Mounting for a uniball joint, joint arrangement and control arm

Abstract

A receptacle for a uniball joint for installation in a body-side joint mount of a control arm, particularly a suspension arm, is described. The receptacle comprises a first tubular element, a second tubular element arranged concentrically within the first tubular element (the second tubular element preferably being shorter than the first), and a plastic element between the first and second tubular elements. The plastic element completely surrounds the second tubular element radially and positions and secures the second tubular element within the first tubular element such that the second tubular element is fully enclosed within the first tubular element. The first tubular element has external dimensions suitable for a tight fit, preferably by means of an interference fit, in a body-side joint mount of a control arm.The second tube element has internal dimensions suitable for a fixed but detachable mounting of a uniball joint, in particular by means of a press fit, and the plastic element has a predetermined hardness to provide damping against relative movement between the tube elements.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a receptacle for a uniball joint for installation in a body-side joint receptacle of a control arm, in particular a suspension arm, a joint arrangement and a control arm.

[0002] DE 10 2005 006 480 A1 relates to an elastic bearing with an inner metal part which is received in a receiving eye via an interposed prestressed elastomer body. The elastomer body is axially supported at its end faces by support rings to limit the axial bearing movements. The support rings are mounted and fixed in such a way that a continuous or partially interrupted annular groove is provided in a transverse plane on the outer surface of the inner metal part, or, in an alternative embodiment, on the inner surface of the receiving eye, in the area of ​​the support rings. Material from the support rings is embossed into this groove to provide axial support.

[0003] DE 10 2016 203 741 B3 shows a ball joint with a joint housing having a first housing opening bounded by a first opening edge and a joint inner part having a spherical bearing area, which is rotatably and tiltably mounted in the joint housing with the bearing area and extends out of the joint housing through the first housing opening, wherein the joint inner part is surrounded in the area of ​​the first housing opening by an elastically deformable first stop buffer.

[0004] DE 10 2004 040 412 A1 discloses a ball sleeve joint, in particular for chassis assemblies and steering assemblies of motor vehicles, consisting of a joint housing made of two housing halves and a ball sleeve provided with a rounded bearing surface, wherein the bearing surface is received in a bearing shell made of elastic plastic and fixed in a recess of the joint housing, as well as a method for manufacturing such a ball sleeve joint, in which the two housing halves are pressed together in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the ball sleeve joint with defined pressing forces during the assembly of the ball sleeve joint and are held in the installation position determined by the pressing forces by means of at least one material-fit connection between the housing halves.

[0005] DE 11 2007 000 008 B4 discloses a vibration damping bushing comprising a shaft component, an outer cylinder for axially enclosing the shaft component, and a rubber-like elastic component placed between the shaft component and the outer cylinder; wherein an intermediate cylinder for axially enclosing the shaft component is placed between the shaft component and the outer cylinder; wherein the axial central section of the shaft component is formed as a first curved section with a spherical shape that curves outwards transversely, wherein the axial central section of the intermediate cylinder, which encloses the first curved section, is formed as a second curved section with a spherical shape that curves outwards transversely, wherein the inner circumference of the second curved section is formed as a first spherical recess.which corresponds to a first spherical bulge of the first bulge section, and an inner circumferential section of the outer cylinder, which encloses the second bulge section, is formed into a second spherical recess, which corresponds to a second spherical bulge of an outer circumference of the second bulge section; and wherein the rubber-like elastic component has an inner elastic section, which adheres to an outer circumference of the shaft component with the first spherical bulge and to an inner circumference of the intermediate cylinder with the first spherical recess, in order to connect the shaft component and the intermediate cylinder, and an outer elastic section, which adheres to an outer circumference of the intermediate cylinder with the second spherical bulge and to an inner circumference of the outer cylinder with the second spherical recess, in order to connect the intermediate cylinder and the outer cylinder,and wherein the inner elastic section is designed to have an axial dimension that is larger than the axial dimension of the outer elastic section, wherein the outer cylinder surrounds the inner cylinder in an axially parallel and coaxial manner, the intermediate cylinder is arranged axially parallel and coaxially between the shaft component and the outer cylinder, the intermediate cylinder and the shaft component are each made of a metal, and the intermediate cylinder is thinner than the outer cylinder, characterized in that the intermediate cylinder is a cylindrical element, the first curved section of the shaft component curves over the entire circumference, and the second curved section of the intermediate cylinder curves over the entire circumference of the intermediate cylinder.

