Abstract: A ball joint with variable friction resistance for a vehicle, the joint having a stud with a joint ball which is held in a housing so as to articulate relative thereto. The housing comprises movable and static housing parts that are movable relative to one another and engage on opposite sides of the ball. A transmission is moved by one housing part so as to exert a variable pressure on the ball. The transmission has axially aligned transmission elements, each of which has a helical ball track. The transmission elements axially rest against one another via balls that are guided between the ball tracks of the transmission elements. A first transmission element can move axially and contact the movable housing part. A second transmission element can rotate about the rotational axis which causes the first transmission element to move axially and exert an axial force on the movable housing part.

Abstract: A ball joint assembly includes a housing at least partially defining a cavity. A ball stud includes a head portion positioned within the cavity and a shaft extending from the head portion. A ball race having an inner surface is positioned within the cavity to define an interface between the inner surface of the ball race and an outer surface of the head portion. A solid friction coating is positioned within the interface. The solid friction coating is coupled to the inner surface of the ball race and/or the outer surface of the head portion of the ball stud. A piston can also be positioned within the cavity, wherein at least one gap is defined between the ball race and the piston and/or between the ball race and the housing. Methods of assembling a ball joint assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: A ball joint with variable friction resistance for a vehicle, the joint having a stud with a joint ball which is held in a housing so as to articulate relative thereto. The housing comprises movable and static housing parts that are movable relative to one another and engage on opposite sides of the ball. A transmission is moved by one housing part so as to exert a variable pressure on the ball. The transmission has axially aligned transmission elements, each of which has a helical ball track. The transmission elements axially rest against one another via balls that are guided between the ball tracks of the transmission elements. A first transmission element can move axially and contact the movable housing part. A second transmission element can rotate about the rotational axis which causes the first transmission element to move axially and exert an axial force on the movable housing part.

Abstract: A ball joint, in particular for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle, with a housing. A joint ball is arranged inside the housing and a ball shell is arranged therebetween. The outer surface of the joint ball contacts the inner surface of the housing and on its inner surface against the surface of the ball, such that the ball shell holds the joint ball so that it can move by sliding. The shell is elastic such that when a force acts upon the ball joint, the joint ball can move relative to the housing. As viewed in at least one cross-section plane passing through the mid-point of the ball, the ball shell has a radial thickness that varies, in the circumferential direction, in such manner that the force acting on the ball shell in the circumferential direction is distributed uniformly, particularly over enlarged areas thereof.

Abstract: A ball joint for a vehicle, with a ball pin that has a joint ball, a joint housing that encloses the joint ball and is provided with a pin opening, in which the joint ball of the ball pin is fitted and able to move. The ball pin extends out of the joint housing through the pin opening. An actuator can press a pressure element, in an axial direction, against the joint housing in such a manner that pressure can be exerted by the joint housing and the pressure element onto the joint ball. The actuator acts upon a spring which acts upon the pressure element. The length of the spring can be measured by a displacement sensor.

Abstract: A ball joint assembly includes a housing at least partially defining a cavity. A ball stud includes a head portion positioned within the cavity and a shaft extending from the head portion. A ball race having an inner surface is positioned within the cavity to define an interface between the inner surface of the ball race and an outer surface of the head portion. A solid friction coating is positioned within the interface. The solid friction coating is coupled to the inner surface of the ball race and/or the outer surface of the head portion of the ball stud. A piston can also be positioned within the cavity, wherein at least one gap is defined between the ball race and the piston and/or between the ball race and the housing. Methods of assembling a ball joint assembly are also disclosed.

Abstract: A ball joint, in particular for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle, with a housing. A joint ball is arranged inside the housing and a ball shell is arranged therebetween. The outer surface of the joint ball contacts the inner surface of the housing and on its inner surface against the surface of the bail, such that the ball shell holds the joint ball so that it can move by sliding. The shell is elastic such that when a force acts upon the ball joint, the joint ball can move relative to the housing. As viewed in at least one cross-section plane passing through the mid-point of the ball, the bail shell has a radial thickness that varies, in the circumferential direction, in such manner that the force acting on the ball shell in the circumferential direction is distributed uniformly, particularly over enlarged areas thereof.

Abstract: A method of producing a spherical joint (1) with a spherical sleeve (3) having a spherical bearing area (16) and provided with a through-going assembly opening that extends, in an axial direction (4), which by virtue of the bearing area (16) is mounted and able to move by sliding in a spherical shell (2). The spherical sleeve (3) is arranged in an outer sleeve (7) in such a manner that the spherical sleeve (3) extends outwardly, in an axial direction (4), from both sides of the outer sleeve (7). A material, which hardens, is injected into an intermediate space (17), located between the spherical shell (2) and the outer sleeve (7), such that when the material hardens, the assembly of the spherical sleeve (3) and the spherical shell (2) is joined to the outer sleeve (7).

Abstract: A ball joint with a ball pin and a steel ball pin with a joint ball. The ball joint and ball pin are suitable for use when, for example, solid-on-solid friction predominates under high static pre-loading or high operational loads and with small joint movements. A portion of the surface of the ball pin has surface layer hardening in order to increase a fatigue strength of the ball pin. The ball pin and the ball joint, on portion of the ball pin without the any surface layer hardened, includes a nitrided layer as wear protection. The ball pin and the ball joint provide an advantageous combination of high fatigue strength, good corrosion protection and high wear-resistance. The nitrided layer of ball joints, previously only regarded as improving corrosion protection, also functions as a wear protection. Thus, these ball pins overcome the mutual exclusion between surface layer hardening and nitriding.

