Abstract: A method welds together two components of an internal combustion engine exhaust system, by resistance welding, to provide greater positioning freedom of two components welded together. A first component is provided with a welding area including an insertion opening edge surrounding an insertion opening. A second component is provided with a welding area including an insertion area to be inserted into the insertion opening. The insertion area is inserted into the insertion opening such that the insertion area is in contact with the first the entire insertion opening edge. An electrical voltage is applied to resistance weld the first component to the second component. The surface (28) of the insertion area is curved about two axes that are not parallel or is curved about an axis that is parallel to the surface of the insertion area, or/and an insertion surface of the insertion opening edge is located in one plane.

Abstract: A sealing comprises a seal portion and a plate portion fixed to the seal portion. The seal portion can have an undulating configuration of at least one peak and at least one valley, and the plate portion can circumferentially surround the seal portion. The seal portion can be made of a first material and the plate portion can be made of a second material more rigid than the first material. The seal portion can have a radially inward facing contact surface that defines a central opening of the sealing.

Abstract: A ball joint for a chassis component in the form of a two-point linkage. The ball joint includes a housing and a ball stud fitted and able to be deflected in the housing, as well as a sealing element arranged between the housing and the ball stud, which surrounds the ball stud all round. Deflection movement of the ball stud, relative to the housing, is restricted at least in some areas by the sealing element. The sealing element is attached to the housing by an interlocked connection. The sealing element of the ball joint is attached to the housing by a snap-on connection. A two-point linkage having such a ball joint, and the two-point linkage is a steering rod or a track rod.

Abstract: The socket assembly has a housing with an inner bore which extends from a first end to a second end. A ball portion of a ball stud is received in the inner bore. A backing bearing is disposed in the inner bore and presents a curved bearing surface in surface-to-surface contact with the ball portion. A first spring biases the backing bearing against the ball portion. The socket assembly also includes an exit bearing with a cylindrical portion that is in contact with an equator of the ball portion and a semi-spherical portion that is in surface-to-surface contact with an opposite hemisphere from the first bearing surface. A second spring biases the exit bearing into a predetermined location established by the housing. The exit bearing is movable from the predetermined location in a direction towards the second end of the housing against a biasing force of the second spring.

Abstract: A dust cover is provided that is attached to a ball joint in which a spherical portion in a stud having the spherical portion and a shaft is accommodated in a socket and a knuckle is fastened into the shaft and is provided with a large diameter opening fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the socket, a small diameter opening attached to the shaft part of the stud, and a film portion connecting the large diameter opening and the small diameter opening. The small diameter opening is provided with a seal portion in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and a contact portion in close contact with the knuckle. In the contact portion, a foreign matter discharge groove discharging external foreign matter which tends to accumulate on the small diameter opening to the outside are formed.

Abstract: A dust cover that enables a dust lip to consistently exhibit its sealing function. The dust cover includes a sealing body made of an elastic material and integrally including a body part 110, a fixed part, and a sealed part 120, and a reinforcing ring 150 made of metal or resin and embedded in the sealed part 120. The sealed part 120 includes a first inner circumferential sealed portion 121a, a second inner circumferential sealed portion 121b, and a dust lip 122 slidable against an end face of a knuckle 400. The reinforcing ring 150 includes a tubular part 151 concentric to a shaft part 310, an inward flange part 152 provided at one end of the tubular part 151 and supported on a flange 330 fixed to the shaft part 310, and a pressing part 154 provided at the other end of the tubular part 151 and pressing the dust lip 122 against the end face of the knuckle 400.

Abstract: The socket assembly includes a housing with an inner surface that surrounds an inner bore which extends along a central axis. An elastomeric boot extends between first and second boot ends and is sealed with the housing and a shank portion of the stud. The first boot end is received in the inner bore of the housing. An insert, which is fabricated as a separate piece from the boot, is received in the inner bore of the housing. The insert has an outer periphery which presents a plurality of radial teeth that are spaced from one another in a circumferential direction. The teeth are angled at an acute angle relative to the central axis and compress portions of the elastomeric material of the first boot end of the boot to improve the seal between the first boot end of the boot and the inner surface of the housing.

