Dial Operation Device with Elastic Stopper and Restricting Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dial operation devices for vehicle air conditioning struggle to restrict dial rotation when excessive force is applied, leading to deformation of stopper sections and increased assembly difficulty due to the need for enhanced rigidity.
Innovation Solution
An operation device with elastically deformable stopper sections and a restricting mechanism that prevents deformation in the opposite direction, allowing for secure dial rotation restriction without increasing assembly complexity or damaging the stopper sections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rigidity of the stopper section is enhanced to prevent deformation under excessive force, then the reliability of dial rotation restriction is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates due to increased assembly difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper section is divided into a deformable portion and a restricting portion. The deformable portion allows controlled deformation during normal operation, while the restricting portion maintains rigidity to prevent excessive deformation. This segmentation enables the stopper to be both reliable in restricting rotation and easy to assemble without requiring uniformly high rigidity throughout the entire component.
2Reliability
If the rigidity of the stopper section is enhanced to prevent deformation under excessive force, then the reliability of dial rotation restriction is improved, but the stopper section may be damaged during assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper section is divided into a deformable portion and a restricting portion. The deformable portion is designed to be more flexible and can yield during assembly without damage, while the restricting portion maintains appropriate rigidity. This segmentation prevents damage to the entire stopper section during assembly while ensuring reliability during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the stopper section have different rigidity characteristics tailored to their specific functions. The deformable portion has lower rigidity to allow controlled deformation, while the restricting portion has higher rigidity to prevent excessive deformation. This local differentiation of quality ensures both reliability and durability without requiring the entire component to be overly rigid.
3Ease of manufacture
If the stopper section is made elastically deformable to facilitate assembly, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the ability to restrict rotation under excessive force deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper section is divided into a deformable portion and a restricting portion. The deformable portion facilitates easy assembly through elastic deformation, while the restricting portion maintains sufficient rigidity to reliably restrict dial rotation even under excessive force. This segmentation allows the component to exhibit both flexibility during assembly and rigidity during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the stopper section have different mechanical properties optimized for their specific functions. The deformable portion has lower rigidity to allow easy assembly, while the restricting portion has higher rigidity to ensure reliable rotation restriction. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between ease of manufacture and reliability.
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
Effectively restricts dial rotation even under excessive force without enhancing stopper section rigidity, ensuring easy assembly and preventing damage to the stopper sections.
Implementation Method 1
the one stopper section 4 is deformed... the protruding part 6 is released from the pressing so as to restore the one stopper section 4
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
An operation device includes a dial (11), a body (16) to which the dial (11) is rotatably attached, a projection section (33) provided on one of the dial (11) and the body (16), a first stopper section (35) and a second stopper section (36) provided on the other of the dial (11) and the body (16). The first stopper section (35) and the second stopper section (36) are arranged so as to be separated to each other in a rotation direction of the dial (11) with a predetermined distance. The projection section (33) is projected from one of the dial (11) and the body (16) in a projection direction. The projection section (33) is arranged between the first stopper section (35) and the second stopper section (36). The first stopper section (35) is elastically deformable in the projection direction of the projection section (33). The operation device is provided with a restricting section (39) that restricts deformation of the first stopper section (35) in a direction opposite to the projection direction of the projection section (33).