Housing for retaining a sealing cap on a ball and socket joint
View Patent ↗A ball and socket joint assembly having a cylindrical sealing cap ( 1 ) housing ( 6, 6 A) connected to the external case ( 4 ) of the joint assembly. The housing ( 6, 6 A) may be comprised of plastic, aluminum, rubber, or other malleable material. The housing ( 6, 6 A) has a ring shape, with a groove molded into the housing's external surface for receiving the larger diameter end of a sealing cap ( 1 ), the smaller diameter end of the sealing cap ( 1 ) is directly attached to the shaft of the ball and socket joint's spherical pin ( 2 ). The preferred embodiment of the housing ( 6 ) has a general “L” shape, and an alternative embodiment ( 6 A) has a more linear shape. The sealing cap ( 1 ) ensures that the ball and socket are not contaminated during operation of the joint assembly. The ball and socket joint of the invention is primarily designed for motor vehicle applications, specifically, in automotive steering and suspension systems.
1. A ball and socket joint, comprising:
(a) a spherical pin, having a spherical end rotably coupled to a bearing assembly,
(b) said spherical end and said bearing assembly being enclosed in a case,
(c) a cylindrical sealing cap comprised of elastomeric material, having a first end connected to said case, and a second end connected to said spherical pin,
(d) said sealing cap first end having a sealing assembly for connecting said sealing cap to said case, said sealing assembly comprising an elastic retaining ring retaining a sealing cap against a housing that abuts said case,
wherein said sealing assembly maintains a separation between said sealing cap and said case such that said sealing cap does not contact said case.
2. The ball and socket joint of claim 1 , wherein said first end of said sealing cap has a larger diameter than said second end of said sealing cap.
3. The ball and socket joint of claim 2 , wherein said sealing cap has an intermediate point between said first end and said second end, said intermediate point having a diameter larger than the diameter of said sealing cap at said first or said second ends.
4. The ball and socket joint of claim 1 , wherein said case having been formed by a forging or stamping process, and said case having no machined surfaces.
5. The ball and socket joint of claim 1 , wherein said sealing assembly is comprised of said elastic retaining ring, retaining said sealing cap adjacent a sealing cap lip against said housing.
6. The ball and socket joint of claim 5 , wherein said housing is comprised of plastic, aluminum, rubber, or other malleable material.
7. A ball and socket joint comprising:
(a) a spherical pin, having a spherical end rotably coupled to a bearing assembly,
(b) said spherical end and said bearing assembly being enclosed in a case,
(c) a cylindrical sealing cap comprised of elastomeric material, having a first end connected to said case, and a second end connected to said spherical pin,
(d) said sealing cap first end having a sealing assembly for connecting said sealing cap to said case, said sealing assembly is comprised of an elastic retaining ring, a sealing cap lip and a house,
wherein said sealing assembly maintains a separation between said sealing cap and said case such that said sealing cap does not contact said case; and
wherein and said housing has an “L” shaped cross section, and is disposed between said sealing cap lip and said case.
8. The ball and socket joint of claim 5 , wherein said sealing cap lip has a “U” shape.
9. A joint, comprising:
(a) a spherical pin, having a spherical end rotably coupled to a bearing assembly,
(b) said spherical end and said bearing assembly being enclosed in a case,
(c) a cylindrical sealing cap comprised of elastomeric material, having a first end connected to said case, and a second end connected to said spherical pin,
(d) said sealing cap first end having a sealing assembly for connecting said sealing cap to said case,
(e) said first end of said sealing cap having a larger diameter than said second end of said sealing cap,
(f) said sealing cap having an intermediate point between said first end and said second end, said intermediate point having a diameter larger than the diameter of said sealing cap at said first or said second ends,
(g) said case being forged or stamped, and containing no machined surfaces,
(h) said sealing assembly comprising of an elastic retaining ring retaining, a sealing cap lip of said sealing cap against a housing that abuts said case,
(i) said housing comprised of plastic, aluminum, rubber, or other malleable material,
wherein said sealing assembly maintains a separation between said sealing cap and said case such that said sealing cap does not contact said case.
10. A joint, comprising:
(a) a spherical pin, having a spherical end rotably coupled to a bearing assembly,
(b) said spherical end and said bearing assembly being enclosed in a case,
(c) a cylindrical sealing cap comprised of elastomeric material, having a first end connected to said case, and a second end connected to said spherical pin,
(d) said sealing cap first end having a sealing assembly for connecting said sealing cap to said case,
(e) said first end of said sealing cap having a larger diameter than said second end of said sealing cap,
(f) said sealing cap having an intermediate point between said first end and said second end, said intermediate point having a diameter larger than the diameter of said sealing cap at said first or said second ends,
(g) said case being forged or stamped, and containing no machined surfaces,
(h) said sealing assembly comprising of an elastic retaining ring, a sealing cap lip and a housing,
(i) said housing comprised of plastic, aluminum, rubber, or other malleable material,
wherein said sealing assembly maintains a separation between said sealing cap and said case such that said sealing cap does not contact said case,
wherein and said housing has an “L” shaped cross section, and said housing is disposed between said sealing cap lip and said case.
11. The joint of claim 9 , wherein said sealing cap lip has a “U” shape.