Stabilizer Link Ball Joint Recessed Grooves Torque Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing stabilizer links with ball joint structures face issues of increased torque and elastic lift due to variations in friction between the ball stud and the resin ball seat, leading to noise, instability, and degradation of ride quality, as the interference between the ball seat and housing affects the ball stud's swinging and rotating torque.
Innovation Solution
The stabilizer link incorporates a design with recessed grooves on the wall surface of the support member, specifically formed to reduce the torque required for the ball stud's sliding motion, featuring a lubricant receiving part and recessed grooves that occupy a narrow zone to support the ball stud effectively while maintaining reduced torque levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the interference between the ball seat and housing is increased to reduce torque, then the ball stud swinging and rotating torque is reduced, but the elastic lift between the ball part and ball seat increases causing loosening and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the ball seat by forming recessed grooves on its outer surface. These grooves reduce the contact area between the ball seat and housing, thereby reducing the interference fit. This parameter change allows the ball stud torque to be reduced while maintaining sufficient connection stability through optimized groove geometry and lubricant retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by creating recessed grooves at specific locations on the ball seat outer surface. These grooves are strategically positioned to reduce interference in areas where high contact pressure generates excessive torque, while maintaining adequate contact in areas needed for connection stability. The local modification allows differential contact characteristics across the ball seat surface.
2Reliability
If the interference between the ball seat and housing is decreased to reduce elastic lift, then the loosening and noise are reduced, but the ball stud swinging and rotating torque increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces lubricant as an intermediary substance retained by the recessed grooves on the ball seat. This lubricant layer acts as a mediator between the ball seat and housing, reducing direct metal-to-metal or resin-to-resin contact. The lubricant enables the ball stud to swing and rotate with reduced torque while the recessed grooves ensure the lubricant remains in place to maintain low friction conditions.
3Ease of manufacture
If the ball seat is made with constant outer radius, then the molding process is simpler, but the heat shrinkage causes tapered shape and flange portion formation affecting interference fit
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the problematic tapered portion caused by heat shrinkage by forming recessed grooves that remove material from the ball seat outer surface. This extraction compensates for the heat shrinkage-induced taper, creating a more consistent effective outer radius for the interference fit with the housing, while the basic constant radius geometry remains for ease of molding.
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 design effectively suppresses loosening between the ball stud and the support member, reducing the torque and elastic lift, thereby enhancing ride quality and dynamic characteristics by ensuring smooth operation and reducing abnormal noise.
Implementation Method 1
the frictional force between the ball part and the ball seat is preferably maintained at a low value as designed
Implementation Method 2
The ball part is slidable on the inner surface of the ball seat to allow the ball stud to be swingable and rotatable
Data Source
AI summary
A stabilizer link of the present invention includes connecting parts that has a housing which supports a ball stud to be connected to the first or second structure so as to be swingable and rotatable, wherein the ball stud has a stud part extending from a spherical part and the housing houses a support member to support a spherical part of the ball stud in a spherical space so as to be slidable, wherein the support member includes: an opening where the spherical space is open for the stud part; a lubricant receiving part in a concave shape that faces the opening; and a wall surface that forms the spherical space for the spherical part to slide thereon and has recessed grooves formed on both sides or one side of a portion of the wall surface having the maximum inner radius about the central axis of the spherical space.