Ball pin joint, method for producing closing cap of such ball pin joint and method for producing such ball pin joint

Abstract

The invention relates to a ball pin joint (1) for a chassis of a vehicle, comprising a ball pin (3) which is arranged in a joint-movable manner in a joint housing (7), the joint housing (7) having a mounting opening (9) which is closed by means of a closing cover (14), and a cover edge (15) of the closing cover (14) is fastened to the joint housing (7) by means of a wound and / or crimped retaining edge (11) of the joint housing (7). In order to avoid or at least reduce the notch stress concentration effect between the cover edge (15) and the retaining edge (11), the ball pin joint (1) is characterized in that the cover edge (15) of the closing cover (14) is formed by means of a single fold (16).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a ball and pin joint for a chassis of a vehicle, having a ball pin, the ball pin having a joint ball and a pin section, wherein the joint ball is articulated in a bearing shell, the bearing shell being arranged in a joint housing, and the ball pin extends through a housing opening of the joint housing, so that the pin section is arranged outside the joint housing and the bearing shell, wherein the joint housing has an assembly opening which is closed by means of a closure cover, and the cover edge of the closure cover is fixed to the joint housing by means of a rolled and / or crimped retaining edge of the joint housing. The invention also relates to a method for producing a closure cover for such a ball and pin joint and a method for producing a ball and pin joint having a closure cover produced in this way. Background Art

[0002] Such a ball and pin joint is known from patent document DE 10 2004 001 465 A1. There is the risk that, in particular with a joint housing made of aluminum, an undesirable notch stress concentration effect may occur between the cover edge and the retaining edge of the joint housing. This may lead to undesirable material weakening or cracks in the retaining edge, which may have a negative impact on the service life of the ball and pin joint. In order to reduce this undesirable notch stress concentration effect, the edges of the cover edge may be ground and / or smoothed. However, this is a separate and therefore additional production step for the production of the closing cover. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention is based on the object of further developing a ball pin joint and / or a method of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the stress concentration effect of the notch between the cover edge and the retaining edge can be avoided or at least reduced. Preferably, the aim is to avoid additional or separate production steps for producing the closure cover and / or the ball pin joint. In particular, the aim is to provide alternative embodiments.

[0004] The object of the invention is achieved by a ball and pin joint according to claim 1 and by a method according to claim 8 and / or claim 9. Preferred developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims and in the following description.

[0005] The ball and pin joint is designed for a chassis of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. The ball and pin joint can be used in a variety of ways in the vehicle body structure. In particular, in the chassis, the ball and pin joint is used to connect chassis components, such as link components, wheel carriers, steering tie rods, etc., to each other or to the vehicle body structure, more precisely to an axle carrier fixed to the vehicle body structure, in an articulated manner.

[0006] The ball pin joint has a ball pin. In particular, the ball pin is made of metal. The ball pin has a joint ball and a pin section. The ball pin can be constructed in one piece. The joint ball of the ball pin can be supported in an articulated manner in a bearing shell.

[0007] The bearing shell is arranged in the joint housing. The joint housing can be designed as an independent component. Alternatively, the joint housing can be designed as a component or part of a chassis component. The ball pin extends through the housing opening of the joint housing so that the pin section is arranged outside the joint housing and the bearing shell. In particular, the joint housing is associated with the first chassis component and the pin section is associated with the second chassis component.

[0008] In particular, the articulated support of the ball pin in the bearing shell is to be understood as pivotable, tiltable and / or rotatable. "Tilting" or "tilting" of the ball pin is to be understood in particular as a movement of the ball pin relative to the joint housing and / or the bearing shell, in which the angle formed between the longitudinal axis of the ball pin and the longitudinal axis of the housing of the joint housing changes. Preferably, the tilting or tilting takes place around the center point of the bearing area. The angle of inclination of the inner part of the joint is in particular the angle formed between the longitudinal axis of the ball pin and the longitudinal axis of the housing. In the non-tilted position of the ball pin, the angle of inclination is preferably zero and / or the longitudinal axis of the ball pin coincides with the longitudinal axis of the housing.

[0009] The "rotation" or "twist" of the ball pin is understood in particular to be a movement of the ball pin, in which the ball pin is rotated relative to the joint housing about the longitudinal axis of the ball pin. Preferably, the housing longitudinal axis coincides with the central longitudinal axis of the closure cap.