[0006] In automotive engineering, it is well known that control arms, especially suspension arms for steerable wheels, have joints on both the body side and the wheel side. Rubber bushings are used for the body-side joints. These are pressed into a designated joint receptacle in the control arm, for example, in the form of a bore. Movement occurs within the rubber itself. Neither the outer ring nor the inner sleeve of the rubber bushing may rotate, which places high demands on a flawless connection between the rubber (elastomer body) and the metal. Rotational movement in these joints is typically limited to an angle of approximately ±20 degrees, and vertical or lateral movement to a distance of ±1 millimeter. This type of joint relies primarily on the vibration and noise-damping properties of the rubber.

[0007] During operation, the rubber is constantly subjected to shock and torsional loads, including those caused by the rotational and lateral movements of the control arm. The rubber used therefore typically represents a compromise between shock absorption and sufficient pivoting and torsional flexibility. As is well known, the rubber wears down during operation, thus impairing the functionality of the joint. In particular, the torsional forces caused by the rotational and lateral movements of the control arm accelerate rubber wear. Because the rubber partially deteriorates from the inside out due to these torsional forces, the wear is often only noticed when the joint is completely broken. Therefore, such joints need to be replaced periodically, which is a very complex and time-consuming process.

[0008] It is therefore the object of the present invention to alleviate or eliminate at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages of rubber joints for the body-side attachment of a control arm, in particular a suspension arm.

[0009] According to the invention, a receptacle for a uniball joint according to claim 1, a joint arrangement according to claim 11, or a transverse arm according to claim 15 or 18 is provided.

[0010] In particular, a receptacle for a uniball joint for installation in a body-side joint receptacle of a control arm, in particular a suspension arm, is provided, comprising: a first tubular element; a second tubular element arranged concentrically in the first tubular element, wherein the second tubular element preferably has a shorter length than the first tubular element;and a plastic element between the first and second tube elements, which completely surrounds the second tube element in the radial direction and arranges and fixes the second tube element in the first tube element such that the second tube element is completely received in the first tube element, wherein the first tube element has external dimensions suitable for a tight fit, preferably by means of an interference fit, in a body-side joint mount of a control arm, wherein the second tube element has internal dimensions suitable for a fixed but releasable reception of a uniball joint, in particular by means of an interference fit, and wherein the plastic element has a predetermined hardness to provide damping against a relative movement, preferably a radial relative movement, between the tube elements.

[0011] This type of mount allows for the integration of a uniball joint in such a way that joint movements are facilitated by the uniball joint itself, while impacts are absorbed / damped by the plastic element. Movement and damping are thus decoupled and can be optimized accordingly. Furthermore, certain movements are decoupled from each other, meaning they do not influence one another.

[0012] Preferably, the first and / or the second pipe element is made of metal, which provides the necessary strength and facilitates easy assembly. In one embodiment, the second pipe element is shorter than the first pipe element and / or the second pipe element is centered longitudinally in relation to the first pipe element.

[0013] To better secure the plastic element and / or increase the damping travel, the first tube element has a contour on its inner circumference for at least partial reception of the plastic element, in particular in the form of a circumferential groove. Alternatively or additionally, the second tube element can have a contour on its outer circumference for at least partial reception of the plastic element, in particular in the form of a circumferential groove. These contours are preferably centered in the longitudinal direction of the reception. The contour on the inner circumference of the first tube element extends, in particular, over the entire length of the second tube element.

[0014] Preferably, the plastic element extends substantially over the entire length of the first tube element and is in contact with the inner circumference, wherein the plastic element has a uniform thickness over the length of the second tube element and / or tapers in the region of the longitudinal ends.

[0015] In one embodiment, the plastic element has a substantially axially symmetrical shape, with at least one end region featuring two radially inwardly projecting stops that can serve as anti-tilt pins. For good damping properties, the plastic element is made of a polymer, particularly polyurethane, and / or has a Shore A hardness of 60–85°, preferably 70–80°, particularly 73–75°, and most preferably approximately 74°. Preferably, the plastic element also has a material thickness greater than that of the first and / or the second tube element.

