초록 ▼

A ball joint assembly (10) includes a housing (12) having a socket chamber (20). A bearing (22) is disposed in the socket chamber. A ball stud has a head end portion (30) enclosed by the bearing (22) and a shank portion (34) which extends out of the housing (12). A retainer (38) applies force agains

A ball joint assembly (10) includes a housing (12) having a socket chamber (20). A bearing (22) is disposed in the socket chamber. A ball stud has a head end portion (30) enclosed by the bearing (22) and a shank portion (34) which extends out of the housing (12). A retainer (38) applies force against an outer end portion (40) of the bearing (22) to press an inner end portion (44) of the bearing firmly against a locating surface (46) of the housing. A torque adjustment assembly (64) is operable to adjust the torque required to rotate the ball stud (32) about a longitudinal central axis (36) of the shank portion (34). The torque adjustment assembly (64) includes a force transmitting member (70) and an adjustment member (72). The adjustment member (72) is operable to press the force transmitting member (70) against the flexible inner end portion (26) of the bearing to vary the force applied against the head end portion (30) of the ball stud (32).

대표청구항 ▼

[ Having described the invention, the following is claimed:] [1.] A ball joint assembly comprising:a housing having a socket chamber;a polymeric bearing disposed in said socket chamber, said bearing having a bearing chamber, a first end portion defining an opening into said bearing chamber, and a se

[ Having described the invention, the following is claimed:] [1.] A ball joint assembly comprising:a housing having a socket chamber;a polymeric bearing disposed in said socket chamber, said bearing having a bearing chamber, a first end portion defining an opening into said bearing chamber, and a second closed end portion opposite said first end portion, said second closed end portion being closed by a flexible end wall of said bearing;a ball stud having a head end portion located in said bearing chamber and a shank portion extending out of said housing and out of said bearing chamber through said opening defined by said first end portion of said bearing;a retainer disposed in engagement with said first end portion of said bearing, said retainer being effective to press said bearing against a surface on said housing to hold said bearing and head end portion of said ball stud against movement in a direction parallel to a longitudinal central axis of said shank portion of said ball stud; andtorque adjustment means for adjusting torque required to rotate said ball stud about the central axis of said shank portion of said ball stud, said torque adjustment means including means for applying force against said flexible end wall of said bearing in the direction of said longitudinal central axis and for changing the force applied against said flexible end wall of said bearing;said means for applying force against said flexible end wall of said bearing and for changing the force applied against said flexible end wall of said bearing includes a force transmitting member disposed in engagement with said flexible end wall and an adjustment screw threaded into said housing and disposed in engagement with said force transmitting member, said adjustment screw being movable relative to said housing to change a force which is applied to said flexible end wall by said force transmitting member,said flexible end wall of said bearing and said force transmitting member having circular central surface portions in abutting engagement and radially outward flaring surface portions which flare radially outwardly as they extend axially from said circular central surface portions, said radially outward flaring surface portions of said flexible end wall and said force transmitting member being in abutting contact throughout the extent of said radially outward flaring surface portion of said force transmitting member.