Ball Joint Receiver Guide for Tolerance-Compensating Light Module Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manufacturing and assembly tolerances in vehicle lighting devices can lead to dimensional inaccuracies, causing assembly difficulties and component rejection when attaching light modules to support frames via ball joints.
Innovation Solution
A receiver with a guide element and locking arms that allow the joint socket to be resiliently spread open and moved within a guide region, enabling compensation for tolerances and providing a clamping connection for precise positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the joint socket is rigidly fixed in the receiver, then the assembly is stable and dimensionally accurate, but manufacturing and assembly tolerances cause assembly difficulties and component rejection
Solution Approach 1:
The joint socket is designed with resilient locking arms that can dynamically adjust their position within the guide element, transitioning from a movable state during assembly to a fixed state during operation. This allows the system to accommodate tolerances during assembly while maintaining dimensional accuracy in the final assembled state.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking arms are designed with resilient properties that allow them to change their physical state - they can be spread open to accommodate the joint ball during assembly, then close to secure the joint socket in a precise position. This parameter change enables both tolerance compensation and dimensional accuracy.
2Ease of manufacture
If the joint socket is made movable within the receiver to compensate for tolerances, then assembly becomes easier and tolerance compensation is enabled, but the structural stability and positioning precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The joint socket transitions from a movable state during assembly to a fixed state during operation through the action of locking arms that engage with the guide element. This dynamic behavior allows the system to be easy to assemble while maintaining stability in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking arms act as an intermediary mechanism between the movable joint socket and the fixed receiver structure. They mediate the transition from movement to fixation, enabling both assembly ease and positioning stability.
3Manufacturing precision
If locking arms are used to secure the joint socket, then a clamping connection is established for precise positioning, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking arms serve multiple functions: they guide the joint socket during assembly, compensate for tolerances, and secure the final position. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving precise positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking arms are integrated into the joint socket structure, combining the functions of positioning, securing, and guiding into a single integrated component rather than using separate elements, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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 solution allows for the compensation of manufacturing and assembly tolerances, enabling stress- and distortion-free assembly of light modules on vehicle lighting devices, while also providing additional translational degrees of freedom for fine adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
the joint socket is, by means of at least two locking arms, spread open resiliently into the guide element
Implementation Method 2
a ball joint can in principle be rotated in three axes, wherein translational movements are not possible
Data Source
AI summary
A joining arrangement having a receiver and a ball joint, wherein the ball joint comprises a joint pin with a joint ball and comprises a joint socket for receiving the joint ball, and wherein the ball joint is spread open resiliently into the receiver. According to the invention, the receiver has a guide element with a guide region which extends in a guide direction, wherein the joint socket is, by means of at least two locking arms, spread open resiliently into the guide element in a preselectable setpoint position within the guide region.