Abstract: A dust cover that allows a dust lip part thereof to offer sealing performance stably for a long period of time. A sealing part 130 includes an inner peripheral sealing part that can slide relative to an outer peripheral surface of a shaft part, and a dust lip part 132 that can slide relative to an end surface of a knuckle 400, wherein an annular protrusion 135 that protrudes radially outward is formed at an end of the sealing part 130 on the other end side, and at least one of inner and outer peripheral surfaces of the dust lip part 132 extends toward the other end side from recessed parts 132a and 132b of the sealing part 130 being recessed toward one end side with respect to an end surface 135a of the annular protrusion 135 on the other end side.

Abstract: The socket assembly has a housing with an inner bore which extends from a first end to a second end. A ball portion of a ball stud is received in the inner bore. A backing bearing is disposed in the inner bore and presents a curved bearing surface in surface-to-surface contact with the ball portion. A first spring biases the backing bearing against the ball portion. The socket assembly also includes an exit bearing with a cylindrical portion that is in contact with an equator of the ball portion and a semi-spherical portion that is in surface-to-surface contact with an opposite hemisphere from the first bearing surface. A second spring biases the exit bearing into a predetermined location established by the housing. The exit bearing is movable from the predetermined location in a direction towards the second end of the housing against a biasing force of the second spring.

Abstract: A dust cover for a ball joint has a spherical head portion, a shaft, a cylindrical one-end large-diameter opening portion, a large-diameter opening portion side reinforcing ring fixed to a socket, the other end small-diameter opening portion retained onto the shaft, a flange portion extending from an end portion in the other-end small-diameter opening portion of the one-end large-diameter opening portion toward a ball stud side, and a rubber-like elastic film portion coupling an inward end portion of the flange portion and the other-end small-diameter opening portion. The dust cover has an outside projection provided on an outer peripheral surface of the film portion, and an inside projection provided on an inner peripheral surface of a joint portion between the flange portion and the film portion, and the outside projection and the inside projection come into contact with each other when the dust covers for the ball joint are laminated.

Abstract: A seal for a spherical bearing has an annular body portion having an arcuate cross section extending between a first axial end and a second axial end. The second axial end is positioned radially outward from the first axial end. The seal includes retaining ring positioned proximate the second end. The seal includes a scraper seal extending radially inward from the second end.

Abstract: A spherical joint comprises a socket, a ball stud, and a seal. The ball stud comprises a shaft, an inner ring positioned within an outer ring of the socket and within which the shaft is positioned, and a ring retainer attached to the shaft and retaining the inner ring to the shaft. The ring retainer provides an axial end of the ball stud relative to the axis. The outer ring and the inner ring comprise respectively a first spherical surface and a second spherical surface. The first and second spherical surfaces spherically mate with one another. The seal establishes a sealed connection between the outer ring and the inner ring. The socket and the ring retainer cooperate to provide a motion limiter that limits relative movement between the socket and the ball stud so as to prevent contact between the ring retainer and the seal.

Abstract: A stabilizer link apparatus may include ball studs having balls at terminals thereof, a link having ball sockets at upper and lower ends thereof, the balls being rotatably accommodated in the ball sockets, dust covers assembled between circumferences of the ball sockets and middle sections of the ball studs, the dust covers preventing impurities from invading the ball sockets, and friction-providing unit engaged between the ball stud and the link, wherein the friction-providing unit provide predetermined amounts of rotating frictional resistance to the ball studs when the ball studs rotate with respect to the link such that the rotating frictional resistance of the ball stud at the lower end of the link is greater than the rotating frictional resistance of the ball stud at the upper end of the link.

Abstract: A ball stud has a flange that outwardly projects in a radial direction of a stud portion. The flange has a concave portion that has a curved shape from a root to an outer circumferential portion in cross section. The concave portion is concave with respect to a straight line connecting an end on the root side and an end on the outer circumferential portion side of the curved shape. A dust cover has a lip to be abutted on a sealing portion and the flange of the ball stud. The lip is formed with a side lip portion. The side lip portion has a shape corresponding to the curved shape of the concave portion of the flange so as to be abutted on the concave portion.

