A knob

Abstract

A knob includes a knob body, a seal, and a housing; the housing has a mounting groove, and one end of the knob body is rotatably mounted in the mounting groove; the seal is disposed between the knob body and the housing to seal the gap between the knob body and the housing, and the seal, the knob body, and the housing form a multi-segment sealing channel; a fixing structure is provided between the knob body and the housing, the fixing structure fixing the knob body to the housing, and the fixing structure cooperates with the seal to enhance the sealing effect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of sealing structure technology, and more specifically, to a knob. Background Technology

[0002] As a core component for achieving rotational adjustment or control functions, knobs are widely used in CNC machine tool control panels, food processing equipment control consoles, outdoor engineering machinery control interfaces, laboratory instruments such as mixers and hot plate control terminals, high-end kitchen appliances such as ovens, dishwashers, and washing machine program selection terminals, outdoor Bluetooth speaker volume / mode adjustment terminals, professional camera and camcorder mode dials, waterproof sports watch crowns, as well as multi-functional knobs on car center consoles, air conditioning adjustment knobs, and differential lock knobs on off-road vehicles, among many other scenarios.

[0003] In the aforementioned application scenarios, most knobs face harsh operating environments: in industrial settings, knobs are often exposed to dusty and oily environments, and some scenarios also pose a risk of coolant splashing; knobs in food processing equipment are frequently exposed to cleaning water and corrosive cleaning agents, and must meet food-grade hygiene requirements; knobs in outdoor construction machinery and outdoor electronic equipment must withstand wind and rain, alternating high and low temperatures, and sand and dust; knobs in medical instruments, such as the rotating joints of surgical robot operating arms, must not only prevent the infiltration of cleaning fluids and disinfectant vapors, but also meet aseptic operation standards; knobs in automotive interiors must withstand beverage spills, corrosion from interior cleaning agents, and extreme temperature changes such as prolonged exposure to high temperatures or freezing temperatures. These scenarios all place clear and high demands on the IP protection rating of knobs, with IP67 and above becoming the basic standard for most high-end applications, and some scenarios even requiring an IP68 protection rating.

[0004] However, current miniature knobs on the market face significant technical bottlenecks in achieving high IP protection levels, with the main problems concentrated in the following areas: Conventional sealing structures offer insufficient protection: Existing knobs generally use circular cross-section sealing rings for sealing. These rings have a small contact area with the knob body and outer shell, forming only a single, short-path sealing interface. Because circular sealing rings cannot completely fill the assembly gap between the knob and the shell, the penetration path for liquids, dust, and other contaminants is extremely short. Under slight pressure or prolonged contact, the sealing interface can easily be breached, leading to damage to internal components and failing to meet IP67 and higher protection requirements.

[0005] Poor dynamic sealing stability: The knob needs to be rotated continuously during use. Conventional sealing structures lack the design to adapt to dynamic working conditions. During rotation, the circular sealing ring is prone to displacement or deformation due to friction, resulting in an increase in sealing gap. At the same time, long-term rotation will cause wear on the sealing ring, further weakening the sealing effect and making it impossible to achieve long-term stable dynamic sealing. The sealing failure problem is more prominent, especially in high-frequency use scenarios.

[0006] Some applications have special requirements for sealing materials, such as food-grade, high-temperature resistance, and chemical corrosion resistance. However, most existing knobs use general-purpose rubber sealing rings, and the material properties cannot meet the needs of complex environments. In addition, sealing rings are mostly assembled by manual insertion, which can easily lead to uneven sealing gaps due to assembly errors, further reducing the protection level. The application of high-precision one-piece molding technology in the field of micro knobs is still relatively limited.

[0007] Miniature knobs are limited by size requirements and have a small internal structure. Conventional sealing structures require additional installation space, resulting in an increased overall size of the knob, which makes it difficult to meet the design requirements of miniaturized devices. If the sealing structure is simplified to reduce the size, the protective performance will be further sacrificed, creating a dilemma between size and protection.

