Zf Friedrichshafen Ag

Zf Friedshafen Ag

Jörg Heemann

Günter Reddehase

Sören Knopp

Christoph Werries

Farina Brenk

Philipp Wilhelm Kruse

A joint component includes a ball joint with a joint housing that defines a stud opening and a measurement port opposite the stud opening in an axial direction. A ball stud includes a joint ball movably fitted in the joint housing, where the joint ball faces toward the measurement port and the ball stud extends out of the housing through the stud opening. A component body includes a joint-holding housing that defines a joint opening and has a base opposite the joint opening in the axial direction. The joint housing is inserted into the component body with its measurement port facing toward the base. An angle measurement device has an angle sensor to capture a signal that characterizes an angular position of the ball stud relative to the joint housing. The angle measurement device can hold the angle sensor in a sensor holder between the base and the joint housing.

Joint component

A three-point link having two control arms forming an acute angle and meet at a central joint. The central joint has a cylindrical dome extending perpendicular to a plane defined by the control arms. The central joint has a joint ball penetrated by the dome. To prevent separation of the central joint, it has a captive securing device which functions as a stop that extends perpendicular to an axial direction. The securing device is penetrated by the dome and is secured against axial withdrawal by an annular securing element. Viewed in axial direction, the annular securing element is arranged on a side of the captive securing device) remote of the joint ball and engages in a circumferential groove of the dome. The annular securing element is snugly surrounded in radial direction by the captive securing device to prevent a withdrawal of the annular securing element from the circumferential groove.

Three-point link

A three-point suspension link has a housing supported by a ball joint so as to be rotatably and swivelably movable relative to an axle connection of the link. The link further has a captive securing arrangement functioning as a stop and extending perpendicular to the central axis of the axle connection so as to prevent a separation of the housing and axle connection in the event of failure of the ball joint. The captive securing arrangement extends perpendicular to the central axis of the axle connection operatively in two spatial directions. The three-point suspension link is formed as an axle guide link for guiding a rigid axle.

Growing community of inventors

Diepholz, Germany

Jörg Heemann