Joint and knob assembly and appliance having joint and knob assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cooking appliances, misalignment of the knob and valve assembly due to manufacturing tolerances leads to operational failures and aesthetic issues, as the rotary shaft connecting the knob and valve may not be properly aligned, causing the knob to be installed in a deviated position.
Innovation Solution
A joint is used to absorb position errors between the valve and knob shafts, allowing for accurate alignment and smooth operation by connecting the valve shaft and knob shaft with a joint that includes a housing, shaft supports, and a spring to maintain the correct angle of connection, eliminating the need for manual adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rotary shaft is used to connect the knob and valve, then power transmission is achieved, but misalignment occurs due to manufacturing tolerances and assembly deviations
Solution Approach 1:
A joint mechanism is introduced as an intermediary component between the knob shaft and valve shaft. This joint includes a first yoke connected to the knob shaft, a second yoke connected to the valve shaft, and a connector that couples the two yokes together. The connector allows for angular misalignment compensation, enabling the knob to be positioned at a predetermined location even when the shafts are not perfectly aligned due to manufacturing tolerances.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual adjustment is performed to align the rotary shafts, then alignment accuracy is improved, but assembly complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The joint mechanism is designed to automatically compensate for misalignment without requiring manual adjustment. The connector includes movable connections that self-adjust to accommodate angular deviations between the knob shaft and valve shaft. During assembly, the components are simply connected in their respective positions, and the joint automatically absorbs the misalignment, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures.
3Ease of manufacture
If the knob position is deviated due to misalignment, then assembly is simpler, but appearance and operation are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The joint mechanism serves as a mediator that decouples the positional relationship between the knob and valve. The first yoke is connected to the knob shaft at the predetermined knob position, while the second yoke is connected to the valve shaft. The connector between the yokes compensates for angular misalignment, allowing the knob to maintain its correct predetermined position on the appliance front panel without requiring the shafts to be perfectly aligned.
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
The joint ensures accurate assembly and operation of the knob and valve assembly, reducing manufacturing costs and improving the appliance's appearance and functionality by stabilizing the connection between the valve and knob shafts, thus preventing misalignment and operational failures.
Implementation Method 1
a structure that includes a housing, shaft supports, and a spring to maintain the correct posture and connection angle
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A joint, a knob assembly, and an appliance having a joint and a knob assembly are provided. The joint may include a housing, a first shaft support, a second shaft support, and a coupling shaft. A slot having a predetermined width extending in a circumferential direction of the housing and a predetermined length extending in a longitudinal direction of the housing may be formed in the housing. The coupling shaft provided in the second support may include a rotary shaft rotatably inserted into the slot. A stopper may be formed to protrude from an outside of the rotary shaft, and a position of the stopper inside the slot may be changed according to rotation of the rotating shaft. The stopper may be provided in the slot so that the stopper interferes with an inner wall of the housing formed by the slot at a predetermined position.