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
  • F16C11/0604—Construction of the male part
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C45/0005—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor using fibre reinforcements
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G7/00—Pivoted suspension arms; Accessories thereof
  • B60G7/005—Ball 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
  • F16C11/0619—Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints the female part comprising a blind socket receiving the male part
  • F16C11/0623—Construction or details of the socket member
• • 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
  • F16C11/0619—Ball-joints; Other joints having more than one degree of angular freedom, i.e. universal joints the female part comprising a blind socket receiving the male part
  • F16C11/0623—Construction or details of the socket member
  • F16C11/0628—Construction or details of the socket member with linings
  • F16C11/0633—Construction or details of the socket member with linings the linings being made of plastics
• • 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
  • F16C11/0685—Manufacture of ball-joints and parts thereof, e.g. assembly of ball-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
  • F16C33/00—Parts of bearings; Special methods for making bearings or parts thereof
  • F16C33/02—Parts of sliding-contact bearings
  • F16C33/04—Brasses; Bushes; Linings
  • F16C33/20—Sliding surface consisting mainly of plastics
  • F16C33/201—Composition of the plastic
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
  • B29C45/00—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor
  • B29C45/0013—Injection moulding, i.e. forcing the required volume of moulding material through a nozzle into a closed mould; Apparatus therefor using fillers dispersed in the moulding material, e.g. metal particles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29K—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR MOULDS, REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
  • B29K2105/00—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped
  • B29K2105/06—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped containing reinforcements, fillers or inserts
  • B29K2105/12—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped containing reinforcements, fillers or inserts of short lengths, e.g. chopped filaments, staple fibres or bristles
  • B29K2105/14—Condition, form or state of moulded material or of the material to be shaped containing reinforcements, fillers or inserts of short lengths, e.g. chopped filaments, staple fibres or bristles oriented
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
  • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
  • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
  • B29L2031/04—Bearings
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60G—VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS
  • B60G2204/00—Indexing codes related to suspensions per se or to auxiliary parts
  • B60G2204/40—Auxiliary suspension parts; Adjustment of suspensions
  • B60G2204/416—Ball or spherical 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
  • F16C11/068—Special features relating to lubrication
• • 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
  • F16C2208/00—Plastics; Synthetic resins, e.g. rubbers
  • F16C2208/02—Plastics; Synthetic resins, e.g. rubbers comprising fillers, fibres
• • 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
  • F16C2208/00—Plastics; Synthetic resins, e.g. rubbers
  • F16C2208/02—Plastics; Synthetic resins, e.g. rubbers comprising fillers, fibres
  • F16C2208/04—Glass fibres
• • 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
  • F16C2208/00—Plastics; Synthetic resins, e.g. rubbers
  • F16C2208/20—Thermoplastic resins
  • F16C2208/60—Polyamides [PA]
• • 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
  • F16C2220/00—Shaping
  • F16C2220/02—Shaping by casting
  • F16C2220/04—Shaping by casting by injection-moulding
• • 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
  • F16C2326/00—Articles relating to transporting
  • F16C2326/20—Land vehicles
  • F16C2326/24—Steering systems, e.g. steering rods or columns
• • 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
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
  • Y10T29/49636—Process for making bearing or component thereof
  • Y10T29/49643—Rotary bearing
  • Y10T29/49647—Plain bearing
  • Y10T29/49648—Self-adjusting or self-aligning, including ball and socket type, bearing and component making
• • 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
  • Y10T29/00—Metal working
  • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
  • Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining
• • 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
  • Y10T403/32606—Pivoted
  • Y10T403/32631—Universal ball and socket
• • 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
  • Y10T403/32606—Pivoted
  • Y10T403/32631—Universal ball and socket
  • Y10T403/32737—Universal ball and socket including liner, shim, or discrete seat

