Outer Ring Knuckle Assembly Asymmetry Error-Proofing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Incorrect assembly between outer rings and knuckles of different vehicle trims can occur during vehicle assembly, due to varying dimensions and lack of pairing configurations, leading to potential operational issues and errors in the assembly process.
Innovation Solution
The outer ring and knuckle assembly features a mating protrusion and step portion with complementary shapes, ensuring that only correctly paired components can be assembled, preventing incorrect pairing and alignment through a bolt engagement system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If outer rings and knuckles with different dimensions are used in vehicle assembly, then adaptability to different vehicle trims is improved, but incorrect assembly between mismatched components occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by providing the outer ring with a protrusion and the knuckle with a corresponding recess, or vice versa, where the shapes are asymmetric and complementary. This ensures that only correctly paired components with matching asymmetric features can be assembled together, preventing incorrect assembly while maintaining adaptability to different vehicle trims through standardized pairing configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements the nesting principle by having the protrusion of one component fit into the recess of the other component, creating a nested structural relationship. The protrusion of the outer ring is inserted into the recess of the knuckle, or the recess of the outer ring receives the protrusion of the knuckle, ensuring proper pairing through geometric interlocking.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional outer ring and knuckle designs without pairing configurations are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but assembly errors and operational issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The asymmetric protrusion and recess features are designed to be integrated into the standard outer ring and knuckle manufacturing processes. The pairing configurations are incorporated as part of the component geometry during forming or machining operations, allowing for straightforward manufacturing while ensuring that only correctly paired components can be assembled, thereby improving assembly accuracy without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly of an outer ring and a knuckle comprises an outer ring used in a wheel bearing and a knuckle for connecting the outer ring to a suspension system. The outer ring comprises a body having a hollow formed in an axial direction of a rotation axis, a mounting portion extending in an outer radial direction and a circumferential direction of the body and having a plurality of first mounting holes formed thereon, and at least one mating protrusion formed on an outer circumferential surface of the body. The knuckle comprises a step portion configured to mate with the mating protrusion in an axial direction of the body. A plurality of second mounting holes corresponding to the plurality of first mounting holes are formed on the knuckle. The mating protrusion has one of a plurality of mating shapes having different shapes.