[0016] The joint arrangement for a body-side joint mount of a control arm, in particular a suspension arm, comprises in particular the following: a mount of the type described above and a uniball joint which is fixedly but releasably received in the second tubular element, in particular by means of an interference fit, wherein the uniball joint has a central passage for receiving and guiding a leg of a fastening element, wherein the passage is tiltable with respect to a tilting point and rotatable about its longitudinal axis. The joint arrangement enables the advantages mentioned above.

[0017] In one embodiment, the uniball joint has a length that is shorter than the length of the first tube element. The joint assembly further comprises two end caps that can be placed on opposite ends of the uniball joint. Each end cap has a through-hole that, when the end caps are in place, aligns with the through-hole in the uniball joint to jointly provide an extended through-hole. The end caps have outer dimensions that fit with clearance into the inner circumference of the first tube element and a length such that, when in place, the end caps project longitudinally beyond the first tube element. This, on the one hand, relocates the joint component into the first tube element, thereby protecting it, and on the other hand, extends the through-hole to facilitate proper fastening.Furthermore, the end caps can be dimensioned and selected to restrict the movements of the uniball joint. For example, at least one of the end caps can have outer dimensions that limit the tilting of a captured leg, at least within a predetermined angular range.

[0018] The control arm, in particular a suspension arm with a body-side joint mount, has in particular a joint arrangement of the type described above, which is fixedly but releasably received in the joint mount, in particular by means of an interference fit. Preferably, the first tubular element extends through the joint mount and projects beyond its ends.

[0019] Alternatively, a control arm, in particular a suspension arm, can be provided with a body-side joint mount in which at least one plastic element is received, via which a uniball joint is positioned and fixed directly or indirectly in the joint mount. Here, too, the movement can be decoupled from the damping, whereby the first and / or second tubular element can optionally be omitted.

[0020] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings: The drawings show: Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of a photograph for a uniball joint; Fig. 2 a schematic cross-sectional view of the recording according to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a schematic cross-sectional view of the recording according to Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a schematic cross-sectional view of the recording with the uniball joint inserted; Fig. 5 a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of an end cap for mounting on a uniball joint; Fig. 6 a schematic top view of the end cap according to Fig. 5; Fig. 7 a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of an end cap for mounting on a uniball joint; Fig. 8 a schematic top view of the end cap according to Fig. 7; Fig. 9 a schematic cross-sectional view of the recording with inserted uniball joint and attached end caps; Fig. 10 a schematic top view of an exemplary support arm; Fig. 11 a schematic side view of the control arm; and Fig. 12 a schematic end view of the exemplary support arm.

[0021] The relative terms used in the following description, such as left, right, above, and below, refer to the drawings and are not intended to restrict the application in any way, even though they may denote preferred arrangements. The term "essentially" is intended to encompass customary deviations of no more than 5%, and with respect to angular ranges, deviations of up to 2°.

[0022] Based on the Fig. Steps 1 to 3 will first describe the construction of a receptacle 1 for a uniball joint, which is located in the Fig. 1 to 3, which are not shown, are described. This shows Fig. 1. A schematic perspective view of the photograph and the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 schematic cross-sectional views along different section lines.

[0023] How best to in the Fig. 2 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 3, the image 1 shows a first, outer pipe element 3, a second, inner pipe element 5, and a plastic element 7.

[0024] The first tubular element 3 is preferably made of metal, but can also be made of another suitable material that is capable of withstanding the mechanical loads in a control arm, in particular a suspension arm. Non-exhaustive examples include high-strength plastic, glass fiber reinforced plastic, and carbon fiber composites. The first tubular element 3 has external dimensions suitable for a tight fit, preferably by means of an interference fit, in a body-side joint mount of a control arm, in particular a suspension arm. Alternatively, the first tubular element 3 can also have, for example, an external thread at each of its longitudinal ends, by means of which the first tubular element could be fixed in a joint mount of a control arm. Other fastening options are also possible.The first pipe element 3 should preferably be designed to be detachable in a body-side joint mount of a control arm. The term 'detachable' here means that the detachment does not damage the body-side joint mount.

[0025] The first tube element has a recess 9 on its inner circumference, which is symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal median plane, i.e., a plane that intersects the first tube element 3 longitudinally at its midpoint. The recess 9 preferably has a length greater than the length of the second tube element 5, as shown.

