Abstract: An adjustable articulating spinal rod system including a first elongated element secured to a first bone, a second elongated element secured to the spine, and an articulating joint connecting the first and second elongated elements. The articulating joint including a first movable joint, a second movable joint, and at least one locking mechanism. The first movable joint is coupled to the first elongated element and the second movable joint which is also coupled the second elongate element. The first and second movable joints are configured to allow polyaxial movement and rotation of the first elongated element with respect to the second elongated element. The at least one locking mechanism immobilizes the first and second movable joints in the locked position to secure the first elongate element in a position relative to the second elongate element and allow movement and rotation in an unlocked position.

Abstract: A coupler for connecting a trailer to a ball hitch. The coupler has a body that provides a cavity for a downwardly facing ball hitch receiver. Spaced apart first and second sidewalls have therein first, second, and third apertures, and the first, second and third apertures in the first sidewall are aligned with the first, second, and third apertures in the second sidewall. A latch handle having a base with ear portions having downwardly facing surfaces is pivotally connected to the body using a pivot shaft pin. The body includes a latch slot, in which a spring biased ball latch, sized and shaped for engagement with a ball hitch is connected to the latch handle by a latch bar. A safety pin is provided, which can be inserted through the third apertures in each of the first and second sidewalls. When inserted, the latch handle is secured in an uplock condition, so that downward closing motion of the latch handle is arrested by the downward facing surfaces at the ear portions of the latch handle.

Abstract: A connecting structure comprising a main body, a plurality of rotary discs, and a joint set is provided. The rotary discs are rotatably disposed on the main body with intervals. The joint set comprises at least one third connecting element and at least one fourth connecting element. The fourth connecting element matches with the first connecting of the object for connecting to each other, and the third connecting element matches with the second connecting element of the device for connecting to each other.

Abstract: A bearing joint assembly may include a bearing sleeve, a first collar, a first mount, a pair of second mounts and a fastener, which projects through the bearing sleeve and secures the bearing sleeve to the second mounts. The bearing sleeve extends axially along a centerline and includes a spherical bearing. The first collar is configured with the bearing sleeve. A first annular channel is formed by and extends axially between the spherical bearing and the first collar. The first mount is mounted on and slidably engages the spherical bearing. The spherical bearing and the first collar are axially between the second mounts.

Abstract: A steering cylinder mount system with a bearing race frictional lock assembly for an agricultural machine is provided that frictionally secures a bearing's inner race with respect to another component in a manner that ensures the bearing's inner and outer races rotate with respect to each other in preference to rotating the inner race with respect to an internally arranged supporting component. The bearing race friction lock assembly may frictionally engage multiple surfaces of the spherical bearing's inner race to lock the inner race with respect to its inwardly arranged supporting component(s).

Abstract: The system of the present method, system, and device comprises a mechanism for linking components including: a rod having a widened and elastically deformable end; an axially movable needle; and a body surrounding the interacting ends of said rod and said needle; and a control device acting on said needle and capable of switching said widened elastically deformable end from an open position to a closed position.

Abstract: A retaining formation defined on a brake lever of an air disc brake includes a push fit/snap fit connection for releasably securing a push rod to a brake lever. The retaining formation can include a pinned connection and a ball and socket joint, and a main axis of the pinned connection is coincident with a center of rotation of the ball and socket joint. The retaining formation can include a concave formation on one of the push rod and the brake lever and a corresponding convex formation on the other of the push rod and the brake lever. The concave formation at least partially surrounds the convex formation to prevent axial separation of the push rod and the brake lever. A method of assembling a brake subassembly includes the steps of assembling a push rod and a brake lever including a retaining formation such that at least a portion of the retaining formation deforms during assembly and resiles when the push rod is assembled to the brake lever to provide a snap fit connection therebetween.

