Ball joint assembly and vehicle

Abstract

The utility model discloses a ball head assembly and vehicle belong to the technical field of car, a ball head assembly, include: ball head shell, be equipped with support seat on the ball head shell inner wall, the ball head shell bottom is equipped with the bung, ball head pin, ball head pin lower part set up in the ball head shell inside and with ball head shell passes through spherical surface connection, support seat upper end supports ball head pin lower part side end, and ball head pin middle part is equipped with the support sleeve, dust cover, dust cover upper part with ball head pin upper part clamping, dust cover lower part with ball head shell upper end clamping. The application is through the improvement dust cover, the structure and material of optimization support sleeve to prevent the grease leakage effectively, the barrier outside contamination invasion, keep the stable and reliable of ball head movement, become the key technical subject of the performance of promotion ball head assembly, prolong its life, guarantee the vehicle operation safety.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automotive technology, and in particular to a ball joint assembly and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] As a key component of the automotive suspension system and steering transmission, the ball joint assembly's performance and reliability directly affect the vehicle's handling stability and driving safety. In actual use, this component is frequently exposed to complex and changing road conditions and environments, enduring the combined effects of road impacts, vibrations, and steering loads over extended periods. This makes it prone to a series of typical failures, primarily including:

[0003] 1. Oil leakage problem: The grease inside the ball joint is prone to leakage under long-term high temperature, high pressure and aging and damage to the dust cover. After the grease is lost, the friction between the ball joint pin and the ball seat will increase, which will not only lead to abnormal noise and accelerated wear, but also make the steering feel worse. In severe cases, it may cause sudden jamming due to lubrication failure.

[0004] 2. Sticking: Due to a poor seal of the dust cover, dust, mud, water, and other foreign objects can enter the ball joint and mix with the lubricating grease to form abrasive particles, causing the ball joint pin to rotate inflexibly. During steering, sticking directly affects the response accuracy and smoothness of the steering system, increases the driver's workload, and in extreme cases, can cause sudden changes in steering force, endangering driving safety.

[0005] 3. Traditional support sleeves are mostly smooth cylindrical structures with uniform wall thickness but no special reinforcement design. When subjected to long-term periodic compression from the dust cover, lateral forces from the ball-head pin's oscillation, and potential internal negative pressure, their circumferential stiffness and radial bending resistance are insufficient. This easily leads to irreversible plastic deformation of the support sleeve (such as flattening or loss of roundness), losing its original circular support profile. Once the support sleeve deforms, it cannot provide uniform and strong support to the upper inner wall of the dust cover.

[0006] Currently, the ball joint assemblies commonly used in the industry still have room for improvement in terms of the durability of the dust cover material and the structural design and wear resistance of the support sleeve. Traditional dust covers are prone to cracking due to material aging, temperature changes, and mechanical deformation; the support sleeve may wear out prematurely due to its thin structure and uneven load distribution. These factors together limit the service life and reliability of the ball joint assembly. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of this utility model is to provide a ball joint assembly and vehicle. By improving the dust cover and optimizing the structure and materials of the support sleeve, it effectively prevents grease leakage, blocks the intrusion of external pollutants, and maintains the smooth and reliable movement of the ball joint. This is a key technical issue for improving the performance of the ball joint assembly, extending its service life, and ensuring the safe operation of the vehicle.

[0008] This utility model provides the following solution:

[0009] In a first aspect, this application discloses a ball joint assembly, comprising:

[0010] A ball head housing, wherein a support base is provided on the inner wall of the ball head housing, and a plug is installed at the bottom of the ball head housing;

[0011] A ball head pin, the lower part of which is disposed inside the ball head shell and connected to the ball head shell through a spherical surface, the upper end of which supports the lower side of the ball head pin, and a support sleeve is fitted in the middle of the ball head pin;

[0012] A dust cover, the upper part of which is engaged with the upper part of the ball head pin, and the lower part of which is engaged with the upper end of the ball head shell.

[0013] Preferably, the upper end face of the support sleeve abuts against the inner wall surface of the upper part of the dust cover, and a number of reinforcing ribs are evenly distributed on the outer surface of the support sleeve.

[0014] Preferably, the dust cover has an adhesive injection point on its upper part.

[0015] Preferably, the dust cover is made of polyether material.

[0016] Preferably, the upper part of the dust cover is engaged with the upper part of the ball head pin via an upper retaining spring, and the lower part of the dust cover is engaged with the upper end of the ball head shell via a lower retaining spring.

[0017] Preferably, the support base is an elastic element.

[0018] Preferably, it also includes a pull rod, which is threadedly connected to the ball head housing.

[0019] Secondly, this application also describes a vehicle that includes the aforementioned ball joint assembly.

[0020] This utility model has the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0021] 1. The dust cover of this application is made of polyether material, which can resist the erosion of moisture, mud, and various corrosive media for a long time, effectively preventing cracking and damage caused by environmental aging. At the same time, its excellent tensile strength and fatigue resistance ensure that the dust cover is not prone to permanent deformation or tearing during the reciprocating swing and complex deformation of the ball head, thus maintaining the integrity of the sealing interface for a long time. It eliminates the intrusion channels of moisture, dust, and other foreign matter, and locks in the internal lubricating grease, solving the problems of oil leakage and jamming.

