Compression lower preloaded ball joint
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsCharles D. Eifert, Patrick H. Fullenkamp, Douglas M. Brademeyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A compression lower ball joint includes a ball pivotally mounted in a socket. The ball includes a substantially hemispherical bearing with a recess receiving a post of a stud which includes a parti-spherical head adapted to mate with the bearing. A spring is disposed between the post and the bearing providing a preload to force the bearing and stud apart maintaining the joint in a tight condition until a predetermined amount of wear has occurred. This provides a positive indication of when the joint is worn and in need of replacement.
Claims7
A compression ball joint comprising:
- a housing forming a socket;
- a substantially hemispherical bearing having a recess and disposed in the socket;
- a stud including a parti-spherical head adaptively mating with the substantially hemispherical bearing with a post extending into the recess;
- and
- a spring disposed in the recess between the post and the bearing, wherein the spring comprises a resilient solid formed in a two tiered construction, one tier being larger than the other.
A compression ball joint comprising:
- a housing with a wall forming a substantially spherical cavity having a bearing seat within the cavity and an opening through the housing wall opposite the bearing seat;
- a substantially hemispherical bearing engaging the bearing seat and having a recess directed toward the opening;
- a stud including a parti-spherical head disposed in the substantially spherical cavity adjacent to the substantially hemispherical bearing with a post extending into the recess and a shank extending through the housing's opening;
- and
- a spring disposed in the recess between the post and the bearing.
A compression ball joint comprising:
- a housing with a wall forming a substantially spherical cavity having a bearing seat within the cavity and an opening through the housing wall opposite the bearing seat;
- a substantially hemispherical bearing mating with the bearing seat and having a recess directed toward the opening;
- a stud including a parti-spherical head disposed in the substantially spherical cavity mating with the substantially hemispherical bearing with a post extending into the recess and a shank extending through the housing's opening;
- and
- a spring disposed in the recess between the post and the bearing including a cylindrical segment and a frustoconical section extending therefrom, wherein the spring is compressed between the stud and the bearing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.