Abstract: A machine system includes a first component, a second component, and a joint assembly pivotably connecting the first and second components in a finite angular pivoting range. A boot seal seals between the first and second components, and has a rest configuration where the boot seal has a curvilinear taper, and is deformable to a squished configuration forming a radially outward bulge. The radially outward bulge stores an energy of compression of the boot seal, to bias a sealing ring in the boot seal against the second component.

Abstract: A ball joint is provided with a ball stud having a ball-head unit formed on a lower end of a stud unit, a socket that houses the ball-head unit so as to be pivotable therein, and has an opening unit from which the stud unit protrudes, formed on an upper end thereof, and a dust cover having elasticity, which is provided with a small diameter opening unit to be attached to the stud unit. The ball stud has a flange unit formed on the stud unit. The dust cover further has a guide unit formed on the inner peripheral portion of the small diameter opening unit, with a fine gap being placed in a radial direction, an engaging unit formed on a lower end portion of the small diameter opening unit, and a reinforcing ring that couples the guide unit and the engaging unit with high rigidity.

Abstract: A method for producing a spindle drive for an adjustable element of a vehicle, wherein the spindle drive has a substantially tubular spindle drive housing and two connections for diverting driving movements, wherein at least one connection of the spindle drive has a connection head which is connected to the spindle drive via a connection neck which is thinner than the connection head. A sealing cap for the spindle drive housing is provided with a sealing opening, in order to install the sealing cap, the sealing cap is pulled with the sealing opening thereof over the connection head of a connection of the spindle drive, and the peripheral region of the sealing opening is elastically deformed by the engagement with the connection head and is therefore widened, and that the peripheral region of the sealing opening is subsequently deformed back elastically in frictionally sealing engagement with the connection neck.

Abstract: A restricted ball joint may include a passage that has a sidewall, which restricts the oscillation of the ball joint by restricting the range of motion of a shaft or stud that extends at least partially into the passage and makes contact with the sidewall when the ball joint is at a point of maximum oscillation. The ball joint may be restricted in one, two, or three axes. Restricting the ball joint in one or more axes may reduce stress on the ball joint due to flop because the loading of a vehicle tie rod may be carried by the neck of the shaft or by a stud extending from the ball shaft away from the stud when the passage is located opposite the shaft.

Abstract: A sealing assembly of a ball joint, in particular for a vehicle, comprises a retaining ring which includes a ring axis and a radial ring flange having a flange upper side and an opposed flange lower side, and a sealing element which rests against the flange upper side and against the flange lower side and is exclusively connected to the retaining ring with an interlocking fit, the interlocking fit being configured such that the retaining ring and the sealing element are fixed to each other free of play in the axial and in the radial direction, and the flange upper side having an exposed contact surface for a sealing bellows.

Abstract: A ball joint includes a joint housing having a recess, a ball stud having a ball head, a sealing bellows having a sealing seat on the housing side and a sealing seat on the stud side in the form of a bellows mouth which is adapted to be brought into contact with the ball stud, a bellows body of the sealing bellows extending between the sealing seat on the housing side and the bellows mouth, and further includes a joint socket, the ball head being accommodated for swiveling motion within the joint socket, and the joint socket being inserted in the recess of the joint housing.

Abstract: A sealing bellows includes a sealing region disposed at a first end on a first end face and an attachment region disposed at a second end on a second end face. The sealing region includes an integrated first clamping element with a first internal diameter. The attachment region includes an integrated second clamping element with a second internal diameter. A casing is disposed in an axial direction of the sealing bellows between the sealing region and the attachment region with a third greatest internal diameter. The casing, the sealing region and the attachment region merge integrally into one another and are composed of a flexible rubber material, and, as a condition of production: the casing is substantially spherical; and the third greatest internal diameter of the casing is larger than the first internal diameter of the first clamping element and the second internal diameter of the second clamping element.

