Ball Joint Socket Housing Pre-Assembly Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ball joint arrangements do not allow for pre-assembly of the socket housing in the outer part, requiring separate assembly and potential misalignment during installation of the ball head.
Innovation Solution
The socket housing is designed with an insertion region having a larger cross-section than the receiving opening, allowing for pre-assembly and subsequent easy insertion of the ball head without resistance, with locking mechanisms to secure the socket housing in place.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the receiving opening has a constant cross-sectional contour, then the retaining tongues are held in their closed installed position already at the beginning of the insertion, but the socket housing cannot be pre-assembled in the outer part
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving opening is segmented into two distinct regions: an insertion region with a larger cross-section and a final receiving opening with a smaller constant cross-section. This segmentation allows the socket housing to be partially inserted and pre-assembled with the outer part, while still providing a final locked position for the retaining tongues.
Solution Approach 2:
The insertion region with its larger cross-section enables preliminary insertion and pre-assembly of the socket housing in the outer part before the final installation step. This preliminary action allows components to be pre-assembled and shipped together, simplifying the final assembly process.
2Ease of operation
If the retaining tongues are held in closed position at the beginning of insertion, then the ball head cannot be inserted without resistance, but pre-assembly is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The insertion path is divided into two stages: the insertion region where the ball head can be freely inserted due to the larger cross-section, and the final receiving opening where the retaining tongues are locked in the closed position. This ensures ease of ball head insertion while still enabling pre-assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The socket housing can be preliminarily inserted into the outer part through the insertion region, allowing pre-assembly and shipping. The ball head is then inserted without resistance through the same insertion region, and only in the final position are the retaining tongues locked.
3Ease of manufacture
If the insertion region has a larger cross-section than the receiving opening, then pre-assembly is enabled, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The receiving opening has different cross-sectional characteristics in different regions: the insertion region has a larger cross-section to enable pre-assembly, while the final receiving opening has a smaller constant cross-section to secure the retaining tongues. This local differentiation of structural properties resolves the contradiction.
Data Source
AI summary
Socket housing has a hemispherical ball socket and a plurality of circumferentially spaced retaining tongues which extend toward an insertion opening, the tongues being radially pivotable to engage over the equator of a ball head. An outer part has an insertion region and a receiving opening into which the socket housing can be inserted in an insertion direction via the insertion region, the insertion region having an inside surface defining an opening with a cross-sectional area which is larger than a cross-sectional area defined by an inside surface of the receiving opening. The retaining tongues are in contact with the inside surface of the receiving opening when the socket housing is in the installed position. A locking device prevents movement of the socket housing counter to the insertion direction when the socket housing is in the installed position.