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to joints for linking relatively movable vehicle steering components to one another, such as ball joints, tie rod ends, and sway bar links.
• Vehicle suspension systems and steering systems typically include joints, such as tie rod end ball-type joints for operable attachment of a tie rod end to a steering knuckle and a ball joint for coupling the steering knuckle to a control arm.
• joints such as tie rod end ball-type joints for operable attachment of a tie rod end to a steering knuckle and a ball joint for coupling the steering knuckle to a control arm.
• other applications such as carnival rides or any other mechanism with relatively movable joints, typically have ball joints to facilitate the relative movement between linked components.
• it is generally desirable to build in frictional resistance to joint movement that is within a predetermined torque tolerance.
• tie rod end ball joints includingginal or glass-filled nylon bearings against which a metal ball stud pivots. Although the cost of manufacture is greatly reduced, the acetal or glass-filled nylon bearings provide a reduced useful life.
• a ball joint socket including a housing with a stud having a spherical bearing surface disposed in the housing and including a bearing having a concave spherical bearing surface brought into sliding abutment with the spherical bearing surface of the stud.
• the bearing is of a monolithic piece of fiber-reinforced polyamide material including carbon fibers which extend circumferentially about the concave spherical bearing surface.
• the fiber- reinforced polyamide material includes glass fibers and bronze flakes which both extend circumferentially about the concave spherical bearing surface.
• the fiber-reinforced polyamide material has a composition including greater than about 57% nylon; greater than 0% and less than about 30% glass fiber; greater than 0% and less than about 10% carbon fiber, and greater than 0% and less than about 10% bronze flake.
• the fiber-reinforced polyamide material includes greater than 0% and less than about 3% white pigment.
• the ball joint socket is a provided in a tie rod end.
• a method of constructing a ball joint socket includes inserting a bearing constructed as a monolithic piece of fiber-reinforced polyamide material including carbon fibers which extend circumferentially about a concave spherical bearing surface of the bearing into a metal housing and bringing the concave spherical bearing surface into sliding abutment with a metal spherical bearing surface of a stud.
• the method includes the step of providing the fiber-reinforced polyamide material including glass and bronze flakes both of which extend circumferentially about a concave spherical bearing surface.
• the method includes the step of providing the fiber-reinforced polyamide material with a composition including greater than about 57% nylon; greater than 0% and less than about 30% glass fiber; greater than 0% and less than about 10% carbon fiber, and greater than 0% and less than about 10% bronze flake.
• the method includes the step of providing the fiber-reinforced polyamide material with greater than 0% and less than about 3% white pigment.
• the method includes the step of inserting the ball joint socket in a tie rod end.
• Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a tie rod end including a ball joint socket constructed in accordance with one presently preferred aspect of the invention
• Figure 2 is a plan view of an upper bearing of the ball joint socket of Figure 1 constructed in accordance with one aspect of the invention
• Figure 3 is a plan view of a lower bearing of the ball joint socket of Figure 1 ;
• Figure 4 is a perspective and elevation view of the upper bearing of the ball joint socket of Figure 1 and showing a direction of a flow of material during an injection molding process.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a ball joint 10, shown by way of example as an outer tie rod end ball-type joint assembly, referred to hereafter as tie rod end 10, constructed in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
• the tie rod end 10 has a tie rod housing 11 with an end 13 configured for attachment to an inner steering component (not shown), such as an inner tie rod assembly via an adjuster, for example.
• the tie rod end 10 also includes a stud 12 which has a spherical bearing surface 14 at one end, represented substantially as a ball 14, and has an opposite end 18 configured for attachment to a vehicle steering member (not shown), such as by threads 19, for example.
• the vehicle steering member could be, for example, a steering knuckle (not shown) of a vehicle.
• the tie rod end 10 further includes a ball socket assembly, referred to hereafter as socket assembly 20, with an upper (or first) bearing 22 and a lower (or second) bearing 24.
• the upper and lower bearings 22, 24 are configured for sliding engagement with the spherical bearing surface 14 of the stud 12.
• the loading between the spherical bearing surface about 400 to 1500 lbs, while the axial loading imparted on the tie rod end 10 in use is negligible.
• a desired preload on the spherical bearing surface 14 of the stud 12 is established during assembly by roll forming or folding an end of a socket 21 of the tie rod housing 11 about an end cap 23 with a spring washer 25 being captured between the upper bearing 22 and the end cap 23.
• the upper and lower bearings 22, 24 have spherical bearing surfaces which are configured to slidingly engage opposite sides of the spherical bearing surface 14 of the stud 12.
• the heavily loaded lower bearing 24 can be provided, for example, as a standard metal bearing and can further be coated with a low-friction coating 26.
• the lower bearing 24 can be constructed of any suitable hardened metal, such as a sintered powder metal, for example.
• the lower bearing 24 of the exemplary embodiment has an outer cylindrical wall 28 which extends between opposite ends, and the wall 28 is sized suitably for receipt in the housing or socket 21 of the tie rod 11.
• the lower bearing 24 has a substantially concave spherical bearing surface 32 with a generally similar spherical curvature as the spherical bearing surface 14 of the stud 12 for sliding abutment therewith.