Abstract: A self-retaining anti-rotation clip for a spherical-bearing rod end has two opposing spacer plates, each spacer plate having a curved edge portion for surrounding at least a portion of a ball of the rod end. A connector plate connects the spacer plates, such that the spacer plates are spaced from each other and generally parallel to each other. Retaining means are carried on the clip and adapted for retaining each spacer plate in a position generally adjacent one side of a body of the rod end, such that the spacer plates are free from interference with the ball of the rod end.

Abstract: An improved ball joint for use in a motor vehicle steering or suspension system includes a ball joint having a housing defining an axis and a chamber having an open end. A bearing is disposed in the chamber. A ball stud having a ball portion is supported within the chamber by the bearing and a stud portion extends outwardly from the open end of the chamber. A retainer having a mounting portion is secured to the housing to retain the bearing in the chamber and an opening is formed therein through which the stud portion extends. The retainer is stamped and has a central portion configured with a dome shaped surface which extends over the open end of the chamber and is shaped complimentary to the ball portion.

Abstract: A spherical joint features a housing, a lower race seated therein, a ball member disposed between said lower race and an upper race position, and a retaining ring installed directly over the upper race in an annular groove inside the housing. In one embodiment, a retaining member is threaded into the housing over the retaining ring. The joint is fully serviceable by removal of the retaining member and ring. Prior to component replacement, initial wear can be compensated for, as the groove is oversized so as to originally lie partially below the ring-abutted upper surface of the upper race. When the upper race moves down the body as a result of surface wear of one or more of the races and ball member, tightening of the retaining member once again forces the retaining ring down against the upper race to re-tighten the races against the ball member disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A device for connecting two components, in particular a linkage of bars (38) and an engine hood (40), includes a fastening element (10) and a securing element (24) cooperating with the fastening element (10). The fastening element (10) includes a fastening section (18) for connecting the fastening element (10) with the first component and a receiving section (12) for mounting the second component. The securing element (24) includes first and second securing sections (26, 28) and is transferable to a final assembly position, in which the first securing section (26) secures the connection of the fastening element (10) with the first component and at the same time the second securing section (28) secures the mounting of the second component in the receiving section (12).

Abstract: A lubrication system for a power transmission device includes a variable displacement vane pump including a moveable control ring for varying the displacement of the pump. A linear actuator directly acts on the control ring for moving the control ring between maximum and minimum pump displacement positions. The linear actuator includes an electric motor for rotating a drive member. The drive member engages a driven actuator shaft to cause linear translation of the actuator shaft in response to rotation of the drive member. A control system includes a controller for signaling the actuator to extend or retract the actuator shaft to vary the pump displacement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wiper arm (1) for a window wiper system, in particular for a motor vehicle, with a wiper rod (2) and a control rod (5) which is movable relative to the wiper rod (2) and is coupled to the wiper rod (2), wherein the control rod (5) can be fixed by means of an articulated shell (21) on an articulated head (13) of a window wiper system. According to the invention, the articulated shell (21) is designed as an articulated shell component (14) which is separate from a fastening component (11) fixed to the control rod (5) and can be fixed to the fastening component (11). Furthermore, the invention relates to a window wiper system and to an installation method.

Abstract: A ball joint includes a ball seat, and the ball seat includes a thermal caulking portion for fixing a ball seat to a housing. The ball seat includes a concave portion having an overhang portion for withstanding a pullout load so as to prevent a ball portion from coming off from the concave portion. The concave portion of the ball seat is formed of polyoxymethylene, and the overhang portion and the thermal caulking portion are formed of a resin, in which glass fiber is added to the polyoxymethylene, so as to be strengthened. Consequently, the pullout load can be increased, and the weight of the ball joint is maintained and the production cost is not greatly increased.

