Pivot Pin with Plastic Ball Joint for Corrosion Resistance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Pivot pins used in vehicle linkages, such as turbocharger adjustment linkages, face corrosion due to exposure to extreme conditions, leading to joint destruction, and existing protective measures are complex, expensive, and have short functionality due to wear.

Innovation Solution

A pivot pin design featuring a metal joint body and a plastic joint head, where the joint body is made of steel with a hollow section that forms an undercut to secure the joint head, allowing high torque and transverse force resistance while preventing corrosion, and the joint head is made of durable plastics like POM or PA with fillers for enhanced wear resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the pivot pin is made of metal with surface coating, then it can withstand high torques and transverse forces, but the protective coating wears away quickly under extreme conditions leading to corrosion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetorque and transverse force resistanceVSAvoidcorrosion resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pivot pin combines metal (for strength and torque resistance) and plastic (for corrosion resistance) into a composite structure. The metal joint body provides the necessary mechanical strength to withstand high torques and transverse forces, while the plastic joint head protects against corrosion in extreme environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If protective lips or bellows are added to protect the articulation, then corrosion protection is improved, but the device complexity and production cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from environmental conditionsVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The protective function is merged into the joint head itself by making it from plastic material. Instead of adding separate protective lips or bellows, the plastic joint head integrates the protection function directly into the structural component, simplifying the overall design while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If the joint head is made of plastic, then corrosion resistance is improved, but the ability to withstand high torques and transverse forces is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecorrosion resistanceVSAvoidload bearing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Reliability

If the hollow first section is compressed with a punch to form a bead, then the joint head is secured against twisting and detachment, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecuring against twisting and detachmentVSAvoidmanufacturing simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The hollow first section is compressed with a punch during manufacturing to form a bead that protrudes into the joint head. This self-forming feature creates an undercut that automatically secures the joint head against twisting and detachment, with the security feature being created as an integral part of the manufacturing process rather than requiring separate assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2865906B1Pivot stud with a pivot head of synthetic resin

Publication Date: 2018.10.10 SPRINGFIX BEFESTIGUNGSTECHNIK GMBH

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

A pivot pin (9), particularly for sensor control in a vehicle, comprising a metal joint body (1) having a first section (2) and a second section (3). A plastic ball joint (8) is arranged on the first section (2) of the joint body (1).