Filing Information

Inventor(s)	Peter Bernhardt · Theo Heep · Ulrich Mette ·
Assignee(s)	TRW Automotive GmbH ·  View assignee updates
Attorney/Agent(s)	MacMillan, Sobanski & Todd, LLC ·
Primary Examiner	Daniel P. Stodola ·
Assistant Examiner	Joshua T Kennedy ·
Application Number	US11341903
Filing date	01/27/2006
Issue date	05/06/2008
Prior Publication Data	US20060153632 - 07/13/2006
Predicted expiration date	07/28/2024
U.S. Classifications	403/122  · 403/50  ·
International Classifications	F16C1106  · F16J1552  ·
Kind Code	B2
Related U.S. Application Data	CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2004/008450 filed Jul. 28, 2004, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in entirety, and which claimed priority to German Patent Application No. 203 11 595.3 filed Jul. 28, 2003, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in entirety.
Foreign Priority	DE20311595U - 07/28/2003 ·

Abstract

Independent Claims | See all claims (12)

1. 1. A ball joint assembly adapted for use in a chassis steering arrangement comprising: a component having an opening, a first side and a second side; a ball joint having a housing in which a ball stud is arranged, said housing having a closed end, an opposite opened end and a weld section defined as an encircling flange extending from said housing, said component and said housing being formed from materials capable of being joined together by welding, said housing configured to be inserted into said opening of said component such that said weld section and said closed end of said housing are disposed adjacent said first side of said component, and said ball stud and said open end of said bellows extend through said opening to said second side of said component; a sealing bellows provided on an outside of said housing to provide a seal between said ball stud and said housing, said sealing bellows having a clamping section extending into said opening and clamped securely between said housing and an inner wall portion of said opening; an exposed weld seam formed between said weld section and said first side of said component when said housing is disposed adjacent said first side of said component and after said sealing bellows is provided on said outside of said housing and said clamping section is clamped securely on said housing; and a weld provided along said exposed weld seam to connect said component and said housing together and securely clamp said clamping section of said sealing bellows on said housing.
2. 8. A ball joint assembly adapted for use in a chassis steering arrangement comprising: a component having an opening, a first side and a second side; a ball joint having a one-piece housing in which a ball stud is arranged, said housing having a closed end, an opposite opened end and a weld section defined as an encircling flange extending from said housing, said component and said housing being formed from materials capable of being joined together by welding, said housing configured to be inserted into said opening of said component such that said weld section and said closed end of said housing are disposed adjacent said first side of said component, and said ball stud and said open end of said bellows extend through said opening to said second side of said component; a sealing bellows provided on an outside of said housing to provide a seal between said ball stud and said housing, said sealing bellows having a clamping section extending into said opening and clamped securely between said housing and an inner wall portion of said opening, said clamping section abutting said weld section; an exposed weld seam formed between said weld section and said component when said housing is disposed adjacent said component and after said sealing bellows is provided on said outside of said housing and said clamping section is clamped securely on said housing; and a weld provided along said exposed weld seam to fuse the materials of said component and said housing with each other and securely clamp said clamping section of said sealing bellows on said housing.