Gearshift Ball-and-Socket Assembly for Smooth Shift Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gearshift assemblies experience a feeling of jerk or unevenness during shift movements due to the alignment of vertical sidewalls of recesses with vertical slots in the socket, leading to an uncomfortable driving experience.
Innovation Solution
The pattern of recesses in the ball portion is arranged with inclined sidewalls disaligned with respect to the side edges of the vertical slots over the pivotal movement range, ensuring that the sidewalls never assume a vertical orientation, thereby preventing alignment with the slot edges during shift movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the ball portion is formed with vertical sidewalls of recesses aligned with vertical slots in the socket, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the shift movement becomes jerky and uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by changing the orientation of the recess sidewalls from vertical to inclined (at angles of 30°, 45°, or 60° to the longitudinal axis). This asymmetric design prevents the sidewalls from aligning with the vertical slots during pivotal movement, thereby eliminating the jerky feedback while maintaining the simplicity of the injection moulding process.
2Manufacturing precision
If the ball portion uses thin wall injection moulding with recesses, then material distribution is optimized, but the structure becomes prone to deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating regions of different wall thicknesses through the inclined recess sidewalls. The recesses extend partially into the ball portion, creating locally thinned areas that optimize material distribution and reduce shrinkage, while the overall spherical shape and strategic recess placement maintain structural stability and prevent deformation.
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 ensures smooth and steady shift movements of the shift lever, eliminating the feedback of jerks or unevenness, enhancing the driving experience by maintaining uniform thickness and material distribution within the ball portion.
Implementation Method 1
the socket having vertical slots in the sidewall which have parallel vertical side edges and which are open at their upper ends to allow a sidewall portion between adjacent vertical slots to elastically flex outwardly during insertion of the ball portion into the socket
Data Source
AI summary
A gearshift assembly comprises a base and a shift lever having an overmoulded ball portion comprising a pattern of recesses having straight side walls. A socket is fixed in the base and shaped to receive the ball portion of the shift lever. The socket has a sidewall with an inner surface forming part of a sphere to provide a pivotal mounting for the ball portion for pivotal movement of the shift lever over a pivotal movement range. Vertical slots in the sidewall which have parallel vertical side edges that are open at their upper ends to allow a sidewall portion between adjacent vertical slots to elastically flex outwardly during insertion of the ball portion into the socket. The pattern of recesses of the ball portion is arranged such that all sidewalls are inclined with respect to side edges of the vertical slots over the pivotal movement range.