[0026] The second pipe element 5 is preferably made of metal, but can also be made of another suitable material. In particular, the first pipe element 3 and the second pipe element 5 can be made of the same material. The second pipe element 5 has an outer diameter that is smaller than the inner diameter of the first pipe element 3. The inner diameter of the second pipe element 5 is dimensioned to accommodate a uniball joint, preferably by means of an interference fit, as will be explained in more detail below. The second pipe element 5 preferably has a length that is shorter than the length of the first pipe element 3, as shown.

[0027] The plastic element 7 is located between the first tube element 3 and the second tube element 5, contacts both, and positions the second tube element 5 within the first tube element 3. The plastic element 7 contacts the first tube element 3 along its entire inner circumference and extends, in particular, into the recess 9 on the inner circumference of the first tube element 3. Furthermore, the plastic element 7 makes full contact with the second tube element 5 across its outer circumference. The second tube element 5 is positioned concentrically within the first tube element 3 via the plastic element 7. Moreover, the plastic element 7 positions the second tube element 5 essentially symmetrically with respect to the aforementioned longitudinal median plane of the first tube element 3. While contact across the entire inner / outer circumference of each of the respective tube elements 3 and 5 is desirable, it is not strictly necessary.

[0028] The plastic element 7 is preferably manufactured by injection molding and injected directly into the space formed between the first and second pipe element 5, which is sealed by corresponding further elements.

[0029] At the longitudinal ends of the plastic element 7, the plastic element 7 tapers from the longitudinal ends of the second pipe element 5 to the corresponding longitudinal end of the first pipe element 3. A corresponding taper is shown at 11. In the Fig. At the left end shown in Figure 2, the tapering 11 of the plastic element 7 is circularly symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal central axis of the receptacle 1. At the right end, the plastic element 7, deviating from the circularly symmetrical shape on the left side, has two projections 13 which are offset from each other by 180° in the circumferential direction of the plastic element 7. Fig. Figure 3 shows the projections 13 in cross-section. Fig. Figure 2 is only one of the projections 13 shown schematically. The projections can be, for example, casting lugs that formed during the injection molding process. However, they can also be formed in other ways. As will be explained in more detail below, the projections 13 serve as stops or anti-tilt pins.

[0030] The plastic material of the plastic element 7 is selected according to its damping properties and preferably consists of a polymer, in particular polyurethane. The material forming the plastic element 7 should have a Shore A hardness of 60 to 85°, preferably 70 to 80°, particularly 73 to 75°, and most preferably approximately 74°. The plastic element has a material thickness, particularly in the area between the first and second tube elements, that is greater than the material thickness of the first and / or the second tube element. The material thickness, in combination with the material selection and the material hardness, significantly defines the damping properties of the receptacle 1.

[0031] Although not shown in the figures, the second tube element 5 can have a contour on its outer circumference that at least partially accommodates the plastic element, such as a circumferential groove, or a contour that extends at least partially into the plastic element, such as a circumferential projection. For example, circumferential ribs can be provided on the outer circumference of the second tube element. These provide a particularly secure fixation of the second tube element 5 relative to the first tube element 3.

[0032] Fig. Figure 4 shows the same recording in section 1, similar to the Fig. 3, with an exemplary uniball joint 15 included therein. If the uniball joint 15 is included in the second tube element in the manner shown, in particular if it is pressed into it, the elements together form a joint arrangement for a body-side joint mounting of a control arm, in particular a suspension arm.

[0033] The uniball joint 15, which is shown only as an example, essentially comprises a tube element 17, a bearing element 18, a ball element 19, a feedthrough 20, and sleeves 22.

[0034] The pipe element 17 is made of a suitable rigid material, in particular metal, and has an outer circumference suitable for receiving in the second pipe element 5, preferably by means of an interference fit. However, other methods of fixing the uniball joint 15 within the second pipe element 5 are also conceivable and possible, such as a screw connection. The outer circumference of the pipe element 17 is further contoured such that it tapers from a central region towards the ends, then forms a region with a constant diameter, and finally has a projection at the very end. This creates a substantially circumferential groove at the end regions, which serves to receive an end region of one of the sleeves 22, as shown.

