 20, wherein said cold
forming process is a cold extrusion process.
34. A process for manufacturing a radial joint comprising a ball
pivot with a joint ball and a one-piece metallic housing, said
metallic housing having an opening on one side, said joint ball of
said ball pivot being seated in an interior space of said metallic
housing, wherein said joint ball of the ball pivot is mounted
pivotably and rotatably in a bearing area of said interior space
and a pivot section of said ball pivot, which pivot section is
connected to said joint ball, protrudes from said housing through
said opening of said housing, in an area of said opening of said
housing, the process comprising the steps of: manufacturing a
housing blank including said opening on one side; machining a
section close to the opening of housing; inserting said joint ball
of said ball pivot into said interior space of said housing; cold
forming an opening-side edge section of said housing until a
metallic overlap is achieved between said joint ball and said
housing, said metallic overlap being sized for guaranteeing an
extraction strength sufficient for the joint to be produced and to
make possible a positive-locking connection between components
contacting each other.
35. A process in accordance with claim 34, wherein said housing is
closed with the formation of said metallic overlap while
periodically or permanently measuring the force and/or the pressure
being applied.
36. A process in accordance with claim 34, wherein said housing is
closed with the formation of said metallic overlap while
periodically or permanently measuring the torque necessary for
deflecting and/or rotating the ball pivot.
37. A process in accordance with one of the claim 34, wherein the
joint ball is inserted, together with a bearing shell accommodating
said joint ball, into the interior space of said housing and the
deformation of said edge section of said opening of said housing
also brings about a deformation of an opening-side section of the
previously predominantly regular cylindrical bearing shell
opening.
38. A process in accordance with claim 37, wherein said bearing
shell comes into contact with a surface of said joint ball during a
closing of said housing.
39. A process for manufacturing a radial joint, the process
comprising the steps of: providing a ball pivot with a joint ball
and a pivot section connected to said joint ball; providing a
bearing shell accommodating said joint ball; manufacturing a
housing blank to provide a metallic housing with a cylindrical
interior space with an opening on one side; machining a section
close to the opening of said housing; inserting said joint ball
with said bearing shell into said interior space of said housing to
mount said ball pivot pivotably and rotatably in a bearing area of
said interior space and said pivot section of said ball pivot
protruding from said housing through said opening of said housing;
cold forming an opening-side edge section of said housing until a
metallic overlap is achieved between said joint ball and said
housing, said metallic overlap being sized for guaranteeing an
extraction strength sufficient for the joint to be produced and
forming a positive-locking connection between said housing metallic
overlap and said bearing shell accommodating said joint ball.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a United States National Phase
application of International Application PCT/DE 2007/000443 and
claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119 of German
Patent Application DE 10 2006 016 060.6 filed Apr. 4, 2006, the
entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention pertains to a radial joint for a motor
vehicle as well as to a process for manufacturing such a radial
joint.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A distinction is made among ball and socket joints between
axial joints and radial joints. This distinction depends on the
particular direction of action of the forces acting on the ball
pivot. The position of the non-deflected ball pivot is used as a
reference for this definition of the different ball and socket
joints. Accordingly, the principal load on an axial joint is in the
direction of the central longitudinal axis of the ball pivot,
whereas the principal load in a radial joint acts at right angles
to the central longitudinal axis of the ball pivot. Thus, these
types of joints differ fundamentally from one another regarding the
loads acting on them and hence also regarding the design. In
particular, the design of the housing and the material that can be
used for the housing are different.
[0004] Thus, one peculiarity of axial joints is that the ball pivot
with its joint ball is mounted in the housing such that it cannot
be separated from the housing during loading along its central
longitudinal axis, i.e., in the axial direction. This so-called
extraction force of the axial joint is a decisive variable and an
essential quality criterion of an axial joint.
[0005] In radial joints, the ball pivot is loaded by forces that
act on same radially in relation to its central longitudinal axis.
As a consequence of this, the extraction force of the ball pivot is
lower than in axial joints, which has a decisive effect on the
design of the housing.
