Abstract: A ball joint (9) for mutually rotatably interconnecting two members (12, 5), the ball joint (9) including a ball shaft (35) attached to one member (12) out of the aforesaid two members, the ball shaft (35) having at one end thereof a ball (34) rotatably accommodated in a housing (31) attached to the other member (5) out of the aforesaid two members, and a dust boot (50) fitted on the ball shaft (35) to surround the ball shaft (35), the dust boot (50) being fixedly attached at one end thereof to the housing (31) and formed at the other end thereof with a seal lip (54) adapted to come into elastic contact with the aforesaid one member (12). The dust boot (50) has formed thereon a projected portion (53) surrounding the seal lip (54) and facing the side of the aforesaid one member (12) so that a labyrinth (S) defined between the projected portion (53) and the aforesaid one member (12).

Abstract: A magnetic valve for use with vacuum which has an improved junction between the stem and the valve disk which prevents detritus from impairing the seal of the valve. The valve has a magnetic drive coil outside a vacuum tight casing and an armature within the casing to which a valve stem is connected. A junction between the valve stem and the valve disk includes a head on one of the two components and a beaded margin enveloping the head on the other of the two components. An annular gasket is disposed between the head and the beaded margin.

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: A system for connecting an annular, rigid component to an opening in a flexible sheet material is disclosed. The system includes a boss molded around the opening in the sheet material and a groove around the component, sized to accommodate the boss. An annular keeper engages the boss circumferentially under hoop stress and compresses the boss against the component. A ledge on the component engages the keeper to retain it in operating position. In preferred embodiments, installation is assisted with a tapered face leading to the ledge, to produce elastic deformation of the keeper to the extent that it will pass over the boss and then snap back once past the ledge.

Abstract: In fastening a sealing bellows to the housing of a ball joint, the sealing bellows has a doughnut-form rim which seats in a circumferential ring groove, open in the axial direction and designed U-shaped in cross section, on the outer rim of the housing. The ring groove is formed in part by a circumferential recess, L-shaped in cross section, on the housing rim, and by an L-shaped holding ring, opposite in cross section to the recess and fastened into this latter. To simplify this fastening and to protect the fixing of the sealing bellows, the flat bottom of the opening has a circumferential ring step lying radially inward, and the fastening of the holding ring by its ring flange to the ring step against the radially extending surface of the recess, is made by means of a circumferential projection or several segment-like projections staked from the ring step.

Abstract: A ball-and-socket joint is protected in sealed state by a boot firmly secured at its outer end to the ball stud of the ball and at its inner end to the joint assembly by a clamping ring made of an elastic material in the form of a coil wound spirally with rectangular-section winding turns thereof lying adjacently side-by-side in the plane of the clamping ring. The spirally-coiled construction, in contrast to a helically-coiled construction, of the clamping ring permits it to be expanded greatly at the time of its fitting in the boot groove for assembly with little permanent deformation, whereby a great clamping force is obtainable.

Abstract: A ball socket member molded of resilient resin material is open at one end to receive and retain a ball in a part spherical cavity within the body communicating with a chamber containing a lubricant. The socket member carries a skirt at its open end which is adapted to form a seal with a member which carries the ball to prevent leakage and/or contamination of lubrication contained within the body cavity. Relief grooves are formed in the socket member which distribute lubricant on the ball and vent excess lubrication from the cavity as the ball is pressed into the cavity. The socket member has a polygonal external surface having a circumferential groove formed therein which receives the portion of the linkage member surrounding a complementary polygonal opening therein, so as to anchor the socket member against rotation relative to the linkage member.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is the fastening of a sealing bellows to the joint housing of a ball joint, in which the housing-side rim of the sealing bellows is laid firmly into a ring groove circumscribing the joint housing, designed substantially U-shaped in cross section, the bellows rim having a profiling adapted to the U-shape of the ring above and being pressed into the ring groove by a clamp ring. To increase the sealing effect, it is proposed that the profiled zone of the bellows rim lying opposite the bottom of the ring groove forms, when drawn on by the tension ring, a fold lifting off from the bottom of the groove, arched upward, which stretches under the pressure of the clamp ring to force the bellows rim against the side walls of the groove.

Abstract: In a ball and socket joint comprising a ball and a socket in mutual swivelling sliding engagement with each other, the ball having a stud integrally formed at one end thereof and projecting outwardly through one end of the socket, the improvement consisting in forming the socket with an annular groove circularly disposed at the edge of the open end of the socket for fitting and retaining therein the beaded end of a flexible oil-resistant seal having a bellows type body provided at one end with an annular band stretched over the periphery of the stud.

Abstract: A boot cover for enclosing a pivotally mounted automobile transmission shift lever has converging sidewalls formed in part by a plurality of spherically shaped surfaces which support rolling contact between adjacent surfaces during shifting of the shift lever from the neutral position. The center of radius of adjacent spherical surfaces alternates between a point on the shift lever determined by the distance between the boot apex and the lever pivot joint and a point on the shift lever at the boot apex. The smaller radius spherical surface is co-tangent with the larger radius spherical surface immediately adjacent thereto and displaced therefrom toward the pivot joint.

