A ball joint includes a cover plate with a nested portion along an outer perimeter having a nested portion thickness, a domed portion located radially inward of the outer perimeter having a domed portion thickness, and a pressed portion located between the nested portion and the domed portion having a pressed portion thickness. The pressed portion thickness is less than the domed portion thickness, which during manufacture, is formed when the cover plate and bearing are simultaneously pressed into their final form and position. A tool can be used to press the cover plate and bearing in a single operation. The tool can have interchangeable components, allowing for the manufacture of differently sized ball joints.

The invention relates to a sealing apparatus for sealing the ball joint of a kingpin comprising at least one holding ring and at least one seal ring, wherein the seal ring is provided at least partially within a groove of the holding ring, and wherein the groove is provided in a radially inwardly disposed region of the holding ring.

A ball joint includes a cover plate with a nested portion along an outer perimeter having a nested portion thickness, a domed portion located radially inward of the outer perimeter having a domed portion thickness, and a pressed portion located between the nested portion and the domed portion having a pressed portion thickness. The pressed portion thickness is less than the domed portion thickness, which during manufacture, is formed when the cover plate and bearing are simultaneously pressed into their final form and position. A tool can be used to press the cover plate and bearing in a single operation. The tool can have interchangeable components, allowing for the manufacture of differently sized ball joints.

Provided are a ball joint and a dust cover of which a seal part can be prevented from being impacted due to great swings of a ball stud. A dust cover 100 includes a deformable body part 110, a fixed part 120 provided to the body part 110 on one end side and fixed to the socket 200, and a seal part 130 provided to the body part 110 on another end side, the seal part 130 has an elastic body part provided integrally with the body part 110 and having an inner peripheral seal part 131 which is configured to slide on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft 310 and a reinforcement ring 150 embedded in the elastic body part, and a tip end surface of the reinforcement ring 150 on a knuckle 400 side is at least partly exposed from the elastic body part and is in contact with the knuckle 400.

In order to effect a seal a porous material which comprises one side of two opposing surfaces is used to restrict and evenly distribute externally pressurized gas, liquid, steam, etc. between the two surfaces, exerting a force which is opposite the forces from pressure differences or springs trying to close the two faces together and so may create a non-contact seal that is more stable and reliable than hydrodynamic seals currently in use. A non-contact bearing is also disclosed having opposing surfaces with relative motion and one surface issuing higher than ambient pressure through a porous restriction, wherein the porous restriction is part of a monolithic porous body, or a porous layer, attached to lands containing a labyrinth, the porous restriction and lands configured to not distort more than 10% of a gap created from differential pressure between each side of the porous restriction.

A ball joint for a chassis component in the form of a two-point linkage. The ball joint includes a housing and a ball stud fitted and able to be deflected in the housing, as well as a sealing element arranged between the housing and the ball stud, which surrounds the ball stud all round. Deflection movement of the ball stud, relative to the housing, is restricted at least in some areas by the sealing element. The sealing element is attached to the housing by an interlocked connection. The sealing element of the ball joint is attached to the housing by a snap-on connection. A two-point linkage having such a ball joint, and the two-point linkage is a steering rod or a track rod.

A method of manufacturing a slotted entry bearing assembly includes inserting an inner race into a central space of an outer race. The outer race is configured to receive the inner race through at least one slot. Once the inner race is fully inserted into the outer race, it is rotated approximately ninety degrees within the center space, effectively locking the inner race within the outer race. After the inner race is rotated ninety degrees, a molded seal is molded between the inner race and the at least one slot. The molded seal adheres to the at least one slot and is made of a polymeric material. The molding process used to mold the molded seal may be compression molding.

An apparatus includes a housing; a spherical bearing disposed within the housing; a shaft disposed in part beneath the housing and penetrating a portion of the spherical bearing; a bellow circumscribing a lower portion of the housing and providing an interface between the spherical bearing and the shaft; and a cover adjacent a lower end of the bellow and having a circumferential groove configured to enable rotational movement of the bellow, the cover extending to and circumferentially surrounding a portion of the shaft to seal the shaft.

A boot for a ball socket assembly in an automotive pivoting and/or rotating socket having a flange with one or more thinned sections or gates adjacent a point of attachment to a socket housing that provides an effective seal against contaminants when lubricant is not being added with external pressure and also flexes when exposed to internal pressure allowing contaminated lubricant to escape from the socket. A ring is embedded in the flange with inwardly directed teeth flanking the thinned sections or gates for securing the boot to the socket housing.

A vehicle steering assembly that includes a housing, a pinion shaft, a seal, a protector and a dust cover. The housing defines a bore with the pinion shaft extending therethrough. The seal is disposed within the bore spaced apart from the end of the housing. The seal extends around the pinion shaft creating a seal therebetween. The housing and the pinion shaft define an annular space therebetween and between an opening at one end of the housing and the seal. The protector is fitted to the housing covering a portion of the opening and the annular space. The protector has a shaft receiving opening with the pinion shaft extending therethrough and out of the housing. The dust cover is attached to the housing completely covering the protector and the opening of the bore.