Abstract: A spherical joint features a housing, a lower race seated therein, a ball member disposed between said lower race and an upper race position, and a retaining ring installed directly over the upper race in an annular groove inside the housing. In one embodiment, a retaining member is threaded into the housing over the retaining ring. The joint is fully serviceable by removal of the retaining member and ring. Prior to component replacement, initial wear can be compensated for, as the groove is oversized so as to originally lie partially below the ring-abutted upper surface of the upper race. When the upper race moves down the body as a result of surface wear of one or more of the races and ball member, tightening of the retaining member once again forces the retaining ring down against the upper race to re-tighten the races against the ball member disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A spherical joint features a housing, a lower race seated therein, a ball member disposed between said lower race and an upper race position, a retaining ring installed over the upper race in an annular groove inside the housing, and a retaining member threaded into the housing over the retaining ring. The joint is fully serviceable by removal of the retaining member and ring. Prior to component replacement, initial wear can be compensated for, as the groove is oversized so as to originally lie partially below the ring-abutted upper surface of the upper race. When the upper race moves down the body as a result of surface wear of one or more of the races and ball member, tightening of the retaining member once again forces the retaining ring down against the upper race to re-tighten the the races against the ball member disposed therebetween.

Abstract: A coupling/uncoupling device is disclosed for joining and disjoining first and second segments of a transmission and/or connection means. An end fitting of the device is arranged on the first segment. The end fitting creates a snap connection with a receiver part arranged on the second segment. The device may be adapted for use in vehicles, such as for a vehicle seat, a tailgate, an engine cover, a storage compartment, a battery pole connection, or for securing transported or loaded items.

Abstract: A ball sleeve joint is provided, especially for chassis assembly units and steering assembly units of motor vehicles. The ball sleeve joint includes a joint housing with two housing halves and a ball sleeve provided with a rounded bearing surface. The bearing surface is accommodated in a joint housing, which is manufactured from an elastic plastic and is fixed in a recess of the joint housing, as well as a process for manufacturing such a ball sleeve joint. The two housing halves (3a, 3b) are pressed together with defined pressing forces during the mounting of the ball sleeve joint (1) in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the ball sleeve joint (1). The two housing parts are held in the installed position predetermined by the pressing forces by means of at least one connection (14) in substance between the housing parts (3a, 3b).

Abstract: An exemplary joint mechanism (100) includes a pivot shaft (10), a joint (20), a rotary arm (30), and two bearings (50). The pivot shaft (10) is non-rotatable relative to the joint (20). The joint (20) is received in the rotary arm (30). The rotary arm (30) is rotatable relative to the joint (20). The two bearings (50) are fixed to an inner surface of the rotary arm (30). Each bearing (50) includes a concave inner surface, and the concave inner surface is engaged with a curved outer surface of the joint (20).

Abstract: A ball and socket joint is provided, for example, for an axle system of a motor vehicle. The joint has an essentially ring-shaped or pot-shaped joint housing (2). The ball (7) of a ball pivot (1) is received in the interior space of the joint housing (2) in a slidingly movable manner. The joint housing (2) includes a ball pivot-side and a housing cover-side housing half (4, 5). The two housing halves (4, 5) have an essentially circumferential axial stop (9). Based on the axial stop (9), the housing halves (4, 5) can be brought into contact with one another in the axial direction in an exactly defined manner. The reproducibility of tolerances in manufacture can be carefully controlled allowing manufacture at a low cost. The specific load-bearing capacity of the ball and socket joint can be increased or the dimensions of the ball and socket joint can be reduced.

Abstract: An exemplary rotatable joint (100) used for a mechanical device includes a socket (10), a rotatable arm (20), a supporting shaft (13), a fastening member (15), an adjusting member (16), and a resilient module (18). A pivot hole (212) is defined in the rotatable arm. The supporting shaft includes a first shaft portion (130) and a second shaft portion (132). A threaded hole (131) is defined in the first shaft portion and the first shaft portion extends through the pivot hole. The second shaft portion is fixed to the socket. The fastening member includes a threaded portion (152) for engaging in the threaded hole of the supporting shaft. The adjusting member is disposed at the threaded portion of the fastening member. The resilient module is disposed between the rotatable arm and the adjusting member for providing an axial resilient force. The axial resilient force is fine tuned by moving the adjusting member.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint has high stability of the bearing shell and hence of the joint and reduces the transmitted structure-borne noise from the viewpoint of increased comfort with a bearing shell design with at least two layers. The inner layer is formed of a metal and the outer layer of a plastic such as polyoxymethylene.

