Actuating device
AssigneeZF Friedrichshafen AG
InventorBerthold gr. Kohorst
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An actuating device comprising an actuating element that is moved by a ball stud relative to a base comprising a ball socket. The actuating element can move relative to the base, within at least one pivot plane, between at least two shift positions. At least one recess of the ball socket has an elastic surface area which is flexible in the direction along the radius of the ball socket. The flexible elastic surface area has a centrally arranged pressure contact element, which bears against the joint ball. In a neutral position of the elastic surface area, the contact surface of the pressure contact element is at a distance away from the mid-point of the ball socket which is smaller than the radius of the joint ball, such that it possible to produce actuating devices which are robust in operation and free from play.
Claims13
An actuating device comprising:
- an actuating element that is fixed to a ball stud which is pivotable relative to a base, a ball socket is arranged in the base and supports the ball stud such that the actuating element is movable relative to the base within at least one pivot plane and between at least two shift positions,
- at least one recess of the ball socket includes a prestressing element having an elastic surface zone which is flexible in a radial direction of the ball socket, the flexible elastic surface zone having a pressure contact element located centrally on the elastic surface zone which bears against the ball stud,
- wherein a contact surface of the pressure contact element is spaced at a radial distance smaller than the radius of the ball stud away from a center point of the ball socket so that
- when the contact surface of the pressure contact element is not in contact with a ball stud, the contact surface of the pressure contact element is in a force-free, neutral position, and
- when the ball stud is retained in the ball socket and in contact with the contact surface of the pressure contact element, the elastic surface zone is biased into a stressed position and the contact surface of the pressure contact element directly contacts the ball stud and presses the ball stud into contact with an inner surface of the ball socket.
An actuating device for selecting gear ratios in a manual transmission, the actuating device comprising:
- a ball stud having a remote end coupled to an actuating lever, the ball stud being supported within a socket housing such that the actuating lever is pivotable within at least one pivot plane between at least two shift positions relative to the socket housing;
- the socket housing comprising first and second housing halves, the second housing half having a socket half shell, the first housing half having a socket half shell with an inner surface and a recess, the recess in the socket half shell including a prestressing element having an elastic surface zone which is flexible in a radial direction of the ball socket, and a central portion of the elastic surface area having a pressure contact element, the contact surface of the pressure contact element being spaced a radial distance smaller than the radius of the ball stud away from a center point of the ball socket, when the elastic surface zone is in a relaxed position;
- the first housing half engaging the second housing half such that the socket half shell of the first housing half and the socket half shell of the second housing half form a spherical ball socket which retains the ball stud therein;
- and
- the ball stud contacting the pressure contact element of the elastic surface area and the inner surface of the socket half shell of the first housing half, when the ball stud is retained in the ball socket, such that the elastic surface area is biased into a stressed position, and when the ball stud is not retained in the ball socket, the elastic surface area is in the relaxed position,
- wherein the ball socket comprises an inner surface and the ball stud directly contacts the contact surface of the pressure contact element and the inner surface of the ball socket, and
- the elastic surface zone is prestressed such that the contact surface of the pressure contact element directly contacts the ball stud and presses the ball stud into direct contact with an inner surface of the ball socket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.