Self-locking ball-and-socket mechanism

A self-locking ball-and-socket mechanism comprising:

• a polymeric member of a first stiffness, said member having an axially extending recess formed therein, said member having a push rod operatively pivotally attached thereto in said recess;
• said push rod having an enlarged ball end operatively secured in said recess to provide said operative pivotal attachment of said push rod to said member;
• and an insert with a polymeric portion having a second stiffness less than the first stiffness, the insert having a socket formed therein receiving said push rod enlarged ball end therein in pivotal relation and having first means thereon cooperating with said push rod enlarged ball end to receive said ball end in said insert socket in ball-and-socket relation and hold said push rod in said insert so that it is limited to pivotal movement relation only relative to said insert, said insert includes a base end and a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms extending axially and radially outward from said base end, said first means being spherical segment surfaces on said base end and the inner surfaces of said arms cooperatively forming a socket for said push rod ball end, said insert and said member further having second means cooperatively acting to cause said insert socket to engage said ball end in such limited pivotal movement relation and said insert to be so locked in said member recess as to retain said insert and said push rod ball end in said member recess with said push rod being in operative pivotal movement relation to said member and being restricted against axial movements in relation to said member, and wherein said insert on an end generally opposite said push rod has an attached metallic member to distribute a force input from said push rod to the polymeric member.

A vehicle brake booster self-locking ball-and-socket mechanism comprising:

• a polymeric air valve of a first stiffness having an axially extending recess formed therein, said air valve having a metallic push rod operatively pivotally attached thereto in said recess;
• said push rod having an enlarged ball end operatively secured in said recess to provide said operative pivotal attachment of said push rod to said air valve;
• and an insert with a polymeric portion having a second stiffness less than the first stiffness, the insert having a socket formed therein receiving said push rod enlarged ball end therein in pivotal relation and having first means thereon cooperating with said push rod enlarged ball end to receive said ball end in said insert socket in ball-and-socket relation and hold said push rod in said insert so that it is limited to pivotal movement relation only relative to said insert, said insert includes a base end and a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms extending axially and radially outward from said base end, said first means being spherical segment surfaces on said base end and the inner surfaces of said arms cooperatively forming a socket for said push rod ball end, said insert and said air valve further having second means cooperatively acting to cause said insert socket to engage said ball end in such limited pivotal movement relation and said insert to be so locked in said air valve recess as to retain said insert and said push rod ball end in said air valve recess with said push rod being in operative pivotal movement relation to said air valve and being restricted against axial movements in relation to said air valve, and wherein said insert on an end generally opposite said push rod has an attached metallic member to distribute a force input from said push rod to the air valve

A vehicle brake booster self-locking ball-and-socket mechanism comprising:

• a polymeric air valve with a stiffness of a first value, said air valve having a longitudinal axis having an axially extending recess formed therein, said recess having an end wall with a substantial portion perpendicular to said axis, said air valve having a push rod operatively pivotally attached thereto in said recess;
• said push rod having an enlarged ball end operatively secured in said recess to provide said operative pivotal attachment of said push rod to said air valve;
• an insert with a polymeric portion, said polymeric portion having a stiffness of a second value lower than said first value, said insert also having a socket formed therein receiving said push rod enlarged ball end therein in pivotal relation and having first means thereon cooperating with said push rod enlarged ball end to receive said ball end in said insert socket in ball-and-socket relation and hold said push rod in said insert polymeric portion so that it is limited to pivotal movement relation only relative to said insert, said insert polymeric portion and said air valve further having second means cooperatively acting to cause said insert socket to engage said ball end in such limited pivotal movement relation and said insert being so locked in said air valve recess as to retain said insert and said push rod ball end in said air valve recess with said push rod in operative pivotal movement relation to said air valve, said push rod being restricted against axial movements in relation to said air valve, and wherein said insert polymeric portion includes a base end and a plurality of circumferentially spaced arms extending axially and radially outward from said base end, said first means being spherical segment surfaces on said base end and the inner surfaces of said arms cooperatively forming a socket for said push rod ball end;
• and in which said second means includes cam surfaces formed on said insert and said member and a shoulder formed on each of said insert and said member, some of said cam surfaces causing said insert socket to engage said ball end as aforesaid and said shoulders being engaged axially of said member and said insert and with some of said cam surfaces locking said insert in said member recess as aforesaid, and said insert base end having an outer end surface substantially parallel to the end wall;
• and
• a metallic member being generally disc-shaped juxtaposed between said air valve end wall and said recess end wall and said insert base outer end surface for transmittal of force from said push rod to said air valve.