IP Library Granted Patent US 9,068,591
Granted Patent B2
US 9,068,591 · App. 14/222,704 · Granted Jun 30, 2015

Sealing assembly of a ball joint and ball joint

Inventors: Peter Bernhardt (Wuppertal, DE); Andreas Maier (Solingen, DE); Ulrich Mette (Essen, DE); Cengiz Erdogan (Geldern, DE)
Assignee: TRW Automotive GmbH
F16C11/0671Y10T403/32729Y10T403/32311F16C11/0633
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,068,591
App. No.
14/222,704
Granted
Jun 30, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sealing assembly of a ball joint, in particular for a vehicle, comprises a retaining ring which includes a ring axis and a radial ring flange having a flange upper side and an opposed flange lower side, and a sealing element which rests against the flange upper side and against the flange lower side and is exclusively connected to the retaining ring with an interlocking fit, the interlocking fit being configured such that the retaining ring and the sealing element are fixed to each other free of play in the axial and in the radial direction, and the flange upper side having an exposed contact surface for a sealing bellows.

Claims (30)

1. A ball joint including a sealing bellows and a sealing assembly comprising:

a retaining ring which includes a ring axis and a radial ring flange having a flange upper side and an opposed flange lower side, and

a sealing element which rests against the flange upper side and against the flange lower side and is connected to the retaining ring with an interlocking fit,

the interlocking fit being configured such that the retaining ring and the sealing element are fixed to each other free of play in the axial and in the radial direction, and

the flange upper side having an exposed contact surface for the sealing bellows,

wherein the radial ring flange extends radially outwards and forms an outer peripheral edge, the radial ring flange being bent inwards at the outer peripheral edge so that at least parts of the radial ring flange are configured with two layers, wherein the sealing element extends between the two layers of the radial ring flange, and

wherein the radial ring flange contacts the sealing bellows exclusively at the exposed contact surface of the flange upper side.

2. The ball joint according to claim 1 , wherein about half of a radial dimension of the radial ring flange is configured with two layers.

3. The ball joint according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is a washer having a substantially constant axial dimension.

4. The ball joint according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is a washer having a wedge-shaped cross section, an axial dimension of the wedge-shaped washer increasing radially outwards.

5. The ball joint according to claim 4 , wherein the wedge-shaped washer includes a projection extending radially outwards between the two layers of the ring flange.

6. The ball joint according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing element includes a resting surface for a component of the ball joint, the resting surface extending perpendicular to the ring axis.

7. A ball joint including a sealing bellows and a sealing assembly comprising:

a retaining ring which includes a ring axis and a radial ring flange having a flange upper side and an opposed flange lower side, and

a sealing element which rests against the flange upper side and against the flange lower side and is connected to the retaining ring with an interlocking fit,

the interlocking fit being configured such that the retaining ring and the sealing element are fixed to each other free of play in the axial and in the radial direction, and

the flange upper side having an exposed contact surface for the sealing bellows,

wherein the radial, ring flange extends radially outwards and forms an outer peripheral edge, the radial ring flange being bent inwards at the outer peripheral edge so that at least parts of the radial ring flange are configured with two layers,

wherein the sealing element extends between the two layers of the ring flange,

wherein the sealing element is a washer having a wedge-shaped cross section, an axial dimension of the wedge-shaped washer increasing radially outwards, and

wherein the radial ring flange contacts the sealing bellows exclusively at the exposed contract surface of the flange upper side.

8. A ball joint including a sealing bellows and a sealing assembly comprising:

a retaining ring which includes a ring axis and a radial ring flange having a flange upper side and an opposed flange lower side, and

a sealing element which rests against the flange upper side and against the flange lower side and is connected to the retaining ring with an interlocking fit,

the interlocking fit being configured such that the retaining ring and the sealing element are fixed to each other free of play in the axial and in the radial direction, and

the flange upper side having an exposed contact surface for the sealing bellows,

wherein the radial ring flange extends radially outwards and forms an outer peripheral edge, the radial ring flange being bent inwards at the outer peripheral edge so that at least parts of the radial ring flange are configured with two layers,

wherein the sealing element extends between the two layers of the ring flange,

wherein the sealing element includes a resting surface for a component of the ball joint, the resting surface extending perpendicular to the ring axis, and

wherein the radial ring flange contacts the sealing bellows exclusively at the exposed contact surface of the flange upper side.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Jan 15, 2019
From: THK RHYTHM AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: THK RHYTHM AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 048077/0262 →
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Aug 29, 2018
From: THK RHYTHM AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: THK RHYTHM AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 048148/0880 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2016
From: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
To: THK RHYTHM AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 039639/0327 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 31, 2014
From: BERNHARDT, PETER; MAIER, ANDREAS; METTE, ULRICH; ERDOGAN, CENGIZ
To: TRW AUTOMOTIVE GMBH
Reel/Frame 033434/0085 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2008 014 695 · Mar 18, 2008 · national
Continuity (2)
Division 12922964
Related Publication 20140312573A1 · Oct 23, 2014