Ball support arrangement for axial piston machines

Abstract

A ball support arrangement for a piston shoe arrangement (1), wherein the piston shoe arrangement (1) is configured to be provided in an axial piston machine, wherein the piston shoe arrangement (1) includes a piston body (2) having a ball shaped end (3) and a piston shoe (4), wherein the ball shaped end (3) is provided in the piston shoe (4), wherein the ball support arrangement is arranged between the piston shoe (4) and the balls shaped end (3). The objective of the present invention is to provide a ball support arrangement, which is easy to replace and low on maintenance. This objective is solved by a ball support arrangement, which is separate and replaceable, wherein at least a ball portion (5) of the ball support arrangement is configured to accommodate at least part of the ball shaped end (3).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ball support arrangement for a piston shoe arrangement, wherein the piston shoe arrangement is configured to be provided in an axial piston machine, wherein the piston shoe arrangement comprises a piston body having a ball shaped end and a piston shoe, wherein the ball shaped end is provided in the piston shoe, wherein the ball support arrangement is arranged between the piston shoe and the balls shaped end wherein the ball support arrangement is separate and replaceable, wherein at least a ball holding portion of the ball support arrangement is configured to accommodate at least part of the ball shaped end. 
     
     
         2 . The ball support arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball support arrangement is formed of at least one material of a group of materials comprising plastics, ceramics, metal and fibers, wherein the plastics is preferably PEEK and the fibers are preferably carbon fiber and/or fiberglass. 
     
     
         3 . The ball support arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein ball support arrangement comprises a mounting arrangement configured to releasable mount the ball support arrangement to the ball shaped end and/or to the piston shoe. 
     
     
         4 . The ball support arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein at least the ball holding portion is configured to be retained to the piston shoe by a retainer cup. 
     
     
         5 . The ball support arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball support arrangement, preferably at least the ball holding portion, is configured to be attached via a snap-on connection to the ball shaped end. 
     
     
         6 . The ball support arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball holding portion comprises multiple ball support elements. 
     
     
         7 . The ball support arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball support arrangement comprises a retainer portion, which is configured to separate a retainer plate from the piston shoe and/or the retainer cup. 
     
     
         8 . The ball support arrangement according to  claim 6 , wherein the ball holding portion and the retainer portion are formed in one piece. 
     
     
         9 . The ball support arrangement according to  claim 6 , wherein the ball holding portion and the retainer portion are separate from each other. 
     
     
         10 . The ball support arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball support arrangement comprises an axis wherein the ball support arrangement is symmetrical about the axis. 
     
     
         11 . The ball support arrangement according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball holding portion comprises at least one recess in at least partly a direction parallel to the axis and/or the retainer portion comprises at least one notch at least partly in a direction perpendicular to the axis. 
     
     
         12 . A piston shoe arrangement configured to be provided in an axial piston machine, wherein the piston shoe arrangement comprises a piston body having a ball shaped end and a piston shoe, wherein the ball shaped end is provided in the piston shoe, wherein a ball support arrangement is provided between the piston shoe and the ball shaped end wherein the ball support arrangement is formed according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . The piston shoe arrangement according to  claim 8 , wherein the ball support arrangement comprises a ball holding portion, which is releasably connected to the piston shoe in a fixed manner. 
     
     
         14 . An axial piston machine comprising a piston shoe arrangement according to  claim 11 .