breif description of knuckle joint

1. 1
ABSTRACT
A knuckle joint is used to connect two rods under tensile load. This joint permits
misalignment of the rods and may take compressive load if it is guided. These joints are used
for different types of connections. In this, one of the rods has eye at the rod end and the other
one is forked with eyes at both the legs. A pin is inserted through the rod end eye and fork
end eye is secured by a collar and a split pin. Screwed connections often play an important
part in the transmission of load through machine assemblies. In large circuit breakers they are
subjected intermittently to high impulsive loads transmitted to large scale linkages. The paper
reports on design of a knuckle joint.
The modelling of a knuckle joint is performed by using CATIA V5 R20 package
The knuckle joint takes compressive loads often, thus there is a need for quality design tools.
The modelling of the knuckle joint is done using 3D software. Here we will be using CATIA
V5 for modelling. This joint permits angular misalignment of the rods and may take
compressive load if it is guided. These joints are used for different types of connections e.g.
tie rods, tension links in bridge structure. In this, one of the rods has an eye at both the legs.
A pin is inserted through the rod-end eye and fork-end eyes and is secured by collar and a
split pin. Screwed connections after play an important part in the transmissions of load
through machine assemblies. In large circuit breakers they are subjected intermittently to high
impulsive loads transmitted through large-scale linkages

2. 2
CHAPTER-1
INTRODUCTION
A knuckle joint is used to connect two rods which are under the action of tensile
loads. However, if the joint is guided the rods may support compressive load. A knuckle joint
may be readily disconnected for adjustments and repairs. Its use may be found in link of the
cycle chain , tie rod joint for roof truss, valve rod joint with eccentric load, pump rod joint,
tension link in bridge structure and lever and rod connections of various types.
In knuckle joint one end of the rod is made into an eye and end of the other is formed
into a fork with an eye in each of the fork leg. The knuckle pin passes through both the eye
hole and fork holes and may be secured by means of a collar and taper pin or split pin. The
knuckle pin may be prevented from rotating in the fork by means of a small stop, pin, peg or
snug. In order to get a better quality of joint, the sides of the fork and eye are machined , the
hole is accurately drilled and pin turned the material used for the joint may be steel or
wrought iron.

3. 3
CHAPTER-2
GEOMENTRICAL MODELLING
A knuckle joint is a pin joint used to fasten two circular rods. In this joint, in this joint, one
end of the rod is formed into an eye end the other into a fork(double eye). For making the
joint the eye end of the rod is aligned into the fork end of the other end then the pin is
inserted through the holes and held in position by means of a collar and a taper pin once the
joint is made, the rods are free to swivel about the cylindrical pin.
Knuckle joint are used in suspension links, air brake arrangement of locomotive, etc.

4. 4

5. 5
CHAPTER-3
INTRODUCTION TO CATIA
CATIA V5R20: CATIA abbreviates computer aided three dimensional Interactive Application.
As a new user of this softer package, you will be joining hands with thousands of users of
this high end CAD/CAM/CAE tool world-wide. You can upgrade your designing skills with
latest release.
CAITA V5, developed by Dassault systems. France is completely re-engineered next
generation family of CAD/CAM/CAE software solutions for product life cycle management.
CATIA V5 delivers innovative technologies for max Productivity and creativity from concept
to the final product. CATIA V5 reduces the learning curve as it allows the flexibility and
parametric designs.
CATIA V5 Provides three basic flat forms: P1, P2, P3.
P1 is for small and medium sized process oriented companies.
P2 is for the advanced design engineering companies that require product.
P3 is for the high –end design application and is basically automotive and aerospace
industry. Where high quality surface is used for designing.
The subject of the interpretability offered by CATIA includes receiving legacy data from
other system and even between its own product data management modules. The real
benefit is that links remain associative.
CATIA V5 serves the basic design tasks by providing different work benches. A work bench
is defined as “A specified environment consisting of asset of tools, which allows the user to
perform specific design tasks in a particular area” the basic work benches are part design,
wire frame and surface design work bench, assembly work bench & drafting.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:
The systemrequirements of CATIA V5 are:
System unit: An Intel Pentium III or Pentium IV based work station running Microsoft 2000
professional edition or XP edition.
Memory: 256MB RAM is used for all application.
512 MB RAM is used for DMU application.

