Ball and socket joint protective cap

Abstract

A ball and socket joint protective cap is provided for covering the pin-shaped partial area ( 7 ) of a completely mounted ball and socket joint. At least two hollow cylindrical sections ( 12, 13 ) of different diameters are arranged adjacent in the axial longitudinal direction of the ball and socket joint protective cap ( 11 ). The section ( 12 ) with the larger diameter is arranged at the end of the ball and socket joint protective cap ( 11 ) that is to be attached to the joint housing ( 1 ). For the better protection of the completely mounted ball and socket joint with the ball and socket joint protective cap ( 11 ) attached, the ball and socket joint protective cap has a transition area ( 16 ) extending essentially at right angles to the axial longitudinal direction of the ball and socket joint protective cap ( 11 ) in the transition of the hollow cylindrical sections ( 12, 13 ), wherein the dimension of the diameter of the smaller hollow cylindrical section ( 13 ) of the ball and socket joint protective cap ( 11 ) is only slightly larger than the dimension of the covered conical receiving section ( 8 ) of the pivot pin ( 3 ) of the ball and socket joint. Displacement of the sealing bellows ( 5 ) of the ball and socket joint in the direction of the arrows P is achieved due to this special design during the attachment of the ball and socket joint protective cap to the pin-shaped partial area of the pivot pin, as a result of which the pressing forces are increased in the area of the contact surface between the sealing bellows ( 5 ) and the pivot pin ( 3 ).

1 . A ball and socket joint protective cap for covering a pin-shaped partial area of a completely mounted ball and socket joint provided with a joint housing and a pivot pin accommodated pivotably therein, the protective cap comprising: 
 a first cap section;    a second cap section, said first and second cap section being attachable to the pivot pin of the ball and socket joint, said first cap section having a different geometry from said second cap section, said first cap section being adjacent to said second cap section with respect to an axial longitudinal direction of the ball and socket joint protective cap with a section having a larger outer dimension being arranged at an end of the ball and socket joint protective cap, which end faces the joint housing; and    a transition area extending essentially at right angles to the axial longitudinal direction of the ball and socket joint protective cap, said transition area being arranged at a transition of said first section and said second sections.    
   
   
       2 . A ball and socket joint protective cap in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the adjacent first section and second section are hollow and cylindrical, wherein a dimension of a diameter of a smaller hollow cylindrical section of the ball and socket joint protective cap is only slightly larger than the dimension of the covered, pin-shaped partial section of the ball and socket joint.  
   
   
       3 . A ball and socket joint protective cap in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising another section, said first, second and another section each being a hollow cylindrical section of different relative diameters and together extending over an overall axial length of the ball and socket joint protective cap, wherein the diameter values of the individual sections decrease from the end facing the joint housing to the opposite free end of the ball and socket joint protective cap, said transition area extending essentially at right angles to the axial longitudinal direction of the ball and socket joint protective cap and arranged at the transition of the hollow cylindrical sections, wherein the dimension of the diameter of the respective smaller hollow cylindrical section of the ball and socket joint protective cap is only slightly larger than the dimension of the section of the pin-shaped partial area of the ball and socket joint, said section of the pin-shaped partial area of the ball and socket joint being covered by one or more of the hollow cylindrical sections.  
   
   
       4 . A ball and socket joint protective cap in accordance with  claim 3 , further comprising at least one radially inwardly projecting elastic tongue arranged at an inner contour of a hollow cylindrical section located at the free end of the ball and socket joint protective cap, said free end facing away from the joint housing.  
   
   
       5 . A ball and socket joint protective cap in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein said radially inwardly projecting elastic tongue is arranged at an inner contour of the hollow cylindrical section and is designed as a tongue extending circularly along the entire inner contour.  
   
   
       6 . A ball and socket joint protective cap in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said radially inwardly projecting elastic tongue is arranged at an inner contour of the hollow cylindrical section and has a plurality of slots distributed over an entire circumference of said tongue.  
   
   
       7 . A ball and socket joint protective cap in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein at least one radially outwardly projecting step is arranged at an outer edge of the hollow cylindrical section and is located at a free end of the ball and socket joint protective cap, said free end facing away from the joint housing.  
   
   
       8 . A ball and socket joint protective cap in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein a radially outwardly projecting step is designed as a circular step.  
   
   
       9 . A ball and socket joint protective cap and ball and socket joint assembly, comprising: 
 a ball and socket joint with a joint housing and a pivot pin accommodated pivotably therein, said ball and socket joint having an axial length;    a protective cap with a first cap section and a second cap section, said first and second cap sections being attached to said ball and socket joint, said first cap section having a different geometry and being larger than said second cap section, said first cap section being adjacent to said second cap section with respect to an axial longitudinal direction of the ball and socket joint, said first cap section having a larger outer dimension and being arranged at an end of the ball and socket joint protective cap, which end faces said joint housing and a transition area extending essentially at right angles to the axial longitudinal direction of the ball and socket joint protective cap, said transition area being arranged at a transition of said first section and said second section.    
   
   
       10 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein said adjacent first section and second section are hollow and cylindrical, wherein a dimension of a diameter of said second section is only slightly larger than the dimension of the covered, pin-shaped partial section of the ball and socket joint.  
   
   
       11 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 9 , further comprising another section, said first, second and another section each being a hollow cylindrical section of different relative diameters and together extending over an overall axial length of the ball and socket joint protective cap, wherein the diameter values of the individual sections decrease from the end facing the joint housing to the opposite free end of the ball and socket joint protective cap.  
   
   
       12 . An assembly in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein a dimension of a diameter of a smaller hollow cylindrical section of said ball and socket joint protective cap is only slightly larger than the dimension of the section of the pin-shaped partial area of the ball and socket joint, said section of the pin-shaped partial area of the ball and socket joint being covered by one or more of the hollow cylindrical sections.  
   
   
       13 . A assembly in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising at least one radially inwardly projecting elastic tongue arranged at an inner contour of one of said hollow cylindrical sections located at the free end of the ball and socket joint protective cap, said free end facing away from the joint housing.  
   
   
       14 . A assembly in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said radially inwardly projecting elastic tongue is arranged at an inner contour of the hollow cylindrical section and is designed as a tongue extending circularly along the entire inner contour.  
   
   
       15 . A assembly in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein said radially inwardly projecting elastic tongue is arranged at an inner contour of the hollow cylindrical section and has a plurality of slots distributed over an entire circumference of said tongue.  
   
   
       16 . A assembly in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein at least one radially outwardly projecting step is arranged at an outer edge of the hollow cylindrical section and is located at a free end of the ball and socket joint protective cap, said free end facing away from the joint housing.  
   
   
       17 . A assembly in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein a radially outwardly projecting step is a circular step.