Patent ID: 12196252

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, summary, or the following detailed description.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may be described herein in terms of functional and/or logical block components and various processing steps. It should be appreciated that such block components may be realized by any number of hardware, software, and/or firmware components configured to perform the specified functions. For example, an embodiment of the present disclosure may employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements, digital signal processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, or the like, which may carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced in conjunction with any number of systems and that the systems described herein are merely exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure describes systems, apparatuses, and methods of a series of non-concentric arcs of a ball (or sphere) and socket that provide defined movement of the center of rotation as the joint is articulated which causes a length from the center of rotation of the ball joint to the center of rotation at the opposite side of the component to change during the articulation action.

The present disclosure describes systems, apparatuses, and methods that implement a ball (or sphere) in a variable position ball joint where the ball or sphere is implemented without a fixed center of rotation thereby causing a dynamic change in the length from the center of rotation of the ball or sphere to the center of rotation at the opposite side of the component during the articulation action.

The terms “ball” and “sphere” refer to an object of a roundish, spheroid, ellipsoid, or similar shape that is made up of two halves of a top half and a bottom half coupled together in a manner having exterior contact points on either side that are capable of contacting a cavity in which the ball or sphere are contained. For example, the terms include a spheroid shape or rotational ellipsoid with circular symmetry about the major axis. Another exemplary embodiment consists of a prolate spheroid, football, or rugby ball. In another exemplary embodiment, the ball or sphere consists of an oval or ovoid shape with portions that include elliptic curves or arcs. In another exemplary embodiment, the terms ball and sphere refer to an egg shape which is approximated by the “long” half of a prolate spheroid, joined to a “short” half of a roughly spherical ellipsoid, or even a slightly oblate spheroid which is joined at the equator and share a principal axis of rotational symmetry. In this exemplary embodiment, the term egg-shaped can include a lack of reflection symmetry across the equatorial plane.

The present disclosure describes systems, apparatuses, and methods that define a nominal position of the ball joint and the expected ball diameter, and also defines two additional positions of the ball joint using articulation angles and position changes from the nominal position.

The present disclosure describes systems, apparatuses, and methods that construct an arc through the endpoints to define the path of the ball (or sphere) where the centers of multiple arcs are not coincident, and generate the shape of the ball or sphere via the multiple arcs in a manner to not cause interference between the ball and the socket when the joint is articulated. In an exemplary embodiment, the multiple arcs are constructed to ensure that a radius is always in contact with the seat.

The present disclosure describes systems, apparatuses, and methods where the center portion of the top side of the ball is constructed concentric with the center of rotation to ensure the center point only moves along one axis. In an exemplary embodiment, a guide surface is configured parallel to the axis of movement must be constructed in the seat that the arc rides along.

The present disclosure describes systems, apparatuses, and methods where the shape for the ball (or sphere) and socket revolve about their respective centers to complete a ball and socket interface. In an exemplary embodiment, the ball may be made of steel or other metallic alloys, and the seat may be made of a plastic, polymer, or resin (POM) material in which for both components, the material make up exhibits typical Hertz contact stress for ball joint components. However, the ball and seat may require an increase in size in the range of 20% in diameter to compensate or contain stresses, this size increase is dependent on the vehicle type, configurations, and allowable range requirements for the vehicle and loads.

FIG.1illustrates an exemplary diagram of a side view of an exemplary variable position ball joint that at least includes a ball (or sphere) with a spherical interface that includes concentric arcs, a guide surface and a seat travel arc, and a seat of a socket of an exemplary variable position ball joint system in accordance with exemplary embodiments. InFIG.1, there is depicted an exemplary variable position ball joint system10with multiple arcs on the ball20, guide surface30, seat35, radii25of the ball (or sphere)20, and seat travel arc40. The ball (or sphere)20is contained or coupled in seat35of a joint (not shown) to form an assembly of the ball joint.