Abstract: An annular groove, in which a lower end of a boot is fitted, is formed in an outer periphery of an open end of a housing so as to extend in a circumferential direction of the housing. The annular groove is defined by a cylindrical face, an upper inner wall, and a lower inner wall. By fitting a clip onto a cylindrical portion of the lower end of the boot, the cylindrical portion is pushed against the cylindrical face, and an inner end portion and a folded-back portion are pushed against the upper inner wall and the lower inner wall, respectively. The inner end portion has an annular protrusion that is engaged with the upper inner wall and elastically contracted when the lower end of the boot is fitted in the annular groove.

Abstract: A joint assembly (1) with a joint ball (4) through which an axle body (12; 112; 212; 312) extends. The joint ball (4) is mounted in and able to rotate relative to a housing (5) that at least partially surrounds the joint ball (4) and/or one or more support rings (6) with a rubber-elastic intermediate layer (7). The joint assembly (1) is designed so that the axle body (12; 112; 212; 312) can rotate within the joint ball (4).

Abstract: A seal assembly and method of forming a seal assembly provides a seal body having reduced strain during use, thereby increasing service life. The seal body may be formed within certain parameters, such as ranges of height-to-thickness and offset-to-height ratios, which have been found to reduce strain. Additionally or alternatively, the seal body may be modified from an initial configuration to a pre-strained configuration by axially displacing an inner section of the seal with respect to an outer section of the seal, which also reduces strain.

Abstract: A ball joint includes a tubular boot, an upper end portion and a lower end portion of which are fitted onto an intermediate portion of a shaft of a ball stud and an open end of a housing, respectively. An annular lip portion is formed at the upper end portion of the boot. The lip portion has a first sliding contact face that is in contact with an outer periphery of the shaft, a second sliding contact face that is in contact with a lower face of the knuckle arm, and an annular rib that is formed so as to project inward beyond the first sliding contact face from an upper end portion of the first sliding contact face. The rib is elastically deformed due to contact with the shaft so as to extend along the first sliding contact face and project upward beyond the second sliding contact face.

Abstract: An annular groove, in which a lower end of a boot is fitted, is formed in an outer periphery of an open end of a housing so as to extend in a circumferential direction of the housing. The annular groove is defined by a cylindrical face, an upper inner wall, and a lower inner wall. By fitting a clip onto a cylindrical portion of the lower end of the boot, the cylindrical portion is pushed against the cylindrical face, and an inner end portion and a folded-back portion are pushed against the upper inner wall and the lower inner wall, respectively. The inner end portion has an annular protrusion that is engaged with the upper inner wall and elastically contracted when the lower end of the boot is fitted in the annular groove.

Abstract: A ball joint assembly includes an elongated stud, a socket housing, and a boot and seal assembly having a seal lip. A boot and seal assembly for use in a ball joint assembly includes a body and a diaphragm extending therefrom. The diaphragm includes a seal portion having a seal lip that has an elongated profile of a substantially uniform section. The seal portion may be a first seal portion that is adapted to engage an elongated stud of a ball joint assembly. The diaphragm further may include a second seal portion that is adapted to engage a mating component connected to the ball joint assembly. The boot and seal assembly may include a third seal portion that is also adapted to engage the mating component.

Abstract: A ball joint, which has high reliability and reduced weight, is provided. A ball joint includes: a ball stud having a columnar stud portion and a ball portion which has a spherical side surface and a center positioned on an axis of the stud portion; a ball seat which is made of a resin and has a spherical recess portion into which the ball portion is relatively rotatably and slidably fitted; a housing which is made of a resin and holds the ball seat therein; and a support bar which is integrally formed with the housing, wherein the support bar has a bar portion which is a center portion extending along an axis of the support bar.

Abstract: Joint arrangement for a vehicle, with a joint (7), which has a joint housing (8) and a pivot pin (9) mounted movably in relation thereto; a rod (4), which has a cavity (6) and which is connected to the joint (7); a ring element arranged between the joint and the rod; a sealing bellows (10), which defines the interior space (11) and in which the joint (7) is arranged at least partially; and a gas-permeable connection (13), which connects the cavity (6) of the rod (4) to the interior space (11) of the sealing bellows (10), wherein at least part of the gas-permeable connection (13) is formed by at least one groove, which is formed on the ring element and opens into the interior space (11) of the sealing bellows (10).

