Patent ID: 8156625
Filing Date: 2012-04-17
Classification: B25B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for designing a dual-mode adapter for use with a ball joint press, comprising: selecting a plurality of ball joints for use with the ball joint press, creating an adapter design including defining a first variable representative of a physical characteristic of the adapter design, generating a first data set that includes a value of the first variable for each of the plurality of ball joints, that is sufficient to allow the adapter design to receive the respective ball joint in a first operational mode, defining a second variable representing a quantity of ball joints that are incompatible with the adapter design in a second operational mode, defining a plurality of hypothetical values of the first variable, generating a second data set that includes a value of the second variable for each hypothetical value of the first variable, utilizing the first data set to determine a design value for the first variable, comparing the design value to the second data set to determine whether to change the design value to increase a number of ball joints that are compatible with the adapter design in the second operational mode, changing the adapter design value in response to a determination to increase the number of ball joints that are compatible with the adapter design; and causing the manufacture of the dual-mode adapter according to the adapter design.