CONE ADAPTOR FOR BALL JOINT STUDS, TIE RODS, SWAY BAR LINKS AND THE LIKE

• Main Authors: SCHMIDT GEORGE R, CURTIS NORMAN F, BYRNES THOMAS J, XUE YANJUN, WARHOVER SCOTT, SELLERS ROGER G
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 22.03.2007
• Subjects: BEARINGS; BLASTING; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HEATING; LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; MOTOR VEHICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; SHAFTS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; TRAILERS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

A ball joint assembly ( 28 ) for a vehicular steering or suspension application includes a cap-like housing ( 42 ) in which is captured the articulating ball portion ( 32 ) of a stud ( 30 ). A shank ( 34 ) extends from the ball portion ( 32 ), outwardly from the housing cap ( 42 ), to provide a connection and anchoring interface for the suspension member ( 16 ) or other anchoring component. The connection interface with the anchoring suspension member ( 16 ) is characterized by a specially designed surface which is convenient to machine, provides increased surface-to-surface contact area, and provides additional advantages such as improved stress distribution and NVH benefits. A washer-like cone adaptor ( 54 ) mates with a specially formed adaptor interface region ( 48 ) on the stud ( 30 ). On its outer surface, the adaptor ( 54 ) has a broad tapering feature ( 56 ) designed to seat in a complementary-shaped receiving flare ( 58 ) in the anchoring suspension member ( 16 ). The mating contact region between the adaptor ( 54 ) and the stud ( 30 ) is formed with spherical or spheroidal curvatures, or by single or multiple step configurations.