Ball joint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9422973-B2
Application number	US-201414892293-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2014
Priority date	May 29, 2013
Publication date	Aug 23, 2016
Grant date	Aug 23, 2016

Abstract

Provided is a ball joint capable of coupling a third mechanical element in a freely pivotable manner near a pivot center of a first mechanical element and a second mechanical element coupled to each other in a freely pivotable manner. The ball joint includes: a ball stud including: a shaft member configured to allow a first mechanical element to be coupled thereto; and a ball portion formed at a distal end of the shaft member; a holder including a fixing port ion configured to allow a second mechanical element to be coupled thereto, the holder being formed through casting with the ball portion being set as a core to cover a maximum diameter portion of the ball portion, the holder being configured to couple the first mechanical element and the second mechanical element in a freely pivotable manner with the ball portion defining a pivot center; and a pivot shaft that protrudes out of the holder in a direction of intersecting with the shaft member of the ball stud to define a second pivot center independently of the ball portion, and to serve as a coupling portion for a third mechanical element, the pivot shaft being integrated with the holder at the time of the casting of the holder.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A ball joint, comprising:
a ball stud comprising:
a shaft member configured to allow a first mechanical element to be coupled thereto; and
a ball portion formed at a distal end of the shaft member;

a holder comprising a fixing portion and a body portion opposite the fixing portion, wherein the holder is configured to allow a second mechanical element to be coupled thereto, the holder being formed through casting with the ball portion being set therein as a core to cover a maximum diameter portion of the ball portion, the holder being configured to couple the first mechanical element and the second mechanical element in a freely pivotable manner via the ball portion about a first pivot center; and
a pivot shaft that passes through the fixing portion and comprises opposing end portions that protrude out of opposing sides of the holder in a direction transverse to the shaft member of the ball stud to define a second pivot center independent of the ball portion, and to serve as a coupling portion for a third mechanical element, the pivot shaft being at least partially enclosed within the holder at the time of the casting of the holder.

2. The ball joint according to claim 1 , wherein the pivot shaft comprises a columnar shaft member.

3. The ball joint according to claim 2 , wherein the pivot shaft has an engaging groove that is formed at a portion of the pivot shaft between the opposing end portions, and is covered by the body portion of the holder.

Assignees

• Thk Co Ltd

Inventors

• Murata Tomozumi
• Kashiwagura Satoshi

Classifications

• F16C11/0695

  Mounting of ball-joints, e.g. fixing them to a connecting rod · CPC title

• F16C11/0623 Primary

  Construction or details of the socket member · CPC title

• F16C3/02

  Shafts; Axles · CPC title

• F16C11/0685

  Manufacture of ball-joints and parts thereof, e.g. assembly of ball-joints · CPC title

• F16C11/0633 Primary

  the linings being made of plastics · CPC title