Abstract:
A method for manufacturing a cartridge-type housing for a ball and socket joint in a vehicular suspension system comprises the steps of inserting a housing blank into a forging tool die, expanding the housing blank within the forging tool die using a forging tool punch, and forming knurls on an exterior surface of the housing during the expanding step. The ball and socket joint assembly thus formed comprises a housing having an interior socket and an exterior surface at least partially knurled for press fit into a mating first suspension part, such as a control arm. A ball is rotatably seated within the socket to provide an articulating joint. A mounting shank extends from the ball, outwardly from the housing, for attaching to a second suspension component, such as a suspended wheel. The housing, together with its knurls, is formed in a forging tool. As distinguished from the prior art technique of machining, knurls formed in the forging process allow economical, high-volume production. In addition, the forging technique allows greater design flexibility to place knurls in surface configurations previously unattainable or impractical with conventional machining techniques.
Abstract:
A ball and socket assembly (10) comprises a housing (12) having an interior socket (14) and an exterior surface (16) at least partially knurled (18) for press fit into a mating first suspension part (20), such as a control arm. A ball (22) is rotatably sealed within the socket to provide an articulated joint. A mounting shank (25) extends outwardly from the ball for attachment to a second suspension component, such as a suspended wheel. The housing, together with its knurls, is formed in a forging tool (36) whereby greater design flexibility to place knurls in surface configurations previously unattainable or impractical with conventional machining techniques is obtained, as well as economical, high-volume production.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for producing a housing (4) for a ball joint by cold-working. According to said method, a first axial cavity (1) with a diameter (D1) is first formed in a slug (R), produced from bar or wire raw material and prepared for cold-working, using reverse-cupping cold-extrusion and a second axial cavity (2) with a comparatively larger diameter (D2) is subsequently formed in said first axial cavity (1), also using reverse-cupping cold-extrusion. The second reverse-cupping cold-extrusion process causes a partial reduction in diameter (D3) as a result of material deformation, said reduction also affecting the first axial cavity (1).
Abstract:
A method for manufacturing large diameter tapered roller bearing cages (10B). A straight metal strip, coil or plate of cage blank material (10), precisely dimensioned in width, length and thickness, with or without windows or pockets pre-cut, is fed into a rolling mill (100). The rolling mill incorporates a pair of unparallel forming rolls (102A, 102B) disposed such that the gap (G) there between forms a wedge shape. As the cage blank material (10) is fed through the wedge-shaped forming roll gap (G), one lateral side of the cage blank material is plastically deformed to reduce its thickness (T) and to elongate its length, while no deformation or only a very slight deformation is introduced to the other lateral side of the cage blank, thus forming the cage blank into an arc shape. A third roll (104) disposed in exit side of the forming rolls (102), in a pre-calculated position, bends the rolled cage blank into a circular conical ring (10A). After the entire cage blank is rolled into the conical ring configuration, the conical ring may pass through the rolling mill (100) again for a final resizing. Adjacent butt ends (12A, 12B) of the formed conical ring cage blank (10A) are aligned and joined together during the assembly process to form the large diameter tapered roller bearing cage (10B).
Abstract:
A method of making a component (2) of an orthopaedic joint prosthesis, which has a bearing surface whose shape corresponds approximately to a part of a sphere and is symmetrical about its polar axis, involves use of a cutting tool (6) which has a circular cutting edge (12) and which can be rotated about an axis (8) which is perpendicular to the plane containing the said cutting edge (12). The method involves (a) rotating the component about its polar axis (4) and rotating the cutting tool (6) about its axis (8), with the cutting edge (12) of the cutting tool (6) in contact with the surface of the component (2); (b) moving the cutting tool (i) in a direction parallel to the polar axis (4) of the component (2) while leaving the angle between the axis of the cutting tool (6) and the polar axis of the component (2) unchanged, and (ii) along its axis (8); and (c) repeating step (a). The movements (i) and (ii) of the cutting tool (6) cause the radius of curvature of the bearing surface to change continuously and monotonically as the angle between the radius and the polar axis of the component changes, so that the shape of the bearing surface deviates from that of a true sphere in such a way that discontinuities in the shape of the bearing surface as a result of individual movements are minimised.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for producing, adapting and/or adjusting at least one bearing in a fluid mini- to micro-component (M) comprising a stator (30) and at least one rotor (40, 2). Said rotor is rotatably positioned on the at least one bearing (L10, L11) in relation to the stator. The inventive method is characterised in that (a) the rotor (40, 2) is rotatably positioned by means of a bushing (10, 11) which is inserted into the stator (30) in order to form the bearing, the at least one bushing being inserted in the stator in the form of a bearing bushing and comprising an inner and an outer surface (10i, 10a; 11i, 11a); (b) before being positioned in the stator, said bearing bushing (10, 11) is a particular bearing component comprising an inner surface (10i, 11i) as an inner bearing surface which is mechanically finish-machined before being positioned in the stator, and; (c) the outer surface (10a, 11a) of the bearing component (10, 11) is connected to the stator (30) in a mechanically fixed manner.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for producing, adapting and/or adjusting at least one bearing in a fluid mini- to micro-component (M) comprising a stator (30) and at least one rotor (40, 2). Said rotor is rotatably positioned on the at least one bearing (L10, L11) in relation to the stator. The inventive method is characterised in that (a) the rotor (40, 2) is rotatably positioned by means of a bushing (10, 11) which is inserted into the stator (30) in order to form the bearing, the at least one bushing being inserted in the stator in the form of a bearing bushing and comprising an inner and an outer surface (10i, 10a; 11i, 11a); (b) before being positioned in the stator, said bearing bushing (10, 11) is a particular bearing component comprising an inner surface (10i, 11i) as an inner bearing surface which is mechanically finish-machined before being positioned in the stator, and; (c) the outer surface (10a, 11a) of the bearing component (10, 11) is connected to the stator (30) in a mechanically fixed manner.