In an exemplary embodiment, the seat travel arc40includes two endpoints (50,55) with contact the surface of the ball20. The top part of the ball20revolves or rotates about the guide surface30of the seat35. Portions60,65of the seat35are not in contact with the ball20. A center point70of the ball is concentric with a center of rotation of the seat35and the seat35moves in one axis or one degree of freedom (not shown) of movement. The interface80includes the guide surface30which is parallel to the single or linear axis of movement to cause the ball20to traverse in the entire or part of the seat travel arc40of the seat35while maintaining a center of rotation (in this case at the center point70) concentric with the seat35. As the ball20travels along the seat travel arc40this results in a change in length of an attached component75(i.e., the attached component can be attached to either the seat or ball or both) to the ball20and seat35assemblies with respect to the concentric center point of rotation during an articulation action of the variable position ball joint.

FIG.2illustrates an exemplary diagram of a side view depicting at least locations of arc centers, an axis of movement, and radii of the exemplary variable position ball joint system in accordance with exemplary embodiments. InFIG.2, in the exemplary diagram, there is depicted an arc of the ball20with the endpoints205,210to define the path of ball20. In this case, the centers of the two arcs200,215are not coincident. To generate the shape of ball20, multiple arcs200,215are used to ensure that no interference exists between ball20and the socket (not shown) when the ball joint is articulated. The arcs200,215must also be constructed to ensure that a radius25(ofFIG.1) is always in contact with seat35. The arc path has a radius25(ofFIG.1) measured from the center point of the ball20across the top half of the ball that has a distance sufficient to enable constant contact with the guide surface30(ofFIG.1) of the seat35as the ball20is traversing the seat travel arc (i.e., arc path240,245) with a corresponding articulation action occurring of +/−30 degrees (225,230) of the variable position ball joint. There also occurs a position change from ρ128:30:00 to ρ126:30:00 with the articulation action of +/−30 degrees (225,230) between the first and second endpoints of the ball20arcs resulting in the change in the length of the attached component to the apparatus with respect to a concentric center point of rotation. Also, as the arc centers change from the nominal position at ρ128:30:00 that results in a length change from the center point of rotation of the attached component changes by 2:00 mm at ρ129:2.00 to ρ130:2.00.

FIGS.3A,3B, and3Cillustrate exemplary diagrams of side views of positions of kinematic rotation of a ball (or sphere) in a seat of a socket along a path when the exemplary variable position ball joint incurs an articulation action by the exemplary variable position ball joint system in accordance with exemplary embodiments. InFIG.3A, the variable position ball joint is depicted in a nominal position with the ball center of rotation XC that can move when articulated to the center of rotation YC along the defined path. Hence, when changing the attached component angular position by an articulation action of the variable position ball joint, the length defined by the center of rotation is changed by 2 mm at +/−30 degrees as depicted inFIGS.3A and3B. The variable position ball joint moves via the kinematic point of rotation of the ball along the defined path causing the effective length change when the joint is articulated. The effective change in length of the attached component300assembled to the ball joint is changed from 118.00 mm inFIG.3Bto 114.00 mm inFIG.3Cor 2 mm at +/−30 degrees from the nominal position inFIG.3A.

In an exemplary embodiment, when the ball joint is not articulated in either direction, the attached component300is at a nominal position and the distance as defined with an expected ball diameter of 32 mm (inFIG.2) is between both articulated positions in either direction of the variable position ball joint. The attached component300distance is at 116.00 mm. while inFIGS.3A and3B, the two additional positions of the ball joint using the articulation angle and position change from the nominal position ofFIG.3Acauses the change in the center of rotation of about 2 mm at +/−30 degrees articulation of the ball joint.

FIGS.4A,4B, and4Cillustrate exemplary diagrams of illustrates exemplary diagrams of side views of alternate different ball or sphere design shapes implemented in the exemplary variable position ball joint system in accordance with exemplary embodiments. InFIGS.4A,4B, and4C, the sphere400and the seat410are constructed in a plurality of different shapes configured to revolve together while still maintaining the concentric center of rotation about each element's respective center, and also maintaining three functional contact surfaces in each shape configuration to ensure that the arcs of the different shaped sphere400have a radius that is always in contact with the seat410.

