Biased Bushing Shifter Assembly Free-Play Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current shifter assemblies face challenges in efficiently reducing free-play between the shift lever and the housing, as existing solutions require complex orientations and multiple surfaces for effective force distribution.
Innovation Solution
A shifter assembly design featuring a housing with transverse engagement surfaces, a rotatable ball, a lever coupled to the ball, a biasing member, and a bushing with an angled bias surface that supports the ball and reduces free-play by concurrently biasing the bushing away from the engagement surfaces, utilizing an o-ring and a bushing with ribs for alignment and support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking ring with axial and radial tongues is used to force contact with inclined and horizontal surfaces of a sector, then free-play of the shift lever is reduced, but the device complexity increases due to the unique configuration requiring proper orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex locking ring with its axial and radial tongues from the design. Instead, it uses a simpler retainer ring that works in conjunction with a spring-loaded sector having an inclined surface, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining free-play reduction functionality
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a locking ring that forces contact through multiple surfaces, the patent inverts the approach by using a spring-loaded sector that actively pushes against a single inclined surface of the retainer ring, simplifying the orientation and contact requirements
2Reliability
If multiple surfaces are used on the sector to accept axial and radial forces, then free-play reduction is achieved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for multiple precisely aligned surfaces (inclined surface and horizontal surface) on the sector. The design uses a single inclined surface that works with the spring force to achieve the same free-play reduction effect, thereby reducing manufacturing precision requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the force application parameter from multi-surface contact to single-surface contact with spring force, transforming the mechanical interaction from requiring precise multi-point alignment to a simpler single-point inclined surface engagement
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
The design simplifies the shifter assembly by reducing free-play through a single angled bias surface and o-ring engagement, enhancing the stability and precision of gear selection while maintaining ease of assembly and operation.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing member disposed within the interior between the engagement surfaces and the bushing with the biasing member and the bushing supporting the ball within the interior
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The subject invention provides a shifter assembly (20) for selecting one of a plurality of gears of a transmission of a vehicle. A housing (22) defines an interior (24), at least one first engagement surface (26), and at least one second engagement surface (28). A ball (54) is disposed within the interior (24). At least one bushing (62) and biasing member (58) are disposed within the interior (24). The at least one bushing (62) has an abutment surface (64) engaging the ball (54) and a bias surface (66) facing the first and second engagement surfaces (26, 28). A plane (P) is generally aligned with the bias surface (66) and angularly intersects the first and second engagement surfaces (26, 28). The biasing member (58) engages each of the first and second engagement surfaces (26, 28) and the bias surface (66) with the general alignment of the bias surface (66) causing the biasing member (58) to concurrently bias the bushing (62) away from the first and second engagement surfaces (26, 28) to support the ball (54).