[0035] The inner circumference of the pipe element 17 is also contoured and features a circumferential recess, particularly in the central area. This recess serves to accommodate the bearing element 18, as shown in Fig. 4 can be seen. In addition, the inner circumference of the pipe element 17 widens slightly towards its ends.

[0036] The bearing element is received in the recess on the inner circumference of the tube element 17 and has at least a partial inner contour that is adapted to the contour of the ball element 19. The bearing element 18 is made of a material that allows good sliding movement of the ball element 19 relative to the bearing element 18.

[0037] The spherical element 19 is preferably made of metal or another suitable material and has a through-opening in which the feedthrough 20 is received. The feedthrough 20 can be fastened in the through-opening of the spherical element 20 in any way.

[0038] The feedthrough 20 is preferably made of metal and has two radially circumferential projections 25 at each of its opposite ends, which form a receptacle for an end region of one of the respective cuffs 22.

[0039] The sleeves 22 are made of a suitable plastic material. One sleeve 22 is provided at each end of the uniball joint 15, such that one end of the sleeve 22 is fixed to the outer circumference of the pipe element 17, for example by a corresponding clamping element (not shown), and the other end is fixed to the bushing 20, again for example by a clamping element (not shown), such as a clamping ring. The sleeves 22 seal the space between the outer circumference of the bushing 20 and the inner circumference of the pipe element 17, in which the ball element 19 is also accommodated. This space serves, for example, as a receiving space for a lubricant, such as grease.

[0040] As can be seen from the presentation according to Fig. As 4 results, the feedthrough 20 can tilt essentially freely with respect to a center point of the spherical element 19. Its movement is limited only by the inner circumference of the tube element 17. Furthermore, the feedthrough 20 can also rotate about its longitudinal central axis if the spherical element 19 rotates accordingly in the bearing element 18.

[0041] The in Fig. The joint arrangement shown in Figure 4 is designed for a body-side joint mount of a control arm, in particular a suspension arm. The uniball joint 15 provides movement for the bushing 20, through which a corresponding body mounting element can extend, while the plastic element 7 absorbs shocks. This prevents fatigue phenomena, such as those that occur in a pure rubber bearing, particularly due to pivoting and torsional forces within the rubber bearing, since the corresponding torsional forces are absorbed by the bearing properties of the uniball joint and do not impair its functionality. Shock absorption, on the other hand, is essentially handled by the plastic element 7, which can be optimized for these properties since it does not need to accommodate pivoting and / or torsional movements.Therefore, the damping is essentially completely decoupled from the movement, and they do not influence each other. Simultaneous pivoting and / or torsional movements also have no negative effect and do not influence each other.

[0042] As in the Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, the uniball joint has a length that is greater than the second tube element 5 but shorter than the first tube element 3.

[0043] To extend the central opening formed by the feedthrough 20 beyond the pipe element 3, optional end caps are provided, which are described below based on the Fig. 5 to 9 will be explained in more detail.

[0044] The Fig. 5 and Fig. Figure 6 shows a first end cap 30, which has a substantially circularly symmetrical shape. The end cap 30 has a first, flat side 32, and an opposing, contoured side 33. Furthermore, the end cap 30 has a through-opening 34, which has an inner diameter substantially equal to the through-opening of the feedthrough 20. A circularly symmetrical projection 35 is provided on side 33, which surrounds the through-opening 34. The circularly symmetrical projection 35 is dimensioned such that it can be placed onto one of the projections 25 on the feedthrough 20, preferably such that it can be placed on by hand and is initially held in this position without the application of external forces.

[0045] The Fig. 7 and Fig. Figure 8 shows another end cap 40, which, as shown, has two round sections 42 and flat sections 44 connecting the round sections 42 on its outer circumference. The end cap 40, also referred to as an anti-tilt filler piece 40, again has a through-opening 45, which has a diameter essentially equal to that of the through-opening of the feedthrough 20. The end cap 40 also has a first, flat side 46 and a contoured, second side 47. The second side 47 has an annular projection 48, which in turn can be placed onto one of the projections 25 on the feedthrough 20, preferably such that the end cap 40 is initially held in this position without the application of any force. This serves as a pre-assembly, as with the end cap 30.

