Ball-and-socket joint with bearing shell

Abstract

A ball-and-socket joint includes a joint housing having first and second axial ends and a ball head provided with a ball stud that extends from the ball head. A bearing shell has elastic properties and is received in the joint housing whereby the bearing shell receives the ball head. The ball stud extends outward of the first axial end of the joint housing. The ball-and-socket joint also includes a housing cover for closing the second axial end of the joint housing and a spring element that is interposed between the housing cover and at least a portion of the bearing shell. The spring element preloads the portion of the bearing shell to urge the portion of the bearing shell toward the first axial end of the joint housing thereby plastically deforming the portion of the bearing shell into its final ball-shaped contour.

1 - 16 . (Cancelled)  
     
     
         17 . A ball-and-socket joint comprising: 
 a joint housing having first and second axial ends;    a ball head provided with a ball stud extending from the ball head;    a bearing shell having elastic properties and being received in the joint housing whereby receiving the ball head, the ball stud extending outward of the first axial end of the joint housing;    a housing cover for closing the second axial end of the joint housing; and    a spring element interposed between the housing cover and at least a portion of the bearing shell preloading the portion of the bearing shell to urge the portion of the bearing shell toward the first axial end of the joint housing thereby plastically deforming the portion of the bearing shell into its final ball-shaped contour.    
     
     
         18 . The ball-and-socket joint as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the spring element advances the portion of the bearing shell toward the first axial end of the joint housing for wedging the portion of the bearing shell further into a gap formed between the ball head and the joint housing adjacent the ball stud at the first axial end of the joint housing as wear to the portion of the bearing shell occurs.  
     
     
         19 . The ball-and-socket joint as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the spring element is a disk that is arranged between the housing cover and the bearing shell, wherein center portions of both the housing cover and the disk extend outwardly away from the ball stud.  
     
     
         20 . The ball-and-socket joint as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the housing cover is made of a plastically deformable material, the center portion of the housing cover being axially deformable toward the ball stud.  
     
     
         21 . The ball-and-socket joint as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the center portion of the housing cover contacts the center portion of the disk to urge the disk against the bearing shell.  
     
     
         22 . The ball-and-socket joint as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the bearing shell includes a deformable area, the deformable area enabling the bearing shell to be adapted for use with joint housings of varying tolerances.  
     
     
         23 . The ball-and-socket joint as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the bearing shell includes separate and distinct first and second parts, the first part being an upper shell and,the second part being a lower shell.  
     
     
         24 . The ball-and-socket joint as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the spring element is arranged between the upper shell and the lower shell, the lower shell being the portion of the bearing shell that is plastically deformed.  
     
     
         25 . The ball-and-socket joint as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the spring element is a wave-shaped spring washer.  
     
     
         26 . A ball-and-socket joint comprising: 
 a joint housing having first and second axial ends;    a ball head provided with a ball stud extending from the ball head;    a bearing shell receivable in the joint housing for supporting the ball head in the joint housing for pivotal movement relative to the joint housing, the bearing shell supporting the ball head so that the ball stud extends out of the first axial end of the joint housing;    a housing cover for closing the second axial end of the joint housing; and    a spring element interposed between the housing cover and at least a portion of the bearing shell, the spring element urging the portion of the bearing shell toward the first axial end of the joint housing and, as wear to the portion of the bearing shell occurs, wedging the portion of the bearing shell into a gap formed between the ball head and the joint,housing adjacent the first axial end of the joint housing so as to compensate for the wear,    the portion of the bearing shell, prior to being assembled into the joint housing, having a cylindrical contour and, upon being assembled into the joint housing and being subjected to a preloading force, plastically deforming into a ball-shaped contour.