6. 6
Disc drive: 4GB Disc drive space [min.recomended]
Internal/External drives: A CD-ROMdrive is required for the program installation.
Display: A graphic colour display compatible with selected plat from with min.recomended
1711.
Graphics adaptor: A graphic adaptor with a 3d open GL accelerator is required with min.
resolution of 1024*768 for MS –WINDOWS and 1280*1024 for UNIX WORK stations.
Getting started with CATIA V5 R20:
Install CATIA V5 R20 on your system and then start it by double checking on the short cut
icon of CATIA V5 R20 on the desktop.
After the systemhas loaded all the required files to start CATIA V5 R20. A new product
file with default name of product1 will start automatically.
Specification Tree:
The specific tree keeps a track of all operations that carried out on the part .it will app-
ears when you start a new file. Under the part design.
Part 1: XY- plane, YZ- plane, ZX-plane- Part body. The segment to become vertical.
Assembly constraints: The constraints in the assembly design work bench are the logical
operations performed to restrict the degree of freedom of the component to define its
precise location and position w.r.to the order component to the assembly (the constraints in
the work bench are)
Co-incidence constraints: this constraint is used to force two selected entities to coincide
with each other. The selected entities to coincide with each other. The selected entities can
be central axes of circular components two adjacent or opposite force or two adjacent
planes.
Contact constraints: This constraint between each off is used to force to create a contact
between each other.
Off set constraint: This constraint is used to place two different selected faces planes or
central axis at a distance with reference to each other.
Angle constraint: This constraint is used to place two selected entities at an angle with
reference to each other. The entities can be central axes of circular components two faces,
two planes, or a combination of the axis and faces, planes and face or axis and plane.
Fix component: This constraint fixes the position to the selected component in the 3D space.

7. 7
Fix together: This constraint fixes the position of two different selected part with respect to
each other.
Quick constraint: the quick constraint tool is used to apply the most appropriate constraint
to the elements in the current selection set. You can set the priority in which CATIA V5 will
perform the constraint selection.
Part body: This constraint fixes the position of two default body in the part design work
bench. All solid related features such as a pad, pocket shaft and so on are placed inside it.
Other bodies that will be inserted under the part design work bench will be named as part2,
part3 and so on.
Geometrical set: The geometrical set is defined as a body that includes the newly created
planes, surface wire frames, elements and reference element.
Wire frame: The wire frame construction element aid in creating surface they generally
consists of points, lines and axes and are used as substitutes to entities drawn in sketcher
work bench.
Surface: Surface is geometric feature which have no thickness. They are used to create
complex shapes that are difficult to make using the solid feature after creating a surface you
can assign a thickness to it to convert it into solid body.
Features: A feature is defined as a basic building block of a solid model. The combination of
various feature results in a completed model. In the part design work bench of CATIA V5 the
features are of the following 4types.
1. Sketch- based features
2. Dress- up Features
3. Transformation features
4. Surface- Based features.
Reframe on: Sometimes a feature, body or a sketch may not be visible space in the geometry
area. This option is used to view the particular section in the available display space.
Centre graph: This option brings the selected feature body or sketch in the specification tree
to the middle left position of the geometry.
Tool bar: CATIA V5 offers a user friendly design environment by providing specific tool
bars to each workbench Therefore it is important that you get acquainted with the various
standard tool bars and buttons that appear in the work bench of CATIA V5.
Standard tool bar: The tool bar is common to all work bench of CATIA V5. The buttons in
the toolbar are used to start a new file, open an existing file, save file and to print the current

8. 8
document. These buttons are also used to and place the selection on a temporary clipboard,
copy a selection, paste the content from clipboard to selected locations undo, redo and
involve the help topics, the help button called what is this? Provides help on the tool bar.
Standard tool bar:
 Cut - what’s this?
 Copy - Quick print
 Paste – Save
 Undo - Open
 Redo – New.
Status Bar: The status bar which appears at the button of the CATIA V5 window comprises
of 3 areas
Current information or Dialogue box
Power input filed bar
Dialogue box display button.
Current information or Dialogue box: This displays the current information about the
selected feature or current tool.
Power Input Filed bar: The power in put field bar lets you involve the command and enter
the data or value that can be directly associated with the feature.
Note: In case an in correct command is entered in the power input field bar a power input
message dialog box appears indicating the unknown command or syntax error choose the ok
button from this dialog box to launch any command using the power input field box the
general syntax of command is C:< name of the command> for example to start a new file
enter C: New
Dialog box display button: Choosing the dialog box display button will turn on and turn off
the display of the current dialog box.
User information package button: Choosing this button will open a window with a default
link that is C:program filesDassault systemB14Intel-aresourcegalaxydefault .htm .you
can learn more about PLM latest news from dassault system technical support and so on
using the link on this page you need an internet connection to access these pages.
Part design work bench tool bars: You can involve the part design work bench by choosing
the new button from the standard tool and selecting part from the new dialog box.
Alternatively you can choose start> mechanical design> part design from the menu. Tool bars
in the part design work bench are discussed.
View tool bar: The button in the view tool bar are used for manipulating the view of the
model using the tools such as pan, zoom, normal viewing about planar surface face or plane,
defining a render style and so on. The view tool bar is available in all the work benches.