Abstract: A connecting arrangement for a motor vehicle wheel suspension, with a spring plate for receiving a vehicle spring, a joint and a connecting strut, which is articulated to the spring plate by way of the joint. The joint includes a fastening section that extends in an axial direction and engages in a fastening hole formed in the spring plate. The fastening section passes through the fastening hole and is shaped outside the hole, on a side of the spring plate facing away from the joint, to form a contact surface that is supported axially against the spring plate.

Abstract: A ball joint for a vehicle, with a ball pin that has a joint ball, a joint housing that encloses the joint ball and is provided with a pin opening, in which the joint ball of the ball pin is fitted and able to move. The ball pin extends out of the joint housing through the pin opening. An actuator can press a pressure element, in an axial direction, against the joint housing in such a manner that pressure can be exerted by the joint housing and the pressure element onto the joint ball. The actuator acts upon a spring which acts upon the pressure element. The length of the spring can be measured by a displacement sensor.

Abstract: A connecting arrangement for a motor vehicle wheel suspension, with a spring plate for receiving a vehicle spring, a joint and a connecting strut, which is articulated to the spring plate by way of the joint. The joint includes a fastening section that extends in an axial direction and engages in a fastening hole formed in the spring plate. The fastening section passes through the fastening hole and is shaped outside the hole, on a side of the spring plate facing away from the joint, to form a contact surface that is supported axially against the spring plate.

Abstract: A method of producing a spherical joint (1) with a spherical sleeve (3) having a spherical bearing area (16) and provided with a through-going assembly opening that extends, in an axial direction (4), which by virtue of the bearing area (16) is mounted and able to move by sliding in a spherical shell (2). The spherical sleeve (3) is arranged in an outer sleeve (7) in such a manner that the spherical sleeve (3) extends outwardly, in an axial direction (4), from both sides of the outer sleeve (7). A material, which hardens, is injected into an intermediate space (17), located between the spherical shell (2) and the outer sleeve (7), such that when the material hardens, the assembly of the spherical sleeve (3) and the spherical shell (2) is joined to the outer sleeve (7).

Abstract: A ball joint with a ball pin and a steel ball pin with a joint ball. The ball joint and ball pin are suitable for use when, for example, solid-on-solid friction predominates under high static pre-loading or high operational loads and with small joint movements. A portion of the surface of the ball pin has surface layer hardening in order to increase a fatigue strength of the ball pin. The ball pin and the ball joint, on portion of the ball pin without the any surface layer hardened, includes a nitrided layer as wear protection. The ball pin and the ball joint provide an advantageous combination of high fatigue strength, good corrosion protection and high wear-resistance. The nitrided layer of ball joints, previously only regarded as improving corrosion protection, also functions as a wear protection. Thus, these ball pins overcome the mutual exclusion between surface layer hardening and nitriding.

Abstract: A bearing shell made of plastic material is provided for a ball and socket joint for mounting a ball and socket joint pivot mounted rotatably and pivotably in the bearing shell with at least two shell parts (1a, 1b) forming a bearing surface with an inner, hollow spherical shape is presented, wherein the shell parts form in their entirety the shape of a bearing ring (1) with an opening (2, 3) each arranged on the front sides of the bearing ring, which front sides are located opposite each other, at least one web (4) connecting the shell parts (1a, 1b) being arranged crosswise above one of the opening cross sections.

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: A ball and socket joint is provided for a vehicle. The ball and socket joint includes a housing (9), with a joint inner part (2), which is seated in the housing (9), extends from this and is mounted movably in the housing (9) with a bearing area (4) having a spherical surface or partial spherical surface (7) via the intermediary of a bearing shell (8). The housing has two housing parts (10, 12) meshing with one another, which are firmly connected to one another by means of at least one welded connection (19, 20), wherein the two housing parts (10, 12) are braced against one another in the radial direction to form a press fit.

Abstract: A joint for a motor vehicle is provided with a housing (5), a bearing shell (4) arranged in the housing (5), a bearing journal (3), which has a bearing area (1) and a pivot area (2) and which is mounted pivotably and/or rotatably in the bearing shell (4) with the bearing area (1). The joint has at least one tensioning device (33), which is arranged in the housing 5, is designed as a solid body and by which a mechanical stress exerted by the bearing shell 4 on the bearing area 1 can be changed. The bearing shell 4 is springy at least in some areas and is deformable by the tensioning means 33 in a springy manner.

Abstract: A bearing shell made of plastic material is provided for a ball and socket joint for mounting a ball and socket joint pivot mounted rotatably and pivotably in the bearing shell with at least two shell parts 1a, 1b forming a bearing surface with an inner, hollow spherical shape is presented, wherein the shell parts form in their entirety the shape of a bearing ring 1 with an opening 2, 3 each arranged on the front sides of the bearing ring, which said front sides are located opposite each other, at least one web 4 connecting the shell parts 1a, 1b being arranged crosswise above one of the opening cross sections.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint, for example, for an axle system of a motor vehicle. The ball and socket joint has an essentially ring-shaped or pot-shaped joint housing (1), in the essentially cylindrical interior space of which a ball shell 2 can be arranged. The ball 3 of a ball pivot 4 or of a ball sleeve 8 can be accommodated in the ball shell 2 in a slidingly movable manner. The bearing surface 10 of the ball shell 2 is essentially the same as the surface of an ellipsoid of revolution, whose smaller semiaxis coincides with the axial direction of the ball and socket joint. The construction has advantages in terms of service life, fail-safe operation and load-bearing capacity. The more uniform surface pressure distribution in the bearing gap between the ball shell and joint ball guarantees reduced wear and lower moments of friction.