[0008] The aforementioned problems have significantly reduced the reliability of existing knobs in complex environments, which not only increases the maintenance costs and failure risks of equipment, but also limits the application of knobs in high-precision equipment, harsh outdoor environments and other fields. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to develop a miniature knob that combines high IP protection level, stable dynamic sealing performance and compact structure. Utility Model Content

[0009] The main purpose of this utility model is to provide a knob to solve the problems of low IP protection level, poor dynamic sealing stability, insufficient material and process adaptability, and contradiction between structural compactness and protection requirements in the prior art.

[0010] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: A knob includes a knob body, a seal, and a housing; the housing has a mounting groove, and one end of the knob body is rotatably mounted in the mounting groove; the seal is disposed between the knob body and the housing to seal the gap between the knob body and the housing; the seal, the knob body, and the housing form a multi-segment sealing channel; a fixing structure is provided between the knob body and the housing, the fixing structure fixing the knob body to the housing, and the fixing structure cooperates with the seal to enhance the sealing effect.

[0011] Furthermore, the multi-segment sealing channel includes at least one of an L-shaped channel and an S-shaped channel; when the multi-segment sealing channel includes both an L-shaped channel and an S-shaped channel, the L-shaped channel and the S-shaped channel are connected. The multi-segment sealing channel significantly improves protection capabilities by extending the contaminant penetration path. The L-shaped channel utilizes a turning structure to block vertically penetrating liquids, while the S-shaped channel further increases horizontal penetration resistance. The combination of these two features achieves IP68 protection.

[0012] Furthermore, the contact surface between the seal and the knob body is higher than the recessed surface at the corresponding mounting position on the housing. This design forms a raised blocking structure, allowing the seal to directly intercept contaminants when liquid or dust falls onto the knob surface, preventing them from entering the gap between the knob body and the seal, thus reducing the risk of leakage at the source.

[0013] Furthermore, the fixing structure is an inverted buckle structure. The knob body has a protruding inverted buckle, and the inner wall of the mounting groove of the outer shell has a slot that matches the inverted buckle. The inverted buckle is engaged in the slot. This inverted buckle structure allows for quick fixing of the knob body and the outer shell while also applying moderate pressure to the sealing element, causing it to fit tightly against the surfaces of the knob and the outer shell, enhancing the sealing tightness. Moreover, it eliminates the need for additional fixing components, saving structural space.

[0014] Furthermore, the seal is made of an elastic material, including any one of silicone, fluororubber, or EPDM rubber. Silicone is suitable for wide temperature ranges (-60°C to 200°C) and food-grade applications; fluororubber is suitable for harsh environments requiring high temperatures, oil resistance, and chemical resistance; EPDM rubber is suitable for applications requiring resistance to water vapor, aging, and contact with polar solvents such as brake fluid. The appropriate material can be selected flexibly according to application requirements, improving material compatibility.

[0015] Furthermore, the seal is formed using liquid silicone injection molding, and is integrally molded at the corresponding mounting position of the knob body or the housing. Liquid silicone injection molding enables a seamless connection between the seal and the knob / housing, completely eliminating leakage points caused by assembly errors, while simplifying the production process, improving mass production feasibility, and meeting the precision manufacturing requirements of micro knobs.

[0016] Furthermore, the outer casing is provided with a flow guiding structure, which is located on the outside of the multi-segment sealing channel and is used to guide liquid or dust out. The flow guiding structure can actively discharge small amounts of contaminants that enter the external gaps under centrifugal force, knob rotation, or gravity, achieving a self-cleaning function, preventing contaminants from accumulating on the outside of the sealing channel, further extending the service life of the seal and maintaining long-term protective performance.

[0017] Furthermore, the flow guiding structure is a flow guiding channel, which extends along the outer circumferential surface of the outer shell or the inner wall of the mounting groove. The flow guiding channel has a simple structure, is easy to process, and can be designed as annular, spiral, etc., according to the shape of the outer shell, ensuring that pollutants can be discharged smoothly without increasing the size of the knob, thus balancing protective performance and structural compactness.

[0018] Furthermore, a sealing groove is provided at the part of the knob body that contacts the sealing element, and a portion of the sealing element is embedded in the sealing groove. The sealing groove can position the sealing element, preventing it from shifting or falling off when the knob is rotated. At the same time, it increases the contact area between the sealing element and the knob body, improving sealing reliability, and is especially suitable for dynamic sealing scenarios.

[0019] The beneficial effects of this utility model are as follows: 1. By forming a multi-segment sealing channel through the cooperation of the seal and the inner wall of the housing, the path of contaminant penetration is greatly extended. Combined with the raised blocking design of the seal and the knob body, IP67 or even IP68 protection level can be achieved to meet the needs of use in complex environments.

[0020] 2. The positioning effect of the sealing groove on the sealing element, the squeezing effect of the fixing structure on the sealing element, and the self-cleaning function of the flow guiding structure work together to ensure that the sealing element always fits tightly during the long-term rotation of the knob, avoiding sealing failure due to displacement or wear, and achieving stable dynamic sealing.

[0021] 3. Depending on the scenario, elastic materials such as silicone and fluororubber can be selected, and liquid silicone injection molding process can be used to achieve one-piece molding. This not only meets special requirements such as food grade and high temperature resistance, but also eliminates assembly errors, improves mass production feasibility, and is suitable for the precision manufacturing and mass production of micro knobs.

[0022] 4. The integrated design of the inverted structure and sealing function saves space, and the flow channel and other structures do not add extra volume, balancing compactness and protection. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1 Assembly drawing of the overall knob solution provided in this embodiment of the utility model; Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the overall knob design provided in this embodiment of the utility model; Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the knob removal body provided in an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 4 for Figure 3 Cross-sectional view; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure for removing the knob body and the seal provided in an embodiment of the present utility model; Figure 6 for Figure 5 Cross-sectional view; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the flow guide groove structure in this utility model.

[0025] The attached diagram is labeled as follows: 1-knob body, 2-seal, 3-outer shell, 4-inverted buckle, 5-slot, 6-sealing groove, 7-guide groove. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of this utility model will be described in detail below. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this utility model, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0027] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0028] like Figure 1-6 As shown, this embodiment provides a knob, including a knob body 1, a sealing element 2, and a housing 3; the housing 3 has a mounting groove, and one end of the knob body 1 is rotatably mounted in the mounting groove; the sealing element 2 is disposed between the knob body 1 and the housing 3 to seal the gap between the knob body 1 and the housing 3; the sealing element 2 has an irregular shape, and the inner wall of the mounting groove of the housing 3 has a curved structure, forming a multi-segment sealing channel between the sealing element 2, the knob body 1, and the housing 3; a fixing structure is provided between the knob body 1 and the housing 3, which is used to fix the knob body 1 to the housing 3, and the fixing structure cooperates with the sealing element 2 to enhance the sealing effect.

[0029] Specifically, the multi-segment sealing channel includes both L-shaped and S-shaped channels, with the L-shaped and S-shaped channels connected. The L-shaped channel is formed by the stepped surface of the knob body 1 and the vertical inner wall of the housing 3, blocking vertically penetrating liquid. The S-shaped channel is formed by the curved structure of the inner wall of the mounting groove of the housing 3 and the irregular surface of the seal 2, further increasing the horizontal penetration resistance. The combined effect of these two channels can extend the contaminant penetration path to 3-5 times that of conventional structures, ensuring the achievement of the IP68 protection rating. The contact surface between the seal 2 and the knob body 1 is 0.2-0.5 mm higher than the recessed surface of the corresponding mounting position on the housing 3. This height difference creates a raised edge that directly intercepts dripping or splashing liquid, preventing liquid from flowing into the sealing gap along the recessed surface of the housing, thus reducing the risk of leakage at the source.

[0030] The fixing structure is based on an inverted buckle structure. The knob body 1 has 2-4 evenly distributed raised inverted buckles 4, and the inner wall of the mounting groove of the outer shell 3 has a corresponding matching slot 5. The inverted buckles 4 are made of elastic plastic, which can undergo slight deformation when the knob body 1 is pressed into the mounting groove, and return to its original shape and snap into the slot 5 after being fully pressed in. During this process, the inverted buckles 4 exert a compressive force of 0.1-0.3 MPa on the sealing element 2, causing the sealing element 2 to tightly fit against the contact surface of the knob body 1 and the outer shell 3, eliminating minor gaps. At the same time, the inverted buckle structure eliminates the need for additional screws, clips, or other components, achieving fixation solely through the structure of the knob body and the outer shell themselves, saving more than 30% of installation space and meeting the compact design requirements of miniature knobs.

[0031] The material selection for seal 2 needs to be considered in conjunction with the application scenario: In food processing equipment, kitchen appliances, and other scenarios, food-grade silicone is selected, with a temperature resistance range of -60°C to 200°C, and can withstand corrosion from common cleaning agents; in knobs near the engine compartment of automobiles, such as differential lock knobs, fluororubber is selected, which can withstand high temperatures above 250°C and corrosion from engine oil and brake fluid; in control knobs of outdoor construction machinery, EPDM rubber is selected, which has excellent resistance to water vapor aging and can be used for a long time in environments ranging from -40°C to 150°C. Seal 2 is integrally molded into the sealing groove 6 of the knob body 1 using liquid silicone injection molding technology, with a molding accuracy of ±0.05mm, achieving a seamless connection between the seal and the knob body, completely eliminating gap errors caused by manual assembly, and increasing production efficiency by more than 2 times compared to traditional assembly methods, meeting mass production requirements.

[0032] like Figure 7Therefore, an annular guide groove 7 is provided on the outer side of the inner wall of the mounting groove of the outer casing 3, with a depth of 0.5-1mm and a width of 1-1.5mm, extending along the outer circumference of the outer casing 3 to form a closed ring. When a small amount of liquid or dust enters the external gap between the outer casing and the knob, the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the knob can throw the contaminants into the guide groove 7, and then discharge them along the inclined bottom surface of the guide groove 7 under the action of gravity. In the case of static placement, the guide groove 7 can temporarily store contaminants, preventing them from accumulating on the outside of the sealing channel, further reducing the wear risk of the seal 2 and extending its service life.

[0033] It's important to note that the design purpose of the flow channel is to actively expel small amounts of liquid or dust that have entered external gaps under the action of centrifugal force or gravity, achieving a self-cleaning function and further enhancing protective capabilities. The emphasis is on the "small amount" limitation—the flow channel is designed for trace amounts of contaminants, such as fine dust particles or small droplets adhering to the outside of the sealed channel, not large accumulations of contaminants. For these trace amounts of contaminants, the adhesion to the flow channel wall is extremely low. For example, dust particles weigh only a few milligrams, and liquid droplets have very weak surface tension. Even with a low manual rotation speed (e.g., 1-2 revolutions per second), the resulting minute centrifugal force, combined with the knob diameter typically 5-20 mm and a linear velocity of approximately 0.03-0.13 m / s, is sufficient to overcome the adhesion of the contaminants and propel them along the flow channel. Furthermore, the contaminants also possess their own gravity, indicating that centrifugal force is not the sole driving force. After being broken down by centrifugal force, the trace contaminants can naturally slide off under gravity, without relying on the strong centrifugal force generated by high rotation speeds.

[0034] On the one hand, the dirt in the tiny channels, such as dust particles with a diameter of 0.1-0.3mm and liquid droplets with a volume of 0.01-0.05mm³, requires very little centrifugal force to push them, and the weak centrifugal force generated by manual rotation is sufficient. On the other hand, the design of the guide channel at the turning point of the L-shaped channel allows the small amount of dirt entering the external gaps to fall directly into the channel without having to travel a long distance to contact the channel wall, further reducing the dependence on centrifugal force. Essentially, it compensates for insufficient rotation speed through structural adaptation, rather than relying on high rotation speed.

[0035] A sealing groove 6 is provided at the contact point between the knob body 1 and the seal 2. The depth and width of the sealing groove 6 are both 0.1-0.2 mm larger than the embedded part of the seal 2. This ensures that the seal 2 can be stably embedded and positioned, and also provides space for the deformation of the seal 2 during compression and rotation, preventing damage to the seal due to excessive compression. In addition, the fixing structure also includes a stainless steel retaining spring (not shown in the figure). The retaining spring is set between the mating end faces of the knob body 1 and the outer shell 3. When the knob needs to be repaired, the retaining spring can be removed with a special tool, and then the knob body 1 can be gently pried to deform the inverted buckle 4 and disengage it from the retaining groove 5, achieving non-destructive disassembly and assembly, and solving the maintenance problem of the traditional inverted buckle structure which is only for one-time use.

