DE102016203470B4 - Method for connecting a ball joint with a counterpart - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for connecting a ball joint (1) to a counterpart (19) which has a joint receptacle (20) for receiving the ball joint (1), which has a joint housing (2), a bearing shell (5) arranged in the joint housing (2) a joint inner part (4) having a spherical bearing region (3), which is mounted with the bearing region (3) in an articulated manner in the bearing shell (5) and extends out of the joint housing (2), with the process steps:
Providing the counterpart (19) in a counterpart providing step (29),
Providing the ball joint (1) in a joint providing step (26),
- Pressing the ball joint (1) in the joint receptacle (20) in a the deployment steps (26, 29) subsequent press-insertion (31) and
Heating the ball joint (1) or at least the bearing shell (5) of the ball joint (1) in a heating step (30) which follows the joint supply step (26) and which precedes the press-in step (31).

Description

The invention relates to a method for connecting a ball joint with a counterpart, which has a joint receptacle for receiving the ball joint, which comprises a joint housing, a bearing shell arranged in the joint housing and a spherical bearing area exhibiting joint inner part which articulates with the storage area in the bearing shell and extending out of the joint housing, comprising the steps of: providing the counterpart in a counterpart provisioning step, assembling the ball joint in a joint mounting step, providing the ball joint in a joint providing step, and forcing the ball joint with its joint housing into the joint receiver an injection step following the provisioning steps.

To reduce torques and / or friction moments between the bearing area and the bearing shell ball joints are usually already annealed during or after their preparation.

Such annealing is for example from the DE 10 2013 221 964 B3 known. Here, the heating can be done for example by means of induction.

Also from the DE 11 2012 001 492 T5 Inductive heating during assembly of the ball joint is known.

Of the US 4 439 909 A see assembling a ball joint where the ball housing is preheated to assemble the ball joint.

However, the friction torque can increase again by the press-fitting of the ball joint in the counterpart.

Based on this, the present invention seeks to provide a way to reduce or avoid a caused by the press-fitting of the ball joint in the counterpart increase the friction torque between the bearing area and the bearing shell.

This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1. Preferred developments of the method are given in the subclaims and in the following description.

• - Bereitstellen des Gegenstücks in einem Gegenstück-Bereitstellungsschritt,
• - Zusammenbauen des Kugelgelenks in einem Gelenk-Montageschritt,
• - Bereitstellen des Kugelgelenks in einem Gelenk-Bereitstellungsschritt,
• - Einpressen des Kugelgelenks mit seinem Gelenkgehäuse in die Gelenkaufnahme in einem den Bereitstellungsschritten nachfolgenden Einpressschritt und
• - Erwärmen des Kugelgelenks oder zumindest der Lagerschale des Kugelgelenks in einem dem Gelenk-Bereitstellungsschritt nachfolgenden und dem Einpressschritt vorgelagerten Erwärmungsschritt, wobei das Einpressen des Kugelgelenks in die Gelenkaufnahme im erwärmten Zustand des Kugelgelenks und/oder der Lagerschale erfolgt.

The method for connecting a ball joint with a counterpart comprising a joint receptacle for receiving the ball joint, which comprises a joint housing, a bearing shell arranged in the joint housing and a spherical bearing area having inner joint part which is articulated with the bearing area in the bearing shell and extends out of the joint housing, comprises the method steps:

• Providing the counterpart in a counterpart provisioning step,
• Assembling the ball joint in a joint assembly step,
• Providing the ball joint in a joint providing step,
• - Pressing the ball joint with its joint housing in the joint receptacle in a deployment steps following the injection step and
• Heating the ball joint or at least the bearing shell of the ball joint in a heating step subsequent to the joint provision step and the pressing step, the pressing in of the ball joint into the joint receptacle in the heated state of the ball joint and / or the bearing shell.

As a result of the heating step, stresses in the bearing shell caused by the press-fitting of the ball joint into the counterpart are released, so that the frictional torque and / or torque between the bearing region and the bearing shell is reduced.

By the heating step and / or by the heating of the ball joint or at least the bearing shell of the ball joint, the ball joint or at least the bearing shell of the ball joint is brought into a heated state. The press-in step and / or the press-fitting of the ball joint in the joint receptacle takes place in the heated state of the ball joint and / or the bearing shell.

In Einpressschritt the ball joint is pressed with its joint housing in the joint seat of the counterpart. In particular, the joint receptacle comprises a recess provided in or on the counterpart or a bearing eye provided in or on the counterpart. Preferably, the joint receptacle is formed by the or in or on the counterpart provided recess or by or provided in or on the counterpart bearing eye.

According to a development, the ball joint and the counterpart are brought together in a merge step. Preferably, the press-in step follows the merging step and / or the merging step is the Press-in step upstream. Preferably, the merging step follows the heating step. For example, the merging step forms or includes the counterpart providing step. Alternatively, the merge step follows the counterpart provision step, for example.

The press-in step and / or the press-fitting of the ball joint into the joint receptacle is preferably carried out by means of a press-fit tool. In particular, the ball joint and the counterpart, preferably in the merging step and / or before the press-in step, are brought together in the press-fit tool. The heating step and / or the heating of the ball joint or at least the bearing shell of the ball joint is performed, for example, in the press tool or outside of the press tool.

Preferably, the ball joint, in particular in a joint feed step, the press tool and / or the counterpart supplied. Preferably, the press-in step follows the hinge feed step and / or the hinge feed step precedes the press-fit step. Furthermore, the counterpart is preferably supplied to the pressfit tool and / or the ball joint, in particular in a counterpart feed step. Preferably, the press-in step follows the counterpart feed step and / or the counterpart feed step precedes the press-in step. For example, the hinge providing step forms or includes the hinge delivery step. Alternatively, the joint delivery step follows e.g. the joint providing step and / or the heating step. Advantageously, the joint feed step comprises the heating step and / or the heating step is performed in particular during the feeding of the ball joint to the press tool and / or to the counterpart. Further, the counterpart providing step forms or includes, for example, the counterpart feeding step. Alternatively, the counterpart feed step follows, e.g. to the counterpart provision step. For example, during the counterpart feed step, the heating step is performed.

According to one embodiment, the method steps and / or the provisioning steps and / or the press-fitting step and / or the heating step and / or the merging step and / or the feeding steps are carried out within one or a single assembly line.

The press-in step is in particular shortly after the heating step, so that excessive cooling of the heated ball joint and / or the heated bearing shell can be avoided. According to a further development, there is a maximum of three minutes between the heating step and the pressing-in step. Preferably, however, there is a maximum of one minute between the heating step and the pressing-in step.

According to one embodiment, the bearing lugs made of plastic, preferably of thermoplastic material. Preferably, the bearing shell made of plastic, preferably made of thermoplastic material. Advantageously, the ball joint or at least the bearing shell of the ball joint is heated in the heating step to 100 ℃ or approximately to 100 ℃. The inner joint part is preferably slidably mounted in the bearing shell with its storage area.

According to a development, the ball joint is assembled in a joint assembly step. In particular, the bearing shell is introduced into the joint housing and the inner joint part is mounted in the bearing shell. The joint-mounting step is in particular preceded by the joint-providing step. Advantageously, the components required to assemble the ball joint are already prefabricated before or at the beginning of the joint assembly step. Preferably, the ball joint or at least the bearing shell of the ball joint is heated in an annealing step, which is preferably upstream of the joint-providing step and / or the heating step and / or the assembly line. The tempering step follows in particular the joint assembly step. Preferably, the annealing step is between the joint mounting step and the joint providing step. The joint assembly step and / or the annealing step are preferably carried out in one, in particular the assembly line and / or the provisioning steps and / or the joint-providing step, upstream joint manufacturing.

According to a further development, the counterpart is produced in a counterpart manufacturing step, which in particular precedes the counterpart provision step. The counterpart manufacturing step preferably comprises providing the hinge mount in or on the counterpart. The counterpart production step preferably takes place in a counterpart production, upstream of the assembly line and / or the provisioning steps and / or the counterpart provisioning step.

