Zf Friedrichshafen Ag

Zf Lemforder Metallwaren Ag

Zf-Lemforder Corporation

Magnachek

Friedrichshafen

Eric Holmes

Markus Fischer

Daniel Dearing

Harold Hopkinson, Iii

Joel Lautermilch

Barbara Jones

Frank Fehre

Wally Lawrence

Florian Abendroth

Timothy LaBuda

Richard Putnam

Tracy Holmes

Michael Lindemann

A protective cap () for the partial covering of a pre-fitted or a fully fitted vehicle component (). The protective cap () is made from a biogenic and/or renewable raw material.

Protective cap for partially covering a pre-assembled or fully assembled vehicle component

A ball joint having a ball stud that has a joint ball fixed at one end; a housing that defines a longitudinal axis and has an interior area which receives the joint ball and a socket that is positioned between the housing and the joint ball. The housing has an open end that includes an opening through which the ball stud extends when the joint ball is received within the interior area of the housing. The open end of the housing is formed such that the opening has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the joint ball. A press-on ring engages with an outer surface of the housing at the open end so as to increase a pull-out performance of the ball joint.

Press-on ring for improving pull-out performance in non-ferrous joint or connection applications

The system and method of making an asymmetrical buckling portion in a linkage member that is formed at the same time a hexagonal holding feature is being formed. The presence of the elongated groove drives the force of a buckling event asymmetrically through the inner tie rod ball stud near the area of failure, which influences the tie rod assembly to buckle in the direction of the groove, prior to other components in the linkage system and thus negates the effects of inner tie rod ball stud run-out tolerances that are present in conventional inner tie rod ball studs formed by machining.

Buckling groove for inner tie rod ball joint studs

A system and method for detecting wear and/or failure of a ball joint. The system having a ball housing which retains a ball head of the ball joint therein. A ball race is received within the ball housing and receives the ball head of the ball joint. An inwardly facing surface of the ball race engages the ball head such that the ball head can pivot in relation to the ball housing. A detection component is supported by the ball race and is spaced from an exterior surface of the ball head by a set distance. The detection component issues an indicator signal to alert a driver when the detection component detects at least one of a worn or a failure condition of the ball joint.

System and method for detecting overloading, wear and/or failure of a ball joint

A method and system for determining a hardness of a component to be tested by utilizing an ultrasonic meter. The method and system both comprise selecting a component to be tested which has a longitudinal axis; positioning a probe of the ultrasonic meter for emitting a signal from an emitter of the probe into an end surface of the component to be tested and along the longitudinal axis of the component; emitting the signal from the emitter of the probe into the first surface of the component to be tested; passing the emitted signal through the component to be tested; reflecting the emitted signal via an opposed second surface of the component to be tested back toward a detector of the probe; detecting the reflected signal via the detector of the probe; and determining a hardness of the component to be tested based upon a velocity of the emitted signal.

Hardness verification utilizing ultrasonic velocities

A method for forming a control arm is provided. The method includes providing an insert and a mold and also includes overcasting the insert within a metal in the mold. The insert defines a recess that is shaped for receiving a mating component. After the insert is overcast within the metal, the mating component may be positioned or mounted within the recess of the insert. A related control arm is also provided.

Control arm and a method for forming the same

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a multilayered duplex material article. The method comprises providing a first layer from a non-cast material and a second layer from a cast material wherein the second layer is made from a material with a lower melting point than the first layer. In one embodiment the first layer is a wrought alloy and the second layer is cast onto the first layer.

Method of making a multilayered duplex material article

A toe link for the suspension system of a vehicle includes means for adjusting the axial length of the toe link while preventing relative rotation of the extending ends of the toe link.

Motor vehicle adjustable toe link

A ball joint, is provided in the form of a cross axis joint with a housing, a bearing shell in the housing and a ball sleeve. The ball sleeve includes a ball portion with a bearing surface cooperating with the bearing shell and a first pivot pin and a second pivot pin extending from said ball portion in an axial direction. The ball sleeve has an inner surface defining a through hole () for receipt of a connection bolt. The first pivot pin has a first end with a first outer surface () and a first annular end face () and the second pivot pin has a second end with a second outer surface () and a second annular end face (). Sealing rings () are provided, each having a first axially extending portion extending along the first outer surface and having a sealing area outer surface defining a bellows seal seat () and a radially extending portion extending along the end face. Each bellows seal () is connected to the housing at one end and connected to said bellows seal seat () at another end.

Cross axis ball and socket joint with sealing ring for cross axis sleeve ends

A ball and socket joint bellows seal is provided with a ball pivot pin with a connection piece, a bellows with an annular engagement surface with a sliding ring groove and a bellows seal element. The bellows seal element has a connection piece sealing face statically engaged with said connection piece, a radially extending sealing portion and a sliding ring portion connected to said radially extending sealing portion and extending into the sliding ring groove.

Joint sealing bellows with sealing ring and assembly/installation method

A ball-and-socket joint for motor vehicles provided, with a joint ball and a pivot pin, a housing part formed of a shaped metal tube having a top end with an opening and having an opposite end with a pivot pin opening through which the pivot pin protrudes and with a molded material molded on a portion of the housing, the molded on material forming functional surfaces on each of an inside and an outside of the housing part.

Ball-and-socket joint and ball-and-socket bearing shell

A process for forming the ball and socket joint with bellows seal (), a bellows seal () and a ball and socket joint with bellows seal () is provided including a ball pivot pin () with a connection piece (). The sealing bellows is provided with an annular engagement surface () with a cavity (). The connection piece with a sealing face is connected to the ball pivot pin. Lubricant () is disposed in the cavity prior to assembly of the ball and socket joint. The annular engagement surface () is provided in contact with the sealing face upon assembly to cause an amount of lubricant () to be squeezed out of the cavity ().

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Eric Holmes