Ball pivot

Abstract

A ball pivot ( 3 ) of a ball and socket joint for a motor vehicle, with a pivot ( 2 ) and with a joint ball ( 1 ) connected thereto. A recess ( 12 ) with a magnet ( 13 ) arranged therein is provided in the ball pivot ( 13 ). An intermediate space ( 17 ), which is filled with a nonmagnetic material ( 16 ) for fixing the magnet ( 13 ), is formed between the jacket surface ( 14 ) of the magnet ( 13 ) and the inner wall ( 15 ) of the recess ( 12 ).

1 . A ball pivot of a ball and socket joint for a motor vehicle, the ball pivot comprising:
 a pivot;   a joint ball connected to said pivot;   a magnet having a jacket surface, the ball pivot having a recess with said magnet arranged therein, an intermediate space, which is filled with a nonmagnetic plastic to fix said magnet, is formed between said jacket surface of said magnet and an inner wall of said recess, said plastic being completely arranged within said recess.   
   
   
       2 . A ball pivot in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 a longitudinal direction of said magnet is aligned with a radial direction of the joint ball.   
   
   
       3 . A ball pivot in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein:
 said plastic has a ring shape,   said magnet is arranged in said ring shape of said plastic.   
   
   
       4 . A ball pivot in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein:
 said ring shape of said plastic is bonded in said recess together with said magnet.   
   
   
       5 . A ball pivot in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein:
 said magnet has a cylindrical shape;   said magnet is in contact with a bottom surface of said recess by a side of said magnet facing said joint ball.   
   
   
       6 . A ball pivot in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein:
 said recess has a cylindrical shape;   said plastic has a ring shape;   said magnet is arranged in said ring shape of said plastic.   
   
   
       7 . A ball pivot in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 said magnet projects out from a surface of said plastic.   
   
   
       8 . A ball pivot in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein:
 said recess is arranged in said joint ball.   
   
   
       9 . A ball pivot in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein:
 said recess is arranged in said joint ball.   
   
   
       10 . A ball pivot in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 said plastic is polyamide or polyoxymethylene.   
   
   
       11 . A ball and socket joint for a motor vehicle, the ball and socket joint comprising:
 a housing;   a ball pivot mounted rotatably and pivotally in said housing, said ball pivot including a pivot pin and a joint ball connected to said pivot pin;   a magnet having a jacket surface, the ball pivot having a recess with said magnet arranged therein, an intermediate space, which is filled with a nonmagnetic plastic material to fix said magnet, is formed between said jacket surface of said magnet and an inner wall of said recess, said nonmagnetic plastic material being completely arranged within said recess.   
   
   
       12 . A ball and socket joint in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said magnet is cylindrical or truncated cone-shaped. 
   
   
       13 . A ball and socket joint in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said recess is cylindrical. 
   
   
       14 . A ball and socket joint in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said magnet is arranged in a ring made of said nonmagnetic material. 
   
   
       15 . A ball and socket joint in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said plastic material is injected onto said magnet by injection molding. 
   
   
       16 . A ball and socket joint in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein a body formed by said magnet and said plastic material is one of pressed and bonded into said recess. 
   
   
       17 . A ball and socket joint for a motor vehicle, the ball and socket joint comprising:
 a housing;   a magnetic field sensor arranged in said housing;   a ball pivot mounted rotatably and pivotally in said housing, said ball pivot including a pivot pin and a joint ball, said joint ball defining a recess, said joint ball being formed of a ferromagnetic material around said recess;   a magnet arranged in said recess to define an intermediate space between said magnet and said joint ball, said intermediate space extending circumferentially around a longitudinal axis of said magnet, said intermediate space being filled with a nonmagnetic material, said nonmagnetic material being of the type and said intermediate space being of a size to optimize a magnetic field that extends out of from said magnet and out of said joint ball for detection by said magnetic field sensor in said housing, said nonmagnetic material also fixing said magnet to said joint ball.   
   
   
       18 . A ball and socket joint in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein:
 said joint ball and said magnet have different coefficients of thermal expansion;   said nonmagnetic material in said intermediate space is a material for compensating said different coefficients of thermal expansion of said joint ball and said magnet in a temperature range of −40° C. to 120° C.   
   
   
       19 . A ball and socket joint in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein:
 said nonmagnetic material in said intermediate space is a plastic.   
   
   
       20 . A ball and socket joint in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein:
 said magnet has first and second longitudinal ends, said first longitudinal end being directly in contact with said joint ball and said second longitudinal end being spaced from said joint ball;   a longitudinal axis of said magnet being aligned with a radial direction of said joint ball.