Return-to-park spring with helix loop for transmission assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of springs in park mechanisms for automatic transmissions can be cumbersome due to tight spacing with other components, leading to difficulties in manufacturing and potential disconnection during the assembly process.
Innovation Solution
A specially designed spring with a closed-ended first end and an open-ended second end, where the first end is shaped as a helix loop allowing secure attachment to a lever and the second end can be hooked to a stop block or flange, enabling one-end attachment during assembly and preventing disconnection, while allowing the spring to remain attached until the rest of the components are assembled.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a traditional spring is used in the park mechanism, then the spring can provide the necessary biasing force, but the assembly process becomes cumbersome and difficult due to tight spacing with other components
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is segmented into two distinct ends: a closed-ended first end and an open-ended second end. This segmentation allows the spring to be attached to the lever at one end first, then to the stop block or flange at the other end, simplifying the assembly process by breaking down the complex single-step attachment into manageable sequential steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The closed-ended first end of the spring is pre-formed and attached to the lever before the valve assembly is installed. This preliminary attachment action allows surrounding components to be assembled first, and the spring is subsequently connected to complete the mechanism, avoiding the difficulty of assembling everything simultaneously in tight spaces.
2Volume of moving object
If the spring is surrounded by other components with tight spacing, then the mechanical components can be compact, but the assembly of the spring becomes awkward and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The spring's first end is attached to the lever in advance, before the valve assembly and other components are installed. This preliminary action allows the assembly process to proceed from the outside in, with components being installed around the already-attached spring end, making the compact assembly process manageable despite tight spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of assembling the spring last after all other components are in place, the spring's first end is attached first, and other components are assembled around it. This inversion of the traditional assembly sequence makes the compact mechanism easier to manufacture by allowing better access during the critical initial attachment phase.
3Reliability
If the spring uses a closed-ended helix loop design, then the attachment to the lever is secure and prevents disconnection, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spring's first end is segmented into a closed-ended helix loop configuration, creating a distinct attachment feature that is specifically designed for secure engagement with the lever. This segmentation concentrates the reliability requirement into a specific geometric feature rather than the entire spring, making the precision requirement more manageable and localized.
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 simplifies the assembly process by allowing one end of the spring to be securely attached initially, preventing disconnection and facilitating the assembly of surrounding parts, thereby improving production efficiency and ease of assembly.
Implementation Method 1
A spring has a closed-ended first end coupled to the third leg, and an open-ended second end coupled to the housing
Data Source
AI summary
A parking mechanism in a vehicle is controlled to rotate, which engages and disengages a pawl with a spoke or gear of a wheel to selectively hold the wheel against rotation in park. A spring is connected to the parking mechanism at a first end, and is connected to the transmission housing or a stop block at a second end. The first end of the spring is a closed loop, such as a helix shape that extends over 360 degrees over a loop axis. The second end of the spring is open-ended, such as a hook. After attaching the first end of the spring to the park mechanism, but prior to attaching the second end, a valve assembly can be mounted as well as the stop block. After those components are assembled in place, the second end of the spring can simply hook into place.