Suspension Arm Ball Joint Housing With Abutting Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing suspension arms in vehicles face issues with the ball joint becoming loose under high loads due to inadequate fixation methods, such as press-fitting, leading to potential detachment.
Innovation Solution
A metallic base material with a cylindrical housing for the ball joint, featuring an abutting part projecting outward to secure the ball joint in the hole part, combined with a fiber-reinforced resin outer shell for added strength and weight savings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ball joint is fixed by merely press-fitting the housing into the hole part, then the weight is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but the reliability of fixing the ball joint under high load deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The housing features an abutting part with a larger outer diameter than the main body, creating a localized expansion at the insertion end. This local quality change allows the housing to abut against the hole part edge, distributing load effectively without requiring complex overall structural changes to the housing
Solution Approach 2:
The abutting part extends in the radial dimension perpendicular to the insertion axis, creating a step-like structure. This dimensional change enables the housing to contact the hole part edge at a different spatial level, preventing axial displacement under load while maintaining the press-fit installation method
2Strength
If the housing is made larger to prevent coming-off, then the strength is improved, but the weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the overall housing size, the abutting part is locally enlarged at the insertion end with a larger outer diameter. This localized dimension change provides sufficient load resistance and prevents coming-off while minimizing the increase in overall housing volume and weight
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is segmented into two distinct portions: the main body with smaller diameter and the abutting part with larger diameter. This segmentation allows each portion to serve its specific function - the main body for containing the ball joint and the abutting part for load distribution and positioning - optimizing strength-to-weight ratio
Data Source
AI summary
An arm member allowing a ball joint to be held firmly in a hole part of a base material includes, a metallic base material, and a ball joint having a cylindrical housing. The base material has a hole part. The housing is inserted in the hole part. The housing includes an abutting part abutting on the base material in an axis direction at an edge position of the hole part.