Abstract: A substantially tubular housing houses a swivel unit proximate one of its ends and a tailpiece proximate the other of its ends; with a relatively strong spring disposed therebetween to urge each unit against its respective housing end with sufficient pressure to retain each such unit as selectively positioned. A swivel seat washer is disposed between the spring and swivel; while a pair of washers, one plastic and one brass, are disposed between the spring and tailpiece. The swivel unit includes an extension with external threads and flat sides that cooperate with flat sides of an opening in the housing end and through part of the sidewall of the housing; the flat sides of the extension and of the housing opening coacting to restrict rotation of the swivel to ninety degrees of rotation about a first axis of rotation.

Abstract: In a ball and socket joint comprising a ball and a socket in mutual swivelling sliding engagement with each other, the ball having a stud integrally formed at one end thereof and projecting outwardly through one end of the socket, the improvement consisting in forming the socket with an annular groove circularly disposed at the edge of the open end of the socket for fitting and retaining therein the beaded end of a flexible oil-resistant seal having a bellows type body provided at one end with an annular band stretched over the periphery of the stud.

Abstract: An extendible and contractible boot is disposed in surrounding relationship to the spindle assembly of a chair. The lower end of the boot is anchored to the pedestal associated with the chair base. The upper end of the boot is supported on the seat assembly by a retainer arrangement which prevents vertical separation between the boot and seat assembly but permits relative rotation therebetween. This retainer arrangement employs a bearing ring, preferably of a split construction, which is snugly and resiliently seated within the upper end of the boot. A retainer plate is secured relative to the spindle and is rotatably supported on the bearing ring.

Abstract: A method of forming a plastic lined ball joint is disclosed using a preheated socket with wider than normal dimensional tolerances and a melt-in-place plastic socket liner which melts on forced contact with the heated socket so as to exactly conform with and seat in the socket whereafter the assembly is then quenched to solidify the liner to effect a tight fit with the socket.

Abstract: In a ball and socket joint comprising a ball and a socket in mutual swivelling sliding engagement with each other, the ball having a stud integrally formed at one end thereof and projecting outwardly through one end of the socket, the improvement consisting in forming the socket with a diverging frusto-conical flange extending in the direction of the stud and defining an integrally formed retention flange for a flexible oil-resistant seal having a bellows type body provided at one end with an annular band stretched over the periphery of the stud and at the other end with a reinforcing bead stretched over the retention flange.

Abstract: Integrally sealed vibration dampening ball and socket joints having a spherical member capable of swivelling relative to a socket member. A split metallic or high strength plastic bearing ring disposed with clearance in a shell has a concave spherical surface portion in swivelling engagement with the ball member, and a pair of symmetrically disposed resilient rings installed between the bearing ring and the inner surface of the shell constantly urge the bearing surface of the bearing ring in engagement with the spherical member surface to prevent rattle and to compensate for wear. Normal loads are taken by the resilient rings, and overload and shock load are taken by the bearing ring. A bellows seal, formed integrally with one of the resilient rings or, alternatively, formed separate is fastened at one end in the shell. The bellows seal is held elastically at its other end around a portion of the spherical member.

Abstract: A rolling lobe airspring of the type embodying a tubular flexible member of substantially uniform thickness throughout its length and circumference includes a modified piston. The piston includes a recess near its end which is secured to the flexible member. The end of the flexible member lies in the piston recess. A method of assembly of such an airspring is also described.

Abstract: An improved joint assembly has a boot seal with a retainer ring. The retainer ring is effective to hold the seal in place on a housing having a circular side surface with any one diameter in a range of diameters. The retainer ring includes an annular base having a plurality of interspersed groups of radially inwardly extending fingers or tabs. Each group of fingers includes fingers of different lengths to cooperate with housing side surfaces having different diameters within the range of diameters. Thus, each group of fingers includes a medium length finger which cooperates with a housing side surface having a diameter that falls within a middle portion of the range of diameters. Each group of fingers also includes a relatively short finger which cooperates with a housing side surface having a diameter which is greater than the mid-range diameter.

Abstract: PCT No. PCT/US79/01056 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 5, 1979 Sec. 102(e) Date Dec. 5, 1979 PCT Filed Dec. 5, 1979A boot seal (48) for sealing a swivel joint (60) having two open sides (70,72) pivotally connecting a first member (50) to a second member (42) extending transversely therethrough includes a body portion (76) enclosing the joint (60), apertures (86) in the body portion (76) for receiving the second member (42), and a flexible bellows portion (82) extending along a portion (52) of the first member (50) in sealing engagement therewith to accommodate full pivotal movement of the joint (60).

