Assist Grip Spring Case Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing assist grips in automobile cabins face difficulties in mounting torsion coil springs due to their small size and irregular shape, leading to incorrect orientation and fluctuating rotational torque, which results in noise and instability during operation.
Innovation Solution
The assist grip design incorporates a spring case that stores the torsion coil spring between inner and outer support pieces, with one end locked inside and the other end projecting to be locked to the grip body, allowing for easy and correct alignment and stable rotational torque application, preventing noise from friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a torsion coil spring is mounted directly between support pieces without a spring case, then the mounting structure is simpler, but the spring cannot be correctly oriented and rotational torque fluctuates
Solution Approach 1:
A spring case is introduced as an intermediary component between the torsion coil spring and the support pieces. The spring case provides a structured mounting environment with guide grooves and positioning features that ensure the spring is correctly oriented and positioned, eliminating the orientation and torque fluctuation problems that occur when the spring is mounted directly without a case.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring case is pre-formed with guide grooves, locking features, and positioning structures before assembly. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the torsion coil spring is installed, it automatically assumes the correct orientation and position, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures during assembly while maintaining high manufacturing precision.
2Device complexity
If a torsion coil spring is mounted without a spring case, then the device structure is simpler, but noise occurs due to friction between coil wires and wall surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The spring case acts as a mediator that isolates the torsion coil spring from direct contact with the hinge recess portion wall surface. By providing a dedicated housing with appropriate clearance and guiding features, the spring case prevents the spring coils from rubbing against the wall surface during rotation, thereby eliminating the friction-induced noise while adding minimal structural complexity.
3Volume of moving object
If the space between support pieces is large compared to the spring size, then the spring fits loosely, but the spring becomes obliquely shifted from the hinge shaft center
Solution Approach 1:
The spring case provides localized structural features including guide grooves, positioning ribs, and locking mechanisms at specific locations within the housing. These local quality enhancements create precise reference surfaces and constraints that guide the spring into the correct position and orientation, preventing oblique shifting from the hinge shaft center even when the overall space between support pieces is large.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design simplifies the mounting process, ensures correct orientation of the torsion coil spring, maintains consistent rotational torque, and reduces noise during operation by housing the spring in a case that matches its shape and providing a guide groove for secure attachment.
Implementation Method 1
a torsion coil spring for urging around a hinge shaft thereof is mounted so as to, by a spring force of the torsion coil spring, urge the grip body to an unused position against the hinge portion
Implementation Method 2
a torsion coil spring stored in a spring case is inserted between the inner support piece and the outer support piece
Data Source
AI summary
An assist grip of the present invention includes a grip body provided at both side base portions thereof with hinge recess portions and a hinge portion rotatably and pivotally supported in each of the hinge recess portions of both sides, and is fixed via the hinge portion to a to-be-fixed portion in an automobile. In a pivot support portion of the hinge portion, an outer support piece and an inner support piece are provided at a distance from each other, and between the inner support piece and the outer support piece, a torsion coil spring stored in a spring case is inserted. One end portion of the torsion coil spring is locked to an inside of the spring case, and the other end portion of the torsion coil spring projects from the spring case and is locked to a part of the grip body.