Abstract: A ball joint capable of maintaining a good sealing characteristic even when a film part of a dust cover is strained and capable of improving the assembly characteristic of the dust cover is provided at low cost. In a ball joint having a ball stud having a spherical head part, a socket turnably housing the spherical head part and having an opening in one side, and a dust cover; the ball stud is provided with a first flange part, an intermediate shaft part, and a second flange part; and the dust cover is provided with an inner peripheral part sandwiched between the first flange part and the second flange part and fitting the intermediate shaft part, a lip part being in close contact with the second flange part, and a protruding part having a gap at least at one location and abutting the second flange part.

Abstract: A suspension arm may include a metal portion including a hemispherical metal ball housing, a metal bushing housing, and a metal connecting portion, one end of the metal connecting portion being connected to the metal ball housing and the other end of the metal connecting portion being connected to the metal bushing housing, a bearing, made of synthetic resin material, disposed in and coupled to the metal ball housing, a ball stud, one end of which is disposed in and coupled to the bearing, and a reinforcement member, made of synthetic resin material, wrapping the metal portion and connecting the bearing to the metal ball housing.

Abstract: A joint arrangement, for a vehicle, is provided with a joint (7), which has a joint housing (8) and a pivot pin (9) mounted movably in relation thereto. The arrangement also includes a rod (4), which has a cavity (6) and is connected to the joint (7); a sealing bellows (10), which defines an interior space (10) and in which the joint (7) is arranged at least partially; and a gas-permeable connection (13), which connects the cavity (6) of the rod (4) to the interior space (11) of the sealing bellows (10) and has at least one groove (15), which is formed in a front side (21) of the joint (7), which said front side faces the rod (4), opens into the interior space (11) and has a radially outer end (27). The groove (15) with its radially outer end ends at a spaced location from the outer circumferential contour of the front surface (21).

Abstract: A ball joint for a model vehicle suspension is provided, comprising a support member, at least a portion of the support member forming a spherically-shaped surface, a fastener for securing the support member to a suspension member, a housing containing at least a portion of the support member and having an opening for accessing at least a portion of the support member, a seal covering the housing opening, the seal having a self-healing port, the self-healing port of the seal having a first position allowing introduction of material through the seal and a second position substantially preventing the passage of debris into the housing, the seal being in the first position in response to a force applied normal to at least a portion of the surface of the self-healing port and the seal being in the second position in response to the substantial absence of a force applied normal to the surface of the self-healing port.

Abstract: A ball joint for a motor vehicle. The ball joint has a housing, a ball pin that is supported within the housing in a rotatable and pivotal manner, and a bellows seal. The bellows seal rests with a first bellows seal edge in a sealing manner against the ball pin, and with a second bellows seal edge rests in a sealing manner against the housing. The one-piece bellows seal comprises at least first and second sections, between its bellows seal edges, having different geometries, of which a first section forms a round bodied contour and a second section has an extension along the outer surface and in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the housing. The inner surface of the second section of the bellows seal and/or the outer surface of the housing corresponding thereto is provided with a surface geometry having alternating directions.

Abstract: A sealing assembly of a ball joint, in particular for a vehicle, comprises a retaining ring which includes a ring axis and a radial ring flange having a flange upper side and an opposed flange lower side, and a sealing element which rests against the flange upper side and against the flange lower side and is exclusively connected to the retaining ring with an interlocking fit, the interlocking fit being configured such that the retaining ring and the sealing element are fixed to each other free of play in the axial and in the radial direction, and the flange upper side having an exposed contact surface for a sealing bellows.

Abstract: Dust boot assemblies for providing grease relief while preventing or minimizing infiltration of contaminants into a cavity in the dust boot and between the surfaces of a greased joint coupled to the dust boot. Some such dust boot assemblies include two-piece grease relief inserts having a body and a shield, wherein the body includes grease relief route(s) and the shield prevents or minimizes infiltration of contaminants into the grease relief route(s). Other dust boot assemblies include one-piece grease relief inserts with integral body and shield components. Some grease relief routes include axial and radial channels. Grease relief inserts are inserted under an edge of a dust boot. A dust boot skirt covers grease relief ports through which excess grease is relieved to the external environment. The grease relief insert is located to in a portion of the dust boot experiencing limited or zero movement.

