JOINT COMPONENT

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A joint component comprising: ball joint (2) having a joint housing (6) that defines a stud opening (4) and defines a measurement port (5) opposite the stud opening (4) in an axial direction (x); a ball stud (8) comprising a joint ball (7), the ball stud movably fitted into the joint housing (6) with the joint ball (7) facing toward the measurement port (5), and so that the ball stud extends outward through the stud opening (4); a component body (3) having a joint-holding housing (16) that defines a joint opening (14) and having a base (15) positioned opposite the joint opening (14) in the axial direction (x), wherein the joint housing (6) is inserted into the joint opening with its measurement port (5) facing toward the base; an angle measurement device comprising an angle sensor (18), the angle sensor configured to capture a signal characterizing an angular position of the ball stud (8) relative to the joint housing (6), wherein the angle measurement device comprises a sensor holder (19) arranged between the base (15) and the joint housing (6), by which the angle sensor (18) is held.

2. The joint component according to claim 1, wherein the joint housing (6) is fitted or screwed into the joint-holding housing (16).

3. The joint component according to claim 1, wherein the sensor holder (19) is seated in the measurement port (5) so that an axial end section (21) of the sensor holder faces toward the joint housing.

4. The joint component according to claim 3, wherein the said axial end section (21) is sealed relative to a wall of the joint housing (6 delimits the measurement port (5) by a sealing element (23).

5. The joint component according to claim 1, wherein the sensor holder (19) is fixed to the base (15).

6. The joint component according to claim 1, wherein the base (15) is made integrally with the joint-holding housing (16).

7. The joint component according to claim 1, wherein the joint-holding housing (16) is provided with a wall (35) that surrounds the joint housing (6) and defines a base opening (34) opposite the joint opening (14) in the axial direction (x), the base opening (34 closed by the base (15) and wherein the base (15) is a separate component that is fixedly attached to the said wail (35).

8. The joint component according to claim 1, comprising an electric lead, a plug-in connection on or in the sensor holder (19), a plug-in contact (27) on a sensor side, and a plug-in contact (28) on a lead side wherein the angle sensor (18) is electrically connected to the plug-in connection via the electric lead.

9. The joint component according to claim 8, wherein the sensor holder (19) and the plug-in contact (27) on the sensor side are connected to one another by a second plug-in connection, the second plug-in connection having a plug-in contact area (29) on the sensor holder (19) and a plug-in contact area (30) on the plug-in contact (27) on the sensor side.

10. The joint component according to claim 8, wherein the angle sensor (18) is integrated in the plug-in contact (27) on the sensor side.

11. The joint component according to claim 1, wherein the ball joint (2) comprises a ball socket (9) arranged in the joint housing (6), in which the joint ball (7) is held in such manner that it can slide the joint ball slidably retained in the ball socket, and the joint component further comprising a spring between the base (15) and the sensor holder (19) the spring biasing the sensor holder (19) against the joint housing (6) and/or against the ball socket (9).

12. The joint component according to claim 1, wherein the angle measurement device comprises a signal source (17) on the joint ball (7), the signal source comprising at least one magnet defining a magnetic field that constitutes the signal, and wherein the angle sensor (18) comprises at least one magnetic-field-sensitive sensor.

13-15. (canceled)

16. The joint component of claim 4, wherein the sealing component comprises a sealing ring.

17. A method for calibrating the angle measurement device of a joint component (1) according to claim 1, the method comprising: providing the sensor holder (19) with the angle sensor (18); arranging the sensor holder (19) is arranged in the area of the measurement port (5) of the ball joint (2); electrically connecting a calibration device to the angle sensor (8) the angle measurement device is calibrating the angle measurement device using calibration device and then disconnecting the calibration device from the angle sensor (18), moving the ball joint (2) together with the sensor holder (19) to a location different from the measurement port; inserting the sensor holder (19) into the joint-holding housing (16) and then inserting the ball joint (2) with the joint housing (6) into the joint-holding housing (16); and aligning the ball stud (8) with and/or attaching the ball stud (8) to another component.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein inserting the ball joint into the joint-holding housing (16) includes screwing the ball joint (2) with its joint housing (6) into the joint-holding housing (16).

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein between arranging the sensor holder and calibrating the angle measurement device, the method includes aligning the ball stud (8) and marking a marked position of the aligned ball stud (8), and wherein between inserting the sensor holder and the step of aligning the ball stud with and/or attaching the ball stud (8), the ball stud (8) is moved to the marked position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0057] Below, the invention is described with reference to preferred embodiments, referring also to the drawing, which shows:

[0058] FIG. 1: A perspective representation of part of a joint component, according to a first embodiment.

