Ball socket apparatus and ball joint apparatus having such a ball socket apparatus
A ball socket apparatus is provided for bearing a joint head. The apparatus includes a first ball shell element and a second ball shell element, wherein the ball socket apparatus forms a preferably radially circumferential, continuous contact surface for a joint head, and a first and a second housing device in which the ball shell elements are arranged.
1 . A ball socket apparatus for bearing a joint head, comprising:
a ball shell comprising a first ball shell element and a second ball shell element, wherein the ball socket apparatus forms at least one radially circumferential, continuous joint head contact surface, and
a housing comprising a first and a second housing device in which the first and second ball shell elements are arranged;
wherein the first housing device and the second housing device each have a radially circumferential connecting edge, wherein connecting webs and connecting recesses for receiving the connecting webs extending in an axial direction are arranged in each connecting edge such that the first housing device and the second housing device each comprise connecting recesses and connecting webs arranged so as to correspond to one another, wherein the connecting recesses and the connecting webs are connected to one another by a radially circumferential press fit in order to form the housing;
wherein each of the first ball shell element and the second ball shell element comprises catching elements extending in the axial direction and/or in a radial direction, the catching elements extending from a free edge of the ball shell elements, which are receivable in correspondingly configured catching recesses of the first housing device and the second housing device, in an undercut manner, in order to connect the ball shell to the housing in a loss-proof manner.
2 . A ball socket apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the housing includes an outer casing wall comprising a housing tolerance compensation structure for compensating for a clearance between the housing and a joint housing of a ball joint apparatus.
3 . The ball socket apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the housing tolerance compensation structure is formed as a knurling or ribs extending in the axial direction.
4 . The ball socket apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the housing includes an inner casing wall comprising a first tolerance compensation structure; and/or
the ball shell includes an outer casing wall comprising a second tolerance compensation structure for compensating a clearance between the housing and the ball shell.
5 . The ball socket apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first tolerance compensation structure and/or the second tolerance compensation structure is formed as a knurling or ribs arranged in a grid-like fashion.
6 . The ball socket apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein each of the first ball shell element and the second ball shell element includes:
an inner casing wall having a circular segment in cross-section, wherein the inner casing wall comprises a tangential outlet portion in a region of the connecting edge of the respective housing device and continuous with the circular segment, in which the outlet portion deviates from the circular shape in order to reduce or prevent stress peaks.
7 . The ball socket apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first housing device comprises a first annular base wall portion against which an axial end portion of the first ball shell element abuts in order to prevent a material of the first ball shell element from flowing away in a region of the first annular base wall; and
the second housing device comprises a second annular base wall portion against which an axial end portion of the second ball shell element abuts in order to prevent a material of the second ball shell element from flowing away in a region of the second annular base wall.
8 . The ball socket apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first housing device comprises an annular first base wall portion having first open, annular ring receiving recess, in which a first annular elastomeric or EPDM ring is arranged in order to absorb axial forces occurring in the ball socket apparatus, wherein the first base wall portion and the first elastomeric ring are configured to be formed, in a region of an arm portion of the joint head, wherein a surface of the first base wall portion of the first ring receiving recess facing in the radial direction is formed in an undercut manner in order to receive the first elastomeric ring in a loss-proof manner and/or partially receive loads acting on the first elastomeric ring.
9 . The ball socket apparatus according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first and second ball shell elements are manufactured or configured from polyketone (PK), polyphthalamides (PPA), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) with carbon fibers for reinforcement, and/or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and/or graphite.
10 . A ball joint apparatus, comprising:
a joint housing, the ball socket apparatus according to claim 1 received in the joint housing, and a joint head having a ball portion pivotally borne in the ball socket apparatus.