A method of manufacturing a ball joint includes arranging a ball in a bore of a housing, and enclosing an end of the bore. Plastic is injected into a space between the housing and the ball to form a bearing that has a bearing surface that engages the ball. The bearing shrinks to form a recess in the bearing surface so that the recess can be filled with a grease.

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.

The socket assembly includes a housing with an inner bore that extends from a wall at a closed end to an open end. A ball stud is received in the inner bore, and a shank portion of the ball stud projects out through the open end. A backing bearing is movably disposed in the inner bore. The backing bearing presents a bearing surface which is in sliding contact with a ball portion of the ball stud. An exit bearing is locked into a fixed position within the inner bore and has another bearing surface which is in sliding contact with the ball portion. A spring is positioned between the wall and the backing bearing and imparts a preload force against the backing bearing. The wall is deformed to preload the spring against the backing bearing and reduce clearances between components in the socket assembly.

The socket assembly has a housing with an inner bore which extends from a first end to a second end. A ball portion of a ball stud is received in the inner bore. A backing bearing is disposed in the inner bore and presents a curved bearing surface in surface-to-surface contact with the ball portion. A first spring biases the backing bearing against the ball portion. The socket assembly also includes an exit bearing with a cylindrical portion that is in contact with an equator of the ball portion and a semi-spherical portion that is in surface-to-surface contact with an opposite hemisphere from the first bearing surface. A second spring biases the exit bearing into a predetermined location established by the housing. The exit bearing is movable from the predetermined location in a direction towards the second end of the housing against a biasing force of the second spring.

A ball and socket joint, including a pin located on either the socket or the ball and a groove located on the other of the socket or ball, the pin configured to engage the groove and translate along the length of the groove when the ball is located in the socket. An attachment surface for attaching a device to the ball and socket joint is also provided, and the pin and groove are arranged to prevent rotation of the ball about an axis that is parallel to the plane of the groove and extends through the attachment surface when the ball is located in the socket. A ball and socket joint includes a locking nut, the locking nut including a partly circular internal cross section and a second flat surface.

A pivot bearing (1) for a hydraulic clearance compensation element (2), especially of a valve train of an internal combustion engine, is provided in which the pivot bearing (1) has a first part (3) projecting in an axial direction (a) with a surface (4) that is convex at least in some sections and also a second part (5) with a surface (6) that is concave at least in some sections for at least partially holding the first part (3). To optimize the production of such a pivot bearing and to minimize the associated costs, the invention provides that the first part (3) is constructed at least partially as a ball, wherein the second part (5) surrounds the ball (3) with undercut in the axial direction (a).

An apparatus and a method are provided for an offset tie rod joint for vehicle steering systems. The offset tie rod joint comprises a ball rotatably retained within a casing that is disposed in an opening of an offset housing. A threaded shank fixedly coupled with the offset housing is received by a steering rod. The opening is displaced from a longitudinal axis of the threaded shank by a distance that provides clearance between the offset housing and a spindle assembly during articulation of the spindle assembly during steering. A rear backstop and a front snap-ring in a groove retain the casing within the opening. A bore extending through the ball receives a bolt that fixates the ball between parallel prongs of the spindle assembly. A misalignment spacer on each side of the ball provides clearance for rotation of the ball within the offset housing.

A driving control device for a vehicle, comprising a handle bar interconnected with a brake bar having attachment means for attachment to a brake pedal, the attachment means comprising a locking mechanism comprising an engagement head with a shaft portion and a bail portion having a flat portion, the latter locking mechanism further comprising an engagement socket having a spherical compartment fitting the ball portion and a wall portion in the opening of the socket allowing the engagement head to enter the spherical compartment when the flat portion slides over the wall portion. The driving control device is intended for handicapped drivers and for safe and easy attachment to a vehicle brake pedal.

The present invention provides a wide angle joint including: a pair of yoke shafts mounted on opposite sides thereof to transmit power from the one side to the opposite side, each yoke shaft having a ball end portion provided on a first yoke part to which a spider is coupled; a plate having a large-diameter part formed in the middle thereof and protruding parts protruding from the large-diameter part in the opposite axial directions while being reduced in a radially inward direction, wherein the protruding parts have insertion recesses into which the ball end portions of the yoke shafts are inserted, and the large-diameter part is faulted to have different widths in radial directions from the central portion thereof; and a pair of coupling yokes, each of which has a second yoke part connected with the first yoke part through the spider and a support recess into which the large-diameter part of the plate is inserted.

A linking arm assembly adapted to receive and retain a ball stud. The assembly includes an elongated rod structure and a socket head and is variable over a range of lengths by adjustment of the relative position of the elongated rod structure and the socket head. Linking arm assemblies consistent with the present disclosure may be adjusted for use in different applications while using common components.