Abstract: A ball joint is provided that when a load equal to or greater than a first predetermined value is applied in the axial direction of a ball stud, if a cushion seat is deformed by a predetermined amount, an opposing surface portion contacts a first load receiving portion of a ball seat, preventing the cushion seat from being deformed by a predetermined amount in the central axis direction. When a load equal to or greater than a second predetermined value greater than the first is applied in the axial direction of the ball stud, a second load receiving portion of the ball seatcontacts a bottom surface portion of an inner chamber of a socket, whereby an axial load onto the cushion seat is reduced, and the ball seat prevents the cushion seat from being deformed by a predetermined amount or more in the axial direction.

Abstract: Ball joints, systems in which they are used, and suspension systems in which the ball joint systems are employed. The ball joints, systems and suspension mechanisms are especially useful for racing vehicles in which premium performance is desired. As an additional feature, the products of this invention are especially appreciated because of the ability to quickly and easily replace or change them.

Abstract: A retaining formation defined on a brake lever of an air disc brake includes a push fit/snap fit connection for releasably securing a push rod to a brake lever. The retaining formation can include a pinned connection and a ball and socket joint, and a main axis of the pinned connection is coincident with a center of rotation of the ball and socket joint. The retaining formation can include a concave formation on one of the push rod and the brake lever and a corresponding convex formation on the other of the push rod and the brake lever. The concave formation at least partially surrounds the convex formation to prevent axial separation of the push rod and the brake lever. A method of assembling a brake subassembly includes the steps of assembling a push rod and a brake lever including a retaining formation such that at least a portion of the retaining formation deforms during assembly and resiles when the push rod is assembled to the brake lever to provide a snap fit connection therebetween.

Abstract: A bearing structure comprises a sphere, a base structure, and a plurality of adjusting elements. The base structure has an opening. The opening is abutted against a perimeter of the diameter of the sphere. The adjusting elements are disposed on two opposite edges of the base structure for adjusting the elasticity between the sphere and the base structure. The sphere rotates on the boarding structure freely so that a bearing structure with a universal rotating angle is formed.

Abstract: A method for assembling two non-integral elements to form an articulated mechanical joint, a first element including, at the joint, an end piece including two yokes, a second element including, at the joint, a yoke, the method including at least one step for drilling bores in the yokes of each element, and one step for the snug fit assembly of rings or ball joints on inner surfaces of yokes of the two elements. An additional step of shot-peening of the inner surfaces of the bores of the yokes of the two elements is carried out, for each bore, between the step of drilling bores and the step of interference mounting of the ring or of the ball joint.

Abstract: The coupling apparatus for structural members includes a paired couplers for coupling structural members with each other, and each coupler includes a cylindrical main body, engaging projections spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction at an end of the body and projecting along the center line of the body, and engaging hooks projecting in one circumferential direction at the projecting end portions of the projections. At least one coupler further includes a coupling direction changing mechanism which couples the at least one coupler with a predetermined position of a structural member corresponding thereto so that the center line of the body of the at least one coupler can be orientated in a desired direction.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint is provided, for example, for an axle system of a motor vehicle. The joint has an essentially ring-shaped or pot-shaped joint housing (2). The ball (7) of a ball pivot (1) is received in the interior space of the joint housing (2) in a slidingly movable manner. The joint housing (2) includes a ball pivot-side and a housing cover-side housing half (4, 5). The two housing halves (4, 5) have an essentially circumferential axial stop (9). Based on the axial stop (9), the housing halves (4, 5) can be brought into contact with one another in the axial direction in an exactly defined manner. The reproducibility of tolerances in manufacture can be carefully controlled allowing manufacture at a low cost. The specific load-bearing capacity of the ball and socket joint can be increased or the dimensions of the ball and socket joint can be reduced.