FIG.5illustrates an exemplary diagram of the suspension system of a vehicle with an adjustable height coupled to the variable position ball joint and wheel that is responsive to changes in vehicle height to change the accessory component length to the concentric center of rotation by the exemplary variable position ball joint system in accordance with the exemplary embodiments. InFIG.5there is depicted a vehicle500that includes a controller510in communication with the vehicle suspension system520to adjust the vehicle height, and the variable position ball joint system530coupled or integrated with the vehicle suspension system520. The variable position ball joint system530is responsive to changes in the vehicle height by an articulation action that causes the length from the center of rotation of the ball joint to the center of rotation at the opposite side of component540attached to change. This, in turn, results in an adjustment by the dynamic change of length by the vehicle suspension system520to not cause the camber angle for the vehicle wheel550to change and the vehicle wheel550to stay aligned (i.e, adjust the tire orientation560) with the vehicle height change while the vehicle is in operation. The adjustment provides for a tire orientation560(toe/camber, etc) to correspond to different ride heights increasing tire tread life by causing more uniform tire wear at the different vehicle heights.

FIG.6illustrates an exemplary flowchart of a process of an articulation action responsive to a vehicle height change of the exemplary variable position ball joint system in accordance with the exemplary embodiments. The exemplary process of the flowchart600inFIG.6describes keeping the consistent tire orientation by preventing changes of the camber angle so that the tire orientation by an articulation action of the variable position ball joint in response to the vehicle height change, corresponds or is adjusted for consistency. At step610, a driver of a vehicle may initiate a vehicle height adjustment to raise or lower the vehicle height, or the vehicle may be equipped with an automated adaptive mechanism to change the vehicle height. For example, some vehicles may be equipped with a height-adjustable suspension mechanism that the ride height or ground clearance of the vehicle can be varied by the driver, or can be instituted via automated adaptive vehicle applications. This may be done for various reasons including giving better ground clearance over rough terrain, or a lower ground clearance to improve performance and fuel economy at high speed.

In an exemplary embodiment, the Air Ride Adaptive Suspension, or Air Ride is a GENERAL MOTORS® chassis and suspension technology that is capable of dynamically raising or lowering the vehicle's ride height. The described variable position ball joint system incorporated and configured in the suspension system may be implemented with this system with a responsive articulation action to adjust the vehicle's wheels orientation for tire orientation (i.e., camber).

At step620, in response to the vehicle height change, and articulation action occurs by the variable position ball joint system.

At step630, a traversal of the seat travel arc by the ball takes place between the first and second endpoints of an arc path of the ball resulting in the change in the length of the attached component to the apparatus with respect to the concentric center point of rotation.

At step640, the change in the length of the attached component takes place that is resultant on the ball movement as it is guided in the seat along the guide surface of the seat of the socket because the guide surface is parallel to the linear axis of movement and causes the ball while traversing the seat travel arc of the seat to maintain the center of rotation concentric with the seat.

At step650, the ball is kept in constant contact with the seat as the arc path because a point if the ball is always in contact with the seat. With this in mind, a radius of the ball is determined from the center point of the ball across the top half of the ball to allow for the constant contact (at one of 3 points, seeFIGS.4A-C) with the seat as the ball traverses the guide surface.

At step660, the ball joint is articulated either to a first or second position using an articulation angle and position change from a nominal position for two additional positions of the ball joint using articulation angle and position change from nominal position change in center of rotation that is about 2 mm with a +/−30 degrees rotation of the attached component.

At step670, as a result of the change in the length, there is an adjustment in the camber angle of the wheels by the vehicle suspension system that includes the variable ball joint and attached component to cause the tire orientation to adjust to the corresponding change in vehicle height and the surface area of the tire to be more uniformly exposed to the ground during a driving operation.

It should be appreciated that the process ofFIG.6may include any number of additional or alternative tasks, the tasks are shown inFIG.6need not be performed in the illustrated order, and the process ofFIG.6may be incorporated into a more comprehensive procedure or process having additional functionality not described in detail herein. Moreover, one or more of the tasks shown inFIG.6may be omitted from an embodiment of the process shown inFIG.6as long as the intended overall functionality remains intact.

The foregoing detailed description is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the embodiments of the subject matter or the application and uses of such embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as exemplary is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, or detailed description.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the disclosure in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments.

It should be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof.