Zf Friedrichshafen Ag

Honda Motor Co., Ltd.

Zf Lemforder Metallwaren Ag

Bernd Grannemann

Martin Rechtien

Metin Ersoy

Jens Vortmeyer

Jinghong Yu

Joachim Spratte

James W Post, Ii

Todd Andrew Fitz

Eric Walker

Mauro Cesar Zanella

Lutz Pydde

Andreas Hartmann

Peter G Langseth, Iii

Eric J Walker

Todd Fitz

Peter G Iii Langseth

James W Ii Post

A ball joint with variable friction resistance for a vehicle, the joint having a stud with a joint ball which is held in a housing so as to articulate relative thereto. The housing comprises movable and static housing parts that are movable relative to one another and engage on opposite sides of the ball. A transmission is moved by one housing part so as to exert a variable pressure on the ball. The transmission has axially aligned transmission elements, each of which has a helical ball track. The transmission elements axially rest against one another via balls that are guided between the ball tracks of the transmission elements. A first transmission element can move axially and contact the movable housing part. A second transmission element can rotate about the rotational axis which causes the first transmission element to move axially and exert an axial force on the movable housing part.

Ball joint

A ball joint assembly includes a housing at least partially defining a cavity. A ball stud includes a head portion positioned within the cavity and a shaft extending from the head portion. A ball race having an inner surface is positioned within the cavity to define an interface between the inner surface of the ball race and an outer surface of the head portion. A solid friction coating is positioned within the interface. The solid friction coating is coupled to the inner surface of the ball race and/or the outer surface of the head portion of the ball stud. A piston can also be positioned within the cavity, wherein at least one gap is defined between the ball race and the piston and/or between the ball race and the housing. Methods of assembling a ball joint assembly are also disclosed.

Ball joint assembly having friction coated components and methods of assembling a ball joint assembly having defined gaps

A ball joint for a vehicle, with a ball pin that has a joint ball, a joint housing that encloses the joint ball and is provided with a pin opening, in which the joint ball of the ball pin is fitted and able to move. The ball pin extends out of the joint housing through the pin opening. An actuator can press a pressure element, in an axial direction, against the joint housing in such a manner that pressure can be exerted by the joint housing and the pressure element onto the joint ball. The actuator acts upon a spring which acts upon the pressure element. The length of the spring can be measured by a displacement sensor.

Ball and socket joint for a vehicle

The invention relates to a switchable stabilizer device for the axle of a motor vehicle. Herein, the actuating device comprises a roll stabilizer and an actuatorically switchable coupling device () with two clutch devices () and a locking sleeve (). According to the present invention, the stabilizer device is characterized by a shifting device for shifting the locking sleeve () by means of mechanical power transmission. Herein, the shifting device has a servo-electric transmission drive element (). The present invention provides a robust and compact switchable roll stabilizer, which can be produced cost-efficiently. At the same time, the present invention allows for the actuatoric support of the opening movement as well as the locking movement of the stabilizer coupling with very short shifting times. The switchable stabilizer according to the present invention is suitable for motor vehicles, for example, which are employed off-road as well as on the road. Due to the extremely short shifting times of the stabilizer coupling, the stabilizer device according to the present invention may be used furthermore for an active running gear to support the vehicle dynamics in real time.

Switchable stabilizer device

An actuator is provided for a two-part stabilizer, which builds up a spring rate in its opened position. A hydraulic absorbing unit () is arranged on the axle of the switchable coupling unit (). The absorbing unit is connected to one stabilizer part (), on the one hand, and to the other stabilizer part (), on the other hand. The absorbing unit forms at least one pressure chamber () and a suction chamber () and assumes a blocked position in the locked position of the switchable coupling () and counteracts the relative twisting motion between the two stabilizer parts () at a hydraulic spring rate in the opened position of the switchable coupling ().

Actuator for a divided stabilizer of a motor vehicle

A bearing for a control arm of a wheel suspension of a vehicle has at least one sensor () arranged in or at the bearing (). The sensor determines the relative movement of the vehicle parts connected to each other by the bearing ().

Rubber bearing with a jounce sensor

Growing community of inventors

Espelkamp, Germany

Bernd Grannemann