Abstract: In a gas flow control flap operating mechanism including a ball-head joint provided between an actuator drive and the gas flow control valve flap with a ball head which is received in a multipart ball-head socket, the parts of the ball-head socket are interconnected so that the ball-head socket is closed around the ball head and the ball-head socket is contained by a receiving part and includes locking means which hold the multipart ball-head socket in the receiving part and in engagement with the ball-head.

Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint for a motor vehicle, and especially for the chassis of the motor vehicle, with a ball-and-socket joint housing is provided with a joint opening (6), in which housing there is arranged a bearing shell (5). The ball-and-socket joint has a ball pivot (3) with a pin (2) and with a joint ball (1), which is rotatably and pivotably mounted in the bearing shell (5), in which case the pin extends out of the ball-and-socket joint housing (4) through the bearing shell (5) and the joint opening (6). The bearing shell (5) is made at least partially of a plastic mixed with an anti-adhesive material and reinforced with fibers.

Abstract: A bearing shell for a ball and socket joint made of plastic as well as the ball and socket joint per se, wherein the bearing shell has first areas, which are subject to higher mechanical loads than the other areas of the bearing shell, wherein the material of the bearing shell forming the first areas is formed from a reinforced plastic, and the other areas are made of a less reinforced or unreinforced plastic.

Abstract: A snap-in coupling for releasably connecting a first structural member and a second structural member. The snap-in coupling comprises a female coupling member comprising a plastic support member and a metallic spring clamp, said support member being insertable into a socket provided at said first structural member such that the female coupling member is retained therein, and a male coupling member comprising a mounting portion for being fixed to said second structural member, and a head portion. Said spring clamp and said head portion are arranged to snappingly engage each other when said female coupling member and said male coupling member are inserted into each other.

Abstract: A connection for a rod and pin includes a two piece housing molded from hard plastic which defining a cavity enclosing a soft elastomeric isolator on one end of the rod. The housing pieces also define a pin receiving cavity with retention prongs which engage and hold a pin inserted therein. The housing pieces are able to be snap fit assembled by interfitting prongs and receptacles formed on each housing piece. The housing pieces are molded together as one part, connected by an integral hinge allowing the housing parts to be swung into abutment with each other to be snap fit together.

Abstract: A ball joint having a housing with a cylindrical cavity that has an open receiving end and a closed retaining end receives a polymeric insert and a non-deformable insert therein. The polymeric insert has a cylindrical outer wall that extends upwardly from a base and the interior of the insert defines a concave spherical contour. The non-deformable insert fits into a slot formed in the base of the polymeric insert and rests against the housing's bottom. A ball stud comprising a shank with a spherical ball at one end thereof snaps into the polymeric insert and the non-deformable insert. A retaining ring slips over the shank of the ball stud into the receiving end of the housing and its inner surface also has a spherical contour conforming to the spherical ball. The inserts, the ball of the ball stud and the retainer ring are held in the housing by forming the periphery of the housing at the receiving end to overlay the retaining ring.

Abstract: A process and a device are provided for mounting ball and socket joints with at least one connecting piece. A first ball and socket joint housing part (3a) is fed to a mounting device, a ball pivot (1), surrounded by a bearing shell (2), is inserted into the first ball and socket joint housing (3a). A second housing part (3b) closing the ball and socket joint is positioned at the first ball and socket joint housing part (3a). A connecting piece (4) is placed at the ball and socket joint housing (3a, 3b), and the housing parts (3a, 3b) are joined together and to the connecting piece (4) in a non-positive and positive-locking manner and/or connected via a corresponding connection (5).

