GB916388A - Pre-loaded ball joint assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

916,388. Ball-Joints. AMERICAN METAL PRODUCTS CO. Sept. 11, 1959 [Sept. 19, 1958], No. 31027/59. Class 65 (2). During manufacture of a ball-joint, hardenable material 24 is disposed within the socket, moulded around part of the ball surface, and hardened, and separate resilient means 48 is provided with the socket for continuously exerting a force on another part of the ball surface to maintain the ball pressed towards the hardenable material during the life of the joint. The resilient means may be a body of rubber or like resilient material or a coil spring, and the hardenable material may be any relatively lowfriction material that can be injected or otherwise positioned in the socket and moulded around the ball. Preferably, the socket comprises stampings 38, 40, the former having a cylindrical wall portion 50 which encloses the resilient material 48 and approaches close to the surface of the ball so as to leave only a small portion of the material 48 exposed to the space occupied by the hardenable material 24. The surface of the ball may be provided with a chrome or other suitable finish and a layer of low-friction material, e.g. polytetrafluoroethylene or nylon, may be disposed between the dome of the ball and the resilient material 48 and may be bonded to the latter. Alternatively, the surface of the ball may be covered by a layer 46 of low-friction material, preferably in the form of a boot comprising a layer of woven P.T.F.E. cloth interwoven at spaced points with a layer of cotton cloth to the exposed face of which is bonded a thin layer of resin material which acts as a barrier to prevent the penetration of the hardenable material through to the P.T.F.E. cloth and also bonds the hardenable material to the cotton cloth. In a modification a ring of resilient material is disposed adjacent the throat 58 of the socket.