Patent ID: 6592284
Filing Date: 2003-07-15
Classification: F16C,Y10T

Abstract:
A process for manufacturing a low-friction ball-and-socket joint having a ball pivot with a pivot area and with a joint ball made in one piece therewith, the process comprising:introducing the joint ball into a bearing shell; introducing the bearing shell through an opening into a joint housing; closing the opening of the housing with a housing cover after the introduction of the bearing shell and joint ball; connecting the ball pivot to a recording device of a torque measuring device to determine the torque of the joint between the bearing shells and the joint ball; permanently fixing the housing cover using a rolling device by bending over a rolled edge of the housing; continuously measuring the torque of the joint during the rolling operation and comparing the measured torque with a presettable set point, wherein the housing cover displaces the upper bearing shell in an axial direction against the joint ball and generates a pressing force, which is partially compensated by a support element at the housing cover; immediately terminating the rolling process when the set point of the torque of the joint is reached.