Abstract: A mounting assembly comprises a mounting element for attachment to a surface, a cap engaged with the mounting element for angular movement relative thereto and having a slot therein through which extends an arm of a support member, there being at one end of the arm a ball which is received in a socket defined between the cap and the mounting element. A coupling nut is engagable with the mounting element so that in a first, tightened state, the nut locks the cap in its selected angular orientation relative to the mounting element, thereby retaining the arm in its selected position in the slot and the support member in its selected rotational position relative to the cap. In its second, unscrewed state, the nut allows adjustment of the cap, arm and support member correspondingly to adjust the orientation of an object mounted by the mounting assembly.

Abstract: A tilting umbrella with an adjustable cover includes an adjustable cover and a shaft. An upper joint is provided centrally of the cover having a positioning ball to be received in an upper connector formed on top of the shaft. Hence, the cover is adjustable to have an oblique angle relating to the shaft as desired for sheltering sunshine from any directions effectively.

Abstract: A multi-positionable mounting device that provides a substantially stable, load-bearing but relatively adjustable ball and socket mounting device. An interior surface of the socket is formed of first and second opposing part hemispherical socket portions that are relatively orientable with one another for forming therebetween a part spherical cavity. The interior surface of one socket portion is formed with multiple facets at a predetermined radial distance from a spherical center point of the cavity. The first and second opposing part hemispherical socket portions are securable in a relationship which forms the part spherical cavity therebetween. A part-spherical coupler substantially fills the spherical cavity. The mechanical securing means applies clamping force that acts between the first and second opposing socket portions and secures the coupler therebetween in fixed orientation with one of the faceted socket portion.

Abstract: A stamped ball socket for attaching a headlamp pod to a mounting bracket comprising a base having an opening which is adapted to accept a fastener. The ball socket further comprising at least two walls extending from the base and at least two lock-in fingers protruding at an angle from the walls. The lock-in fingers and the walls of the ball socket flex to allow a pivot ball to be inserted between the lock-in fingers such that when the pivot ball is fully inserted it is adjustably retained in the ball socket by the lock-in fingers. Additionally, the base, walls, and lock-in fingers of the present invention are integrally formed by stamping a single piece of metal.

Abstract: A location control mechanism includes a striker having a preferably spherically shaped lock ball and a pair of mutually adjacent socket rollers, each socket roller having a complementing preferably hemispherically shaped semi-socket which collectively provide a single preferably spherically shaped lock socket when the rollers are appropriately rotated relative to each other. The striker is connected to a first component and the socket rollers are rotatably mounted to a second component, wherein the first and second components are positionally located relative to each other by action of the lock ball being trapped in the lock socket formed when the socket rollers have been appropriately rotated.

Abstract: An adjustable support apparatus for, e.g., supporting an instrument. The adjustable support apparatus may include a supporting member, an adjustable member engaging with the supporting member, a fastening member engaged with the adjustable member and an elongated member engaged with the adjustable member and adapted to interact with an instrument.

Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint (1) is provided with a sleeve (2) or a pivot (3) with a partial spherical surface (4) and with a bearing shell (5) surrounding the partial spherical surface (4) in a positive-locking manner with a hollow spherical bearing surface (6). The bearing surface (6) is arranged in a two-part housing (9, 10), whose housing halves (9, 10) have locking elements (15, 16) with detents (17) and locking grooves (18) mutually engaging one another, which lock the two housing halves (9, 10) with one another in a relatively immovable manner in the direction of the longitudinal axis (13) of the sleeve (2) or of the pivot (3) in their final assembled position. The bearing surface (6) for the partial spherical surface (4) of the sleeve (2) or of the pivot (3) is integrated in the inner surfaces of the two housing halves (9, 10) and these (9, 10) are surrounded on their outer surfaces (11, 12) by a metallic ring element (8) in a positive-locking manner.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mounting system and method in which symmetrical springs are used about a collar in a gimbal system to capture an assembly of a ball and an optical or other type of component. Once captured within the mounting system, the ball/component assembly can pivot until an optimal alignment is reached. Once the optimal alignment is reached, the ball/component assembly is fixed using laser welding.