Abstract: A system for adjusting a gas delivery mask is provided. The system may include a first housing portion, a first rim flexibly coupled to the first housing portion by a flexible member, a second housing portion coupled to the first housing portion, a second rim associated with the second housing portion, and a ball rotatably disposed between the first and second rims and having a gas passageway extending therethrough. The ball may be maintained in contact with both the first and second rims by a resiliency of the flexible member.

Abstract: A joint and/or bearing arrangement with a joint pin whose head area can move relative to a receiving shell or housing unit, the joint pin being enclosed over at least part of its length by a surrounding sealing sleeve which, at its end axially remote from the head area is in direct or indirect sealing contact with the joint pin and for this comprises a clamping ring radially on the inside, is designed such that associated with the sealing sleeve in the area of its contact against the joint pin a second ring is positioned radially farther out, at least approximately parallel to the first clamping ring and with an axial extension component, which is connected by a radial connector to the first clamping ring to form a receiving unit of portal-shaped cross-section for an axial end area of the sealing sleeve.

Abstract: A ball joint integrated knuckle and an assembling method thereof is provided. The ball joint integrated knuckle includes: a knuckle integrating a housing formed with a first screw thread on its one side surface; and a ball joint having a thread seat formed with a second screw thread, wherein the ball joint is integrated into the knuckle by combining the first screw thread of the housing of the knuckle with the second screw thread of the thread seat of the ball joint. Thus, it is possible to easily attach/detach the ball joint with respect to the knuckle by combining/removing the ball joint using the first screw thread, formed in an inner circumferential surface of the housing integrally formed with the knuckle, and the second screw thread formed in an external circumferential surface of the thread seat. Also, according to the present invention, the ball joint is not manufactured as a finished product, but provided as kit.

Abstract: A ball joint assembly includes an elongated stud, a socket housing, and a boot and seal assembly having a seal lip. A boot and seal assembly for use in a ball joint assembly includes a body and a diaphragm extending therefrom. The diaphragm includes a seal portion having a seal lip that has an elongated profile of a substantially uniform section. The seal portion may be a first seal portion that is adapted to engage an elongated stud of a ball joint assembly. The diaphragm further may include a second seal portion that is adapted to engage a mating component connected to the ball joint assembly. The boot and seal assembly may include a third seal portion that is also adapted to engage the mating component.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a steering and suspension system of a vehicle and a translational ball joint for use in a steering and suspension system. The system may include a lower joint assembly that employs the translational ball joint to couple a steering knuckle to a strut extension member. The translational ball joint may include a socket having a ball stud mounted therein, with the ball stud including a ball, mounted in the cavity, and a shank, including a cylindrical portion adjacent to the second end that is slidably received in a central bore of the ball and has a retention flange extending radially outward that has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the central bore to thereby prevent the retention flange from sliding through the central bore.

Abstract: A dust boot with enhanced protection from contaminants and improved lubrication characteristic includes a dust boot body having a housing opening on one end and on an opposing end a stud opening in an upper boot wall. The boot also includes a wiping lip located on an inner face of the upper boot wall in the stud opening, a grease channel on an outer surface of the upper boot wall bounded circumferentially by a rim seal, an offset opening hole through the upper boot wall into the grease channel which is offset from the wiping lip, and a flexible flap portion of said rim seal which is spaced away from said offset opening hole. The dust boot may also include an insert made from a plastic such as nylon housed in the upper boot wall such that the offset opening hole extends through the insert. The insert may also form a portion of the grease channel. The offset opening is preferably spaced opposite the flexible flap to promote the flow of grease around the outer surface of the stud.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint for a motor vehicle, with a housing (4) having a wall (7), a bottom (8) and an opening (9), with a ball pivot (3), which has a joint ball (1) and a pivot (2). The ball pivot is mounted with the joint ball (1) rotatably and pivotably in the housing (4) and the pivot extends out of the housing (4) through the opening (9). An electronic component (14) is arranged in the housing (4). An electrically conductive connection (17) is arranged in the housing (4) and is electrically connected to the component (14). The electrically conductive connection (17) extends out of the housing (4) from the component (14) in the area of the opening (9) or through the opening (9).

