Restricted Swing Angle Socket Assembly Wear Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional socket assemblies used in truck applications with rubber or thermoplastic preload devices for restricted swing angle socket assemblies face degradation issues, leading to inconsistent preload, looseness, and erratic vehicle dynamics due to wear over time.
Innovation Solution
A socket assembly with a metal housing, integral bearings, and a Belleville washer spring that maintains surface-to-surface contact and adjusts for wear, allowing the ball stud to rotate more freely in one direction than another, ensuring consistent radial and axial looseness through the life of the assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If rubber or thermoplastic preload devices are used in socket assemblies, then the assembly can be manufactured cost-effectively and provide restricted swing angle functionality, but the preload device degrades over time leading to inconsistent preload, looseness, and erratic vehicle dynamics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from rubber/thermoplastic to metal, and changes the preload mechanism parameter from elastic deformation to spring force. The metal bearing with spring preload device maintains consistent preload over time because metal does not degrade like rubber or thermoplastic, and the spring provides continuous adjustable force that compensates for wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining metal bearing material with a spring mechanism. The metal bearing provides durability and wear resistance, while the spring (made of elastic metal material) provides the preload force. This composite approach eliminates the degradation issues of single-material rubber or thermoplastic preload devices.
2Device complexity
If rubber or thermoplastic preload devices are used, then the assembly structure can be simplified, but the preload device loosens over time causing steering component looseness and high stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the preload device material from degradable rubber/thermoplastic to non-degradable metal, and changes the preload mechanism from elastic material deformation to spring force. This maintains consistent preload force over time, preventing loosening of steering components and reducing stresses in critical steering and suspension components.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-loaded bearing automatically maintains proper preload force through its elastic properties. As components wear or thermal expansion occurs, the spring automatically adjusts to maintain the correct preload, eliminating the need for external adjustment mechanisms and preventing loosening without increasing complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional preload devices are used, then the assembly can be manufactured simply, but wear leads to erratic vehicle dynamics and high stresses in critical components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the preload device from rubber/thermoplastic to metal with spring mechanism. This material change eliminates degradation and maintains consistent preload force over time, ensuring stable vehicle dynamics and preventing erratic behavior caused by preload variation or component loosening.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the short-lived rubber or thermoplastic preload device with a durable metal spring mechanism that does not degrade. This eliminates the need for frequent replacement or adjustment, maintaining stable vehicle dynamics throughout the service life of the steering component.
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
The solution provides improved durability and cost-effectiveness by maintaining constant looseness and socket torque, reducing wear-related issues and stresses in steering and suspension components.
Implementation Method 1
a spring is disposed between the cover plate and the first bearing and biases the first bearing into contact with the ball portion of the ball stud
Implementation Method 2
The spring maintains robust and continuous surface-to-surface contacts between bearing surfaces and the ball portion of the ball stud during use and automatically adjusts to maintain those surface-to-surface contacts even as the ball portion and the bearing surfaces wear
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~6
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The socket assembly includes a housing (28) with an inner bore which extends between open first (32) and second (30) ends. A ball stud (40) is partially disposed within the inner bore of the housing and includes shank (44), ball (42) and protrusion portions (46) with the shank portion extending out of the housing through the first end. A first bearing (48) is disposed in the inner bore and includes a passage. The protrusion portion of the ball stud extends into the passage, and the passage is shaped to cooperate with the protrusion portion to allow the ball stud to rotate relative to said housing in one rotational direction by a greater magnitude than in another rotational direction. A cover plate (56) closes the second open end of the housing, and a spring (60) is disposed between the cover plate and the first bearing and biases the first bearing into contact with the ball portion of the ball stud.