According to one embodiment, the counterpart is made of plastic and / or metal. Preferably, the counterpart is made of plastic and / or metal. The plastic is or forms, for example, a fiber-plastic composite. The metal is for example aluminum, magnesium or an iron material, such as steel.

According to one embodiment, the joint housing is made of plastic or of metal, preferably of aluminum, of magnesium or of a ferrous material, such as e.g. Stole. Preferably, the joint housing is made of plastic or metal, preferably aluminum, magnesium or a ferrous material, such as aluminum. Stole.

According to a further development, the inner joint part is made of plastic or of metal, preferably of aluminum, of magnesium or of a ferrous material, such as e.g. Stole. Preferably, the inner joint part is made of plastic or of metal, preferably of aluminum, of magnesium or of a ferrous material, such as e.g. Stole.

The inner joint part is or forms e.g. a ball stud. Preferably, however, the inner joint part is or forms a ball sleeve. In particular, a continuous ball sleeve recess extends through the ball sleeve. Preferably, the ball joint is or forms a ball and socket joint. The inner joint part and / or the ball pin and / or the ball sleeve extends in particular on one side or on both sides out of the joint housing.

The bearing shell is seated, for example, in a ring element arranged in the joint housing. The ring element is preferably made of plastic or of metal, preferably of aluminum, of magnesium or of a ferrous material, such as e.g. Stole. Preferably, the ring element is made of plastic or of metal, preferably of aluminum, of magnesium or of a ferrous material, such as e.g. Stole.

The heating step is e.g. in an oven so that the ball joint or at least the bearing shell of the ball joint is preferably heated in the or a furnace in the heating step. However, heating in an oven is usually associated with the disadvantage that the ball joint is temporarily removed from a flow conveyor or assembly line. Preferably, the ball joint or at least the bearing shell of the ball joint is therefore heated inductively. Preferably, the joint housing and / or the inner joint part are heated inductively, wherein the bearing shell is heated by the heated joint housing and / or the heated inner joint part, preferably by heat conduction. An inductive heating of the ball joint is particularly well integrated in a flow promotion and / or in the assembly line.

The counterpart is or preferably forms a chassis component for the chassis of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. Preferably, the counterpart is or forms a wheel carrier or a suspension arm, such as, for example. a wishbone. Furthermore, the ball joint is or is preferably a chassis component for the chassis of or a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. Preferably, the counterpart connected to the ball joint forms a chassis component for the chassis of or a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. In particular, the described method for producing the or a chassis component for the chassis of or of a vehicle, in particular motor vehicle is provided.

Preferably, the heating of the ball joint in or during the supply of the ball joint for the final Einpressvorgang of the ball joint in the counterpart (such as wheel or wishbone). In particular, a simple retrofitting of existing assembly systems and / or assembly lines is possible, so that the inventive solution can be easily and quickly adapted. In particular, no new development of the ball joint is required.

• 1 eine teilweise geschnittene Ansicht eines Kugelhülsengelenks,
• 2 eine perspektivische Teilansicht eines Fahrwerklenkers mit einer Gelenkaufnahme,
• 3 eine perspektivische Teilansicht des Fahrwerklenkers, wobei das Kugelgelenk in die Gelenkaufnahme eingepresst ist und
• 4 ein schematisches Flussdiagramm zur Veranschaulichung eines Verfahrens gemäß einer Ausführungsform, wonach das Kugelgelenk mit dem Fahrwerklenker verbunden wird.

The invention will be described below with reference to a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawing. In the drawing show:

• 1 a partially sectioned view of a ball and socket joint,
• 2 3 is a partial perspective view of a suspension link with a joint mount,
• 3 a partial perspective view of the suspension arm, wherein the ball joint is pressed into the joint receptacle and
• 4 a schematic flow diagram illustrating a method according to an embodiment, according to which the ball joint is connected to the suspension arm.

