Joystick Yoke Segment Assembly for Simpler Two-Axis Tilting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional joystick devices require multiple manufacturing steps and components due to the use of a cylindrical yoke, including forming elongated throughholes and throughholes for lever shafts, which increases costs.
Innovation Solution
The joystick device employs a yoke composed of two combined yoke segments with integrated operating shafts, eliminating the need for throughholes and retaining rings, and using coupling pins for assembly, reducing the number of manufacturing steps and components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a cylindrical yoke is used with elongated throughholes and throughholes for lever shafts, then the joystick device can achieve pivotal tilting in multiple directions, but the number of manufacturing steps and components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the yoke and lever shafts into a single integrated yoke assembly. The lever shafts are formed as integral protrusions from the yoke body, eliminating the need for separate lever shaft components and their associated throughholes. This merging reduces the total component count while maintaining the pivotal tilting functionality in multiple directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the elongated throughhole feature from the yoke design. Instead of forming elongated throughholes to accommodate the operating lever, the design uses a spherical recess that receives a ball attached to the operating lever. This extraction of the throughhole feature simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces the number of machining steps required.
2Ease of manufacture
If a cylindrical yoke with elongated throughhole is used, then the operating lever can be fitted through, but the manufacturing process requires multiple machining steps
Solution Approach 1:
The yoke and lever shafts are merged into a single integrated component, eliminating the need for separate machining operations on throughholes and lever shafts. This integration reduces the total number of manufacturing steps from multiple drilling and tapping operations to fewer forming operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The design removes the elongated throughhole feature entirely, replacing it with a spherical recess. This extraction eliminates the need for complex elongated hole machining, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing production time.
3Reliability
If retaining rings and set screws are used to secure shafts, then the components are retained securely, but the number of additional components and assembly steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The yoke and lever shafts are designed as integral components where the lever shafts are formed as protrusions directly from the yoke body. This merging eliminates the need for separate fastening components like retaining rings and set screws, as the integral structure provides inherent mechanical retention.
Solution Approach 2:
The integral yoke assembly serves its own retention function through its molded structure. The lever shafts are self-retained by being formed as part of the yoke body, eliminating the need for additional retention mechanisms. This self-service approach reduces component count while maintaining secure assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A joystick device configured such that an operating lever is pivotally tiltable in a first direction and a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The joystick device includes the operating lever, a first operating shaft to allow the operating lever to pivotally tilt in the first direction, and a second operating shaft to allow the operating lever to pivotally tilt in the second direction. The operating lever is provided with the first operating shaft, and the first operating shaft is sandwiched in a yoke, and the yoke is provided with the second operating shaft. The yoke includes two yoke segments combined together. The yoke segments are formed with respective operating shaft portions constituting the second operating shaft. By combining the yoke segments having sandwiched therebetween the first operating shaft, the operating shaft portions become the second operating shaft orthogonal to the first operating shaft.