Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
  • F16C11/00—Pivots; Pivotal connections
  • F16C11/04—Pivotal connections
  • F16C11/06—Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16C—SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
  • F16C11/00—Pivots; Pivotal connections
  • F16C11/04—Pivotal connections
  • F16C11/06—Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints
  • F16C11/0666—Sealing means between the socket and the inner member shaft
  • F16C11/0671—Sealing means between the socket and the inner member shaft allowing operative relative movement of joint parts due to flexing of the sealing means
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T403/00—Joints and connections
  • Y10T403/32—Articulated members
  • Y10T403/32114—Articulated members including static joint
  • Y10T403/32196—Articulate joint is ball and socket

Definitions

• the invention relates to a sealing bellows of a ball and socket joint, with a ball, a pin extending from the ball and a housing receiving the ball, the sealing bellows extending between the pin and the ball housing and the sealing bellows having a sealing area on the pin side, a casing area and a sealing area on the housing side at least one elastomeric material.
• FIG. 1 A detailed view of the bulbous-shaped casing area and the sealing area on the pin and on the housing of a ball joint are shown in FIG. 1.
• the sealing material in the sealing area usually consists of the same material that is used for the casing area. This is usually an elastomer, usually a rubber. A chloroprene rubber is mostly used.
• sealing area of the sealing bellows is made of the same elastomer material as the jacket area, a material must be selected which is in its Properties are suitable both for the mechanical loads on the jacket area and for the tribological requirements of the sealing area.
• the inventor has recognized that it is favorable for a sealing bellows of a ball joint and its properties if a different material is used for the sealing area on the journal side and / or the sealing area on the housing than for the casing area.
• the sealing area on the pin should consist of a lubricious material that has a low coefficient of friction compared to the pin material.
• the pin-side sealing area should have good tensile and compression deformation properties. The same applies to the sealing area on the housing side.
• the jacket area on the other hand, should have sufficient elasticity to be able to follow the movements of the pin.
• the sealing area and the jacket area of the sealing bellows can be produced, for example, in the injection molding process as an inseparable component, different materials being injected in the different areas.
• the sealing area and the jacket area are each separate components that are connected to one another.
• This connection can be made non-positively, positively as well as materially. Inserts can be used for this purpose, which can produce press or snap connections and / or are integrally connected to the materials.
• This method can be combined in various embodiments with other elements that allow the function of the sealing system to be further enhanced by centering and supporting functions.
• These support and centering elements can each consist of a wide variety of materials, for example plastics, steels or non-ferrous metals, and depending on the combination, they are capable of simple and particularly temperature-insensitive and / or corrosion-insensitive support and / or centering depending on the combination enable.
• a sealing bellows for a ball joint with a ball, a pin that extends from the ball and a housing that accommodates the ball, the sealing bellows extending between the pin and the ball housing and the sealing bellows having a sealing area on the pin side, a casing area and a sealing area on the housing side, and consists of at least one elastomeric material to improve in that at least one sealing area consists of a different material than the elastomeric jacket area.
• the material used for the sealing area of the sealing bellows on the peg side is preferably an elastomer which differs from that used for the casing area.
• an adaptation to the respective property profile of the respective one can be made Area.
• an easy-sliding elastomer which is also particularly abrasion-resistant, can be used on the pin-side sealing area.
• a particularly elastic elastomer can be used on the jacket area. But not only mechanical properties, but also thermal properties can be adapted to the requirements of the respective area by suitable choice of materials.
• both the pin-side and the housing-side sealing area consist of a different elastomeric material than the jacket area. In this way, all three areas of a sealing bellows can be adapted to certain property profiles.
• At least one sealing area can have a non-positive and / or positive and / or material connection to the jacket area. In this way, different connection possibilities of the different areas and materials of the sealing bellows can be created.
• materials of the sealing area and the jacket area which can be materially combined or crosslinked, can be created by friction welding or by adhesive bonding.
• a form-fitting connection can be selected for materials that cannot be materially combined or networked.
• At least one stiffening element can be inserted thereon, which is preferably arranged close to at least one sealing region.
• the jacket area can be stabilized at the connection point to the one sealing area.
• a stiffening element reduces the mechanical stress on the softer material by flexing.
• at least one sealing area can have at least one stiffening element, which is preferably arranged close to the casing area. The stiffening elements of the jacket area and the sealing area create a particularly stable connection between the jacket area and the sealing area.
• the stiffening elements effectively prevent the deformation of the individual elements and, furthermore, the contact pressure at the contact area of the jacket area and sealing area can be increased.
• the stiffening elements can be enclosed or cast in the plastic of the jacket area and / or the sealing area, possibly on the basis of vulcanization or vulcanization.