[0022] 2. The support sleeve of this application adopts a reinforcing rib structure, which significantly enhances the overall rigidity and crush resistance of the support sleeve. The reinforcing ribs enhance the circumferential stiffness and overall bending modulus of the support sleeve. This enables it to withstand greater radial pressure and complex composite stress, maintain a precise circular profile over a long period of time, and effectively prevent the dust cover from collapsing, abnormally wrinkling, and sinking.

[0023] 3. The ball joint assembly of this application can significantly increase the service life of the ball joint, increase driving safety, and reduce maintenance costs for commercial vehicle users. Attached Figure Description

[0024] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of this utility model or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0025] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the ball joint assembly;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the dust cover for the ball joint assembly;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the support sleeve for the ball joint assembly;

[0028] In the picture:

[0029] 1. Ball head pin; 2. Dust cover; 3. Upper retaining ring; 4. Lower retaining ring; 5. Ball head housing; 6. Support base; 7. Plug; 8. Support sleeve. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0031] The terminology used in the embodiments of this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the application. The singular forms “a,” “said,” and “the” used in the embodiments of this application and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms, and “multiple” generally includes at least two unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0032] It should be understood that the term "and / or" used in this document is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0033] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used in the embodiments of this application, these descriptions should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish the descriptions. For example, first may also be referred to as second without departing from the scope of the embodiments of this application, and similarly, second may also be referred to as first.

[0034] Depending on the context, the words “if” or “suppose” as used here can be interpreted as “when” or “in response to determination” or “in response to detection.” Similarly, depending on the context, the phrases “if determination” or “if detection (of the stated condition or event)” can be interpreted as “when determination” or “in response to determination” or “when detection (of the stated condition or event)” or “in response to detection (of the stated condition or event).”

[0035] It should also be noted that the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that an article or device that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such an article or device. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the article or device that includes said element.

[0036] It should be noted that any symbols and / or numbers present in the specification that are not marked in the accompanying drawings are not reference numerals.

[0037] Example 1

[0038] See Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 The left side is a front view of the ball joint assembly, and the right side is a cross-sectional view. This application embodiment provides a ball joint assembly, including:

[0039] The ball head housing 5 has a support seat 6 on its inner wall and a plug 7 installed at the bottom of the ball head housing 5.

[0040] Ball pin 1, the lower part of ball pin 1 is set inside ball head shell 5 and connected to ball head shell 5 through spherical surface, the upper end of support base 6 supports the lower side of ball pin 1, and support sleeve 8 is sleeved in the middle of ball pin 1;

[0041] Dust cover 2, the upper part of dust cover 2 is snapped into the upper part of ball head pin 1, and the lower part of dust cover 2 is snapped into the upper end of ball head shell 5.

[0042] The support seat provides stable lateral support for the ball joint pin, effectively distributing the lateral load it bears and preventing abnormal wear due to uneven force distribution, thereby improving the overall load-bearing capacity and durability. It effectively restrains the radial movement of the ball joint pin, reducing its sway and impact during operation, lowering operating noise, and helping to maintain stable clearance in the ball joint assembly. The spherical connection allows the ball joint pin to rotate flexibly in multiple directions within its design range, ensuring smoothness and precision in steering or suspension actions, and improving the vehicle's handling response performance. The dust cover engages with the ball joint pin and the ball joint housing at its upper and lower ends respectively, forming a complete sealed protective space that reliably isolates external dust, mud, water, and other contaminants, while preventing internal grease leakage, ensuring the cleanliness and lubrication of the ball joint's interior.

[0043] See Figure 1 , 3 As shown, the upper end face of the support sleeve 8 abuts against the inner wall surface of the upper part of the dust cover 2, and several reinforcing ribs are evenly distributed on the outer surface of the support sleeve 8.

[0044] The support sleeve provides a limiting function for the dust cover, enhancing its stability.

[0045] See Figure 1 , 2 As shown, the dust cover 2 has an adhesive injection point 2-1 on its upper part.

[0046] The glue injection point located on the upper part of the dust cover 2 avoids the point of maximum stress, thus improving fatigue life. By placing the glue injection point in the non-maximum stress deformation area on the upper part of the dust cover, the most intense stretching / compression of the dust cover during the swing of the ball head pin is avoided. This prevents local stress concentration and material continuity failure caused by the opening, fundamentally reducing the risk of cracks starting from this point.

[0047] See Figure 1 As shown in Figure 3, the dust cover 2 is made of polyether material.

[0048] Polyether materials possess excellent hydrolysis resistance, high and low temperature resistance, and tensile strength, enabling dust covers to maintain their elasticity and integrity even in harsh environments, extending their sealing life and improving their reliability.