[0046] Fig. Figure 9 shows the joint arrangement according to Fig. 4 with end caps attached. The end cap 30 is according to Fig. 9 is applied to the left side, that is, the side that has no projections 13. The end cap 40 is in Fig. 9 is arranged on the right side and is positioned such that the round sections 42 on the outer circumference are aligned with the projections 13 on the plastic element 7. This restricts a tilting movement of the feedthrough 20 with respect to a center point of the spherical element 19 in this partial area, as shown in Fig. 9 is clearly visible. In particular, tilting of the feedthrough 20 upwards or downwards is significantly restricted. Tilting of the feedthrough 20 in a direction perpendicular to the up / down movement would not be restricted by the projections 13 and would be possible over a larger range, as a person skilled in the art can immediately see.

[0047] The Fig. Figures 10 to 12 show a top view, a side view, and a rear view of a control arm 50, which is depicted only very schematically. The control arm 50 is made of a suitable material and has a body-side joint mount 51, a wheel-side joint mount 53, and an optional shock absorber mount 55.

[0048] The design of a corresponding control arm is well known and therefore will not be described in detail. The body-side joint mount 51 is dimensioned such that it tightly accommodates the first tubular element 3 of the mount 1. In particular, the mount 1 can preferably be received by an interference fit within the body-side joint mount 51 of the control arm 50. During installation, the projections 13 should be oriented so that they lie essentially on a vertical axis, either at the top or bottom, or in other words, when the control arm is in its normal orientation.

[0049] In the representation according to Fig. Figure 10 schematically indicates the ball element of the uniball joint around which the support arm can pivot transversely to its longitudinal extent, as shown by arrows A. A corresponding pivoting of the support arm is made possible by a tilting movement of the bushing 20 in the uniball joint 15, as the person skilled in the art will recognize.

[0050] In Fig. Figure 11 shows how the support arm 50 can move up and down around the center point of the schematically indicated ball element 19 of the uniball joint. This up-and-down movement of the support arm, which can also be described as a torsional movement, is made possible by a rotational movement of the ball element 19 relative to the bearing element 18. The corresponding movement is indicated by arrows B.

[0051] In the rear view according to Fig. Figure 12 indicates a lateral tilting movement of the support arm. This, in turn, is made possible by a tilting / swiveling of the bushing 20 of the uniball joint 15. A corresponding tilting / swiveling movement is indicated by arrows C in Fig. 12 indicated. The corresponding tilting again takes place around a center point of the spherical element 19. With correct installation of the joint arrangement, as shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 9, the projections 13 would each lie on a vertical axis, so that the end cap 40 would undergo a corresponding tilting movement according to Fig. 12 would severely restrict. A corresponding movement according to arrows C would therefore, if at all, only be possible over a small angular range of ± 1° to ± 3° and preferably approximately ± 2° from the central position of the joint arrangement.

[0052] A pivoting or torsional movement in accordance with arrows B according to Fig. 11 is in fact not substantially restricted by the uniball joint 15, but is usually restricted by other components of the vehicle to ±5° to ±20°, in particular approximately ±10° from the central position of the joint arrangement.

[0053] A pivoting movement according to arrows A is limited outside the area of ​​the projections 13 of the plastic element 7 by the shape of the end caps 30, 40 to ± 5° to ± 10°, in particular approximately ±7° from the central position of the joint arrangement. Of course, other limits for the pivoting, torsion, or tilting movement can also be provided; in particular, the limits can also be asymmetrical with respect to the central position.

[0054] The invention has been previously explained in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments without being limited to the specific embodiment. In particular, the design of the uniball joint 15 may differ from the design shown. The shape of the control arm according to the Fig. The numbers 10 to 12 are only schematic and are not intended to be restrictive. In particular, the control arm could also have only one body-side and one wheel-side joint mount, or additional ones besides those shown schematically.

[0055] Contrary to the claims, the first tube element 3 could also be omitted, so that the plastic element 7 is preferably inserted directly into a control arm together with tube element 5 (for example, by injection molding). Alternatively or additionally, it would also be conceivable to omit the second tube element 5, so that the tube element 17 of the uniball joint is in direct contact with the plastic element 7. While this would make replacing the elements more difficult, it would still allow for the advantages of an individually optimizable function with regard to both damping and flexibility.

