Concentric Shaft Indicator Mechanism for Compact Planar Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing indicator devices for vehicle instrument panels, particularly those with elliptic or oblong gauges, face challenges in achieving compact designs with simple electromagnetic motor control for complex pointer motions, as current solutions often rely on large dimensions or liquid crystal digital displays.
Innovation Solution
The indicator device features concentric shafts with a common axis of rotation, a self-supporting visual information member extending beyond the guide member, and a kinematic link incorporating a rack and pinion mechanism, allowing for both rotational and translational motion to move the pointer in a 2D space, reducing overall dimensions and enabling compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If semi-circular shaped dials are used to display two different parameters simultaneously, then the display capability is improved, but the overall dimensions become large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing the second shaft inside the first shaft, with the second shaft having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the first shaft. This nested configuration allows both shafts to share a common axis of rotation and occupy the same spatial envelope, enabling dual parameter display while maintaining compact overall dimensions. The visual information member is coupled to both nested shafts, allowing it to respond to rotations of either shaft independently.
2Ease of operation
If conventional motor assemblies are used to move pointers in one plane with angular motion only, then the pointer control is simple, but the adaptability to new gauge shapes (elliptic or oblong) is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables planar motion of the visual information member by combining rotations of two concentric shafts about a common axis. The first shaft rotation provides angular motion while the second shaft rotation, transmitted through the rack and pinion mechanism, provides translational motion perpendicular to the angular direction. This two-dimensional motion capability allows the pointer to traverse elliptic or oblong gauge shapes while maintaining simple electromagnetic motor control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If rack and pinion mechanism is used to transform rotation into translation, then the planar motion capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the rotational motions of two concentric shafts into a unified planar motion of a single visual information member. The rack and pinion mechanism is integrated such that the pinion is mounted on the second shaft and engages with the rack attached to the visual information member. This merging approach allows both angular and translational motions to be combined in a single coordinated system, achieving planar motion capability while avoiding excessive complexity through unified design.
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 configuration allows for a compact, efficient, and adaptable indicator system that can move a visual information member in complex motions, specifically supporting elliptic or oval dial shapes, while maintaining a compact form factor and reducing overall dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
the kinematic link including a mutually engaged rack and pinion, for the pinion to be carried by the second shaft and to be rotatably stationary with respect to the second shaft about the common axis of rotation
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an indicator device that can be used on an instrument panel comprising two electric motors, two concentric shafts, a visual information member moved in translation by one of the shafts in a transverse direction relative to the axis of rotation of the shaft, and a guide member that is rotatably linked to the other shaft, rotates the visual information member with itself, and guides the visual information member in translation in the transverse direction. According to the disclosure, the two shafts are concentric, the visual information member is self-supporting, and the visual information member is longer than the guide member in the transverse direction.