Elastomeric Gate Seal with Offset Slits for Vehicle Shift Lever

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Solution Overview

Problem

Vehicle shift gate systems allow heated or cold ambient air to enter the passenger compartment, causing discomfort and impacting the performance of heating systems, and existing solutions, such as thin plastic covers, are not durable enough to withstand unimproved paths and debris.

Innovation Solution

A shift gate assembly with a gate seal made of elastic material that includes slits offset from the centerline, which closes openings occupied by the shift lever and mode select lever, curtails air flow and is designed to resist damage from debris while maintaining the biasing structure's effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a thin plastic cover is used to close the shift gate opening, then the air flow into the passenger compartment is reduced, but the cover lacks durability to withstand debris and unimproved paths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair flow into passenger compartmentVSAvoiddurability against debris

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a flexible gate seal made of elastomeric material that can deform and flex. The seal includes a biasing structure that maintains contact between the seal and the shift lever, ensuring continuous sealing without requiring a rigid plastic cover. This flexible approach provides both air flow blocking and durability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The gate seal is constructed as a composite structure combining an elastomeric sealing material with an integrated biasing structure (spring mechanism). This composite design allows the seal to maintain its sealing function while withstanding mechanical stresses from debris and rough terrain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a gate seal with offset slits is used to improve sealing, then air flow is effectively blocked, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveair flow blockingVSAvoidseal structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gate seal incorporates slits that segment the sealing material into distinct regions. These slits allow the seal to flex and deform around the shift lever while maintaining continuous sealing contact. The segmentation enables the seal to adapt to the lever's movement without requiring a complex rigid structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The offset slit configuration allows the gate seal to dynamically adapt its shape as the shift lever moves. The slits are positioned to permit maximum deformation of the seal material, enabling the seal to maintain effective contact with the lever throughout its range of motion while blocking air flow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the gate seal is made of elastic material to improve sealing and durability, then the seal can deform with the shift lever, but the material selection becomes more constrained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing effectivenessVSAvoidmaterial selection flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent specifies that the gate seal be made of elastomeric material with particular properties (durability, flexibility, resistance to environmental factors). By changing the material parameter to elastomer, the seal achieves both effective deformation for sealing and resistance to degradation from debris and weather, resolving the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and material versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 stops or reduces the flow of heated or cold air into the passenger compartment, enhancing comfort and durability by preventing damage from environmental factors without increasing the load on the shift lever, thus maintaining the biasing structure's functionality.

Implementation Method 1

The gate seal can include a slit extending along the lever opening and offset with respect to the opening centerline. The shift lever can extend through the lever opening and the slit, be selectively movable along the lever opening and the slit, and elastically deform the gate seal as the shift lever moves along the slit.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11614160B1Shift gate assembly for vehicle including gate seal and method of using same

Publication Date: 2023.03.28 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

AI summary

A shift gate assembly that can include a shift plate, a gate seal and a shift lever. The shift plate can include a lever opening having an opening centerline. The gate seal can be made of an elastic material and connected to the shift plate and extend along the lever opening. The gate seal can include a slit extending along the lever opening and offset with respect to the opening centerline. The shift lever can extend through the lever opening and the slit, be selectively movable along the lever opening and the slit, and elastically deform the gate seal as the shift lever moves along the slit.