Vehicle Ball Joint Bearing With Integrated Sensor Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The design of ball joints for vehicle chassis is complex, particularly due to the use of closure elements with multiple openings, which complicates the structure and assembly, and makes it difficult to achieve a reliable and reproducible alignment of sensor elements within the joint housing and inner joint part.
Innovation Solution
A ball joint design featuring a one-piece plastic sliding bearing with a ball bearing section and a receiving section for sensor elements, where a standard locking ring without openings is used to secure the inner joint part within the joint housing, utilizing a locking ring that surrounds the outside of the plain bearing coaxially, and a sensor element is attached via a snap and latching connection to ensure precise alignment and secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking element with multiple openings is used to secure the plain bearing, then the plain bearing can be fixed in the joint housing, but the design becomes complex and assembly is complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the sensor element from the complex locking element structure and places it directly on the plain bearing's receiving section. This removes the need for openings in the locking ring, simplifying the locking element to a standard solid ring while maintaining securing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention segments the sensor element from the locking element, allowing the sensor to be mounted separately on the plain bearing. This separation eliminates the need for the locking element to have both securing and sensor mounting functions, thereby simplifying the locking element design.
2Reliability
If a locking element with multiple openings is used, then the plain bearing can be secured, but alignment of sensor elements becomes difficult and less reproducible
Solution Approach 1:
The plain bearing is pressed into the joint housing first, which predetermines its position and orientation. The sensor element is then mounted on the plain bearing's receiving section, inheriting this predetermined alignment. This sequential assembly ensures reliable and reproducible sensor alignment without requiring complex locking element features.
3Ease of manufacture
If a hybrid component with metal locking element and plastic sliding bearing is used, then the ball joint can be assembled, but the construction becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the sensor element mounting function directly into the plain bearing structure through the receiving section. This eliminates the need for the locking element to serve dual purposes, allowing the locking ring to be a simple standard component while the plain bearing integrates sensor mounting capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a ball joint (1, 37) for a chassis of a vehicle, comprising a join inner part (4) and a one-piece sliding bearing (10) made of plastic, wherein a joint ball (35) of the joint inner part (4) is mounted for articulation movement in a ball bearing portion (16) of the sliding bearing (10), and the sliding bearing (10) has a receiving portion (12, 38) for placing a sensor element (13, 39). In order to simplify the structure and/or the assembly of the ball joint (1, 37), according to the invention, the sliding bearing (10) has, on its outer face, a circular-ring-shaped contact surface (20) which is formed coaxially with a central longitudinal axis (19) of the sliding bearing (10) and which interacts, in an axial direction with respect to the central longitudinal axis (19), with a separate closure ring (9) that surrounds the outer face of the sliding bearing (10) and is intended for locking the sliding bearing (10) in a joint housing (3).