[0059] FIG. 2: A partially sectioned view of the joint component in FIG. 1,

[0060] FIG. 3: Another partially sectioned view of the joint component in FIG. 1,

[0061] FIG. 4: A further partially sectioned view of the joint component in FIG. 1,

[0062] FIG. 5: A perspective view of a sensor holder,

[0063] FIG. 6: A side view of part of a joint component according to a second embodiment.

[0064] FIG. 7: A sectioned view of the joint component according to the second embodiment, along the section line A-A in FIG. 6, and

[0065] FIG. 8: A flow chart to make clear a method for calibrating an angle measurement device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of part of a joint component 1 according to a first embodiment, whereas FIGS. 2 to 4 show partially sectioned views of this joint component 1. The joint component 1, which is in the form of a link, comprises a ball joint 2 and a component body 3, which can in this case also be called a link body.

[0067] The ball joint 2 comprises a joint housing 6 with a stud opening 4 and with a measurement port 5 opposite the stud opening 4 in an axial direction x, and a ball stud 8 comprising a joint ball 7, which is fitted movably in the joint housing 6 with its joint ball 7 facing toward the measurement port 5, the ball stud extending out through the stud opening 4. In the joint housing 6 is arranged a ball socket 9 into which the joint ball 7 is fitted so that it can slide. Associated with the ball joint 2 is a joint axis 11 which extends in the axial direction x and passes through the mid-point 10 of the joint ball 7. Furthermore, associated with the ball stud 8 is a stud axis 12 that passes through the mid-point 10 of the joint ball 7, which axis, in a reference tilt position of the ball stud 8, coincides with the joint axis 11 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. Thus, a tilt angle enclosed between the joint axis 11 and the stud axis 12 is equal to zero in FIGS. 1 to 4. The hall stud 8 has a stud section 13 which extends out and away from the joint ball 7 in the direction of the stud axis 12.

[0068] The component body 3 comprises a joint-holding housing 16 provided with a joint opening 14 and with a base 15 opposite the joint opening 14 in the axial direction, into which the joint housing 6 is inserted with its measurement port 5 facing the base 15. In addition, the joint-holding housing 16 comprises in particular a wall 35 that surrounds the joint housing 6. In this first embodiment the base 15 is made integrally with the joint-holding housing 16 and/or with its wall 35. The ball joint 2 extends through the joint opening 14 out of the joint-holding housing 16, so that the ball stud 8 is arranged with its stud section 13 or at least its end facing away from the joint ball 7 outside the joint-holding housing 16.

[0069] The joint component 1 comprises an angle measurement device which has a signal source 17 provided on the joint ball 7 and an angle sensor 18, by means of which a signal produced by the signal sensor 17 can be captured. The angle sensor 18 is held by a sensor holder 19 arranged between the base 15 and the joint housing 6 in the axial direction x, which is also shown in the unassembled state in FIG. 5. The signal source 17 is positionally fixed relative to the joint ball 7 and the angle sensor 18 is positionally fixed relative to the joint housing 6, so that the signal characterizes an angular position of the ball stud 8 relative to the joint housing 6. The signal source 17 is preferably in the form of at least one permanent magnet, whose magnetic field in particular forms the signal. Moreover, the angle sensor 18 is preferably in the form of at least one magnetically sensitive sensor.

[0070] In the base 15 a recess 20 is provided, in which the sensor holder 19 is seated, this in turn sitting with an axial end section 21 in the measurement port 5. At its outer circumference the said axial end section 21 has an annular groove 22 in which a sealing element 23 is seated, by means of which the axial end section 21 is sealed relative to a. cylindrical wall of the joint housing 6 that delimits the measurement port 5. In this example embodiment the sealing element 23 is in the form of a sealing ring. In addition, between the base 15 and the sensor holder 19 there is arranged a spring 24, for example in the form of a cup spring, by means of which the sensor holder 19 is pressed in the axial direction x against the ball socket 9. Optionally, the sensor holder 19 is additionally fixed to the base 15 by screws 25 or by other fastening means, which in particular serve to prevent rotation.

