Anti-torque rod keying via asymmetric counterform
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-symmetrical anti-torque rods in vehicles are prone to incorrect mounting, leading to operational issues such as wear and vibrations, and existing solutions do not effectively prevent incorrect assembly without increasing cost, mass, or complexity.
Innovation Solution
A keying device with a counterform that projects from the external surface of a metal insert, preventing incorrect mounting by engaging with one plate's edge when the anti-torque rod is inserted in the wrong direction, ensuring correct orientation and assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a non-symmetrical anti-torque rod is designed without a keying device, then the manufacturing cost and assembly complexity are reduced, but the risk of incorrect mounting increases leading to wear and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies asymmetry by providing a counterform on only one specific face of the insert, creating an asymmetric geometric feature that prevents incorrect mounting. The counterform protrudes from the external surface at a defined position, making the insert inherently directional. This asymmetric design ensures that the insert can only be mounted in the correct orientation, eliminating the risk of wrong-direction assembly without requiring complex additional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The counterform integrates the keying function directly into the insert itself, making the insert self-keying. The geometric feature formed by the counterform automatically prevents incorrect mounting through its own structure, without requiring external keying devices or additional components. The insert serves its own keying function, simplifying the overall assembly while ensuring reliable orientation.
2Reliability
If a keying device with counterform is added to the insert, then incorrect mounting is prevented, but the manufacturing cost and mass of the anti-torque rod increase
Solution Approach 1:
The counterform is implemented as a localized geometric feature on a specific portion of the insert rather than a comprehensive keying system. The counterform protrudes from the external surface at a defined position, affecting only the local geometry where mounting orientation is critical. This localized approach provides effective keying functionality while minimizing the additional material required, thus limiting the increase in overall insert mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The counterform is designed as a simple geometric feature that can be integrated into the insert manufacturing process without requiring expensive additional components. By forming the counterform directly during insert production, the solution avoids the cost and mass of separate keying devices, making it an economical approach to preventing incorrect assembly.
3Ease of operation
If existing keying solutions are used, then mounting direction is controlled, but the design complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The counterform integrates the keying function with the insert structure itself, merging the mounting direction control feature into the main component. This integration eliminates the need for separate keying devices or complex assembly mechanisms, simplifying both the design and manufacturing processes while effectively controlling mounting direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert provides its own keying function through the counterform feature, making the system self-regulating for correct orientation. The counterform's geometric configuration automatically guides correct mounting without requiring external control mechanisms, reducing design and manufacturing complexity while ensuring proper installation direction.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a directional control device for the correct installation of a non-symmetrical anti-torque link in the subframe of a vehicle. The anti-torque link (10) comprises an insert (12) intended to be inserted between two plates (21, 22) forming the subframe's yoke. One of the two plates (21) has an approach edge (21A) that is further forward than the approach edge (22A) of the other plate (22) depending on the direction of insertion of the anti-torque link into the yoke. The directional control device consists of a counter-form (40) that projects from the outer surface of the insert (12), such that said counter-form (40) strikes the plate (21) with the more advanced approach edge when the anti-torque link (10) is oriented incorrectly, thus preventing the incorrect installation of the anti-torque link (10) in the subframe (20).