# US 5,065,934 A · Method of manufacturing rod end joint

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- Number: US 5,065,934 A
- Document ID: US5065934A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 07/523,381
- Filed: 1990-05-14
- Granted: 1991-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 1989-05-16
- Assignees: Nippon Thompson Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Kenichi Ito
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5065934A

## CPC

- B23K 20/129: {specially adapted for particular articles or work}
- F16C 11/0609: {made from two or more parts}
- F16C 11/0685: {Manufacture of ball-joints and parts thereof, e.g. assembly of ball-joints}
- B60G 2204/416: Ball or spherical joints
- B60G 2206/11: the arm being a radius or track or torque or steering rod or stabiliser end link
- B60G 2206/82: Joining
- B60G 2206/8401: Annealing
- F16C 2226/36: by welding
- Y10T 29/4929: including metallurgical bonding
- Y10T 29/49291: including metal forging or die shaping
- Y10T 29/49295: Push rod or rocker arm making
- B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00})
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

There is provided an improved method of manufacturing a rod end joint comprising a rod and one or more ball sections formed at an end or ends of the rod. Said method comprises the steps of rigidly fitting a ball or balls to the end or ends of the rod to form the ball section; and applying external compressive force longitudinally to a neck portion formed with the ball section while the neck portion is subjected to a high frequency annealing so as to plastically deform said rod. A length of the rod before the ball is fitted is greater than a length of the rod of a final product.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of manufacturing a rod end joint comprising a rod and one or more ball sections formed at an end or ends of the rod, said method comprising steps of
rigidly fitting a ball or balls to the end or ends of the rod to form the ball section and
applying external compressive force longitudinally to a neck portion formed with the ball section while the neck portion is subjected to a high frequency annealing so as to plastically deform said rod.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more balls are frictionally welded to said end or ends of the rod.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein the rod is secured by a stationary member and
while the ball is rotated, external force is longitudinally applied between the ball and the rod along the axis of the rod so as to rigidly fit the ball to the end of the rod.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein a length of the rod before the ball is fitted is greater than a length of the rod of a final product.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said rod is made of steel and heated by a high frequency heater to a temperature between 670.degree. and 720.degree. C.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of removing bulges formed during the step of frictional welding.