The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 03, 2015
Filed:
Aug. 30, 2012
Dirk Adamczyk, Lemforde, DE;
Wolfgang Kleiner, Wagenfeld, DE;
Klaus Pape, Damme, DE;
Wolfgang Eulerich, Osnabruck, DE;
Martin Rechtien, Neuenkirchen, DE;
Thomas Wiegmann, Osnabruck, DE;
Manfred Heidemann, Belm-Vehrte, DE;
Jochen Kruse, Osnabrueck, DE;
Johannes Tabor, Damme, DE;
Rainer Jasper, Rastede, DE;
Ulrich Schefzyk, Osnabrueck, DE;
Dirk Adamczyk, Lemforde, DE;
Wolfgang Kleiner, Wagenfeld, DE;
Klaus Pape, Damme, DE;
Wolfgang Eulerich, Osnabruck, DE;
Martin Rechtien, Neuenkirchen, DE;
Thomas Wiegmann, Osnabruck, DE;
Manfred Heidemann, Belm-Vehrte, DE;
Jochen Kruse, Osnabrueck, DE;
Johannes Tabor, Damme, DE;
Rainer Jasper, Rastede, DE;
Ulrich Schefzyk, Osnabrueck, DE;
ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Friedrichshafen, DE;
Abstract
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.