Abstract: The invention relates to a ball-and-socket joint which is intended especially for vehicle chassis. The inventive ball-and-socket joint comprises a joint bolt (1) which is provided with a ball joint (1.1), and a plastic joint housing (2) into which a bearing shell (3) is introduced in order to mount the ball joint (1.1) in such a way that it can turn and so that it can tilt within certain limits. The aim of the invention is to ensure that the joint can resist considerable static and dynamic loads in the direction of the joint axis (L) without increasing the cost and to enable the ball joint to be used as a radial joint and as an axial joint. To this end, a metal ring (4) is injected into the joint housing (2). The bearing shell (3) is placed in the joint housing (2) with a positive fit using the end section (4.3) of said ring, which is radially bent inwards and which is located in the area of the opening of the joint housing (2).

Abstract: The invention relates to a combined check and pressure control valve (10), comprising a check valve element (34) which is adjustable between an opened position and a closed position, and a pressure control valve element (42) which on exceeding a predetermined pressure can be lifted off a valve seat (40), so that at least one outflow channel is opened, characterized in that the check valve element (34) is a valve plate which in the closed position lies against at least one annular sealing seat (30, 32), which is impressed in a thin-walled component, preferably a sheet metal part (22).

Abstract: A power steering system includes a rotary slide valve which has a housing, an input shaft and an output shaft which can be rotated relative to each other to a limited extent. A centering piston is provided which is non-rotatably and axially movably connected with the input shaft and delimits a pressure space in the housing. The rotary slide valve further comprises a centering ring which is non-rotatably connected with the output shaft, and arm inlet to the pressure chamber. The pressure chamber has a controlled outlet. There is also proposed a method of operating such a power steering system.

Abstract: A method of controlling a power steering system having an adjusting mechanism for adjusting at least one vehicle wheel is disclosed herein. The system includes a steering wheel, a position sensor, and a drive system, such as a servo pump driven by an electric motor, to provide steering assistance a steering wheel and a position sensor. It is determined whether the adjusting mechanism is approaching an end position. If it is found that the adjusting mechanism is approaching the end position, then the drive system is controlled in such a way that it provides a diminishing steering assistance.

Abstract: Ball-and-socket joint includes a joint housing (1) and a ball head (2) with a ball pivot (3). A bearing shell (4) is disposed between the ball head (2), the joint housing (1), and a housing cover (5). A compressive force is produced between the housing cover (5) and at least a portion of the bearing shell (4). The compressive force acts in an axial direction of the ball pivot (3). The compressive force permanently acts on the portion of the bearing shell (4) and presses the portion of the bearing shell (4) into a gap between the ball head (2) and the joint housing (1).

Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint includes a joint housing having first and second axial ends and a ball head provided with a ball stud that extends from the ball head. A bearing shell has elastic properties and is received in the joint housing whereby the bearing shell receives the ball head. The ball stud extends outward of the first axial end of the joint housing. The ball-and-socket joint also includes a housing cover for closing the second axial end of the joint housing and a spring element that is interposed between the housing cover and at least a portion of the bearing shell. The spring element preloads the portion of the bearing shell to urge the portion of the bearing shell toward the first axial end of the joint housing thereby plastically deforming the portion of the bearing shell into its final ball-shaped contour.

Abstract: A ball joint includes a housing (12), a ball pin (14) and a sealing bellows (22) which lies against the housing (12) and the ball pin (14) in order to seal between these. The housing (12) has a cylindrical section with a holding surface (30) against which a sealing surface (32) of the bellows (22) lies.

Abstract: A joint rod adapted for motor vehicles consists of a joint section having a connecting surface and a rod section having an inner surface. The joint section and the rod section being joined by positive engagement between the connecting surface and the inner surface. The rod section is made from a first material and the joint section is made from a second material, the first material and the second material being different from each other.

Abstract: The subject of the present invention is an axle system for the articulated arrangement of vehicle axles in motor vehicles, comprising an axle strut body (1) and at least one joint body (2), with said axle strut body (1) having recesses (7, 8) that are formed in the end regions (5, 6) to receive the joint body (2). To create an axle system that can be produced cost-effectively and without additional work steps and that has a low rate of wear even under high dynamic and static loads, the present invention proposes that the axle strut body (1) and the joint bodies (2) each be made as a one-piece closed hollow section, with the joint bodies (2) being pivot type and set into the recesses of the axle strut body (1) in a form-fit and/or friction-locked manner.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ball joint (2) consisting of a ball-ended spindle (21) and a socket (29), having no bearing shell and being already assembled during the manufacture includes, placing the ball-ended spindle (21), which comprises a ball (23) without a flattened pole surface, into an injection molding tool (1). The ball-ended spindle (21) is retained by a core puller (13) that seals a hollow space of the injection molding tool (1) relative to the ball (23) and simultaneously forms a clearance (4) for realizing a maximum pivoting angle of the ball-ended spindle (21) relative to the socket (29), whereafter the ball (23) is directly coated with plastic by means of injection molding so as to form the socket (29).

