Rotational Ball-Joint Housing Support for Tool-Free Wiper Rod Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of wiper actuating linkage systems with ball joint housings is complex and requires high assembly forces, with a risk of accidental disassembly, especially when specific tools like pliers or crimpers are needed, making it challenging on motor vehicle assembly lines.
Innovation Solution
A ball joint housing support that allows for easy assembly by rotation with the connecting rod, featuring rotational-guidance, retaining, and rotation-blocking elements, enabling manual assembly without specialized tools and reducing the risk of disassembly, with the ball joint housing pre-assembled on the crank pin for improved sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ball joint housing is locked to the connecting rod using snap-fastening or additional retaining pieces, then the connection is secured, but the assembly requires high forces and multiple movements involving complex tooling
Solution Approach 1:
The ball joint housing is divided into two half-housings that are assembled around the crank pin, allowing the connecting rod to be locked to the ball joint housing through snap-fastening without requiring complex tooling or high assembly forces
Solution Approach 2:
The ball joint housing acts as an intermediary component between the connecting rod and the crank pin, providing a mounting interface that secures the crank pin while allowing simple assembly of the connecting rod through snap-fastening
2Ease of manufacture
If the ball joint housing is assembled around the crank pin with dual-function snap-fastening, then the connection is secured, but the risk of accidental disassembly increases when connecting rod forces are high
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining piece integrates multiple functions: it retains the crank pin within the ball joint housing, enables snap-fastening of the connecting rod to the ball joint housing, and provides resistance against high forces during operation to prevent accidental disassembly
3Ease of manufacture
If specific tooling like pliers or crimpers is used for assembling the ball joint housing, then the assembly can be completed, but the assembly process becomes complex and requires specialized equipment on assembly lines
Solution Approach 1:
The ball joint housing and connecting rod are designed with complementary snap-fastening features that allow the assembly to be completed through simple insertion and snapping actions without requiring external tooling such as pliers or crimpers
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a support of a ball-joint housing for a connecting rod of a windshield wiper actuating linkage system, the support having a ball-joint housing that extends along a longitudinal axis (B) and is configured to be received in a complementary orifice in the connecting rod. According to the invention, the support is configured to be rotationally joined to the connecting rod. The invention also relates to a connecting rod configured to be rotationally joined to such a support, and to the corresponding joining method.