9. 9
View tool bar commands:
Zoom out - Normal view
Zoom in - Create multi-view
Rotate - Isometric view
Pan - Shading with edge
Fit all in - Hide/show
Fly mode - Swap visible space.
Select tool bar: The select tool is involved from the select tool bar to select a particular
object or sketch when you choose the select box it prompts you to select an object or a tool.
By default the select tool remain active, until another tool or object is selected.
Sketcher tool bar: The Sketcher button in the sketcher tool bar is used to involve it from the
main menu bar by choosing.
Start >mechanical design >sketcher.
After choosing the sketcher button select a plane or a planar force to involve the profile
tool bar are used to draw the sketcher. It is one of the most important tool bar in the sketcher
work bench.
Profile tool bar: The tools in the profile tool bar are used to draw the sketcher. It is one of
the most important tool bar in the sketcher work bench.
Profile tool bar commands:
 Spline
 Profile
 Circle
 Ellipse
 Rectangle
 Line
 Axis
 Point by clicking
Constraint tool bar: The tools in the constraint tool bar are used to apply constraint to the
geometric entities and assign dimensions to the draw a sketch you can make a sketch fully
defined using tool in the tool bar. A fully defined is known as an ISO-constraint sketch
Button in constraint tool bar:
 Constraint - Fix together
 Constraint defined in dialog box
 Animated constraint -Edit – multi- constraint
Operation tool bar: The tools in the operation tool bar are used to edit the drawn sketcher.
Button in the operation tool bar:
Chamfer – mirror – corner Trim – project 3D element.

10. 10
Sketch tool bar: The tools in this sketch tool bar are used to set the sketcher settings such as
setting the snap swishing the standard and construction elements and soon.
The button in sketch tool bar:
 Construction/ standard elements
 Snap to point
 Grid
 Geometrical constraint.
 Dimensional constraint.
Once the basic sketch is complete you need to convert it into a feature. Choose the exit
work bench button from the work bench tool bar and switch back to the part design work
bench. Sketch based featured tool bars are used to convert a sketch drawn in the sketcher
work bench into a feature.
The button in the sketchbased feature tool bar:
 Hole
 Pocket
 Slot
 Remove multi selection solid
 Groove
 Pad
 Solid combine
 Shaft
 Rib
 Multi selection solid.
Dress up features: The tools in the dress-up feature tool bar used to apply the dress-up
features such as fillet, chamfer, and shell and so on:
The button in the dress up features tool bar:
 Draft angle
 Shell
 Chamfer
 Thickness
 Remove face
 Edge fillet
 Thread/tap
Measure tool bar: The tools in the measure tool bar are used to measure a single item the
distance b/w two geometric on calculate the mass properties of the object.

11. 11
The button in the measure tool bar:
Measure between
Measure item
Measure inertia.
Transformation feature tool bar: The tools in the transformation feature tool bar are used
to (surface based operation) apply the transformation features to the part such as moving
mirror, pattern and so on
The button in the transformation feature tool bar is:
Mirror
Rectangular pattern
Translation
Scaling
Surface –Based feature tool bar: The tools in the surface based feature tool bars are used
to perform surface based operations on part bodies or to convert a surface body into a solid
body.
 surface
 Thick Close feature
 Split
 Sew surface.
Apply material tool bar: The tool in the apply material tool bar is used to assign a material
to the part body.
Wire frame and surface design work bench tool bar: You can involve the wire frame &
surface design work bench tool bar from maintenance bar by choosing start> mechanical
design > wire frame and surface design.
Surface tool bar: The tools in the surface tool bar are used to create surface
 Surface
 Offset
 Blend
 Sphere
 Sweep
 Revolve

