# US 9,518,602 B2 · Ball joint > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,602 B2 - Document ID: US9518602B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/522,417 - Filed: 2011-01-19 - Published: 2012-11-29 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2010-01-19 - Assignees: THK RHYTHM AUTOMOTIVE GmbH - Applicants: Uwe Forthaus; Vat Phiaphakdy; Lothar Schaumann; Harald Walter; Dagmar Woelki - Inventors: Uwe Forthaus; Vat Phiaphakdy; Lothar Schaumann; Harald Walter; Dagmar Woelki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518602B2 ## CPC - F16C 11/086: {with an elastomeric member in the blind end of a socket} - F16C 11/0623: {Construction or details of the socket member} - F16C 11/0638: {characterised by geometrical details} - F16C 11/0647: {Special features relating to adjustment for wear or play; Wear indicators} - Y10T 403/32713: Elastomerically biased or backed components - Y10T 403/32721: Elastomeric seat - Y10T 403/32729: Externally packed - Y10T 403/32737: including liner, shim, or discrete seat - Y10T 403/32811: Spring-biased - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A ball joint which comprises a joint housing, a bearing shell received in the joint housing, and a ball stud having a ball head arranged for pivoting movement in the bearing shell. The ball head is prestressed by a spring system substantially in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the ball stud against the joint housing. The spring system is composed of spring elements connected in parallel and/or in series, at least one spring element of the spring system being made of a polymer material or of an elastomer material. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A ball joint comprising: a joint housing, a bearing shell received in the joint housing, a ball stud having a ball head arranged for pivoting movement in the bearing shell, the ball head being prestressed by a spring system substantially in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the ball stud against an inner bottom surface of the joint housing and/or a housing cover secured to the joint housing, wherein the spring system is composed of spring elements connected in parallel or both in parallel and in series and which when the spring elements are connected in parallel are configured to always be in direct contact with the inner bottom surface of the joint housing and/or the housing cover, at least one spring element of the spring system being made of a polymer material or of an elastomer material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ball joint according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring element of the spring system is formed integrally with the bearing shell or is part of the bearing shell. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ball joint according to claim 1, wherein a first spring element of the spring system is formed from a pole region of the bearing shell and is subject to a bending stress in the assembled state of the ball joint. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The ball joint according to claim 3, wherein the first spring element contacts the joint housing or the housing cover fastened in an opening of the joint housing in the assembled state of the ball joint or by an axial loading of the ball joint, such that a spring parallel connection with a further spring element which is in contact with the bearing shell results therefrom. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ball joint according to claim 1, wherein a further spring element of the spring system contacts both the bearing shell and the housing or the housing cover which is fastened in an opening of the housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The ball joint according to claim 5, wherein the further spring element is configured in the form of a ring. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The ball joint according to claim 5, wherein the further spring element is manufactured separately from the bearing shell and is arranged on the bearing shell in the assembled state of the joint. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The ball joint according to claim 5, wherein the further spring element is formed integrally with the bearing shell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The ball joint according to claim 8, wherein the further spring element is formed integrally with the bearing shell by two-component injection molding. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The ball joint according to claim 5, wherein the further spring element is made of an elastomer material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The ball joint according to claim 10, wherein the further spring element is received in a cavity which is formed between the bearing shell on one side and the joint housing or the housing cover on the other side. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The ball joint according to claim 11, wherein the further spring element is adapted to the cavity by means of the cross-section thereof, the further spring element filling the cavity substantially entirely in case of an axial loading of the ball joint. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The ball joint according to claim 11, wherein the further spring element fills the majority of the cavity in the assembled state of the ball joint. ### Claim 14 (depends on 5) The ball joint according to claim 5, wherein the further spring element is made of metal. ### Claim 15 A ball joint comprising: a joint housing, a bearing shell received in the joint housing, a ball stud having a ball head arranged for pivoting movement in the bearing shell, the ball head being prestressed by a spring system substantially in the direction of a longitudinal axis of the ball stud against an inner bottom surface of the joint housing and/or a housing cover secured to the joint housing, wherein the spring system is composed of spring elements connected in parallel or both in parallel and in series and which when the spring elements are connected in parallel are configured to have parallel oriented portions of the spring elements always in contact with the inner bottom surface of the joint housing and/or the housing cover whereby the deflection in the parallel direction of the spring elements connected in parallel is substantially the same, at least one spring element of the spring system being made of a polymer material or of an elastomer material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The ball joint according to claim 15, wherein the at least one spring element of the spring system is formed integrally with the bearing shell or is part of the bearing shell. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The ball joint according to claim 15, wherein a first spring element of the spring system is formed from a pole region of the bearing shell and is subject to a bending stress in the assembled state of the ball joint. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The ball joint according to claim 17, wherein the first spring element contacts the joint housing or the housing cover fastened in an opening of the joint housing in the assembled state of the ball joint or by an axial loading of the ball joint, such that a spring parallel connection with a further spring element which is in contact with the bearing shell results therefrom. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The ball joint according to claim 15, wherein a further spring element of the spring system contacts both the bearing shell and the housing or the housing cover which is fastened in an opening of the housing.