Claims

[1] Receptacle (1) for a uniball joint (15) for installation in a body-side joint receptacle (51) of a wishbone (50), in particular a support arm, comprising: a first tubular element (3); a second tubular element (5) arranged concentrically in the first tubular element (3); and a plastic element (7) between the first and second pipe elements, which completely surrounds the second pipe element in the radial direction and arranges and fixes the second pipe element in the first pipe element in such a way that the second pipe element is completely received in the first pipe element, wherein the first tubular element has external dimensions suitable for a tight fit in a body-side joint socket of a control arm, wherein the second tubular element has internal dimensions suitable for a fixed but detachable reception of a uniball joint, and wherein the plastic element has a predetermined hardness for providing damping against relative movement between the tubular elements. [2] Receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the second tubular element preferably has a shorter length than the first tubular element, and / or wherein the outer dimensions of the first tubular element are suitable for a tight fit by means of a press fit in the body-side joint receptacle of a wishbone, and / or wherein the inner dimensions of the second tubular element are suitable for the fixed but detachable reception of a uniball joint by means of a press fit [3] Receptacle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and / or the second tubular element are made of metal. [4] Receptacle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second tubular element has a shorter length than the first tubular element and / or the second tubular element is received centrally in the longitudinal direction of the first tubular element. [5] Receptacle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first tubular element has a contour on the inner circumference for at least partially receiving the plastic element. [6] Receptacle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the contour for at least partially receiving the plastic element is designed in the form of a circumferential groove, and / or wherein the contour for at least partially receiving the plastic element is designed centrally in the longitudinal direction, and / or wherein the second tubular element has a contour on the outer circumference for at least partially receiving the plastic element, in particular in the form of a circumferential groove, and / or wherein the contour on the outer circumference of the second tubular element is designed in the form of a circumferential groove. [7] Receptacle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic element extends substantially over the entire length of the first tubular element and is in contact with the inner circumference, wherein the plastic element has a uniform thickness over the length of the second tubular element and / or tapers in the region of the longitudinal ends. [8] Receptacle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic element has a substantially axially symmetrical shape, wherein two radially inwardly projecting stops are formed in at least one end region. [9] Receptacle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic element consists of a polymer, in particular polyurethane and / or has a Shore A hardness of 60-85°, preferably of 70-80°, in particular of 73-75° and particularly preferably of approximately 74°. [10] Receptacle according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the plastic element has a material thickness which is greater than the material thickness of the first and / or the second pipe element. [11] Joint arrangement for a body-side joint mount of a wishbone (50), in particular a support arm, comprising: a receptacle (1) according to one of the preceding claims; and a uniball joint (15) which is fixedly but detachably received in the second tubular element (5), wherein the uniball joint has a central passage (20) for receiving and guiding a leg of a fastening element, wherein the passage is tiltable with respect to a tilting point and rotatable about its longitudinal axis. [12] Joint arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the uniball joint is received in the second tubular element in a fixed but releasable manner by means of a press fit. [13] Joint arrangement according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the uniball joint has a length which is less than the length of the first tubular element, wherein the joint arrangement further comprises two end caps (30, 40) which can be placed on opposite ends of the uniball joint, wherein the end caps each have a passage (34, 45) which, when the end caps are in place, are aligned with the passage in the uniball joint to jointly provide an extended passage, wherein the end caps have outer dimensions which fit with play into the inner circumference of the first tubular element and a length which is dimensioned such that the end caps, when in place, protrude longitudinally beyond the first tubular element. [14] The joint assembly of claim 13, wherein at least one of the end caps has outer dimensions that limit tilting of a received leg at least within a predetermined angular range. [15] Wishbone (50), in particular support arm, with a body-side joint receptacle (51) having a joint arrangement according to one of claims 11 to 14 which is fixedly but detachably received in the joint receptacle. [16] Wishbone, in particular support arm, according to claim 15, wherein the joint arrangement is fixedly but detachably received in the joint receptacle, in particular by means of a press fit. [17] A control arm according to claim 15 or 16, wherein the first tubular element extends through the joint socket and projects beyond the ends thereof. [18] Wishbone, in particular support arm with a body-side joint receptacle in which at least one plastic element is accommodated, via which a uniball joint is positioned and fixed directly or indirectly in the joint receptacle.

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