Out 1 is a ball joint 1 , which is designed here as a ball and socket joint, seen in a partially sectioned view. The ball joint 1 includes a joint housing 2 as well as a spherical storage area 3 having inner joint part 4 in the form of a ball sleeve, which with its storage area 3 rotatable and tiltable in one in the joint housing 2 arranged bearing shell 5 is stored. The bearing shell 5 sits in a ring element 6 which is in an outer sleeve 7 is arranged, which is a main body of the joint housing 2 forms. The joint housing 2 is a housing longitudinal axis 8th associated with respect to which the joint housing 2 is rotationally symmetric. Furthermore, the inner joint part 4 a joint inner longitudinal axis 9 associated, with respect to which the inner joint part 4 is rotationally symmetric. The housing longitudinal axis 8th and the inner joint longitudinal axis 9 intersect at a center M of the spherical storage area 3 , The ring element 6 and the bearing shell 5 are in the direction of the housing longitudinal axis 8th between two in the outer sleeve 7 arranged locking rings 10 and 11 set, in turn, in the direction of the housing longitudinal axis 8th between two inwardly bent edge regions 12 and 13 the outer sleeve 7 are fixed. The lock rings 10 and 11 be doing the case 2 attributed and each define a housing opening 14 respectively. 15 , wherein the housing opening 14 through the lock ring 10 and the housing opening 15 through the lock ring 11 is defined.

In 1 separates the housing longitudinal axis 8th the representation of the ball joint 1 in two presentation areas I and II , where in the presentation area I an outside view of the ball joint 1 and in the viewport II a longitudinal section of the ball joint 1 along the housing longitudinal axis 8th is shown.

The inner joint part 4 extends through both housing openings 14 and 15 through out of the joint housing 2 out and points two to the storage area 3 subsequent neck areas 16 and 17 on, between which the storage area 3 is arranged. Furthermore, in 2 the inner joint part 4 opposite the joint housing 2 tilted by a tilt angle α, between the housing longitudinal axis 8th and the inner joint longitudinal axis 9 is included. In a non-tilted state, the tilt angle α is zero, so that the housing longitudinal axis 8th with the inner joint longitudinal axis 9 coincides. Furthermore, the inner joint part 4 with one in the direction of the joint inner longitudinal axis 9 through recess 18 Mistake.

Out 2 is a partial perspective view of a suspension handlebar 19 with a joint recording 20 it can be seen that a continuous, cylindrical recess 21 comprising, with respect to a joint receiving central longitudinal axis 22 is formed rotationally symmetrical. The ball joint 1 becomes in a direction of the joint receiving central longitudinal axis 22 extending press-fitting 23 with his joint housing 2 into the recess 21 the joint recording 20 pressed in, so the suspension handlebar 19 with respect to the press-fitting a counterpart to the ball joint 1 forms.

A partial perspective view of the suspension handlebar 19 with in the joint recording 20 pressed-in ball joint 1 is out 3 can be seen, which further with a between the locking ring 10 and the inner joint part 4 extending and both the locking ring 10 as well as the inner joint part 4 surrounding sealing bellows 33 is provided, both on the lock ring 10 as well as on the inner joint part 4 sealingly rests. Between the lock ring 11 and the inner joint part 4 extends a corresponding sealing bellows, which in 3 but by the suspension control 19 hidden and therefore not visible. The housing longitudinal axis 8th coincides with the hinge-receiving central longitudinal axis 22 together. Furthermore, in 3 the ball joint 1 shown in a non-tilted state, so that the joint inner longitudinal axis 9 with the joint receiving central longitudinal axis 22 coincides.

Out 4 FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram of a method according to an embodiment, wherein in a joint assembly step 24 the ball joint 1 is assembled from pre-fabricated components.

Subsequently, in a tempering step 25 the assembled ball joint 1 or at least its bearing shell 5 heated. The following is in a joint providing step 26 the tempered ball joint 1 an assembly line 27 provided. Further, in a counterpart manufacturing step 28 the suspension handlebar 19 and in a subsequent counterpart provision step 29 the assembly line 27 provided. The steps 24 . 25 and 28 are the assembly line 27 upstream and separate from this, for example, at another location.