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle steering system comprising a steering linkage, a control hydraulic motor and a control hydraulic circuit, a steering wheel connected to the control hydraulic motor, and a control hydraulic cylinder connected to the control hydraulic motor by the control hydraulic circuit. The vehicle steering system further comprises a servohydraulic cylinder, a servopump, a servohydraulic circuit connecting the servopump to the servohydraulic cylinder, and an electronic control circuit which controls the servohydraulic circuit.

Abstract: An electrohydraulic steering system comprises a servo cylinder which has two chambers, an electric motor and a servo pump connected to the electric motor and being adapted to be driven in two different directions. The servo pump is directly connected to the servo cylinder and, depending on the driving direction, is able of pressurizing one or the other of the chambers of the servo cylinder with a volume flow of a hydraulic fluid. The system further comprises a control unit controlling the electric motor.

Abstract: A steering system comprises a steering linkage and two positioners capable of positioning the steering linkage in unison. Each positioner comprises an electronic control circuit, a servomotor and a position sensor for sensing a position of the servomotor.

Abstract: The present invention is based on the objective of disclosing a rotary sensor arrangement in which the sensor is accessible without having to remove any assemblies, wherein said sensor arrangement also allows an economical integration into existing assemblies. According to the invention, this objective is attained with a rotary sensor arrangement for elements that can be turned relative to surrounding elements, in particular, for shafts, which consists of at least two sensor units that can be mounted separately from one another, wherein one sensor unit is arranged on the rotatable element and at least one second sensor unit is arranged on an element that is stationary relative to the rotatable element, and wherein at least the second sensor unit can be accessed and removed independently of the state of installation of the rotatable element.

Abstract: A hydraulic pump system having a pump for pressurizing fluid and a hydraulic chamber for receiving fluid from the pump. An even flow of fluid is outputted from the chamber to a valve assembly. The chamber is formed from a resonator and a resonator cover that are attached in a fluid tight manner by elastic fasteners. The resonator cover acts as a pressure controller in that when the pressure of fluid is of sufficient magnitude, this force creates a gap for controlling fluid pressure output to the valve assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bellows seal for pivot joints, wherein a first end of the bellows is tightly and rigidly connected to the joint housing. The second end of the bellow tightly and annularly surrounds a tappet and has a radial and sealing surface. Said surface is a front face divided into an inner concave ring surface and an outer concave ring surface. In relation to the axis of the bellow, the angle of inclination of the ring surfaces is approximately &agr;=70° for the external ring surface and approximately &bgr;=80° for the inner ring surface. The radial extension of the outer ring surface is approximately 12% in relation to the radius of the outer ring surface of the ring flange of the second end of the bellow.

Abstract: A joint rod adapted for motor vehicles consists of a joint section having a connecting surface and a rod section having an inner surface. The joint section and the rod section being joined by positive engagement between the connecting surface and the inner surface. The rod section is made from a first material and the joint section is made from a second material, the first material and the second material being different from each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a damper for vehicle components, particularly motor vehicle components such as steering tie rods and antiroll bar struts, with an elastic unit that is loaded in substantially axial direction of the component. To create a damper that will require little space but exhibit high reliability and a long service life and to permit a modular assembly from structurally simple and inexpensively producible parts for different applications, the elastic unit comprises at least two elastic elements 30 that are reciprocally, substantially pressure loaded and are disposed inside a housing (10) between the housing (10) and a coupling element (20) which transfers compression forces in substantially axial direction. The elastic elements (30) counteract an inclination and a coaxial offset of coupling element (20) with respect to the longitudinal axis of housing (10).

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a method for limiting the hydraulic maximum pressure of a power-assisted steering system, which permits effective pressure limitation and thus protects the individual elements of the power-assisted steering system, i.e., a pressure limitation not far above the desired maximum operating pressure, but on the other hand does not require an overdimensioning of the individual segments of the power-assisted steering system.

Abstract: In order to reduce the amount of air trapped in hydraulic assisted steering systems (1), a communication (13, 14) is established between the area of the oil expanding volume (8, 10, 11), which is the top area in the mounted position, and an open system (2), for example a tank volume.