[0006] Regardless of the type of construction of the ball and
socket joint in question, considerable efforts are made to make it
possible to manufacture these joints at a low cost. Complicated
machining operations are to be avoided on the joint to be
manufactured as much as possible.
[0007] An axial joint as well as a process for mounting such an
axial joint are described for this reason in DE 197 55 020 A1. The
axial joint comprises a one-piece metallic housing, which is open
on one side and through the opening of which a ball pivot can be
inserted into an interior space of the housing, the joint ball of
the ball pivot being mounted pivotably and rotatably in a bearing
area of the interior space. A pivot section of the ball pivot,
which section is connected to the joint ball, protrudes from the
housing through the opening of the housing. The ball pivot is fixed
within the housing by cold forming the edge area of the opening of
the housing in the ball pivot. A bearing shell, which is preferably
manufactured from a plastic-metal composite, is arranged between
the joint ball of the ball pivot and the interior space of the
housing. The bearing shell, which has a regular cylindrical opening
cross section for inserting the joint ball before the deformation
of the edge area, is also deformed by the deformation of the edge
area of the opening of the housing such that this opening-side edge
area of the bearing shell comes into contact with the joint ball.
As a consequence of the simple design of the housing, it is
possible to manufacture the housing for this axial joint as a whole
by a cold forming process. This axial joint can be produced very
cost-effectively as a result.
[0008] Moreover, a radial joint, which is manufactured as a whole
by a cold forming process, is known from DE 195 36 035 A1. However,
this radial joint has a housing that is open on both sides, so that
machining of the contact area of the cover is necessary. In
addition, the radial joint has a straight shaft of a very simple
shape. However, if, for example, the housing has a shaft with a
bend or if other geometric shapes of the housing are necessary, the
cold forming process will soon reach its limits. Moreover, the cold
forming process requires a relatively soft material, and, for
example, a steel material of low strength, such as C45, is
therefore used in order to manufacture a housing out of it. This
low strength of the housing material must be compensated by design
measures. However, this means an increased use of material and
consequently also increased weight of such joints.
[0009] A cold forming process cannot be used for radial joints if
these have a highly complicated housing geometry and, because of
the installation conditions in the motor vehicle, a shaft with
great radii of curvature. For this reason, such radial joints have
hitherto been manufactured by means of a hot forming process and
are subsequently to be processed by machining at a great effort in
order to produce, for example, the interior space for inserting the
ball pivot and to prepare the connection area for fastening the
cover, which is needed to close the housing, or to prepare a groove
for accommodating a sealing bellows edge at the joint housing.
Considerable costs arise, which make the manufacturing process
needlessly expensive, due to the fact that a plurality of machining
operations and, moreover, a plurality of chucking operations in the
machining unit are necessary for finishing a housing blank prepared
by a hot forming process for a radial joint. This essential
drawback for the hot forming process was already described in DE
195 36 035 A1. Steels such as 30MnSiV6, which have a substantially
higher strength (approx. 950 N/mm2) compared to the material C45
mentioned before, can be considered for use as materials for radial
joint housings that are manufactured by means of a hot forming
process.
[0010] Since radial joints used hitherto, such as those disclosed
in DE 195 36 035 A1 as well, usually have a housing that is open on
both sides, the side of the housing located opposite the opening
must be subsequently closed with a cover. For example, mechanical
damage to the cover area during the use of such a radial joint may
cause corrosive media, such as brines, to produce rusting in the
area of the cover during operation of the motor vehicle in the
winter. However, this may cause leakage and hence failure of the
radial joint. Therefore, even though housings open on both sides
have hitherto been necessary in radial joints, they do have
drawbacks. This is compounded by the circumstance that the
machining of the cover support surface and the machining of the
opening arranged opposite for inserting the ball pivot as well as
of the area in which the edge of the sealing bellows is to come
into contact with the housing require a plurality of consecutive
chucking operations for machining the radial joint housing. This
time-consuming rechucking of the workpiece is likewise associated
with corresponding manufacturing costs, which are not
desirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The basic object of the present invention is to provide a
radial joint as well as a process for manufacturing such a radial
joint, which has a simple design and therefore can be manufactured
at a low cost.