Abstract: A ball socket member open at one end is formed of yieldable semi-rigid plastic material, with external ears and internal axially extending lubrication distribution and relief slots positioned in alignment with the ears. The slots terminate at the open edge, the lubricant being retained by a closed cell seal of cellular material. An external circumferential groove receives the periphery of an opening in a linkage member, the external ears being received in key slots in the opening. The periphery of the opening is deformed out of the plane of the surface of the linkage to produce an effective thickness approximately the thickness of the groove, providing a method and construction to assure a secure fit in cases where the thickness of the linkage material is either greater than or less than the width of the groove.

Abstract: A brake is disclosed comprising an annular cylindrical braking member with brake shoes respectively on the inside and outside of the braking member which are straddled by a C-shaped caliper member. The caliper member is pivotally and slidably mounted by a composite mounting assembly comprised of a pivot pin and a tubular bracing member received snugly thereon. The pivot pin acts in tension between opposed leg portions of fixed support while the bracing member acts in compression. A sealing pad or cap is disposed at each of the ends of the passageway in the caliper member through which the mounting assembly extends for providing fluid tightness thereat.

Abstract: A suspension ball joint mounting mechanism in which a steering knuckle arranged swivelably in the steering operation is forked at its end by a slit. A stud portion of a ball joint stud assembly is passed through the forked portion of the steering knuckle and fastened in position by bolting, the ball portion of the ball joint stud assembly being pivotally supported to a support seat of a suspension arm so that said both portions are able to make a relative movement to each other. A dust cover is provided to sheath the support seat and steering knuckle. A plate washer is disposed between the entire area of the edge ring face of the lip portion of the dust cover and the corresponding face of the steering knuckle to allow smooth relative sliding movements thereof. Thus, the sealing performance of the joint mechanism is improved, while ensuring wear resistance thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to pin and socket joints for use in the steering and suspension systems of automobiles. The head of the pin is housed in a socket having an aperture through which the pin extends, the aperture being sealed by an annular boot having peripheral portions sealing against the pin and socket respectively.One of the peripheral portions is engaged in a groove in the pin or socket and the said one peripheral portion has interior passageways leading from the interior of the boot to the base of the groove and exterior passageways leading from the base of the groove to the exterior of the boot.These passageways facilitate the rapid escape of grease from the boot during excessive power filling of grease into the joint so that the boot is not disengaged from the groove.

Abstract: Disclosed is an inverted cup-shaped cover of deformable material to be fitted over an open socket housing end of a pivotal ball joint assembly. The cover has a pair of opposite end openings, one of which is considerably smaller in diameter than the other and receives therethrough in sealed relationship the shank of a ball stud protruding from the housing through an open end thereof. The cover has a gently curved longitudinal sectional configuration and is flared toward its other end opening at which it is fitted over the open end of the housing. A ring is embedded in the flared portion of the cover and has an inner circumferential edge exposed toward the interior of the cover. This inner edge is sharp-angled and has a diameter slightly smaller than the maximum diameter of the housing at the open end thereof. This ring is formed of resilient material, for example, spring steel.

Abstract: A steering linkage includes a housing which movably supports a sleeve member within a housing bore. The sleeve carries a socket which receives a stud and the stud extends through openings in the sleeve member and the housing. A flexible boot sealingly engages the stud and the housing to retain lubricant within the housing bore and keep out contaminants. As the stud is movable relative to the housing and sleeve member openings, the stud carries a resilient ring opposing the flexible boot to prevent the flexible boot from coming in contact with the sleeve and housing openings, thereby preventing the flexible boot from being pinched by the movable parts within the housing bore. The resilient ring is larger in diameter than the sleeve member opening and is disposed substantially within the housing opening.

Abstract: A ball joint which includes a ball pin that is connected with a coaxial strut, a bearing part of synthetic material, a ball housing surrounding the bearing part, and a bellows seal, particularly as used with front axles of motor vehicles equipped with a braking support. The ball housing is equipped with abutment surfaces which abut at rubber spring elements having a progressive spring characteristic while the rubber spring elements project from an outer housing which has a spacing on all sides from the ball housing.

Abstract: A ball joint assembly having a ball stud member received in a socket member. The ball of the stud member is retained in a recess in the socket member by a main bearing ring, a pair of wear rings, and a pair of load rings. A lubricating grease is supplied to the interface of the ball of the stud member with the bearing and wear rings by a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves extending generally axially across the bearing and wear rings. The grooves in the wear rings communicate with lubricant reservoirs defined by the housing member in cooperation with a cover and a flexible seal member adjacent opposed polar regions of the ball of the stud member.

Abstract: A ball joint assembly having a ball stud member received in a socket member. The ball of the stud member is retained in a recess of the socket member by a bearing ring urged to bear on the ball by a pair of elastic load rings. A seal received on the socket member defines a lubricant reservoir which is supplied with grease through a grease fitting carried by the socket member. A plurality of passages defined in part by various grooves in the load ring and portions of the bearing ring interconnect the lubricant reservoir, grease fitting and interface of the bearing ring with the ball of the stud member.

Abstract: An improved method for forming a cup-shaped ball joint socket by using a blank provided with a neck portion of reduced outer diameter from which an outwardly directed collar is formed; and the cup-shaped ball joint socket resulting from practicing the improved method.