• the lower bearing 24 of the exemplary embodiment has a plurality of lubrication grooves 34 which extend radially into the bearing surface 32.
• the grooves 34 extend between and through the opposite ends of the lower bearing 24 and function primarily to transfer lubricant, such as grease, for example, to prevent pressurization of the lubricant within the socket assembly 20 and to reduce friction between the bearings 22, 24 and the spherical bearing surface 14 of the stud 12, thereby extending the useful life of the tie rod end 10. It should be understood that the grooves 34 can be formed with a multitude of shapes and depths, as desired. [0025]
• the stud 12 may be constructed from any suitable metal, such as AISI 4140 steel, for example.
• the spherical bearing surface 14 is represented here as being generally spherical in shape and is further represented, by way of example, as being free from any lubrication coating, although a lubricating coating could be formed on its outer surface, if desired.
• the upper bearing 22 is constructed from a novel thermoplastic fiber- reinforced polyamide 27 (nylons), such as nylon 6/6 (polyhexamethylene adipamide). Due to the novel thermoplastic fiber-reinforced polyamide, the upper bearing 22 exhibits a long and useful life, substantially comparable to a metal bearing; provides the tie rod end 10 with a desirable "out-of-box" feel and is economical in manufacture, being much less costly to make than a standard metal bearing.
• nylons nylon 6/6 (polyhexamethylene adipamide). Due to the novel thermoplastic fiber-reinforced polyamide, the upper bearing 22 exhibits a long and useful life, substantially comparable to a metal bearing; provides the tie rod end 10 with a desirable "out-of-box" feel and is economical in manufacture, being much less costly to make than a standard metal bearing.
• the thermoplastic material flows through a sprue in a radial direction, represented generally at 38, whereupon the material flows circumferentially within the mold cavity, as represented generally by arrows 40, to form the geometric configuration of the upper bearing 22.
• the fibers dispersed within the nylon 41 include carbon fibers 42, glass fibers 44 and bronze flakes 46.
• the fibers 42, 44, and flakes 46 are uniformly dispersed in the nylon 41, thereby providing the upper bearing 22 as a homogeneous or substantially homogeneous, solid monolithic piece of fiber-reinforced material 27, "as injection molded".
• the fiber- reinforced material 27 of the upper bearing 22 includes the following composition of the nylon and fibers: greater than about 57% nylon 41; greater than 0% and less than about 30% glass fiber 44; greater than 0% and less than about 10% carbon fiber 42, and greater than 0% and less than about 10% bronze flake 46, and if desired for enhanced appearance, less than about 3% white pigment.
• the nylon 41 provides strength and lubricity; the glass fibers 44 provide strength; the carbon fibers 42 provide strength and lubricity; and the bronze flakes 46 provide durability and enhanced appearance.
• the finished upper bearing 22 has an 80 Shore D durometer hardness.
• the upper bearing 22 has an outer cylindrical wall 48 which extends between opposite ends, and the wall 48 is sized suitably for receipt in the lower bearing 24.
• the upper bearing 22 has a substantially concave spherical bearing surface 50 having a generally similar spherical curvature as the spherical bearing surface 14 of the stud 12 for sliding abutment of the circumferentially extending fibers 42, 44, flakes 46 and nylon 41 therewith.
• the upper bearing 22 is also shown as having a plurality of lubrication grooves 52 which extend radially into the bearing surface 50.
• the grooves 52 extend between and through the opposite ends of the upper bearing 22 and function primarily to transfer lubricant, such as grease, for example, to prevent pressurization of the lubricant within the bearing assembly 20 and to reduce friction between the bearing assembly 20 and the spherical bearing surface 14 of the stud 12, thereby extending the useful life of the tie rod end 10.
• lubricant such as grease
• An exemplary method of constructing a ball joint 10 includes the step of injection molding a bearing 22 into a monolithic piece of fiber-reinforced polyamide material including carbon fibers 42 which extend circumferentially about a concave spherical bearing surface 50. The method continues with the step of inserting the bearing 22 into sliding abutment with a metal spherical bearing surface 14 of a stud 12.
• the bearing 22 may be injection molded to have a composition including greater than about 57% nylon 41; greater than 0% and less than about 30% glass fiber 44; greater than 0% and less than about 10% carbon fiber 42; and greater than 0% and less than about 10% bronze flake 46 with the glass fibers 44 and bronze flakes 46 both extending circumferentially about the concave spherical bearing surface 50.
• the spherical bearing surface 14 of the stud 12 could have grooves for channeling grease, with the upper and lower bearings 22, 24 being formed without grooves. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Pivots And Pivotal Connections (AREA)
• Sliding-Contact Bearings (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=49305199

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (24)

Citations (5)

Family Cites Families (21)

• 2013
  • 2013-09-25 WO PCT/US2013/061514 patent/WO2014052346A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2013-09-25 CN CN201380059748.2A patent/CN104781566B/zh active Active
  • 2013-09-25 US US14/036,119 patent/US9316250B2/en active Active
  • 2013-09-25 EP EP13774018.9A patent/EP2901032B1/en active Active
  • 2013-09-25 JP JP2015533289A patent/JP6549485B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2013-09-25 MX MX2015003758A patent/MX2015003758A/es unknown
  • 2013-09-25 KR KR1020157010700A patent/KR20150056658A/ko not_active Abandoned
  • 2013-09-25 CA CA2886248A patent/CA2886248C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related

Patent Citations (5)

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