Constant Torque Ball Joint

One of the most important requirements of a ball joint, especially those used in automotive steering links and automotive suspension systems, is to maintain for a long service life a certain optimum rotating torque value and a certain optimum swivelling torque value.

However, in practice, due to the inevitably developing wear in the bearing members as the operating hours or the total mileage increases, the value of the bearing contact load decreases, and consequently the rotating and swivelling torque values are reduced, and the steering wheel play as well as the oscillation increases. In order to overcome the defect of the reduction of bearing contact load value as mentioned above in conventional design ball joint design, a coil spring is disposed in the space formed by the socket cavity of a metallic socket joint rod and a metallic cover disc, or a plastic bearing block is forced into the space formed by the socket cavity of a metallic socket joint rod and a metallic cover disc so that the elasticity of the bearing block per se is utilized.

However, the ball joint arrangement that makes use of a coil spring is defective in that there is only a limited space to accomodate the coil spring. Further, when the apparent compressive longitudinal elastic modulus Ec is small (e.g. Ec = 0.8 kg/mm.sup.2), the torque value can not be set sufficiently high to meet the requirement of optimum rotating and swivelling torque values. Similarly, the ball joint arrangement that makes use of the elasticity of a plastic bearing block per se is also defective in that its compressive longitudinal elastic modulus Ep is too large (e.g., Ep = 50 kg/mm.sup.2 for high density polyethylene). Not only is there a large reduction of bearing contact load value even with a small change of its dimensions due to the abrasion that accompanies a large reduction of rotating and swivelling torque values, but also, in the production process of a ball joint with a small deviation of the dimensions in the relevant members, there results in a large deviation of the initially set rotating and swivelling torque values. Therefore under such circumstances, ball joints can hardly be quantity-produced with a uniform torque value.

In a ball joint based on the present invention, the ball portion of a ball stud is journalled between upper and lower bearing pieces, each of which has a segmental semispherical internal surface made of a solid self-lubricating material such as a plastic material like polyacetal or a metal like iron or copper-based sintered alloys. Then, the bearing pieces are totally or partly externally covered by an elastic block or blocks having a compressive longitudinal elastic modulus Eo = 1.5 to 10 kg/mm.sup.2. Finally, the upper and lower bearing pieces and the upper and lower elastic blocks are substantially enclosed in a socket cavity of a metallic socket joint rod and a metallic cover plate. Thus, the elastic blocks are elastically compressed within a compression rate of 20 percent resulting in optimum rotating and swivelling torque values that are required of the instant ball joint. When a compression rate of the elastic blocks and their respective compressive longitudinal elastic modules are selected at values as mentioned above, the internal energy of the compressive elastic blocks is made to discharge towards the center of the ball of the ball stud whereby all reduction in bearing surface contact load value due to an abrasion in the contact surface between the ball surface of the ball stud and the segmental semi-spherical surfaces of the bearing pieces is compensated. Consequently, under such circumstances, all reduction of rotating and swivelling torques of the instant ball joint type is prevented.

Furthermore, with proper selections of the elastic compression rate, compressive longitudinal elastic modulus, and size-shape of elastic blocks, the rotating and swivelling torques can be set at the desired values for the instant ball joint.

Although the principle of the present invention is generally applicable to various joints and to various bearings, the embodiment described herein is specifically applicable to an automotive steering ball joint.

For a better understanding of the present invention, several representative industrial materials are reviewed as to their longitudinal elastic modulus (including their apparent longitudinal elastic modulus

The compressive longitudinal elastic modulus that is required in the present invention is:

Eo = 1.5 to 10 kg/mm.sup.2.

As for an elastic material having a compressive longitudinal elastic modulus Eo in this range, there are commercially available the M type polyurethane elastomer of Elastomer Technical Institute, or the combined H type Belleville spring of Iwata Denko Co., Ltd. For the application of the present invention, an elastic compression rate of 20 percent or less is suitable.

FIG. 1 is a rectilinear chart showing the results of comparative forced swivelling tests between a ball joint that utilizes the elasticity of a plastic bearing block per se, and a ball joint based on the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention taken along the axial plane, and

FIGS. 3 through 5 are sectional views corresponding to FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, a comparison of forced swivel torque test results between a conventional ball joint utilizing the elasticity of a plastic bearing block, per se, and a ball joint based on the present invention. From FIG. 1, it is apparent that in contrast to the solid lines representing the torque performances of a ball joint based on the present invention, the torque values as represented by the broken lines of a conventional ball joint making use of the elasticity of the plastic bearing block per se drop markedly in the initial period of the swivelling tests, and the difference between rotating torque values and swivelling torque values are large throughout the entire range of 5 .times. 10.sup.5 swivelling cycles.

A detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention follows. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a ball joint as applied to an automotive steering link, taken along a plane passing through the ball center. A metallic socket joint rod is generally indicated by a number 10. The rod 10 is provided with a bearing shell which includes first and second openings. In the socket cavity of the bearing shell of the socket joint rod 10, there is disposed the ball portion of a metallic ball stud 11. The ball portion is journalled in an upper bearing piece 12 and a lower bearing piece 13. Tightly interposed between the bearing shell and the upper and lower bearing pieces elastic blocks means. These elastic block means consist of an upper elastic block 14 made of polyurethane having a compressive longitudinal elastic modulus E of 3.1 kg/mm.sup.2, and a lower elastic block 15 made of polyurethane having a compressive longitudinal elastic modulus E of 4.1 kg/mm.sup.2. The shank portion of the ball stub 11 extends through the first opening of the bearing shell as well as through an opening of the upper bearing piece 12. Each of the pieces 12, 13 is made of polyacetal plastic and the internal surfaces thereof have segmental semi-sherical shapes. The upper and lower elastic blocks 14, 15 are mounted, respectively, to be compressed against the upper and lower bearing pieces 12, 13. An abrasion displacement allowance space 16 is formed between the upper bearing piece 12 and the lower bearing pieces. A metallic cover disc 17 closes the second opening of the bearing shell and tightly compresses the adjacent lower elastic block 15. The space 16 is provided for the purpose of allowing the upper and lower bearing pieces 12, 13 to shift towards the ball center of the ball stud 11 to compensate for possible surface abrasion that takes place in the contact surfaces between the upper and lower bearing pieces 12, 13 and the ball stud 11. The space is lubricated either by grease or solid lubricant, whereby the compensation is made at the expense of the discharge of the elastic compressive internal energy that is stored in the upper and lower elastic blocks 14, 15.

Generally, when a bearing contact surface load is applied to a ball joint used in an automotive steering system by the application of a backup elastic compressive block, a value in the neighborhood of 50 kg is appropriate. In such a ball joint, when grease is used as lubricant, a friction coefficient is assumed to be in the neighborhood of 0.1. Therefore, in order to maintain the rotating torque and the swivelling torque at a respective constant value, it is suffice that the bearing contact load be maintained at a constant level. However, in practice, because the bearing contact surfaces are subject to unavoidable abrasion effect the bearing contact surface load that is applied by the compressive elastic blocks is subject to an unavoidable decrease of value due to this change of position caused by abrasion. In order to minimize such a decrease of value in the bearing contact surface load, it is sufficient that the compressive longitudinal elastic modulus of the compressive elastic blocks be minimized.

On the other hand, the amount of space which is permitted in an elastic block arrangement in the socket cavity of a metallic socket joint rod that is to be used in an ordinary automotive steering system is limited. Therefore, if the compressive longitudinal elastic modulus of the elastic block is too small, it becomes impossible to achieve the required bearing contact surface load value Pv (e.g. Pv = 50 kg).

From the above conditions it follows that for a ball joint to be useful automotive steering system, the preferred range of values of the longitudinal elastic modulus Eo of the backup compressive elastic blocks is 1.5 to 10 kg/mm.sup.2.

The assembly method of a ball joint based on the present invention now follows to assist in an understanding of the invention: As shown in FIG. 3, in the socket cavity of a metallic socket joint rod 10, first, an upper elastic block 14 made of polyurethane having a longitudinal elastic coefficient of 3.1 kg/mm.sup.2 designed to result in an optimum rotating and swivelling torque upon assembly is inserted. Secondly, an upper bearing piece 12 made of polyacetal plastic in the shape having a semi-spherical cavity surface is inserted. Thirdly, a metallic ball stud 11 is inserted, with the application of an axial force P. Fourthly, as shown in FIG. 4, a lower bearing piece 13 made of polyacetal plastic in the form having a semi-spherical cavity is inserted in the socket cavity of the metallic socket joint rod. Fifthly, a lower elastic block 15 made of polyurethane plastic having a compressive longitudinal elastic modulus E of 4.1 kg/mm.sup.2 designed to result in an optimum rotating and swivelling torque values upon assembly is pushed in. Sixthly, a metallic cover disc 17 is forced over all these members at a load of Po in the direction of the ball stud axis. In order to result in optimum rotating and swivelling torque values upon assembly, there is provided near the rim of the socket opening of the metallic joint socket rod 10 a shoulder 18 at which the metallic cover disc compresses the upper and lower elastic blocks 14, 15 to their predetermined compressive elastic deformation. Therefore when the cover disc 17 is forced to the position of the shoulder 18, optimum rotating and swivelling torque values are secured.

