Zf Lemforder Metallwaren Ag

Zf Friedrichshafen Ag

Matthias Gercke

Jens Eismann

Franz-Josef Marquardt

Martin Rechtien

Daniel Wolf

Olaf Abels

Holger Bublies

Jürgen Gräber

Ralf Kunze

Sören Knopp

Thomas Eifflaender

Eike Helm

Matthias Quaing

Martin Wellerding

Markus Steffens

Wilfried Lustig

Frank Anna

Christian Maassmann

Jean-Paul Castanet

Thomas Catterfeld

Andreas Mönninghoff

Anna Frank

A four-point link for the suspension of a rigid axle which has four bearing seats. Two bearing seats can be articulated on the axle and two can be articulated on the vehicle frame. The link has a single-piece link body which is inscribed by the trapezoid formed by the bearing seats. The link body is formed of a fiber-composite arrangement that comprises at least one longitudinal fiber arrangement. The longitudinal fiber arrangement encases the bearing seat, at least along half circumference thereof and extends along at least a portion of the link body in order to optimize loading, reduce mass and increase its application. Torsional compliance makes it possible to use relatively small and/or hard rubber bearings for articulating the four-point link or the vehicle axle.

Four-point link

A junction connection is provided that is used to connect a torque transmitting junction component () to a hollow shaft (). The junction component () includes a continuous recess which has a shape which corresponds to the outer cross-section of the hollow shaft () and which is used to receive the hollow shaft (). The hollow shaft () includes a press stopper () in the connection area between the hollow shaft () and the junction component (). The press stopper () forms, at least sectionally, a press fit with the wall of the hollow shaft (). The junction connection enables the transmission of comparatively high torque during the entire service life thereof. The junction connection is also compatible with thin-walled, light-weight hollow shafts. The junction connection limits production costs, mounting and maintenance.

Hollow shaft junction connection

A ball-and-socket joint for a motor vehicle, especially for a rocker pendulum of a motor vehicle, is provided with a housing (), which is open on at least one side and into the interior space () of which a bearing shell () is inserted, which in turn accommodates a joint ball () of a ball pivot () in a slidingly movable manner. The interior space () has elevations and/or depressions () along its inner jacket surface () or a polygonal cross section, so that the bearing shell (), which is provided with an oversize in relation to the inner jacket surface (), can be inserted into the housing () in a positive-locking manner while its outer surface undergoes a partial plastic deformation. The inner jacket surface () may have pressure zones () which shorten the effective length of the elevations and/or depressions ().

Ball and socket joint

A ball-and-socket joint, especially a wheel guide joint for motor vehicles is provided with a housing (), in the cavity () of which, which is open on at least one side, a bearing shell () is inserted with a joint ball () mounted therein. The bearing shell () forms a assembly unit () together with the joint ball () accommodated therein. The assembly unit is displaceable in the cavity () along a axis (). A first collar () and a second collar (), between which a limited free path () of the displaceable assembly unit () is defined, form end stops in the cavity () of the housing (). The bearing shell () is a accomodated in the cavity () under a slight radial pretension and at least one compensating element () is arranged between the bearing shell () and the inner surface of the cavity ().

Ball joint

A housing for receiving a bearing component is presented, which has a shaft projection, which can be inserted into the recess of the end area of a hollow section and can be pressed together with the end area, wherein the shaft projection is provided with a groove profile, in which the groove profile is prepared by a deformation process or an original shaping process. Notch effect and consequently a weakening of the cross section on the highly stressed shaft projection is avoided by the said processes. The present invention pertains, moreover, to such a groove profile located at a shaft projection of a housing.

Housing for receiving a bearing component and process for manufacturing same

Growing community of inventors

Affinghausen, Germany

Matthias Gercke