12. 12
 Fill
 Extrude
 Multi selection surface.
Operation tool bar: The tools in the operation tool bar are used for surface editing
operations.
The button I the operation tool bar:
 Split
 Translate
 Join
 Extra polate
 Boundary
Wire frame tool bar: The tools in the wire frame tool bars are used to create 2D or 3D
curves using points, lines and splines. User defined planes can also be created by choosing
the plane button.
The buttons in the wire frame tool bar are:
 Plane
 Inter section
 Projection
 Line
 Circle
 Point
 Spline
Assembly design work bench tool bar: You can involve the assembly design work bench by
choosing the button from the standard tool bar and selecting product from the new dialog
box. Alternatively choose Start >Mechanical design > Assembly design from the menu bar.
The tool bars in the assembly design work bench are discussed next.
Product structure tools tool bar: The tools in the product structure tool bar are used to
insert an existing part or assembly in the current product file. You can also create anew
assembly or part inside the product file using the tools in this tool bar.
The button in the product structure tools tool bar:
 Existing component with positioning
 Existing component
 Part
 Part

13. 13
 Product
 Component
 Graph tree- reordering
 Generate numbering
 Selective load
 Manage representation
 Fast multi instantiation
Constraint tool bar: The constraint tool bar is used to apply constraint to the component of
the assembly to restrict its degree of freedom w.r. to the surrounding.
The buttons in the constraint toolbar are:
 Fix component
 Angle constraint
 Off set constraint
 Contact constraint
 Change constraint
 Coincide constraint
 Quick constraint
 Fix together
 Flexible rigid sub- assembly
 Reuse pattern.
Move tool bar: The tools required to perform operations such as moving and snapping the
parts or exploding an assembly in the assembly design work bench are available in the move
tool bar.
The button in the move tool bar are:
 Snap
 Explode
 Manipulation
 Stop manipulation.
Space analysis tool bar: The tools in the space analysis tool bar are used to check any
interference and clash in the assembly create the section of the assembly and perform the
distance analysis.
The button in the space analysis tool bar is:
 Clash
 distance and Band
 Sectioning

14. 14
 Analysis
Drafting work bench tool bar: To involve the drafting work bench choose the new button
from the standard tool bar and select the drawing from the new drawing dialog box.
Alternatively this work bench can involve by choosing Start> Mechanical Design > Drafting
from the menu bar.
Drawing tool bar: The tools in the drawing tool bar are used to insert anew sheet. Create a
new view and so on.
Button in the drawing tool bar is:
 New sheet
 Instantiate 2D Component
 New view
View tool bar: The tools in the view tool bar are used to generate orthographic section
detail or clipped views for a solid part or assembly.
Buttons in the view tools bar are:
 Detail view
 Offset section view
 Front view
 Clipping view
 Broken view
 View creation wizard.
Sl.No HOT KEYS FUNCTION
1. CTRL+Z Undo
2. CTRL+Y Repeat
3. CTRL+S Savesrepeatcurrentdocument
4. ALT+ENTER Involvesthe propertiestool
5. CTRL+F Involvesthe searchtool
6. CTRL+U Involvesthe update tool
7. SHIFT+F2 Involvesthe specificationoverview tool
8. F3 Togglesthe displayof the specificationtree

15. 15
9. SHIFT+F1 Involveswhat’sthis?Tool
10. F1 Involvesthe CATIA V5helptool
11. CTRL+D Involvesthe fastmulti-instantiationstool inthe assembly
designworkbench.
12. CTRL+E Involvesthe define multi-instantiationstool inthe
assemblydesignworkbench.
- Distance - Fix - Symmetry - Length
- Coincidence - Mid-point - Angle - concentricity
- vertical - Radius/Diameter - Tangency - Equidistant
point
- Semi major
axis
- Semi minor axis Sketchertool bar:
 Polygon trap
 Intersecting trap
 Selection trap
 Select
 Point stroke
selection
 Outside trap
selection
 Intersecting outside
trap selection.
Drawing lineswith a
symmetrical extension:
 Bi-tangent line
 Bisecting line
 Lines
 Infinite line
 Line normal to curve.
Drawing Rectangles:
 Cylindrical elongated
hole
 Elongated hole
 Parallelogram
 Oriented rectangle
 Rectangle
 Key hole profile
- Perpendicular

16. 16
 Hexagon
 Cantered rectangle
 Cantered
parallelogram
Drawing Circles:
 Circle using co-
ordinates
 Three point circles
 Circle
 Tri-tangent Circle
 Three point arc
 Three point are with
starting limits
 Arc
Drawing profile:
 Lines
 Tangent arc
 Three point arc
Drawing display tools:
 Zoom in
 Zoom out
 Rotate
 Pan
 Fit all in
 Fly mode
 Normal view
 Create multi-view
 Isometric view
 Shading with edges
 Hide /show
 Swap visible space.
Drawing an ellipse:
 Parabola by focus
 Hyperbola by focus
 Ellipse
 Conic

