Ball-and-socket joint assembly tool and method

US4701990A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Robert Bosch GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Georg Kehl · Stuttgart, DE
• Ernst-Dieter Schafer · Neckartenzlingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 2, 1986
• Grant date: Oct 27, 1987
• Expiry date: Dec 2, 2006

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T403/7066
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A self-securing ball-and-socket joint which has a ball head integrally formed on a rod, an outer structural part having a bore that pivotably receives the ball head and a radially elastic CIRCLIP brand retaining ring as well as a separate auxiliary assembly tool for the retaining ring. In the outer structural part beside the center of the ball head, there is a circumferential groove having a support face for the retaining ring. When the ball-and-socket joint is assembled, the retaining ring is first inserted into the circumferential groove. Then the auxiliary assembly tool is inserted into the bore. At its initial end the auxiliary assembly tool is embodied in the manner of a centering and expansion tool, so that it aligns the retaining ring with respect to the circumferential groove and finally forces it into this groove. Upon further displacement of the auxiliary assembly tool, the retaining ring snaps home into a detent notch provided on the circumference of the auxiliary assembly tool. As a result, the retaining ring is prevented from falling out of the outer structural part. For final assembly of the ball-and-socket joint, all that remains to be done is to insert the ball head…