Abstract: A ball joint includes a housing, a ball stud, a ball head, and a sealing collar which rests against the housing and the ball stud, in order to seal between the same, the sealing collar having an additional sealing section that is integrally formed therewith and additionally seals between the housing and the ball head.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device comprising at least a first (1) and a second (2) machine part, wherein the machine parts (1, 2) are movable, especially pivotable, relatively to another, wherein a sealing boot (3) is arranged for sealing the first machine part (1) against the second machine part (2), wherein the sealing boot (3) has a first ring groove (4), in which a first spring element (5) is inserted, by which spring element (5) the sealing boot (3) is pressed against the first machine part (1) in the region of the first ring groove (4), and/or wherein the sealing boot (3) has a second ring groove (6), in which a second spring element (7) is inserted, by which spring element (7) the sealing boot (3) is pressed against the second machine part (2) in the region of the second ring groove (6).

Abstract: A joint enclosure apparatus includes a dust boot having an opening and a rim located adjacent to the opening, a flexible flap formed as a portion of the rim, and at least one grease relief passage located on an outer surface of the dust boot adjacent to the flexible flap. The dust boot is useful for use in a ball joint assembly which includes a ball stud having a shank portion and a ball portion; a housing adapted to receive the ball portion in articulatable engagement in a ball stud exit end; a dust boot having a shank opening in sealing engagement with the shank portion and a housing opening in sealing engagement with the housing at the ball stud exit end and a rim adjacent to the shank opening; a flexible flap formed as a portion of the rim; and at least one grease relief passage located on an outer surface of the dust boot adjacent to the flexible flap. The grease relief passage may comprise a rib or a recessed channel.

Abstract: A ball and socket joint is provided preferably for use in vehicles and especially in the area of the chassis of motor vehicles. The joint has a ball and socket joint housing having a joint opening, with a ball pivot, which is arranged in the ball and socket joint housing, extends through the joint opening and has a shaft. A support ring is arranged on the shaft of the ball pivot and has a radially extending flange. A sealing element is arranged between the support ring as well as an adjoining component formed by a profiled body (15), which is connected to the support ring (5) in substance, is provided with at least one sealing segment (16) and is in contact with the shaft (10) of the ball pivot (1) and/or with a connection component (11) in at least one profiled section via a sealing segment (16).

Abstract: A shield for a vehicle suspension ball joint having a receptacle configured to receive a flexible dust cover. The shield comprises a rigid shroud connected to the receptacle. The shroud generally surrounds the dust cover and is positioned proximate an arm of the vehicle suspension. The shield protects the dust cover from road-borne materials.

Abstract: A coupling element for connecting a housing or a support arm system element with a support arm. The coupling element has a hollow cylinder-shaped receiving element fixed in place on the housing or the support arm system element for receiving and fixing in place the support arm in the axial direction. So that the coupling element can meet the requirements made on its employment in the field connected with health, the receiving element is covered by a cup-shaped cover which has a central through-opening for passing the support arm through and which has an edge area circumferentially supported on the receiving element. The through-opening is sealed against the exterior circumferential face of the support arm, and the edge area of the cover is sealed against the receiving element.

Abstract: Dust boot assemblies for providing grease relief while preventing or minimizing infiltration of contaminants into a cavity in the dust boot and between the surfaces of a greased joint coupled to the dust boot. Some such dust boot assemblies include two-piece grease relief inserts having a body and a shield, wherein the body includes grease relief route(s) and the shield prevents or minimizes infiltration of contaminants into the grease relief route(s). Other dust boot assemblies include one-piece grease relief inserts with integral body and shield components. Some grease relief routes include axial and radial channels. Grease relief inserts are inserted under an edge of a dust boot. A dust boot skirt covers grease relief ports through which excess grease is relieved to the external environment. The grease relief insert is located to in a portion of the dust boot experiencing limited or zero movement.