[0012] A radial joint for a motor vehicle with a one-piece metallic
housing, through the opening on one side of which a ball pivot can
be inserted into an interior space of the housing, wherein the
joint ball of the ball pivot is mounted pivotably and rotatably in
a bearing area of the interior space and a pivot section of the
ball pivot, which said pivot section is connected to the joint
ball, protrudes from the housing through the opening of the
housing, is perfected according to the present invention such that
in the area of its opening, the housing has a section, which is
prepared by machining and which can be deformed by a cold forming
process.
[0013] An essential aspect of the present invention is that the
housing has only one section in the area of the opening of the
housing whose cross section is changed once by machining such that
a subsequent cold forming operation can be carried out on this
section to finish the housing.
[0014] The radial joint can thus be manufactured in a very simple
manner and at a very low cost. The machining of the outer section
of the joint housing in a radial joint according to the present
invention likewise makes it possible to arrange the edge area of a
sealing bellows sealing the radial joint without an additional
operation being necessary for this. The processing of the radial
joint housing according to the present invention as a whole can
thus be carried out by only one machining operation. A complicated
and expensive rechucking of the workpiece is no longer necessary.
The cover, which was previously necessary, can be eliminated, as a
result of which it was possible to eliminate the need for at least
one additional component.
[0015] The radial joints according to the present invention are
suitable for use in the area of the wheel suspension of motor
vehicles. However, use as a radial joint for a track rod is
preferred.
[0016] Furthermore, a radial joint, which has a simple design and
can therefore be manufactured and mounted at a low cost, is made
available with a first variant of the present invention. One
essential advantage of this radial joint is that the housing as a
whole can be manufactured by a hot forming process. Thus, not even
complicated housing geometries are a problem any longer.
[0017] In addition, another advantage of the present invention is
that as a consequence of the hot forming process, the housing has a
high strength, which results from the material used, which has a
higher strength, on the one hand, and from the process itself, on
the other hand, because the structure of the steel undergoes
changes during the processing of the material. This is turn causes
that the housing can be designed, for example, with smaller cross
sections compared to radial joints known hitherto.
[0018] Due to the higher strength of the material of the housing of
the radial joint, comparably strong extraction forces can be
attained for the ball pivot with a substantially smaller metallic
overlap than in joint designs according to the state of the art.
The metallic overlap between the external diameter of the joint
ball and the internal diameter of the opening of the housing is an
indicator of the extraction force that can be attained for the ball
pivot.
[0019] Corresponding to one embodiment of the present invention,
the hot forming process may be a forging process. Radial joint
housings of any cross section and any design can be manufactured by
this forging process, i.e., even complicated geometries can be
obtained thereby.
[0020] To close the housing, the section in the edge area of the
opening of the housing, whose cross section was reduced once by a
machining operation, is deformed by cold forming. The section has a
regular cylindrical cross section prior to its deformation.
[0021] Following the deformation, an opening is left in the
housing, through which the ball pivot protrudes from the housing.
This opening has a circular ring-shaped cross section. Maximum
deflection angles can thus be attained with such a radial joint in
each direction of deflection of the ball pivot, i.e., the ball
pivot can be pivoted about the center of the joint ball as desired.
Consequently, the pivoting range of the ball pivot is maximized in
a radial joint according to the present invention.
[0022] In addition, the shape of the opening after the deformation
may also have an oval geometry, so that different deflection angles
can be obtained in different directions of angling of the ball
pivot. The oval geometry can be obtained, for example, by providing
material accumulations, which will make possible a non-round cross
section of the opening already on the housing blank in the area of
the housing opening after the deformation.
[0023] To guarantee a sufficient extraction force, i.e., a
sufficient securing of the ball pivot within the deformed housing,
the diameter of the joint ball is larger after the mounting of the
joint than the diameter of the remaining opening of the housing.