[0010] The joint housing has an assembly opening, wherein the assembly opening is closed by means of a closure cover, the cover edge of which is fixed to the joint housing by means of a wound-on and / or crimped retaining edge of the joint housing.

[0011] According to the invention, the lid edge of the closure lid is formed by means of a single fold.

[0012] The advantage here is that due to the single fold, the stress concentration effect of the notch between the lid edge and the retaining edge can be reduced. The fold is clearly a single fold and not a multiple fold. Such a single fold can be easily and cost-effectively realized. Preferably, the production of the single fold can be integrated into the production steps for producing the closure lid. The single folded lid edge makes it possible to use a material for the closure lid, the thickness of which is less than that required for a closure lid without a fold in order to obtain the required rigidity.

[0013] In particular, in the single fold, one part of the lid edge is folded over 180° onto another part of the lid edge. Preferably, the thickness of the lid edge with the single fold corresponds to twice the material thickness of the closure lid excluding the lid edge. The single fold can be formed on the underside or on the upper side of the closure lid.

[0014] According to another embodiment, the cover edge has an outer side which points radially outwards relative to the central longitudinal axis of the closure cover. In this case, due to the single fold, the outer side is designed to be rounded and / or curved. As a result, the single fold avoids the formation of edges in the area of ​​the outer periphery of the closure cover. Subsequent flattening and / or grinding of these edges can therefore be omitted. Due to the rounded and / or curved design of the outer side, the stress concentration effect of the notch between the cover edge and the retaining edge of the joint housing is avoided or at least reduced.

[0015] The outer side of the single-folded cover edge can have a convex, in particular arc-shaped cross section. Preferably, the outer side is therefore convexly and / or arc-shapedly curved outwardly relative to the central longitudinal axis of the closure cap.

[0016] In particular, the closure cap extends transversely or at right angles to the central longitudinal axis of the closure cap. The closure cap can be configured rotationally symmetrically with respect to the central longitudinal axis of the closure cap.

[0017] The outer part can have a semicircular cross section, in particular with a constant radius. Preferably, the radius of the outer part corresponds to the unfolded material thickness of the closure lid, in particular outside the region of the single-folded lid edge.

[0018] According to a further development, the retaining edge of the joint housing has an inner side which points radially inwards relative to the central longitudinal axis of the closure cover. Here, the inner side is designed to correspond in shape to the outer side of the cover edge. In particular, the inner side of the retaining edge bears against the outer side of the cover edge in a form-fitting manner. Preferably, the single-folded cover edge is surrounded by the retaining edge, whereby the closure cover is fixed to the joint housing.

[0019] In particular, the inner side has a concave and / or curved and / or semicircular cross section which is configured correspondingly in shape to the outer side of the cover edge.

[0020] Preferably, the joint housing is made of metal or aluminum. In particular, the closure cover is formed from a profiled metal sheet. In particular in the central region, the closure cover can have a depression or a bulge. This depression or bulge can improve the rigidity of the closure cover. In this way, in particular in combination with a single-folded cover edge, the necessary material thickness of the closure cover can be reduced.

[0021] Particularly advantageous is a method for producing a closure cap for a ball pin joint according to the invention, wherein the closure cap is formed by means of a metal sheet by forming the metal sheet into a predetermined shape using a forming tool. At the same time, the metal sheet is folded over once to form a cap edge. Here, the outer side of the cap edge is designed with a rounded and / or curved cross section. Thus, the closure cap including the single-folded cap edge is produced in a single production step. Subsequent processing can then be omitted.

[0022] Furthermore, a method for producing a ball pin joint according to the invention is advantageous, wherein first a closure cap is formed by means of the above-described method. The bearing shell is then arranged together with the ball pin through an assembly opening in the joint housing. The assembly opening is then closed by means of the closure cap, for which purpose a retaining edge of the joint housing is rolled and / or crimped to secure the closure cap. In this case, the inner side of the retaining edge is designed to correspond in shape to the outer side of the cover edge with a rounded and / or curved cross section.

[0023] In particular, the ball pin joint manufactured according to the method of the invention is the ball pin joint according to the invention described above. Preferably, the method is improved according to the design solution explained in conjunction with the ball pin joint according to the invention described herein. In addition, the ball pin joint described herein can be improved according to the design solution explained in conjunction with the method. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, the same reference numerals represent the same, similar or functionally identical components or elements. Among them:

[0025] Figure 1 shows a sectional side view of a ball and pin joint not according to the invention; and

[0026] Figure 2 A detail of a sectional side view of a closing cap for a ball and pin joint according to the invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Figure 1 A sectional side view of a ball joint 1 according to the prior art but not according to the invention is shown. The ball joint 1 is designed for a chassis (not shown in detail here) of a motor vehicle in order to articulately connect a first chassis part 2 to a second chassis part (not shown in detail here), for example.