• the stiffening element can consist of plastic and / or metal.
• a stiffening element made of plastic can be used, for example, in a sealing bellows which is used in a particularly humid or aqueous environment.
• a sealing bellows of a ball joint in a bearing in the steering area of a vehicle can be protected from corrosion or acid attack by using plastic stiffening elements that are accessible on the surface of the sealing bellows.
• a stiffening element made of metal can be used when particularly high operating temperatures of the sealing bellows and the ball joint make this necessary and a stiffening element made of plastic is unsuitable due to the signs of softening.
• the stiffening element can be arranged rotationally symmetrically with respect to the pin. As a result, uniform stabilization is achieved around the area to be sealed on the journal and / or on the ball joint housing and at the connection point between the sealing area and the jacket area.
• the jacket area and / or the sealing areas have at least one sealing lip, which enable sealing against the pin or against the housing.
• This sealing lip which, for example, can be pressed onto the pin and / or the housing of the ball joint in a manner similar to a leaf spring, prevents dirt or water from getting into the bearing area of the ball.
• any grease or oil in the ball joint housing can be prevented from escaping from the sealing bellows by means of such a sealing lip.
• an additional sealing element as a redundant seal, can be provided at least on one sealing area.
• This type of double sealing is particularly suitable for possible pressures.
• a further advantageous embodiment variant provides for at least one centering element to be arranged at least between the pin and the pin-side sealing area and / or between the housing and the housing-side sealing area.
• This centering element which can be constructed similarly to the stiffening element, enables an optimal alignment of the sealing bellows on the surfaces of the ball joint to be sealed.
• the jacket area consists of chloroprene rubber, preferably with a hardness of approximately 50 +/- 10 Shore A. Chloroprene rubber is particularly weather-resistant and elastic up to around -40 degrees Celsius. Chloroprene rubber is also characterized by its oil and fat resistance. By choosing the Shore A hardness, the elasticity of the material is set in a range that is favorable for the jacket area.
• Nitrile rubber such as HNBR, or fluororubber (FPM) can advantageously be used for the sealing area, preferably with a hardness of approximately 70 +/- 10 Shore A.
• FPM fluororubber
• Figure 1 Sectional view of the pin-side sealing area of a sealing bellows with sealing rubber and jacket rubber, which have a stiffening element and a combined stiffening / centering element
• Figure 2 sectional view of the pin-side sealing area of Figure 1 with a modified combined stiffening / centering element in the casing rubber
• Figures 3 to 6 sectional view of the pin-side sealing area of a sealing bellows with different designs of a centering element
• FIGS. 7 and 8 sectional view of the sealing area on the pin side of a sealing bellows with a protective ring on the pin side
• FIG. 9 sectional view of the sealing area on the pin side of a sealing bellows with a protective ring on the pin side and an additional seal attached to the protective ring.
• FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of the sealing region 12 on the pin side of a sealing bellows.
• the sealing bellows is pushed over a pin 6 (only partially shown) of a ball joint.
• the sealing area 12 on the pin side consists of a sealing rubber 1 which, for example, should have the following properties listed in brief: good tensile and compressive deformation, low coefficient of friction to the material of the pin 3, elasticity down to -20 degrees Celsius, no tendency to break down to -40 degrees Celsius, temperature stable if possible up to 120 degrees Celsius and beyond, oil and fat resistance.
• the sealing rubber 1 has three sealing lips 8 in the radial pin direction and two sealing lips in the axial direction of the pin 6 towards the lever eye 7.
• the sealing lips 8 are shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 in the undeformed state and therefore protrude both into the region of the pin 6 and into the region of the lever eye 7.
• the jacket rubber 2 of the jacket region 13 borders on the sealing rubber 1 at the bottom left in FIG. 1.
• the jacket region 13 generally has a bulbous cross section in the case of a sealing bellows. In Figure 1, only the approach of the jacket area 13 is shown and thus the bulbous course is not recognizable.
• the jacket rubber 2 is made of a different material than the sealing rubber 1.
• the jacket rubber 2 should have the following properties: weather-resistant and elastic up to -40 degrees Celsius, temperature-stable up to about 100 ° C, with no burning or scorching up to about 150 degrees Celsius and the jacket rubber 2 should also be oil and grease resistant.
• the sealing rubber 1 and the jacket rubber 2 touch on the contact surface 14. A tight seal of the ball joint is created on the contact surface 14 either by a contact pressure and / or by gluing or welding the sealing rubber 1 and jacket rubber 2.
• a stiffening element 3 is worked into the sealing rubber 1, which has an angled cross section. Accordingly, a combined stiffening / centering element 5 is incorporated in the casing rubber 2. This combined stiffening / centering element 5 is enclosed in partial areas by the casing rubber 2 and other partial areas of the combined stiffening / centering element 5 extend in the radial and axial direction towards the pin 6. The combined stiffening / centering element 5 sits on a shoulder of the pin and thereby prevents the jacket area from slipping in the direction of the pin attachment.
• the combined stiffening / centering element 5 serves, on the one hand, to center the jacket region 13 to the pin 6, and to prevent slipping, and, on the other hand, in the region of the Contact surface 14 with the stiffening element 3 of the sealing rubber 1 to create a stable and tight connection between the materials of the casing area 13 and the sealing area 12.
• FIG. 2 shows the same sectional view of the sealing area 12 on the pin side from FIG. 1.
• the combined stiffening / centering element 5 of the casing rubber 2 in FIG. 2 is designed differently.
• the combined stiffening / centering element 5 touches the pin 3 only in the axial direction, but it does not encompass the paragraph 6.1 of the pin 6. This enables a centered positioning and at the same time an axial movement of the casing rubber 2 along the pin 6 pin.
• FIG. 3 shows a further possible embodiment of the sealing region 12 of a sealing bellows on the peg side.
• the centering element 11 acts as a certain sealing protection. Mainly, the sealing of the sealing bellows on the pin 6 is brought about by the three pin-side sealing lips 8 and the two sealing levers 8 to the lever eye 7 of the sealing rubber 1.
• the two stiffening elements 3 and 4 bring about a tight material seal.
• the two stiffening elements 3 and 4 which are each surrounded by the sealing rubber 1 and the casing rubber 2, cause a flat contact pressure on the rubber material between the stiffening elements 3 and 4.
• FIG. 4 shows a modified design of the sealing region 12 of a sealing bellows shown in FIG. 3.
• the sealing rubber 1 was in the axial pin direction dispensed with rubber material.
• the number of radially extending sealing lips 8 is reduced to two and a cavity 15 is created between the sealing rubber 1 and the centering element 11.
• a grease can be introduced which additionally seals in this area .
• a lubricant for example an oil, can be stored in the cavity 15, which reduces the friction between the sealing rubber 1 and the pin 6.
• FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 each show further different embodiments of the pin-side sealing area 12 with different centering elements 11.
• the entire contact surface 14 between the sealing rubber 1 and the jacket rubber 2 runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pin 6.
• the jacket rubber 2 each extends to the lever eye 7.
• a sealing lip 9 of the casing rubber 2 and three sealing lips 8 of the sealing rubber 2 seal the interior of the ball joint.
• FIGS. 7 and 8 each show further different embodiments of the sealing area 12 on the pin side.
• a protective ring 11.1 is attached to the shoulder 6.1 of the pin 6.
• This protective ring 11.1 which extends both in the axial direction and in the radial direction between the pin 6 and the centering element 11, reduces abrasion and thus wear in the area of the centering element 11.
• the centering element 11 is designed as a bellows-side centering ring 11.2, which represents the counter surface for the protective ring 11.1.
• a defined and corrosion-protected guidance of these components which are rotatable relative to one another is achieved.
• a suitable material pairing for example steel on steel, a low-friction relative rotation of the bellows-side centering ring 11.2 to the protective ring 11.1 can be achieved.
• FIG. 9 Another embodiment of the protective ring 11.1 is shown in FIG. 9 in the sealing region 12 on the pin side.
• This guard ring 11.1 extends in comparison to that Guard ring 11.1 of Figures 7 and 8 over a larger portion of the tapered pin 6 and has a bulge in the lower part.
• a second rubber seal 10 can be pressed into this bulge on the protective ring 11.1.
• the second sealing rubber 10 additionally functions as a redundant seal to the sealing lips 8 and 9 of the sealing rubber 1 and the jacket rubber 2 on the pin 6.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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ID=34966999

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• 2004
  • 2004-04-08 DE DE102004018054A patent/DE102004018054B4/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2005
  • 2005-04-04 BR BRPI0509766-5A patent/BRPI0509766A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2005-04-04 JP JP2007506648A patent/JP2007532831A/ja not_active Withdrawn
  • 2005-04-04 MX MXPA06011600A patent/MXPA06011600A/es not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2005-04-04 AU AU2005230662A patent/AU2005230662A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-04-04 CN CNA2005800181383A patent/CN1969132A/zh active Pending
  • 2005-04-04 ZA ZA200608968A patent/ZA200608968B/en unknown
  • 2005-04-04 WO PCT/DE2005/000595 patent/WO2005098248A1/de not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2005-04-04 KR KR1020067023017A patent/KR20070012691A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2005-04-04 US US10/599,746 patent/US20070231060A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-04-04 EP EP05740629A patent/EP1733150A1/de not_active Withdrawn

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