The metallic overlap between the external diameter of the joint
ball and the internal diameter of the opening of the housing is an
indicator of the extraction force of the ball pivot that can be
attained.
[0024] In addition, it is highly advantageous if a radial joint
according to the present invention has a bearing shell, which
accommodates the joint ball and in which said joint ball is mounted
movably, in the interior space of the housing. The properties of
the radial joint can be decisively affected by means of such a
bearing shell. For example, vibration damping can be achieved with
it. Corresponding to one embodiment of the present invention, the
bearing shell may consist of various materials. The selection of
the suitable material depends on the intended property of the
mounting of the ball pivot. For example, the bearing shell may
consist of a plastic, a plastic composite, a multicomponent
material or at least partly also of a plastic-metal composite.
[0025] Depending on the geometry of the joint and the parameters to
be obtained, it is, moreover, meaningful if the bearing shell has a
support flange, which is supported on a flange, which is present in
the interior space of the housing and corresponds to the support
flange. The bearing forces acting via the housing or the pivot can
thus be optimally supported. The properties of the radial joint
according to the present invention can thus be optimized.
[0026] As was stated above, a housing according to the present
invention, which was manufactured by a hot forming process for a
radial joint, may also have complicated geometries. A shaft is
often made integrally in one piece with such a housing. This shaft
may also have, according to one embodiment of the present
invention, a bend or a plurality of bends. A bend is defined as a
shape deviating from the straight central longitudinal axis of the
shaft. It is, moreover, also significant for the manufacturing
technology if the housing and the shaft are manufactured together
by means of a hot forming process, for example, a forging process.
The manufacturing costs for a housing of a radial joint according
to the present invention thus decrease considerably.
[0027] However, it may also be meaningful, for creating, for
example, a modular system, to manufacture the shaft and the housing
separately. These will then be attached to one another, for
example, by means of a connection in substance. A system of
uniform, standardized components, which can be combined with one
another according to the requirements imposed on the radial joint,
can thus be created. The manufacturing costs can be reduced
substantially by such a measure as well.
[0028] Corresponding to one embodiment of the present invention, a
cold extrusion process is preferably used for the cold forming
process. Corresponding production plants are available for
this.
[0029] The process according to the present invention for
manufacturing a radial joint of the above-described design has the
following process steps:
[0030] Manufacture of the housing blank,
[0031] machining of the section close to the opening of the
housing,
[0032] insertion of the joint ball of the ball pivot into the
interior space of the housing, and
[0033] cold forming of the opening-side section of the housing
until a metallic overlap,
which guarantees a sufficient extraction strength for the joint to
be produced and a positive-locking connection is ensured between
the components contacting one another, develops between the joint
ball and the housing.
[0034] The radial joint can be manufactured in only a few process
steps by means of the process described for manufacturing a radial
joint. It is essential now that a controlled metallic overlap can
be prepared to achieve a predefined extraction strength and
reliable positive-locking connection of the components contacting
each other can be achieved. The quality of the radial joint
manufactured by means of such a process is decisively improved
compared to prior-art embodiments known from the state of the art.
The cost reductions already mentioned are considerable.
[0035] To achieve the metallic overlap indicated, the diameter of
the joint ball after mounting the joint should be larger than the
remaining opening of the housing. This quality criterion, which can
be checked in a simple manner, can be measured during the
production process. The deformation of the housing is carried out
with periodic or permanent force and/or pressure measurement during
the manufacture of the radial joint according to the present
invention. The parameters of the radial joint according to the
present invention can be set exactly and guaranteed permanently by
this periodic or permanent force and/or pressure measurement. Low
moments of friction are thus obtained between the components
movable relative to one another.
