Key Arrangement with Dual Counterforce Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing key arrangements, particularly in steering wheels, face challenges in providing reliable and safe operation due to reliance on single counterforce mechanisms, which can lead to malfunction and increased friction, noise, and risk of inadvertent activation.
Innovation Solution
A key arrangement incorporating a mechanical counterforce generating device and a permanent magnet arrangement, which together provide dual counterforces to ensure safe and reliable operation, with the mechanical counterforce device capable of resetting without additional actuators and the permanent magnet arrangement minimizing friction and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single counterforce mechanism is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability decreases due to potential malfunction and increased risk of inadvertent activation
Solution Approach 1:
The counterforce mechanism is segmented into two independent subsystems: a mechanical counterforce generating device (first counterforce) and a permanent magnet arrangement (second counterforce). Each subsystem independently provides counterforce to the activation element, ensuring that if one subsystem fails, the other continues to provide reliable operation and prevent inadvertent activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements redundant counterforce generation by providing both mechanical and magnetic counterforce mechanisms before any malfunction can occur. This beforehand cushioning ensures that the system is protected against potential failures of either subsystem, maintaining reliability through pre-established backup capability.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If mechanical counterforce alone is used, then the resetting is simple, but friction and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two different counterforce generation approaches (mechanical and magnetic) into a unified system. The mechanical counterforce generating device and permanent magnet arrangement work together to provide complementary benefits: the mechanical device ensures reliable resetting while the magnetic arrangement reduces friction and noise during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The permanent magnet arrangement partially replaces the mechanical counterforce system by providing a non-contact magnetic counterforce. This substitution reduces mechanical friction and associated noise while maintaining the necessary counterforce function, combining the advantages of both mechanical reliability and magnetic smoothness.
3Reliability
If permanent magnet arrangement is used alone, then friction and noise are reduced, but the system becomes vulnerable to magnet failure
Solution Approach 1:
The counterforce system is segmented into independent mechanical and magnetic subsystems. The mechanical counterforce generating device provides a fail-safe backup that does not depend on magnetic field integrity, protecting the system against harmful factors such as magnet demagnetization, displacement, or failure while maintaining the low-friction benefits of the magnetic arrangement.
4Reliability
If dual counterforce system is implemented, then safety and reliability are enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dual counterforce system is segmented into independent functional modules: a mechanical counterforce generating device and a permanent magnet arrangement. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system reliability, with the mechanical device handling resetting and the magnetic arrangement providing low-friction counterforce.
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 dual counterforce system enhances safety and operational reliability, reduces friction and noise, and ensures the key arrangement remains functional even if the permanent magnet arrangement fails, while providing a positive force/travel behavior and increased activation force.
Implementation Method 1
The permanent magnet arrangement is configured to generate, in case of activation of the activation element, a second counterforce at least in certain areas
Implementation Method 2
The mechanical counterforce generating device is configured to generate, in case of an activation of the activation element, a first counterforce at least in certain areas
Data Source
AI summary
A key arrangement includes an activation element, a switch, a mechanical counterforce generating device, and a permanent magnet arrangement. The switch has at least a first state and a second state. The activation element has a basic state and an activation state and is configured to, in case of activation by a user, permit a movement from the basic state into the activation state, and in case of the movement into the activation state to permit a change in the state of the switch. The mechanical counterforce generating device is configured to generate, in case of an activation of the activation element, a first counterforce at least in certain areas. The permanent magnet arrangement is configured to generate, in case of activation of the activation element, a second counterforce at least in certain areas.