[0071] The angle sensor 18 is electrically connected by a plug-in connection with an electric lead 26 in the form of a cable which extends at least partially outside the joint-holding housing 16, the plug-in connection comprising a plug-in contact 27 on the sensor side and a plug-in contact 28 on the lead side, these contacts 27 and 28 being plugged one into the other. Furthermore, the sensor holder 19 and the plug-in contact 27 on the sensor side are connected to one another by another plug-in connection which comprises a plug-in contact area 29 provided on the sensor holder 19 and a plug-in contact area 30 provided on the plug-in contact 27 on the sensor side, wherein the sensor holder 19 and the plug-in contact 27 on the sensor side are inserted one into the other with their plug-in contact areas 29 and 30. In particular, the angle sensor 18 is integrated in the plug-in contact 27 on the sensor side.

[0072] in the base 15 a connection opening 31 is provided, through which the sensor holder 19 is accessible from the outside, the connection opening 31 being closed by a cover 32 which is sealed by a seal 33 relative to the component body 3. In FIG. 4 the connection opening 31 is, for example, shown open, i.e., not closed by the cover 32.

[0073] FIG. 6 shows a side view of part of a joint component I according to a second embodiment, wherein features identical or similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same indexes as in the first embodiment. FIG. 7 shows a sectioned view of this joint component 1 viewed along the section line A-A in FIG. 6.

[0074] The joint component according to the second embodiment differs from the joint component 1 according to the first embodiment, particularly in that the joint-holding housing 16 is provided with an opening 34 in the base opposite the joint opening 14 in the axial direction x, which opening 34 is closed by a base 15 that forms a separate component and is in particular solidly connected to the wall 35 of the joint-holding housing 16 that surrounds the joint housing 6. In particular, the base 15 consists of sheet-metal.

[0075] The recess 20 provided in the base 15, in which the sensor holder 19 is seated, is in this case formed by a truncated-cone-shaped configuration of the base 15 itself. Moreover, the connection opening 31 is in this case, in particular, not closed by a separate cover. Preferably, however, the plug-in contact 27 on the sensor side extends through the connection opening 31. Optionally, the sensor holder 19 can additionally be fixed to the base 15 by means of screws or other fastening means.

[0076] Apart from those differences the second embodiment is essentially the same as the first embodiment, so that for further descriptions of the second embodiment reference should be made to the description of the first embodiment.

[0077] FIG. 8 shows a flow chart which makes clear a method for calibrating the angle measurement device described earlier. The method can be used both with the first and with the second embodiment.

[0078] As part of a preassembly process, the preassembled ball joint 2 is prepared. Preferably, the ball joint is preassembled in advance. In addition, the sensor holder 19 with the angle sensor 18, for example together with the plug-in contact 27 on the sensor side, are provided and arranged in the area of the measurement port 5 of the ball joint 2.

[0079] After the preassembly process, during a calibration process a calibrating device is connected electrically to the angle sensor 18, the ball stud 8 is aligned, and its position is marked, in particular on the joint housing. Then the calibration of the angle measurement device takes place with the help of the connected calibrating device, after which the latter is disconnected from the angle sensor 18.

[0080] After the calibration process, during a transportation process the ball joint 2 and the sensor holder 19 are transported to some other location, here which is also called the final assembly location.

[0081] After the transportation process, during a final assembly process, specifically at the final assembly location, the sensor holder 19 is inserted into the joint-holding housing 16, and the ball joint 2 with its joint housing 6 is then also inserted into the joint-holding housing 16. Finally, the ball stud 8 is moved to the marked position and attached to another component, which is preferably a wheel carrier.

INDEXES

[0082] 1 Joint component [0083] 2 Ball joint [0084] 3 Component body [0085] 4 Stud opening in the joint housing [0086] 5 Measurement port in the joint housing [0087] 6 Joint housing [0088] 7 Joint hall of the ball stud [0089] 8 Ball stud [0090] 9 Ball socket [0091] 10 Mid-point of the joint ball [0092] 11 Joint axis [0093] 12 Stud axis [0094] 13 Stud section of the ball stud [0095] 14 Joint opening of the joint-holding housing [0096] 15 Base of the joint-holding housing [0097] 16 Joint-holding housing [0098] 17 Signal source [0099] 18 Angle sensor [0100] 19 Sensor holder [0101] Recess in the base [0102] 21 Axial end section of the sensor holder [0103] 22 Annular groove [0104] 23 Sealing element [0105] 24 Spring

[0106] 025 Screw

[0107] 026 Electric lead/cable [0108] 27 Plug-in contact on the sensor side [0109] 28 Plug-in contact on the lead side [0110] 29 Plug-in connection area [0111] 30 Plug-in connection area [0112] 31 Connection opening [0113] 32 Cover [0114] 33 Seal [0115] 34 Base opening [0116] 35 Wall [0117] x Axial direction