The two steps 26 and 29 can be done simultaneously or sequentially. In one step 26 subsequent heating step 30 becomes the ball joint 1 inductively heated. This is done in particular by the fact that the inner joint part 4 and / or the joint housing 2 are inductively heated, so that the bearing shell 5 through the heated inner joint part 4 and / or the heated joint housing 2 is heated, preferably to approximately 100 ℃. In one of the steps 29 and 30 subsequent press-in step 31 becomes the heated ball joint 1 in the joint recording 20 of the chassis driver 19 pressed in, taking in between the steps 30 and 31 preferably a maximum of 1 minute passes.

Pressing in the ball joint 1 in the joint recording 20 of the chassis driver 19 takes place by means of a press-fit tool shown schematically 32 to which the ball joint 1 after the heating step 30 is supplied. Furthermore, the suspension handlebar 19 the press tool 32 fed either after the counterpart provisioning step 29 or during this step.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

ball joint

2

joint housing

3

Bearing area of the inner joint part

4

Inner race

5

bearing shell

6

ring element

7

outer sleeve

8th

housing longitudinal axis

9

Inner race longitudinal axis

10

lock ring

11

lock ring

12

bent edge region of the outer sleeve

13

bent edge region of the outer sleeve

14

housing opening

15

housing opening

16

neck

17

neck

18

continuous recess in the inner joint part

19

Suspension handlebar / counterpart

20

joint Taping

21

Recess of the joint receptacle

22

Joint Taping-center longitudinal axis

23

press-in

24

Joint assembly step

25

annealing

26

Joint Deployment step

27

assembly line

28

Counterpart manufacturing step

29

Counterpart providing step

30

heating step

31

force-fitting

32

press tool

33

bellows

Claims (10)

Method for connecting a ball joint (1) to a counterpart (19) which has a joint receptacle (20) for receiving the ball joint (1), which has a joint housing (2), a bearing shell (5) arranged in the joint housing (2) a joint inner part (4) having a spherical bearing region (3), which is mounted with the bearing region (3) in an articulated manner in the bearing shell (5) and extends out of the joint housing (2), comprising the steps of: - providing the counterpart ( 19) in a counterprovision providing step (29), - assembling the ball joint (1) in a joint mounting step (24), - providing the ball joint (1) in a joint providing step (26), and - press-fitting the ball joint (1) with its joint housing (2) into the joint receptacle (20) in a the delivery steps (26, 29) subsequent Einpressschritt (31), characterized in that - the ball joint (1) or at least the bearing shell (5) of the Kuge is heated in a joint providing step (26) subsequent to the press-in step (31) heating step (30), wherein the pressing of the ball joint (1) in the joint receptacle (20) in the heated state of the ball joint (1) and / or the bearing shell (5). Method according to Claim 1 characterized in that the ball joint (1) and the counterpart (19) are fed to a press - in tool (32) by means of which the press - in step (31) is performed, the heating step (3) being performed during the feeding of the ball joint (1) Pressing tool (32) is performed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the providing steps (26, 29), the heating step (30) and the press-fitting step (31) are performed within an assembly line (27). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a maximum of three minutes lie between the heating step (30) and the pressing step (31). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bearing shell (5) consists of plastic and the ball joint (1) or at least the bearing shell (5) of the ball joint (1) in the heating step (30) to 100 ℃ or approximately to 100 ℃ is heated. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ball joint (1) or at least the bearing shell (5) of the ball joint (1) in a the joint-mounting step (24) subsequent and the joint-providing step (26) upstream tempering step (25 ) is heated. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ball joint (1) or at least the bearing shell (5) of the ball joint (1) is heated inductively in the heating step (3). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Counterpart (19) forms a chassis component for the chassis of a vehicle. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the counterpart (19) forms a wheel carrier or suspension link. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ball joint (1) is a ball and socket joint whose inner joint part (4) is designed as a ball sleeve, which extends on both sides of the joint housing (2).

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