[0036] This can also be achieved by another embodiment of the
process described, according to which embodiment the housing is
closed during periodic or permanent measurement of the torque
necessary for deflecting and/or rotating the ball pivot. The
friction values of the radial joint after its completion are thus
set optimally, so that the necessary quality criteria can be met
with such a process for a radial joint and can also be demonstrated
in case of doubt. This possibility of demonstration is an
increasing requirement of the users of such radial joints. The
radial joints of the design in question here are safety components
in a motor vehicle, and the above-described quality control is
therefore of crucial significance. Therefore, it is also not
irrelevant that the radial joint according to the aforementioned
process steps can be closed in a controllable manner.
[0037] Corresponding to a variant of the described process
according to the present invention, the joint ball can be inserted
together with the bearing shell accommodating same into the
interior space of the housing. The deformation of the opening-side
section of the housing is associated in this case with the
deformation of the opening-side section of the bearing shell. The
opening-side area of the bearing shell has a predominantly regular
cylindrical geometry before its deformation. It can thus be
achieved that the bearing shell is optimally in contact with the
surface of the joint ball before the housing is closed. If this
procedure is combined with the above-mentioned measuring method, a
radial joint manufactured in this manner is optimized in respect to
both its tolerances and the mobility of the components and meets
the highest comfort requirements, even though it was manufactured
by a simple manufacture at a low cost.
[0038] The various features of novelty which characterize the
invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed
to and forming a part of this disclosure. The present invention
will be explained in more detail below on the basis of the drawings
attached. The exemplary embodiment shown does not, however,
represent any limitation to the variant shown, but is used only to
explain a principle of the present invention. Identical or very
similar components are designated by the same reference numbers. To
illustrate the mode of action according to the present invention,
only highly simplified schematic views are, moreover, shown in the
figures, in which the components not essential to the present
invention are not shown. However, this does not mean that such
components are not present in a solution according to the present
invention. For a better understanding of the invention, its
operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses,
reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive
matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are
illustrated.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] In the drawings:
[0040] FIG. 1 is a detail of the cross section of a radial joint
according to the present invention;
[0041] FIG. 2 is a simplified flow chart for manufacturing a radial
joint according to the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a first embodiment
variant of a housing for a radial joint according to the present
invention; and
[0043] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view showing another embodiment
variant of a housing for a radial joint according to the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0044] Referring to the drawings in particular, the view of a
partial cross section of a radial joint according to the present
invention shown in FIG. 1 has a housing 1, which was manufactured
in this case as a whole, i.e., together with the shaft 11, by means
of a hot forming process. The housing was manufactured by a forging
process in this case. The pot-shaped housing is provided with an
opening 2 on one side. On the side located opposite the opening 2,
the housing is closed. Since no opening is provided in this area,
it is unnecessary to insert a cover, which would have to be
manufactured and mounted in a complicated manner, on the side
located opposite the opening 2. A ball pivot 3 is inserted into the
interior space 4 of the housing through the opening 2 of housing 1.
A bearing shell 8 made of plastic is present between the wall of
the interior space 4 and the joint ball 5. This bearing shell 8,
provided with absorbing properties, surrounds the joint ball 5 of
the ball pivot 3 nearly completely. In the area of opening 2 of the
housing 1, it likewise has an opening, through which the pivot 6 of
the ball pivot 3 protrudes. The opening 2 of the housing 1
determines, moreover, the pivoting range of the ball pivot 3, i.e.,
the extent of the possible deflection of the ball pivot 3 about the
center of the joint ball 5. A section 7, which is present on the
housing 1 on the outside, was brought in advance to the necessary
dimension by means of machining for preparation for carrying out
the cold forming process. This section 7 of the housing 1, which
was regular cylindrical before the deformation, is deformed in the
direction of the ball pivot 3 in the course of the process in which
the housing is produced. The deformation is carried out by means of
a cold forming process. A sealing bellows 14, in the housing-side
edge area of which a straining ring 15 is inserted by
vulcanization, is arranged on the outside of the housing in the
area of section 7. The sealing bellows 14, manufactured from an
elastomeric material, preferably rubber, is directly sealingly in
contact with the ball pivot 3 with its other end located opposite
the straining ring 15 in the area of pivot 6.