[0028] The ball pin joint 1 has a ball pin 3. The ball pin 3 has a joint ball 4 and a pin section 5 extending away from the joint ball 4. The joint ball 4 is supported in a bearing shell 6 in an articulated manner. Although the ball pin 3 is made of metal, the bearing shell 6 is made of low-friction plastic. In addition, the bearing shell 6 is arranged or fixed in a joint housing 7.

[0029] In this exemplary embodiment, the joint housing 7 is designed as a one-piece, ie, integral component of the first chassis part 2. Alternatively, the joint housing 7 can be designed as a separate component so that it is inserted into a correspondingly designed housing receptacle of a chassis part.

[0030] The ball pin 3 extends through a housing opening 8 of the joint housing 7 . The pin section 5 is therefore arranged outside the joint housing 7 and the bearing shell 6 .

[0031] Furthermore, the joint housing 7 has an assembly opening 9. To produce the ball pin joint 1, the bearing shell 6 is arranged together with the ball pin 3 through the assembly opening 9 in the joint housing 7. The assembly opening 9 is then closed by means of a closure cap 10. For this purpose, according to this embodiment, a retaining edge 11 of the joint housing 7 is rolled around the assembly opening 9 in order to fix the closure cap 10 on the joint housing 7.

[0032] In this case, the retaining edge 11 of the joint housing 7 surrounds the cover edge 12 of the closure cover 10. The cover edge 12 has edges which can lead to undesirable stress concentration effects at the notch between the cover edge 12 and the retaining edge 11 of the joint housing 7. This can lead to undesirable material weakening or cracks in the retaining edge 11, which can have a negative impact on the service life of the ball and pin joint 1.

[0033] In this embodiment, the closure cap 10 has a depression or bulge 13 in the central region. The bulge increases the rigidity of the closure cap 10. As a result, the material thickness of the closure cap 10 required for a given rigidity can be reduced.

[0034] Figure 2 1 shows a sectional side view of a closing cap 14 for a ball pin joint 1 according to the invention. The basic structure of the ball pin joint 1 with the closing cap 14 corresponds to the structure according to Figure 1 The ball and pin joint shown. In this regard, in order to avoid repetition, reference is also made to the previous description. Here, for the sake of greater clarity, components of the ball and pin joint 1, such as the bearing shell 6 and the ball pin 3, are omitted.

[0035] According to Figure 1Unlike the ball pin joint 1 of the present invention, the closure cap 14 of the solution according to the invention has a cap edge 15 formed by a single fold 16. The production of this single fold 16 can be integrated into the production step or processing step for producing the closure cap, so that additional post-processing processes, such as edge smoothing, can be omitted. In addition, the single folded cap edge 15 makes it possible to use a material for the closure cap 14, the thickness of which is less than that required for a closure cap without a fold in order to achieve the required rigidity.

[0036] In this single fold 16, a part of the lid edge 15 is folded over 180° onto another part of the lid edge 15. In this embodiment, the thickness of the lid edge 15 with the single fold 16 corresponds to twice the material thickness of the closure lid 14 excluding the lid edge 15. Furthermore, in this embodiment, this single fold 16 is configured on the lower side 17 of the closure lid 14. Alternatively, this single fold can be configured on the upper side 18 of the closure lid 14.

[0037] The closure cap 14 has a central longitudinal axis 19 . In this case, the closure cap 14 extends at a right angle to the central longitudinal axis 19 . In this exemplary embodiment, the closure cap 14 is designed rotationally symmetrically with respect to the central longitudinal axis 19 .

[0038] The cover edge 15 has an outer side 20 which points radially outwards relative to the central longitudinal axis 19. The outer side 20 is designed to be rounded or curved due to the single fold 16. As a result, the single fold 16 prevents the formation of edges in the area of ​​the outer circumference of the closure cover 14, thereby simultaneously avoiding or at least reducing the effect of notch stress concentration between the cover edge 15 and the retaining edge 11 of the joint housing 7.

