Zf Friedrichshafen Ag

Dirk Adamczyk

Christoph Elbers

Martin Rechtien

Jens Eismann

Frank Nachbar

John F Gleason

Julian Stratmann

Jochen Kruse

Wolfgang Kleiner

Manfred Heidemann

Wolfgang Eulerich

Klaus Pape

Benjamin Bäumer

Ulrich Schefzyk

Marc Rochigneux

Jean-Paul Castanet

Reinhard Stöterau

Jens Bach

Christian Maassmann

Matthias Behre

Rainer Jasper

Johannes Tabor

Thomas Wiegmann

John Gleason

A connecting assembly for a vehicle, with a structural component () having a connection area (), a joint () having a bearing element () and an inner joint component () fitted and able to move in the latter and which extends outward the assembly, in an axial direction (). The bearing element () together with the connection area () form an insert, and a cast element () is produced by casting around and enclosing the insert. The structural component () and the inner joint component () extend out of the cast element (). The insert has a closing component () that engages with a mutual interlock with the structural component () to form, together with the structural component (), a joint holder () that secures the bearing element () with an interlock, in the axial direction ().

Connecting assembly for a vehicle

A vehicle component with at least two connection points, a structural component that extends between the connection points and rigidly connects them with one another. The structural component comprises at least one insert made of a ductile material and at least two connection zones that support or form the two connection points, at least one of the zones comprises plastic. The structural component comprises at least one intermediate section that connects the two connection zones rigidly to one another and comprises the insert or is formed by the insert, this section is more ductile than at least one of the two connection zones and, in relation to a mechanical overload of the structural component, forms a locally delimited weak-point or region.

Vehicle component

A twist beam axle for a wheel suspension of a motor vehicle. The twist beam axle has two trailing arms and a torsional profile having prismatic-shaped end sections with a noncircular cross-section. One trailing arm is connected to one torsional profile end section in each case. The trailing arms have a receiving recess having a shape corresponding to that of the outer surface of the torsional profile end section. An inwardly pressed plug is disposed in the interior of each torsional profile end section. The twist beam axle ensures permanent transfers high bending moments and torques between the trailing arms and the torsional profile without a welded joint. Different classes of materials can be used for the torsional profile and trailing arms, or can be connected to one another. The twist beam axle generally makes it possible to use large-volume, thin-walled and, therefore, weight-saving torsional profiles.

Twist beam axle

A ball joint with a ball pin and a steel ball pin with a joint ball. The ball joint and ball pin are suitable for use when, for example, solid-on-solid friction predominates under high static pre-loading or high operational loads and with small joint movements. A portion of the surface of the ball pin has surface layer hardening in order to increase a fatigue strength of the ball pin. The ball pin and the ball joint, on portion of the ball pin without the any surface layer hardened, includes a nitrided layer as wear protection. The ball pin and the ball joint provide an advantageous combination of high fatigue strength, good corrosion protection and high wear-resistance. The nitrided layer of ball joints, previously only regarded as improving corrosion protection, also functions as a wear protection. Thus, these ball pins overcome the mutual exclusion between surface layer hardening and nitriding.

Ball pin and ball joint

A trailer towing device for a tractor vehicle () which comprises a coupling ball (), having a hollow space () for coupling a trailer vehicle (), and a ball support () which engages with an end area in the hollow space () through an opening () provided in the coupling ball () and supports the coupling ball (), such that the end area of the ball support () comprises a joint ball () on which the coupling ball () is fitted and can rotate so that, together with the coupling ball (), the joint ball forms a ball joint ().

Trailer towing device for a tractor vehicle

A ball and socket joint, for example, for an axle system of a motor vehicle, as well as to a process for manufacturing a joint housing for a ball and socket joint. The ball and socket joint has an essentially annular joint housing (), in the cylindrical interior space of which a ball shell () can be arranged. The ball () of a ball pivot can be accommodated in the ball shell () in a slidingly movable manner. The joint housing is of a smooth cylindrical design in the area of a housing cover-side functional section (), while elevations () and/or depressions () are arranged in the area of a ball pivot-side functional section () of the inner jacket surface of the joint housing.

Ball and socket joint, as well as process for manufacturing a ball and socket joint

Growing community of inventors

Lemforde, Germany

Dirk Adamczyk