Abstract: The invention concerns a ball joint with a ball (6) arranged in a joint housing (1), with at least one bearing shell arranged between the joint housing (1) and the ball (6) and with at least one thrust collar (14) arranged between the joint housing (1) and the bearing shell, whereby the thrust collar adjoins the outer surface (11) of the bearing shell and braces the same in the axial direction of the inner space (2) of the joint housing. A consistent bracing of the joint after automated mounting is obtained by the fact that the thrust collar (14) is an elastic metal ring with a generally U-shaped cross section and with two ring limbs (17,18) that form one stopping face (15,16) each, and with a ring web (19) connecting the ring limbs (17,18) to each other.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is an adjustable fastening of a ball joint (2) to a tie rod (1) for steering linkages of motor vehicles, with a ball-ended wrist pin (12) movable in all directions located in a universal joint housing (14), which is arranged in a fastening plate (16) with a bearing hole (18), a fastening element (screw 22) fixed on the tie rod, which passes through the bearing hole (18), so that the fastening plate (16) is supported swiveling around the fastening element (screw 22) and a locking element engaging with the fastening plate (16) for fixing of the ball joint (2) in a defined swiveled position.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a ball-and-socket joint with a ball-ended spindle (3) encompassing a spherical head (1) and a link pin (2), which is movably mounted in a joint housing (7) of pot-like interior configuration. A simply producible and installable ball-and-socket joint with a secure, air- and dust-tight connection between bearing shell and joint housing has a spherical head (1), which is mounted in the joint housing (7) by means of a one-piece bearing shell (6) of plastic, while the bearing shell (6) has, on the pin side, an annular shoulder (11) extending radially outward, which is fitted to the face (12) of the joint housing (7) on the aperture side.

Abstract: A steering rod for motor vehicles includes a guide rod or a cross guide. After an overload by a tension force, the steering rod changes geometrically to clearly influence the driving behavior of a motor vehicle. For this purpose, the steering rod has a transmission rod (2) set into a pipe (1) for the transmission of tension forces. The transmission rod (2) at one end is held into the pipe (1) by a force-fitting or form-fitting holding device, and at the other end projects out of the pipe end (11). The transmission rod (2) has, between the holding device and the pipe end (11) a desired breaking point (9). An offset (10) is located between the desired breaking point (9) and the pipe end (11). The pipe (1) is provided, between the offset (10) and the pipe end (11), with a pipe narrowing which forms a stop (12) for the offset (10) in case of rupture of the desired breaking point (9).

Abstract: An elastic bearing for steering rods of motor vehicles with a stud (1) which is rotatable and which is movable with limited angular and radial mobility. The stud (1) is pressed with interposition of an elastomer bushing (2) into an intermediate shell (3) to permit limited angular and radial mobility of the stud. The intermediate shell (3) is rotatably supported in a joint housing (9), is simpler to produce, and has close moment of rotation tolerances even during operation. For this purpose, the intermediate shell (3) has on the outside a collar (4). Two bearing shells (7, 8) are set between the intermediate shell (3) and the joint housing (9) and are supported against the collar. The bearing shells (7, 8) are pressed by a spring element (10) supported on the joint housing (9) in the axial direction of the stud against the collar (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to a ball joint, especially for steering or transmission rods of motor vehicles. The ball joint includes a bearing shell (3) made of plastic which has a lower shell (5) and an upper shell (6) for the support of a ball head (2) in a joint housing (4). The lower shell (5) is turned toward a housing opening (8) for a ball stud (1) and the upper shell (6) is supported through a spring element (11) against a housing cover (9). The lower shell (5) is connected elastically with the outer rim of the upper shell (6). To produce a technically improved ball joint of which the mounting is facilitated, of which the lower shell (5) and the upper shell (6) are secured from rotation in relation to each other, and of which has better operational properties, it is proposed that the lower shell (5) and the upper shell (6) be joined in one piece by at least one connection stop ( 12).

Abstract: A ball joint for use in motor vehicles and comprising a one-piece ball head (4) having a simplified construction, an increased bearing surface, and including a ball portion (11) of a smaller radius adjacent to the shank (5), an inner ball portion (10) of a greater radius both having the same center, and an annular shoulder (14) formed between the two ball portions (10, 11) and cooperating with an outer bearing shell half (3) for the smaller ball portion (11) which acts as a stop.

Abstract: An adjustable fastening of a ball joint to a track rod (1) for steering rods of motor vehicles, in which the ball joint has a ball stud (12) supported movable in all directions around a central axis (17) in a joint housing (16), and the central axis (17) can be pushed along by adjusting the ball joint (2) in relation to the track rod (1), is said, in particular, to be possible to use even with U-shaped profiled track rods. For this purpose, the ball joint (2) has a fastening plate (16) which has a bearing bore (18) arranged eccentric to the axis (17) of movement of the ball stud (12). The fastening plate (16) is supported swingable by its bearing bore (18) on a fastening element (22), and the track rod (1) has fixing elements (23) gripping against the fastening plate (16) for fixing the ball joint (2) in a definite swinging position.

Abstract: To seal a ball joint, a sealing bellows (3) with a bead (6) is fastened to the joint housing (1). The bead (6) is located in an L-shaped recess (4) of the joint housing (1) and is partially enclosed by an outer annular portion (8) of a retaining ring (5) deformed radially inward while an inner circular portion (7) of the retaining ring (5) engages an end surface (8) of the recess (4). To fix the sealing bellows (3) to the housing (1) in a single work step, there is machined in a cylindrical surface (12) of the L-shaped recess (4), a ring groove (11) which is engaged by an inner edge portion (10) of the inner circular portion (7) of the retaining ring (5). A tool (14) with a conical surface (15) is used for deforming of the retaining ring (5) which is advanced axially against the retaining ring (5), and the latter encloses the bead (6).

Abstract: A ball joint sealing bellows (7) made of a plastic material and having a stud-side bellows rim (8) sealingly engaging a ball stud (5) and a housing-side bellows rim (10) fixed by a clamping ring (11) in a circumferential groove (12) in a joint housing (1), the housing-side bellows rim (10) being approximately cylindrical and having an inner diameter which is somewhat greater than the outer diameter of the circumferential groove (12), the housing-side bellows rim being pressed under the preload of the clamping ring (11) which engages the outer surface of the rim, radially into the ring groove (12) and sealingly engaging the joint housing (1) to prevent the sealing bellows (7), from being pulled or pushed out of the ring groove (12), the housing-side bellows rim (10) having one circumferential thickening (15) on the axially outer side thereof which abuts one side surface of the clamping ring (11), and another circumferential thickening (17) on the axially inner side thereof which abuts the other side surface of

Abstract: Method and apparatus for fastening of a sealing bellows (3) to a ball joint housing (1) in motor vehicles wherein the sealing bellows (3) has a housing end rim (16) that engages an approximately cylindrical bellows seat (11) formed on the outer rim of the joint housing defining an opening (10) through which a shank extends, and a retaining ring (5) made of sheet metal and surrounding the housing end bellows rim (16) for sealingly connecting the bellows to the housing, has an outer circumferential recess (17), is slipped onto the housing end bellows rim (16), and is then axially compressed so that its inner diameter is reduced, whereby the housing end bellows rim (16) sealingly engages the bellows seat (11) on the joint housing (1).

Abstract: A ball joint for motor vehicles comprises a plastic bearing member (2) located between a ball head (1) or a ball and a joint housing (3). The bearing member has a rim flange (9) that lies against an inner step (10) in the joint housing (3). A closing part has an inner surface which lies under a preload against the rim flange (9) and an outer surface engaged by a rolled-in rim (13) of the joint housing (3). The rolling process is thereby simplified and, at the same time, securing of the bearing member against rotation is achieved, while smaller variations of the operational characteristics are attained. To this end, the joint housing (3) has a second inner step (12), displaced radially outward for supporting the inner surface of the rim of the closing part. The distance, in the axial direction of the stud, between the first inner step (10) and the outer step (12) determines the maximum deformation of the rim flange (9) by the closing part lying against the rim flange under preload.

Abstract: A ball joint for use in motor vehicles comprises a bearing member (7) made of a plastic material and disposed between a joint housing (1) made of a plastic material and a ball head (3). The bearing member has projections (10) on its outer surface that engage undercuts (11) on the inner wall of the joint housing. The joint housing (1) is simple to produce. The bearing member (7) is prevented from rotation with the ball head. To this end, the undercuts (11) are formed as circumferentially extending boundary walls of axially extending grooves (13) which open at one end (14) of the joint housing (1). The projections (10) on the outer surface of the bearing member (7) engage the circumferentially extending boundary walls of the grooves (13) and the radially extending side walls thereof.

