Concentric knurl ball joint

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9446644-B2
Application number	US-63035709-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 3, 2009
Priority date	Dec 3, 2009
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

Abstract

A replacement ball joint assembly ( 10 ) adapted to be pressed into a previously used and possibly distorted receiving hole ( 26 ) in a suspension component such as a control arm ( 28 ). A socket housing ( 12 ) of the assembly ( 10 ) includes a plurality of generally annular, concentric knurls ( 36 ) each having a respective crest portion ( 38 ) and separated one from another by intervening relief grooves ( 40 ). The crest portions ( 38 ) of the knurls ( 36 ) may be tapered so as to provide a lead-in feature to minimize misalignment during a press-in installation operation. The knurls ( 36 ) are preferably softer than the control arm material so that they yield during press-in rather than further disfiguring or enlarging the receiving hole ( 26 ). Displaced material from the crest portions ( 38 ) of the knurls ( 36 ) flows into the relief grooves ( 40 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicular suspension assembly comprising:
a vehicle suspension component having a receiving hole which is generally cylindrical in shape;
a socket housing defining a central axis, said socket housing including an annular exterior side wall having a lead-in end and an axially spaced exterior stop flange;
a moveable member having a ball head portion pivotally captured in said socket housing and a mounting shaft extending generally axially therefrom;
said exterior side wall of said housing further including a plurality of generally annular knurls each having a respective crest portion establishing an outer diameter, said plurality of knurls being axially separated one from another by intervening relief grooves, each of said knurls disposed concentrically about said central axis; and
a plurality of said knurls adjacent said lead-in end having a smaller outer diameter than a last said knurl adjacent said stop flange, wherein said plurality of knurls adjacent said lead-in end taper towards said lead-in end;
the outer diameter of at least one of said plurality of knurls adjacent said lead-in end being smaller than said diameter of said receiving hole in said suspension component while the outer diameter of said last knurl is larger than said diameter of said receiving hole whereby pressing of said ball joint assembly into said suspension component creates an interference fit between at least said crest of said last knurl and said receiving hole but not between said crest of at least one of said plurality of knurls adjacent said lead-in end and said receiving hole.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of knurls adjacent said lead-in end has a frustoconically tapered crest portion.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said last knurl adjacent said stop flange has a true cylindrical crest portion.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each said knurl has an axial width and each said relief groove has an axial span; the axial width of each said knurl being greater than the axial span of each said relief groove directly adjacent thereto.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each said knurl is substantially annular.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said knurls each include machined flanks interconnecting said respective crest portions with a directly adjacent said relief groove.

7. The assembly of claim 1 further including a back-up relief groove disposed between said last knurl and said stop flange.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said receiving hole of said vehicle suspension component is used.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein said used receiving hole is distorted.

10. A replacement ball joint assembly adapted to be pressed into a receiving hole in a vehicle suspension component, said assembly comprising:
a vehicle suspension component including a receiving hole having a generally cylindrical shape with a generally constant internal diameter;
a socket housing defining a central axis, said socket housing including an annular exterior side wall having a lead-in end and an axially spaced exterior stop flange;
a moveable member having a ball head portion pivotally captured in said socket housing and a mounting shaft extending generally axially therefrom;
said exterior side wall of said housing further including a plurality of generally annular knurls each having a respective crest portion establishing an outer diameter, said plurality of knurls being axially separated one from another by intervening relief grooves, each of said knurls disposed concentrically about said central axis;
a plurality of said knurls adjacent said lead-in end having a smaller outer diameter than a last said knurl adjacent said stop flange, wherein each of said plurality of knurls adjacent said lead-in end has a frustoconically tapered crest portion and said plurality of knurls adjacent said lead-in end taper towards said lead-in end;
the outer diameter of said plurality of knurls adjacent said lead-in end being smaller than said diameter of said receiving hole in said suspension component while the outer diameter of said last knurl is larger than said diameter of said receiving hole whereby pressing of said ball joint assembly into said suspension component creates an interference fit between at least said crest of said last knurl and said receiving hole but not between said crest of said plurality of knurls adjacent said lead-in end and said receiving hole.

11. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said last knurl adjacent said stop flange has a true cylindrical crest portion.

12. The assembly of claim 10 wherein each said knurl has an axial width and each said relief groove has an axial span; the axial width of each said knurl being greater than the axial span of each said relief groove directly adjacent thereto.

13. The assembly of claim 10 wherein each said knurl is substantially annular.

14. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said knurls each include machined flanks interconnecting said respective crest portions with a directly adjacent said relief groove.

15. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said suspension member is fabricated from a material having a definable material hardness, and said socket housing is fabricated from a material having a different material hardness which is softer than the material hardness of said suspension member.

16. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said receiving hole of said vehicle suspension component is used.

17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein said used receiving hole is distorted.

Assignees

• Wilcutt Michael
• Phillips George
• Dake Anthony
• Williams Rickie
• Shores Chris
• Swayer Kennon Bret
• Federal Mogul Corp

Inventors

• Wilcutt Michael
• Phillips George
• Dake Anthony
• Williams Rickie
• Shores Chris
• Swayer Kennon Bret

Classifications

• B23P6/00

  Restoring or reconditioning objects (straightening or restoring form of sheet metal, metal rods, metal tubes, metal profiles, or specific articles made therefrom B21D1/00, B21D3/00; repairing defective or damaged objects by casting techniques B22D19/10) · CPC title

• F16C2326/05

  Vehicle suspensions, e.g. bearings, pivots or connecting rods used therein · CPC title

• F16C11/0623

  Construction or details of the socket member · CPC title

• B60G2206/91

  Assembly procedures · CPC title

• B60G2206/82092

  by press-fitting · CPC title