[0049] See Figure 1 , 2 As shown, the upper part of the dust cover 2 is engaged with the upper part of the ball head pin 1 via the upper retaining spring 3, and the lower part of the dust cover 2 is engaged with the upper end of the ball head shell 5 via the lower retaining spring 4.

[0050] The snap ring connection method is easy to install and provides a firm connection. It ensures that the dust cover remains tightly fitted with the ball head pin and the outer shell even under severe vibration, providing a reliable seal. It also facilitates quick disassembly and replacement during maintenance.

[0051] See Figure 1 As shown, support 6 is an elastic element.

[0052] Elastic support seats made of materials such as rubber or polyurethane can absorb and buffer impacts and vibrations from the road surface, reduce the direct transmission of stress peaks to the ball joint and other components, improve ride comfort, and reduce impact-induced wear.

[0053] See Figure 1 As shown, it also includes a pull rod, which is threadedly connected to the ball head housing 5.

[0054] The threaded connection provides a high-strength, adjustable, and reliable mechanical connection, facilitating installation and preload adjustment with the tie rod, and ensuring the stability of power transmission and the safety of the structure.

[0055] Example 2

[0056] This application provides a vehicle including the ball joint assembly described above.

[0057] The working principle of this utility model is as follows:

[0058] The ball joint assembly consists of eight parts: ball joint pin 1, dust cover 2, upper retaining ring 3, lower retaining ring 4, ball joint housing 5, rubber seat 6, plug 7, and support sleeve 8.

[0059] Firstly, the ball joint pin 1 and the ball joint housing 5 are connected by a spherical surface, allowing the ball joint pin 1 to rotate and swing freely. The support seat 6 is installed inside the ball joint housing 5, directly contacting the ball joint pin 1, acting like a spring to provide support. The plug 7 is installed at the bottom of the ball joint housing; after the bottom edge of the ball joint housing is folded over, the plug is pressed tightly, providing a seal. The support sleeve 8 is pressed into the ball joint pin 1 using a clamping device. The improved support sleeve has reinforcing ribs, providing stronger support to prevent the dust cover 2 from collapsing. The dust cover 2 is secured to the ball joint pin 1 and the ball joint housing 5 by upper and lower retaining springs 3 and 4 respectively. The improved glue injection point position 2-1 and the material of the dust cover 2 avoid the point of maximum stress, improving fatigue life. The entire ball joint assembly is connected to the tie rod via threads on the ball joint housing.

[0060] The entire ball joint assembly functions as a single module, securely connected to the vehicle's tie rod via threads on the outside of the ball joint housing 5. The power transmission path is as follows: the push / pull force of the tie rod is transmitted to the ball joint housing through the threaded connection; the housing then transmits the force to the ball joint pin; and the ball joint pin ultimately transmits the motion and force to another connected component (such as the steering knuckle). Throughout this process, optimized internal components work together to ensure smooth and reliable force transmission, minimizing shock and wear.

[0061] The ball joint assembly of this application achieves flexible movement through a spherical joint, stable pre-tensioning and buffering through an elastic support seat, and long-term protection through a dual sealing system. Furthermore, by optimizing the reinforcing rib structure of the support sleeve and the material and position of the dust cover, it solves the problems of easy deformation and aging of traditional components. These improvements collectively constitute a more robust, sealed, and durable whole, thereby achieving the fundamental goals of extending lifespan and improving safety.

[0062] Finally, it should be noted that the various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on its differences from other embodiments. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. For the systems or apparatus disclosed in the embodiments, since they correspond to the methods disclosed in the embodiments, the descriptions are relatively simple, and relevant parts can be referred to the method section.

[0063] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A ball joint assembly, characterized in that, include: Ball head shell (5), the inner wall of the ball head shell (5) is provided with a support seat (6), and the bottom of the ball head shell (5) is installed with a plug (7); Ball head pin (1), the lower part of the ball head pin (1) is disposed inside the ball head shell (5) and connected to the ball head shell (5) through a spherical surface, the upper end of the support seat (6) supports the lower side of the ball head pin (1), and the middle part of the ball head pin (1) is fitted with a support sleeve (8). Dust cover (2), the upper part of the dust cover (2) is engaged with the upper part of the ball head pin (1), and the lower part of the dust cover (2) is engaged with the upper end of the ball head shell (5).

2. The ball joint assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper end face of the support sleeve (8) abuts against the inner wall surface of the upper part of the dust cover (2), and several reinforcing ribs are evenly distributed on the outer surface of the support sleeve (8).

3. The ball joint assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dust cover (2) has an adhesive injection point (2-1) on its upper part.

4. The ball joint assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that, The dust cover (2) is made of polyether material.

5. The ball joint assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The upper part of the dust cover (2) is engaged with the upper part of the ball head pin (1) by the upper snap ring (3), and the lower part of the dust cover (2) is engaged with the upper end of the ball head shell (5) by the lower snap ring (4).

6. The ball joint assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, The support base (6) is an elastic element.

7. The ball joint assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a pull rod, which is threadedly connected to the ball head housing (5).

8. A vehicle, characterized in that, Includes the ball joint assembly as described in any one of claims 1-7.

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