초록 ▼

A process for forming the ball and socket joint with bellows seal (10), a bellows seal (10) and a ball and socket joint with bellows seal (10) is provided including a ball pivot pin (36, 38) with a connection piece (40). The sealing bellows is provided with an annular engagement surface (16) with a

A process for forming the ball and socket joint with bellows seal (10), a bellows seal (10) and a ball and socket joint with bellows seal (10) is provided including a ball pivot pin (36, 38) with a connection piece (40). The sealing bellows is provided with an annular engagement surface (16) with a cavity (20). The connection piece with a sealing face is connected to the ball pivot pin. Lubricant (22) is disposed in the cavity prior to assembly of the ball and socket joint. The annular engagement surface (16) is provided in contact with the sealing face upon assembly to cause an amount of lubricant (22) to be squeezed out of the cavity (20).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A ball and socket joint with bellows seal, the ball and socket joint comprising:a ball pivot pin with a connection piece;a sealing bellows with an annular engagement surface with a cavity closed at an inner radial side by material of the sealing bellows and closed at an outer radial side by mater

1. A ball and socket joint with bellows seal, the ball and socket joint comprising:a ball pivot pin with a connection piece;a sealing bellows with an annular engagement surface with a cavity closed at an inner radial side by material of the sealing bellows and closed at an outer radial side by material of the sealing bellows;a connection piece with a sealing face;lubricant disposed in said cavity prior to assembly of the ball and socket joint, the annular engagement surface contacting said sealing face upon assembly to cause an amount of lubricant to be squeezed out of said cavity.2. A ball and socket joint with a bellows seal according to claim 1, wherein said cavity is a groove with an annular opening with a flap portion at each side of said opening to restrict movement of the lubricant from said cavity until assembly.3. A ball and socket joint with a bellows seal according to claim 1, wherein said cavity is a groove with an annular opening to said cavity in the form of a narrowed entrance gap with said annular engagement surface at each side of said narrowed entrance gap, said narrowed entrance gap restricting movement of the lubricant from said cavity until assembly.4. A ball and socket joint with a bellows seal according to 1, wherein said cavity has an annular engagement surface side closed by one of a material of said sealing bellows and membrane applied to said sealing bellows, said annular engagement surface side opening to allow a release of lubricant upon assembly.5. A ball and socket joint with a bellows seal according to claim 1, wherein said sealing bellows at said cavity has a lubricant retaining portion defined by one of a narrowed gap and a material barrier at an entrance of said cavity, said lubricant retaining portion acting to retain at least a portion of said lubricant in said cavity in a pre-assembly state prior to said annular engagement surface contacting said sealing face.6. A ball and socket joint with a bellows seal according to claim 1, wherein said bellows seal element has a pivot pin sealing surface engaged with said pivot pin.7. A ball and socket joint with a bellows seal according to claim 6, further comprising a clamping ring acting on an outside of the bellows to apply force to the bellows such that the pivot pin sealing surface statically engages with said pivot pin.8. A sealing boot, comprising:a bellows element with an end having annular engagement surface;a cavity formed in said bellows element closed at an inner radial side by material of the sealing bellows and closed at an outer radial side by material of the sealing bellows and opening to said annular engagement surface with a radial inner side of said annular engagement surface at one side of said opening of said cavity and with a radial outer side of said annular engagement surface at another side of said opening of said cavity;lubricant disposed in said cavity.9. A sealing boot according to claim 8, further comprising a lubricant retaining means for substantially retaining said lubricant in said cavity prior to said sealing boot being employed in a ball and socket joint assembly and allowing a release of an amount of lubricant upon the sealing boot being employed in a ball and socket joint assembly.10. A sealing boot according to claim 9, wherein said lubricant retaining means is defined by one of a narrowed gap at an entrance to said cavity, a material barrier at an entrance of said cavity and a portion of said bellows element at least partially covering said cavity, said lubricant retaining portion acting to retain at least a portion of said lubricant in said cavity in a pre-assembly state and releasing.11. A sealing boot according to claim 9, wherein said end of said bellows element has a pivot pin sealing surface engaged with said pivot pin, said pivot sealing surface being adjacent to said annular engagement surface.12. A sealing boot according to claim 11, further comprising a clamping ring receiving surface to receive a clamping ring on an outside of said bellows element to apply force to the bellows element such that the pivot pin sealing surface statically engages with said pivot pin.13. A sealing boot according to claim 8, wherein said cavity includes an annular groove portion with said annular engagement surface extending radially as a flap portion at each side of said opening to restrict movement of the lubricant from said cavity until assembly.14. A sealing boot according to claim 8, wherein said cavity includes an annular groove portion with an annular opening to said cavity in the form of a narrowed entrance gap with said annular engagement surface at each side of said narrowed entrance gap, said narrowed entrance gap restricting movement of the lubricant from said cavity until assembly.15. A sealing boot according to claim 8, wherein said cavity facing said annular engagement surface is closed by one of a material of said sealing bellows and membrane applied to said sealing bellows, said annular engagement surface side opening to allow a release of lubricant upon assembly.16. A ball and socket joint with a bellows seal according to claim 1, wherein a radial inner side of said annular engagement surface is at one side of said opening of said cavity and a radial outer side of said annular engagement surface is at another side of said opening of said cavity.17. A ball and socket joint with bellows seal, the ball and socket joint comprising:a ball pivot pin with a connection piece;a sealing bellows with an annular engagement surface with a cavity;a connection piece with a sealing face;lubricant disposed in said cavity prior to assembly of the ball and socket joint, the annular engagement surface contacting said sealing face upon assembly to cause an amount of lubricant to be squeezed out of said cavity, wherein said cavity is a groove with an annular opening with a flap portion at each side of said opening to restrict movement of the lubricant from said cavity until assembly.18. A ball and socket joint with bellows seal, the ball and socket joint comprising:a ball pivot pin with a connection piece;a sealing bellows with an end part having an annular engagement surface, said sealing bellows defining a closed pocket cavity with sealing bellows material flaps closing a side of said pocket cavity at said annular engagement surface;a connection piece with a sealing face;lubricant disposed in said cavity prior to assembly of the ball and socket joint, the annular engagement surface contacting said sealing face upon assembly to cause an amount of lubricant to pass said material flaps.