[0045] The ball pivot 3 has, furthermore, a pivot neck 16, which is
formed approximately in the area of opening 2 of the housing. In
the lower area located opposite the opening 2 of housing 1, the
housing has a flange 10, which has a slope in relation to the
central longitudinal axis of the non-deflected ball pivot 3. A
support flange 9 of the bearing shell 8 is supported on this flange
10 of housing 1.
[0046] FIG. 2 shows a flow chart, which shall illustrate the
manufacturing process for producing a radial joint according to the
present invention in a simplified manner. A housing blank 1 is
first manufactured by means of a forging process. This housing
blank 1 has an interior space 4 and an opening 2 and has
overmeasures due to tolerances compared to the finished
housing.
[0047] In the next step, a section 7 is prepared at the
opening-side section of housing 1 by a single machining operation.
It is possible to also carry out a surface machining of the
interior space 4 of the housing 1 with this machining operation,
but this operation is not absolutely necessary.
[0048] The next process step consists of attaching the bearing
shell 8, which has a regular cylindrical geometry at first on the
opening side, on the joint ball 5 of the ball pivot 3. The assembly
unit thus obtained, comprising the ball pivot 3 and the bearing
shell 8, is inserted into the interior space 4 through opening 2 of
the housing 1.
[0049] The deformation of the edge area 7 of the housing 1 by a
cold forming process is carried out in the next step. Section 7 of
housing 1 is now moved in the direction of arrows A and B shown in
FIG. 2 towards the ball pivot 3. At the same time, deformation of
the corresponding, opening-side section of the bearing shell 8 is
carried out during this cold forming process, so that this [bearing
shell] will come into contact with the joint ball 5. This housing
closing operation is supported by a measurement of the forces
applied to section 7 of housing 1, which takes place during the
deformation. Furthermore, the torque needed to deflect the ball
pivot 3 about the center of the joint ball 5 is periodically
determined. The specified parameters of the joint can thus be
adapted very accurately to the requirements imposed on the joint
during the closing of the housing.
[0050] In a final operation, opening 2 of housing 1 is closed by a
sealing bellows 14, which has a vulcanized straining ring 15 in
this case only on one side in the area of section 7 of housing 1.
The straining ring 15 brings about the pressing of the sealing
bellows 14 onto the housing 1, so that optimized sealing is ensured
here. The opposite end of the sealing bellows 14 is sealingly in
contact with the ball pivot 3. As can be recognized from the view
in FIG. 2, shaft 11 of the housing 1 has a bend 12. This bend is
prepared together with the housing blank by the hot forming process
(forging process).
[0051] FIG. 3 shows a first embodiment variant for a housing 1 of a
radial joint according to the present invention in a cross section.
Shaft 11, which is made in one piece with housing 1, the interior
space 4 present within the pot-shaped housing 1 for subsequently
accommodating the bearing shell 8 with the ball pivot 3, as well as
the opening 2 of housing 1 provided for this can be recognized
here. On the opening-side outer surface of housing 1, the housing
has a section 7 prepared by machining, which is suitable for being
deformed by cold forming as a consequence of the machining in order
to make thus possible the above-described closing of the joint.
[0052] FIG. 4 shows, moreover, another, very simple embodiment of a
housing 1 for a radial joint according to the present invention.
This is not of a one-part design in this case, but comprises a
plurality of individual parts, which can be fitted together in the
sense of a modular system. Thus, this housing 1 has a separate
shaft 11 with a bend 12. The connection between the housing 1 and
the shaft 11 is brought about by means of a weld seam 17. Just as
in the exemplary embodiments described before, housing 1 is
equipped with section 7, which was manufactured by machining, and
has an interior space 4 as well as an opening 2 suitable for
inserting the ball pivot 3. Furthermore, this view shows flange 10
of housing 1, which flange is used to bring a corresponding support
flange 9 into contact with the bearing shell 8, not shown here.
[0053] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown
and described in detail to illustrate the application of the
principles of the invention, it will be understood that the
invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such
principles.
* * * * *