Glove Box Locking Rod Assembly With Asymmetric Abutments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Challenges arise in vehicle assembly lines when assembling locking rods of distinct lengths into glove boxes of different dimensions, leading to improper assembly due to incorrect placement in vehicles with left-hand drive (LHD) and right-hand drive (RHD) configurations.
Innovation Solution
A system with abutting elements on glove boxes and locking rods of specific lengths, preventing incorrect assembly by ensuring the second locking rod cannot be inserted into the first glove box, and vice versa, using ribs and tabs to prevent misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If locking rods of distinct lengths are used for glove boxes of different dimensions, then the glove boxes can be properly fitted for LHD and RHD configurations, but there is a high likelihood of incorrect assembly where locking rods designed for smaller glove boxes may be incorrectly assembled onto larger glove boxes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric abutting elements (ribs on the glove box wall, tabs on the locking rod) positioned at specific predefined locations. These asymmetric features create a geometric constraint that allows the locking rod to be inserted only in the correct orientation and configuration, preventing incorrect assembly between locking rods and glove boxes of different dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The abutting elements serve as intermediary features between the locking rod and the glove box wall. These intermediary elements mediate the assembly process by providing a physical interface that guides correct alignment and prevents incorrect mating, thereby simplifying the assembly process while ensuring precision.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple glove boxes with distinct dimensions are assembled on the same assembly line, then vehicles with different hand drive directions can be produced, but the risk of assembling components associated with one glove box into another glove box increases
Solution Approach 1:
By incorporating asymmetric abutting elements at predefined positions on different glove boxes and their corresponding locking rods, the patent ensures that each locking rod is geometrically compatible only with its designated glove box. This asymmetric design maintains adaptability for multiple vehicle configurations while ensuring reliability by preventing cross-assembly errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The abutting elements are pre-configured on the glove boxes and locking rods before assembly. This preliminary arrangement of geometric constraints ensures that when assembly occurs, the correct components are already positioned to mate only with their intended partners, thereby maintaining both versatility and reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A system (100) for assisting in assembling a pair locking rods on a pair of glove boxes vehicle is disclosed. The system (100) includes a first glove box (102) having a first inner length (X1) and a second glove box (104) having a second inner length (Y1) less than a first inner length (X1), where the first glove box (102) and the second glove box (104) are adapted to be arranged in vehicle having different hand drive directions. A first locking rod (106) of a first length (X2) is adapted to be arranged on the first glove box (102) and a second locking rod (108) of a second length (Y2) is adapted to be arranged on the second glove box (104). A first abutting element (110) is provided on a wall of the first glove box (102) and a second abutting element (112) is configured on the second locking rod (108), which are adapted to abut against each other to prevent assembling of the second locking rod (108) on the first glove box (102).