[0036] The assembly process for the knob in this embodiment is as follows: The sealing element 2 is integrally molded into the sealing groove 6 of the knob body 1 using liquid silicone injection molding process. After molding, the burrs are removed to ensure that the surface of the sealing element is smooth and without defects. Align the mounting end of the knob body 1 with the mounting groove of the outer shell 3, ensuring that the buckle 4 and the slot 5 are aligned. Then apply an axial pressure of 50-100N to deform the buckle 4 and slide it into the inner wall of the outer shell until the buckle 4 is fully inserted into the slot 5. At this time, the knob body 1 and the outer shell 3 are initially fixed, and the seal 2 is tightly attached to the inner wall of the outer shell under the action of the buckle. A stainless steel retaining ring is embedded in the gap between the mating end faces of the knob body 1 and the outer shell 3. The elastic tension of the retaining ring further enhances the fixing stability of the two, while forming a slight pre-pressure on the seal 2 to improve the sealing reliability. After assembly, an IP68 protection rating test and a dynamic sealing test are conducted to ensure that no liquid seepage occurs and that the sealing performance is stable.

[0037] The knob in this embodiment, through the above structural design, can effectively solve the technical pain points of existing knobs and is suitable for the following scenarios: CNC machine tool control panel knobs and outdoor construction machinery control knobs can withstand dust, oil mist, and coolant splashes; food processing equipment control panel knobs and surgical robot operating arm rotary joints meet food-grade hygiene requirements and anti-sterilization steam requirements; outdoor Bluetooth speaker volume knobs and waterproof sports watch crowns can achieve IP68 waterproofing and are suitable for outdoor use; car center console multi-function knobs and off-road vehicle differential lock knobs can withstand beverage spills, detergent corrosion, and extreme temperature changes.

[0038] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of this utility model, but the protection scope of this utility model is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in this utility model should be included within the protection scope of this utility model. Therefore, the protection scope of this utility model should be determined by the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A knob, characterized in that, Includes a knob body (1), a seal (2), and a housing (3); The outer casing (3) has a mounting groove, and one end of the knob body (1) is rotatably mounted in the mounting groove; The sealing element (2) is disposed between the knob body (1) and the outer shell (3) to seal the gap between the knob body (1) and the outer shell (3); the sealing element (2) forms a multi-segment sealing channel with the knob body (1) and the outer shell (3); A fixing structure is provided between the knob body (1) and the outer shell (3), the fixing structure fixing the knob body (1) to the outer shell (3), and the fixing structure cooperating with the sealing element (2).

2. The knob according to claim 1, characterized in that, The multi-segment sealing channel includes both an L-shaped channel and an S-shaped channel, with the L-shaped channel and the S-shaped channel connected.

3. The knob according to claim 1, characterized in that, The contact surface between the seal (2) and the knob body (1) is higher than the recessed surface at the corresponding installation position on the outer shell (3).

4. The knob according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixing structure is an inverted structure. The knob body (1) is provided with a protruding inverted buckle (4). The inner wall of the mounting groove of the outer shell (3) is provided with a slot (5) that is adapted to the inverted buckle (4). The inverted buckle (4) is snapped into the slot (5).

5. The knob according to claim 1, characterized in that, The seal (2) is made of an elastic material, which includes any one of silicone, fluororubber or EPDM rubber.

6. The knob according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sealing element (2) is formed by liquid silicone injection molding process, and the sealing element (2) is integrally formed at the corresponding installation position of the knob body (1) or the outer shell (3).

7. The knob according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer shell (3) is provided with a flow guiding structure, which is located on the outside of the multi-segment sealed channel and is used to guide liquid or dust out.

8. The knob according to claim 7, characterized in that, The flow guiding structure is a flow guiding groove (7), which extends along the outer peripheral surface of the outer shell (3) or the inner wall of the mounting groove.

9. The knob according to claim 1, characterized in that, The knob body (1) has a sealing groove (6) at the part that contacts the seal (2), and a part of the seal (2) is embedded in the sealing groove (6).

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