Finally, as shown in FIG. 5, after forcing the cover disc 17 to the position of the shoulder 18, a tool 20 is applied on the socket rim portion 19 of the metallic socket joint rod 10 in the P.sub.1 direction at a force P.sub.1 to swage the rim end portion of the socket opening into the shoulder form 21 shown in FIG. 2.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that although in the above embodiment, the upper and lower bearing pieces are shown as externally covering the respective elastic blocks, this is by no means indispensable; that is, as long as the same compressive force is exerted, an elastic block may be divided into several pieces or a single piece elastic block may cover a limited portion of the external surfaces of these bearing pieces.

A typical prior art ball joint arrangement may provide the ball portion of a ball stud to be supported between an upper and a lower bearing pieces having semi-spherical cavity surfaces and the upper bearing piece to be made of a hard high-molecular polymer such as nylon, and the lower bearing piece to be made of a soft flexible material such as polyurethane or lubricant-impregnated rubber. These two bearing pieces are then inserted in the socket cavity of a joint socket rod and enclosed therein with a cover disc with the lower bearing piece kept in an elastically compressed condition. This prior art arrangement is to be contrasted with a ball joint based on the present invention wherein the ball portion of a ball stud is positioned firstly between an upper and a lower bearing pieces made of a solid material having self-lubricating property in a form having a semi-spherical cavity surface, then secondly, the upper and lower bearing pieces are covered by an upper and lower elastically compressed elastic blocks, and thirdly, all these members are substantially completely enclosed in the socket cavity of a metallic socket joint rod by means of a metallic cover disc.

The reasons for providing two bearing pieces and two backup elastic blocks is as follows:

The principal factors that determine the optimum rotating and swivelling torque values in a ball joint based on the present invention are the friction coefficient between the bearing frictional contact surfaces, the ball stud configuration, and the bearing frictional contact surface load value. Of these factors, while friction coefficient and configuration are expected to remain almost unchanged, the load value is subjected to a reduction due to an unavoidable abrasion shift developing in the bearing friction contact surface and a plastic deformation shift of the members in the ball socket joint cavity.

It follows therefore, in order to maintain rotating and swivelling torques at their respective optimum values, a material must be utilized that possesses simultaneously the best bearing characteristic of the smallest friction, and the best elastic characteristic of the smallest compressive longitudinal elastic modulus and the largest compressive elastic limit. To satisfy these three characteristics in one material is next to impossible.

Therefore in the present invention, the selection of the proper materials is made easy through an arrangement which has departed from conventional arrangements in such a way that the bearing member is divided into a bearing piece proper made of friction resistant and highly lubricant material, and an elastic block that is suited to develop an optimum rotating and an optimum swivelling torque. Thus, each member is required to only satisfy its own functional requirement.

In the arrangement described above, the optimum rotating and swivelling torque values are maintained by the elastic deformation stress in the upper and lower elastic blocks that enclose the bearing pieces. In the present invention, the compressive longitudinal elastic modulus of these elastic blocks enclosing the upper and the lower bearing pieces is selected at a value Eo of 1.5 to 10 kg/mm.sup.2 which is substantially lower than conventionally adopted values. Accordingly, there is only a minimum of reduction in the deformation stress due to an elastic restoration of the backup elastic blocks at an abrasion shift of the bearing pieces. Furthermore, even when Furthermore, even when the bearing pieces should develop abrasion to some extent, because there is a space provided between the upper and lower bearing pieces, substantially all the abrasion shift can be taken up as a reduction of the space, without any substantial reduction in the contact load in the bearing surface. Furthermore because the materials used have a substantially higher longitudinal elastic modulus than coil springs, a sufficiently high torque value can be obtained in a socket having a small space.

Furthermore, because the elastic blocks in the present invention are designed to be compressed up to a limit of elastic compression rate of 20 percent other members in the ball socket joint cavity are not plastic deformed, but still there is a sufficient elastic restoration potential exceeding any potential practical abrasion shift.

When a ball joint based on the teachings of the present invention is composed of members made of materials having the abovementioned characteristics, when all possible reduction of load is made between the upper and lower bearing contact surfaces due to the abrasion shift produced in the contact surfaces between the upper and lower bearing pieces and when the ball surface of a ball stud is recovered by the release of the elastic compression internal energy stored in the elastic blocks, it is then possible that the ball joint will maintain optimum rotating and swivelling torques throughout a long period of operation.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.