Raufoss Technology as

Trygve Ruste

Stig Fredrik Mathiesen

Rune Waaler

A ball joint for a wheel suspension in a vehicle is disclosed. The ball joint includes a bearing shell, a ball, and a housing. The ball is supported in the bearing shell, with the shell being subdivided by slots into lip elements. The slots are preferably arranged in the bearing shell from a middle part and up to an upper rim. The lip elements may be bent outwards at a compression groove to admit the ball when it is introduced into the shell.

Ball joint and bearing shell

A square shaped sub-frame for a vehicle manufactured from an especially designed aluminium profile (). The profile comprises a first and a second channel () separated by an intervening channel (). Said first and second channels () are separated in localized areas by removing wall material from the intervening channel (). Then, the profile () is bent into a U-shaped or square, closed frame, said second channel () defining a load carrying frame. The first channel () is machined into mounting brackets for control arms etc.

Subframe for a vehicle and a method for its manufacture

The present invention involves a control arm for use in the wheel suspension of a car. The arm is produced from a hollow, closed profile of high strength, extruded aluminium. The arm is produced in a wholly cold process, similar to the one used to produce aluminium fenders, involving stretch-bending, pressing, cutting and punching of the aluminium profile into the desired shape. The arm has a closed and smooth shape; in addition, it has a rib on its outer surface for fending off water and snow.

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Raufoss, Norway

Trygve Ruste