Abstract: A D-ring assembly comprising a D-ring and a load limiting device. The D-ring has a slot therethrough for receiving a seatbelt webbing and for guiding the webbing from the retractor to the torso of a vehicle occupant. The load limiting device functions by absorbing kinetic energy of the vehicle occupant during a crash to control the deceleration forces experienced by the vehicle occupant. The load limiting device has a deforming member partially embedded in a swivel ball. When a predetermined amount of force is applied on the D-ring assembly, the swivel ball rotates causing the deforming member to create a channel in the load-limiting device.

Abstract: The end connector assembly (12) for a gas spring (44) enables the connector body to be connected with and disconnected from a ball (14) on the end of a ball stud (16) by relatively moving the connector body (26) and ball along a path generally parallel with the longitudinal axis of the gas spring (44) to which the connector body (26) is connected. The ball (14) enters the connector body (26) through an opening (32) in the body's front surface, that is, the surface generally perpendicular to the gas spring's longitudinal axis. A slot in the body's bottom surface, that is, the surface facing the ball (14), accommodates the shaft portion (22) of the ball stud (16), adjacent the ball (14), as the ball moves into or out of the connector body (26) through the opening (32).

Abstract: A ceramic ball-and-socket joint for a motor vehicle, especially for the chassis of the motor vehicle, is provided, in which the ball-and-socket joint has a ball-and-socket joint housing (5) provided with a joint opening (7) and a ball pivot provided with a joint ball (1) and with a pivot (13), which said ball pivot is mounted rotatably and pivotably with its joint ball (1) in a bearing shell (2) arranged in the ball-and-socket joint housing (5), wherein the ball pivot protrudes with its pivot (13) from the ball-and-socket joint housing (5) through the joint opening (7). The bearing shell (2) is divided into at least two separate bearing shell parts (3, 4), wherein the joint ball (1) and the bearing shell (13) are made of a ceramic material.

Abstract: A steering linkage assembly for a motor vehicle has a tie rod and a drag link connected to a steering knuckle in an over/under arrangement, with first and second ball joints for the drag link and the tie rod respectively on opposite sides of the steering knuckle and having a common axis that is located within an interior volume of a wheel supported by the steering knuckle. The coaxial, over/under configuration results in a ball joint assembly having a minimum axial dimension so that both ball joints can be located inside the inner rim of the wheel and as far outboard and as far forward as possible. The extreme outboard placement of the drag link ball joint maximizes the length of the drag link to reduce bump and roll steer sensitivity, and the forward placement maximizes the effective steering arm radius to reduce steering linkage loads while also improving packaging.

Abstract: A tie rod end having a purgative zerk for removal of used lubricants is provided. In one embodiment of the invention, the tie rod end includes a socket member that defines a first bore in which a ball stud member is disposed and a second bore in communication with the first bore. The purgative zerk is disposed in the second bore. In a second embodiment of the invention, the purgative zerk is disposed in a plug used to close one end of the first bore. The use and location of the purgative zerk enable purge holes to be eliminated from a boot seal disposed at one end of the first bore thereby reducing contamination of the tie rod end.

Abstract: The invention relates to a connecting ball joint (10), for example an anti-roll bar of a running vehicle, the ball joint (10) comprising a straight support (20) running along a general axis of elongation (xx′) and an elastically deformable member (30) mounted around the support (20). The ball joint has the characteristic that its elastically deformable member (30) comprises at least one laminated structure (35; 135) made up of (a) layer(s) (32) of elastically deformable flexible material and of (a) layer(s) (34) of more rigid material.