Ball Joint Plug Swaging to Prevent Bearing Sheet Corotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ball joint configurations face challenges in preventing corotation of the bearing sheet, especially in low-temperature environments, due to the need for precise alignment and fitting of projections and grooves, which can lead to reduced assembling performance or backlash.
Innovation Solution
A ball joint design that includes a receiving-side member with a cylindrical body and a closing member fixed by swaging, featuring a cylindrical sliding member with a groove and a projection that is inserted into the groove, where the projection's height is less than the groove's depth, and its width is greater than the groove's width, allowing for effective fitting without increasing the overall size of the projection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a projection or protrusion is formed to fit into a groove or recess to prevent corotation, then the sliding member can be prevented from corotating, but the assembling performance is reduced if the projection is too large or backlash occurs if the projection is too small
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the projection relative to the groove. Specifically, the projection width is made larger than the groove width, and the projection height is made smaller than the groove depth. This parameter transformation allows the projection to be easily inserted into the groove without precise alignment, preventing corotation while maintaining easy assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the projection smaller than the groove (traditional approach), the invention inverts the relationship by making the projection width larger than the groove width. This inversion allows the projection to override the groove edges during insertion, eliminating the need for precise alignment while still preventing corotation through the height differential.
2Reliability
If the projection width is increased to ensure fitting into the groove, then corotation prevention is improved, but the overall size of the ball joint increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the dimensional parameters by making the projection width larger than the groove width while keeping the projection height smaller than the groove depth. This parameter change allows the projection to effectively engage the groove for corotation prevention without requiring a large overall projection size, thus maintaining compact ball joint dimensions.
3Reliability
If the projection height is increased to improve fitting into the groove, then corotation prevention is improved, but the influence on ball joint characteristics increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the height parameter by making the projection height smaller than the groove depth. This ensures the projection can be fully inserted into the groove for effective corotation prevention, while the limited height prevents excessive interference with the ball joint's operational characteristics and reduces harmful influences on its performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design effectively prevents corotation of the sliding member while reducing the influence on the ball joint's characteristics, as the projection is fitted securely into the groove through swaging, and the load from the swaging is transmitted in a way that minimizes impact on the ball part.
Implementation Method 1
a closing member fixed to the receiving-side member body at one end portion thereof by swaging and closing the receiving-side member body at the one end portion
Data Source
AI summary
A ball joint reducing influence on a characteristic by fixing a plug by swaging while preventing corotation of a bearing sheet. The ball joint includes a housing-including a housing body part and the plug fixed to the housing body part at one end portion thereof by swaging and closing the housing body part at the one end portion. The ball joint includes the cylindrical bearing sheet rotatably holding a ball part and housed and held in the housing. The bearing sheet includes a groove formed at an end facing the plug. The plug includes a projection inserted into the groove. The height of the projection is less than the depth of the groove, the width of the projection is greater than the width of the groove, and the projection contacts the bearing sheet at a width smaller on an inner side than on an outer side relative to the groove.