Flanged Joint Bushing Assembly for Stable Low-Wear Articulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing joint arrangements for articulating connections between components, particularly in automobile construction, face challenges in achieving good bearing and sliding properties, and are often complex and costly to produce, with quality dependent on metal folding or requiring securement methods that are not dimensionally stable.
Innovation Solution
A joint arrangement featuring a thrust washer element between the bolt head and the first component, with a flanged bearing joint bushing and a multi-stepped hinge pin, allowing for a simple and cost-effective production using plastic or metal components, where the thrust washer and joint bushing are captively secured using plastic deformation, enabling a torsion-proof and sliding flange bearing connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If metal plain bearing or joint bushings are used and the free edge is folded over to secure the bushing, then the joint arrangement can be produced with simple components, but the quality of the bearing and sliding surface becomes dependent on the folding process which reduces manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The joint bushing is divided into two functional sections: a bushing section for bearing and sliding contact, and a flange section for securement. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized independently - the bushing section provides precise bearing surfaces while the flange section provides secure attachment through deformation, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and bearing surface quality
Solution Approach 2:
The flange section acts as an intermediary element between the bushing section and the component. It transfers the securing function away from the bearing surface, allowing the bushing section to maintain high manufacturing precision while the flange handles the securement through deformation, eliminating the compromise between simplicity and precision
2Ease of manufacture
If plastic joint bushings are used that cannot be deformed dimensionally stable, then the production cost is reduced, but the joint bushing cannot be securely attached to the first component
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the joint bushing into a bushing section and a flange section, the securement function is transferred to the flange which can be deformed for attachment. This allows plastic bushings to maintain their dimensional stability and low cost while the flange provides reliable securement through deformation, resolving the contradiction between cost and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The flange section is designed with local quality suitable for deformation and securement, while the bushing section maintains the dimensional stability required for bearing functionality. This localized differentiation allows plastic material to achieve both cost-effectiveness and reliable attachment
3Reliability
If a thrust washer element is added between the bolt head and the first component, then the bearing properties are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flange section combines multiple functions: it secures the bushing to the component through deformation, provides a bearing surface for the bolt head, and replaces the need for a separate thrust washer element. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining improved bearing properties
Solution Approach 2:
The flange section is designed as a multi-functional element that performs securement, bearing, and positioning functions simultaneously. This universality eliminates the need for additional components like separate thrust washers, resolving the contradiction between improved bearing properties and 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 provides a joint arrangement with enhanced bearing and sliding properties, allowing for quick and inexpensive production, particularly with plastic components, ensuring secure and stable articulation between components while maintaining ease of assembly and preventing loss.
Implementation Method 1
the material of which is plastically deformed in the stepped area between the first and second pin sections in order to secure the thrust washer element received by the first pin section on the hinge pin
Implementation Method 2
the bushing section of which is mounted rotatably or pivotably in the joint bushing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3c
AI summary
A joint arrangement between at least one first and second component (2, 3), preferably sheetlike metal component, which has in each case a top and bottom side (2', 3', 2", 3"), comprising a joint bushing (5) which is received in a first opening (2.1) of the first component (2), and a joint pin (4) which is led through the joint bushing and which has a pin head (4'), wherein that pin section (4.3) which is situated opposite the pin head (4') and which protrudes out of the joint bushing (5) is fastenable to the second component (3) preferably by means of a rivet connection. It is particularly advantageous for a stop disk element (6) to be received between the pin head (4') and the top side (2') of the first component (2), and for the joint bushing (5) to be formed as a collar bearing with a bushing section (5.1) received in the first opening (2.1) and a ring-shaped collar section (5.2) adjoining said bushing section, wherein the ring-shaped collar section (5.2) bears against the bottom side (2') of the first component (2). The invention also relates to a prefabricated component and to a method for producing such a prefabricated component of a joint arrangement.