Socket assembly with a pressed cover plate and method of construction thereof

A method of constructing a socket assembly, comprising the steps of:

• providing a housing having an inner surface which surrounds an inner bore and having a groove formed in the inner surface and a shoulder extending radially inwardly of the groove;
• inserting a portion of a ball stud into the inner bore of the housing;
• providing a cover plate assembly having an inner piece disposed into a through opening of a frusto-conically shaped outer piece;
• inserting the cover plate assembly at least partially into the inner bore and resting the outer piece on the shoulder;
• and
• pressing the cover plate assembly with a force directed onto to the inner piece of the cover plate assembly and toward the inner bore and causing an outer periphery of the outer piece to expand radially outwardly into fixed relation within the groove and causing the through opening of the outer piece to contract into fixed relation with the inner piece.

A ball socket assembly, comprising:

• a housing having an inner surface surrounding an inner bore, said inner bore extending from an open first end to an open second end with a groove extending into said inner surface adjacent said second end;
• at least one bearing provided in said inner bore adjacent said open second end;
• a ball stud having a ball portion disposed in said inner bore in engagement with said at least one bearing and having a shank portion extending through said open first end;
• and
• a cover plate assembly having an outer piece and an inner piece, said outer piece having an outer periphery and a through opening, said outer periphery being fixed in said groove, said inner piece being disposed adjacent to but axially spaced out of direct engagement with each of said ball portion and said at least one bearing and having a central opening configured for receipt of a lubricant fitting, and said outer piece being plastically deformed into an interference fit with said inner piece.

A ball socket assembly, comprising:

• a housing having an inner surface surrounding an inner bore, said inner bore extending from an open first end to an open second end with a groove extending into said inner surface adjacent said second end, said groove having opposite surfaces axially spaced from one another by a sidewall of said groove;
• at least one bearing surface provided in said inner bore;
• a ball stud having a ball portion disposed in said inner bore in engagement with said at least one bearing surface and having a shank portion extending through said open first end;
• and
• a cover plate assembly having an outer piece and an inner piece, said outer piece having an outer periphery and a through opening, said outer periphery being fixed in said groove and said outer piece engaging the opposite surfaces of said groove, said inner piece having a central opening configured for receipt of a lubricant fitting, and said outer piece being plastically deformed into an interference fit with said inner piece.

A ball socket assembly, comprising:

• a housing having an inner surface surrounding an inner bore, said inner bore extending from an open first end to an open second end with a groove extending into said inner surface adjacent said second end;
• at least one bearing surface provided in said inner bore;
• a ball stud having a ball portion disposed in said inner bore in engagement with said at least one bearing surface and having a shank portion extending through said open first end;
• a cover plate assembly having an outer piece and an inner piece, said outer piece having an outer periphery and through opening, said outer periphery being fixed in said groove, said inner piece having a central opening configured for receipt of a lubricant fitting, and said outer piece being plastically deformed into an interference fit with said inner piece, and
• at least one preload member formed separately from and engaging said outer piece to impart a preload between said ball portion and said at least one bearing surface.