[0039] More specifically, the outer side 20 of the singly folded lid edge 15 has a convex cross section, wherein the outer side 20 is curved outwardly in an arc shape relative to the central longitudinal axis 19. Here, the cross section in this embodiment is semicircular and has a constant radius. According to this example, the radius of the outer side 20 corresponds to the unfolded material thickness of the closure lid 14.

[0040] The retaining edge 11 of the joint housing 7 has an inner side 21 pointing radially inwards relative to the central longitudinal axis 19. Here, the inner side 21 is designed to correspond in shape to the outer side 20 of the cover edge 15. Accordingly, the inner side 21 has a cross section that corresponds in shape to the outer side 20 and is concave relative to the central longitudinal axis 19. Therefore, the inner side 21 of the retaining edge 11 rests on the outer side 20 of the cover edge 15 in a form-fitting manner. Here, the single-folded cover edge 15 is surrounded by the retaining edge 11, whereby the closing cover 14 is fixed to the joint housing 7.

[0041] List of reference numerals:

[0042] 1 Ball pin joint

[0043] 2 Chassis components

[0044] 3 Ball pin

[0045] 4 joint ball head

[0046] 5 Pin section

[0047] 6 Bearing

[0048] 7 Joint housing

[0049] 8 Shell opening

[0050] 9 Mounting opening

[0051] 10 Closing cap

[0052] 11. Keep an edge

[0053] 12 Cover edge

[0054] 13 Arch

[0055] 14 Closing cap

[0056] 15 Cover edge

[0057] 16 Single folding section

[0058] 17 Lower side

[0059] 18 Upper side

[0060] 19 Central longitudinal axis

[0061] 20 Lateral part

[0062] 21 Medial part.

Claims

1. A ball and pin joint for a chassis of a vehicle, the ball and pin joint comprising a ball and pin (3), the ball and pin having a joint ball (4) and a pin section (5), wherein: The joint ball (4) is articulatedly supported in a bearing shell (6), the bearing shell (6) being arranged in a joint housing (7), and the ball pin (3) extending through a housing opening (8) of the joint housing (7), so that the pin section (5) is arranged outside the joint housing (7) and the bearing shell (6), wherein the joint housing (7) has an assembly opening (9) which is closed by means of a closure cover (14), and a cover edge (15) of the closure cover (14) is fixed to the joint housing (7) by means of a rolled and / or crimped retaining edge (11) of the joint housing (7), characterized in that the cover edge (15) of the closure cover (14) is formed by means of a single fold (16).

2. The ball pin joint according to claim 1, characterized in that: The lid edge (15) has an outer side (20) which points radially outward relative to a central longitudinal axis (19) of the closure lid (14), wherein the outer side (20) is rounded and / or curved due to the single fold (16).

3. The ball pin according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The outer side (20) has a convex, in particular arc-shaped, cross section.

4. A ball stud according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The outer side (20) has a semicircular cross section, in particular with a constant radius, the radius of the outer side (20) preferably corresponding to the unfolded material thickness of the closure cap (14).

5. The ball pin according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that: The retaining edge (11) of the joint housing (7) has an inner side (21) pointing radially inwards relative to a central longitudinal axis (19) of the closure cover (14), wherein the inner side (21) is designed to correspond in shape to the outer side (20) of the cover edge (15).

6. The ball pin according to claim 5, characterized in that: The inner side (21) has a concave, in particular arcuate and / or semicircular, cross section.

7. A ball stud according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The joint housing (7) is formed from metal or aluminum, and in particular the closing cover (14) is formed from a profiled metal sheet.

8. Method for producing a closing cap for a ball and pin joint (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The closure lid (14) is formed from a metal sheet, wherein the metal sheet is deformed into a predetermined shape by means of a forming tool, wherein simultaneously the lid edge (15) is formed by means of a single fold (16) of the metal sheet and an outer side (20) of the lid edge (15) is designed to have a rounded and / or curved cross section.

9. Method for producing a ball pin joint (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The closing cover (14) is formed by means of the method according to claim 8, and the bearing shell (6) is then arranged together with the ball stud (3) through the assembly opening (9) in the joint housing (7), and the assembly opening (9) is then closed by means of the closing cover (14), for which purpose the retaining edge (11) of the joint housing (7) is rolled and / or crimped to fix the closing cover (14), and the inner side (21) of the retaining edge (11) is configured to correspond in shape to the outer side (20) of the cover edge (15) having a rounded and / or curved cross section.

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