TUBULAR LINK WITH INTEGRAL CRIMP SOCKET JOINT AND OPTIONAL SECONDARY SIDE CRIMP

摘要

An apparatus and method associated with a ball socket joint in a windshield wiper drive module system of a motor vehicle includes a body having a ball socket portion and a tenon portion extending outwardly from the ball socket portion. The ball socket portion of the body defines at least a portion of a ball socket aperture, either an open-socket configuration or closed-socket configuration. A shaped surface, defined by at least a portion of the peripheral surface of the tenon portion of the body, is provided for dramatically increasing static load capability of a crimped join to be formed in cooperation with the tenon portion of the body. The shaped surface can include a plurality of ridges extending across at least a substantial portion of a width of the tenon portion of the body, and/or a plurality of straight, parallel ridges spaced longitudinally from one another along a centerline axis of the tenon portion of the body, and/or a plurality of angled ridges extending spaced longitudinally from one another along the tenon portion of the body. A hollow tube can receive the tenon portion of the body in each of two opposite open ends. A crimped joint can be formed adjacent each end of the tube for connecting the body to the tube to define a coupling link for use in a windshield wiper drive module system for a motor vehicle.