Abstract: A sealing bellows for closing an opening in a ball joint housing said sealing bellows having axially extending hose sections continuously folded on each other, at least partially overlapping each other, and connected with each other by circumferential, contiguous, inner and outer folds; said hose sections beginning from the hose section attached to said housing having a progressively smaller diameter, and each outward fold having an axial thickening of material that exceeds that of an inner fold and the wall thickness of a hose section; said axial thickening shielding at least partially a hose section connected to the respective outward fold and having a smaller diameter.

Abstract: A ball joint for transmission rods in motor vehicles comprising a bearing member made of a plastic material and arranged between a ball head (2) and a joint housing (1). The bearing member exerts a radial pressure on the ball head and comprises an outer shell (4) having a spherical inner surface (16) and an inner shell (5) having a spherical inner surface (17). To preload the ball head (2), as independently as possible of dimension variations and to elastically damp shock loads, the outer shell (4) is made of a hard resilient plastic material, the inner shell has stop surfaces (21) on an end surface (18) thereof, is supported by resiliently deformable elevations (19) against the outer shell, and groove-like openings (20) are formed between the resiliently deformable elevations (19) and the stop surfaces (21), into which openings the elevations (19) are elastically deformed. The stop surfaces (21) contact the outer shell (4) when the elevations (19) are completely deformed into the openings (20).

Abstract: A ball joint includes a bearing which exerts a free play take up force against a ball stud. The bearing has trapezoidal-shaped spring arms connected therewith and disposed in a radial array. The free ends of the spring arms extend toward the longitudinal central axis of the ball stud. The free ends of the spring arms engage a housing cover and resiliently deflect to exert the free play take up force against the ball stud. The free ends of the spring arms are spaced from the ball stud.

Abstract: A ball joint including a ball stud and housing having a chamber. The ball stud has a ball end portion disposed in the chamber. A resiliently deformable bearing member is disposed between the housing and ball end portion. The housing has a plurality of elevations formed therein. The elevations have radial extending side surfaces defining recesses. The elevations engage and deform portions of the bearing member into the recesses upon preloading the bearing member.

Abstract: The invention provides an elastic articulated coupling which comprises a relatively rigid inner member having a longitudinal axis, a relatively rigid outer member having a generally cylindrical interior of a predetermined first diameter surrounding said inner member with substantial clearance, and an elastomeric body located in the clearance between the inner and outer members. The elastomeric body is connected firmly to the inner member. Additionally, a sleeve comprising wear-resistant elastic material is firmly connected to the elastomeric body and disposed between the elastomeric body and the outer member. The elastomeric body and the sleeve together have a predetermined second diameter which is greater than the predetermined first diameter defined by the interior of the generally cylindrical outer member. As a result, the sleeve is connected in a non-positive manner with the interior surface of the outer member merely by radial pre-stressing and by axial bracing.

Abstract: A device for attaching a bellows to a cylindrical member, particularly a ball pin of a rack articulation for automotive vehicles. In order to permit a nonslippable attachment of the bellows even to unmachined pins which vary slightly in diameter, it is proposed to arrange between the bellows and the ball pin an annular disk having a closed outer edge and an inner edge which is interrupted by radially extending slots, the inner edge consisting of a plurality of resilient segments which are bent alternately in opposite directions and are pre-stressed against the ball pin.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a ball joint for motor vehicles with a bearing shell arranged between a joint housing and a ball head. The shell is provided at one end with elastically deformable ribs projecting from a stop surface. So that the ribs, after compensating for production tolerances, can absorb, in the elastically deformable zone, additional axial shock loads occurring in driving operation, it is proposed that the ribs be designed as square ribs, running radially, and separated by grooves from the stop surface adjoining their side walls, while the volume of each rib projecting above the stop surface, before mounting, is approximately equal to the free volume of the two grooves adjacent to it, so that the side walls of the grooves lying next to the stop surface act in the mounted condition as support walls for the elastically deformed ribs.