George E Phillips

US Patent:

20110135381, Jun 9, 2011

Filed:

Dec 3, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/630357

Inventors:

Michael Wilcutt - Birmingham AL, US
George Phillips - Bremen AL, US
Anthony Dake - Albertville AL, US
Rickie Williams - Attalla AL, US
Chris Shores - Grant AL, US
Kennon Bret Swayer - Crossville AL, US

Assignee:

FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATION - Southfield MI

International Classification:

F16C 11/06
B23P 6/00

US Classification:

403122, 2940208

Abstract:

A replacement ball joint assembly () adapted to be pressed into a previously used and possibly distorted receiving hole () in a suspension component such as a control arm (). A socket housing () of the assembly () includes a plurality of generally annular, concentric knurls () each having a respective crest portion () and separated one from another by intervening relief grooves (). The crest portions () of the knurls () may be tapered so as to provide a lead-in feature to minimize misalignment during a press-in installation operation. The knurls () are preferably softer than the control arm material so that they yield during press-in rather than further disfiguring or enlarging the receiving hole (). Displaced material from the crest portions () of the knurls () flows into the relief grooves ().

US Patent:

20160355066, Dec 8, 2016

Filed:

Aug 17, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/238923

Inventors:

- Southfield MI, US
George Phillips - Bremen AL, US
Anthony Dake - Albertville AL, US
Rickie Williams - Attalla AL, US
Chris Shores - Grant AL, US
Kennon Bret Swayer - Crossville AL, US

International Classification:

B60G 7/00
B23P 6/00

Abstract:

A replacement ball joint assembly () adapted to be pressed into a previously used and possibly distorted receiving hole () in a suspension component such as a control arm (). A socket housing () of the assembly () includes a plurality of generally annular, concentric knurls () each having a respective crest portion () and separated one from another by intervening relief grooves (). The crest portions () of the knurls () may be tapered so as to provide a lead-in feature to minimize misalignment during a press-in installation operation. The knurls () are preferably softer than the control arm material so that they yield during press-in rather than further disfiguring or enlarging the receiving hole (). Displaced material from the crest portions () of the knurls () flows into the relief grooves ().