17. 17
Drawing splines:
 Spline
 Connect
Connectingtwo elementsby
arc or spline:
 Continuity in point
 Continuity in
tangency
 Continuity in
curvature
 Connect with a spline
 Connect with an arc
Trimming UNwanted sketched
element:
 Quick trim
 Close
 Trim
 Break
 Complement
Mirroring sketchedelement:
 Translate
 Rotate
 Symmetry
 Scale
 Mirror
 Off set
OffsettingsketchedElements:
 Tangent propagation
 Point propagation
 No propagation
 Both side offset.
Constrainingsketches:
 Constraint defined in
dialog box
 Constraint

18. 18
 Fix together
 Edit multi-constraint
 Animate constraints.
- Apply additional
constraints to the
sketch:Parallelism
Applying dimensional constraints:
 Constraint
 Contant constraint
Creatingbase feature by extruding:
 Drafted filled pad
 Multi pad
 Pad
Modifyingthe vieworientation:
 Left view
 Isometric view
 Bottom view
 Rear view
 Right view
 Named view
 Front view
 Top view
Display modesof the model:
 Shading with edges without smooth edges
 Shading with edges shading SHD
 Shading with edges and hidden edges
 Shading with materials
 Wire frame
 Customise view parameter.
Reference elements:
 Point
 Plane
 Line
CreatingFillets:

19. 19
 Variable radius fillet
 Face-face fillet
 Edge fillet
 Tri-tangent fillet
Measuringelement:
 Measure Item
 Measure between
 Measure Inertia.
Translating Bodies:
 Rotation
 Translation
 Symmetry.
Components of a knuckle joint:
 Fork end
 Eye end
 Knuckle pin
 Collar
 Taper pin
Fig.3.1 FORK END

20. 20
Fig.3.2 EYE END
Fig.3.3 KNUCKLE PIN

21. 21
Fig.3.4 COLLAR
Fig.3.5 TAPER PIN

22. 22
Fig. KNUCKLE JOINT

23. 23
CHAPTER-4
MATERIALS USED FOR KNUCKLE JOINT
The knuckle joints which are used in the industries are generally made by the
combination of cast iron and stainless steel. Rapid growth of technology in recent
decades led to reduction of cost and weight of the materials as a result accidents have
reduced and safety has increased. knuckle joint may be cast or fabricated or forged.
Teflon can also replaced with the cast iron. Recent researches have proved that if we use
composite material instead of cast iron, there will be many advantages such as making of
knuckle joint is easy, having maximum safety and eco-friendly.
A knuckle joint may be failed on the following three modes:
1.shear failure of pin(single shear)
2.crushing of pin against rod.
3.tensile failure of flat end bar.
The failure mechanism of knuckle joint has been studied by several investigators.
Jones has reported that shear failure due to tensional loading is the normal failure
Mechanism in many engineering components. pantazopolouset have studied the failure
of a knuckle joint of a universal coupling system. It was mentioned that torsional
overload of a knuckle joint is the major cause of failure. However in many cases it
was reported that wear of material due to severe friction leading to delimitation wear.

24. 24
chapter– 5
ADVNTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF
A KNUCKLE JOINT
ADVANTAGES:
 Knuckle joint can withstand large tensile loads.
 It has good mechanical rigidity.
 It is easy to manufacture and setup.
 It can be easily assembled and dismantled.
 Design is simple and easy.
 High repeating accuracy even with varying material thickness and tensile strengths.
 Reduced impact shock and high system rigidity.
 Long tool life.
DISADVANTAGES:
 The joint cannot withstand large compressive loads.
 It permits angular movement in only one plane.
 It is not as flexible as universal joint.

25. 25
CHAPTER-6
APPLICATIONS OF A KNUCKLE JOINT
 Knuckle joints are mainly used to connect two coaches of a train.
 Knuckle joints are used in wind shield wipers in automobiles.
 In automotive engine small end of connecting rod is connected to piston
By means of a knuckle joint.
 Knuckle joints are used in the robotic arms.
 Knuckle joints are used in the links of the cycle chains.
 Knuckle joints are used in the cranes.
 Knuckle joints are used in the earth movers.
 Knuckle joints are used in the chain straps.
.

26. 26
Conclusion:
The knuckle joint is more reliable in the case of tensile loads, when
compared to the other joints. By replacing cast iron with the composite material or Teflon the
strength, reliability, safety are optimised. Due to the automation the use of knuckle joints in
industries is increasing day by day.