Rocker Switch Shaft Alignment and Support Pin Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rocker switch devices experience rattling and malfunction under high vibration due to elastic deformation of side wall parts, which interferes with the smooth operation of the operating knob and can cause it to become stuck in a pushing operation position.
Innovation Solution
The rocker switch device incorporates a pair of shaft portions on the side wall parts aligned on the same axis, with a bearing hole in the operating knob to accommodate these shafts, and a projecting portion on the side wall to prevent rattling by contacting the support body, either with a support pin or by having shafts that directly abut each other to prevent deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the projecting portion is strongly pressed into contact with the support body to prevent rattling, then the rattling prevention is improved, but the side wall part undergoes elastic deformation that interferes with smooth swinging of the operating knob
Solution Approach 1:
A support pin is introduced as an intermediary element between the pair of shaft portions to prevent their elastic deformation. The support pin acts as a mediator that maintains the spacing between the shaft portions, allowing the projecting portion to be strongly pressed against the support body for rattling prevention while preventing the shaft portions from deforming and interfering with the operating knob's smooth swinging motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the structural parameters of the shaft portions by introducing the support pin that maintains a specific spacing between them. This parameter change (maintaining fixed distance between shaft portions) allows the system to simultaneously achieve strong pressing force for rattling prevention and maintain proper clearance for smooth operating knob operation.
2Ease of manufacture
If base portions of side wall parts are joined in a cantilevered manner to reduce weight and simplify assembly, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the extremity side becomes a free end that is prone to elastic deformation under vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The support pin acts as an intermediary structural element that provides stability to the cantilevered side wall parts. By inserting the support pin between the shaft portions, it prevents excessive elastic deformation of the free ends under vibration while maintaining the simple cantilevered joining structure for ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The support pin provides beforehand cushioning by pre-preventing the elastic deformation of the shaft portions before vibration occurs. This anticipatory measure ensures that when high vibration acts on the support body, the shaft portions maintain their structural integrity and proper spacing, preventing rattling and operational issues.
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 effectively prevents rattling and malfunction, ensuring reliable operation of the rocker switch device under high vibration conditions, improves assembly ease, and allows for cost-effective solutions by eliminating the need for additional components.
Implementation Method 1
a bearing hole is formed in the operating knob so as to extend therethrough, the pair of shaft portions being rotatably fitted into the bearing hole
Implementation Method 2
the pressure contact reaction force makes the side wall part undergo elastic deformation
Data Source
AI summary
A rocker switch device is provided in which a pair of shaft portions are projectingly provided on mutually opposing faces of extremity portions of a pair of side wall parts of a switch case, the pair of shaft portions being aligned on the same axis as each other, a bearing hole is formed in an operating knob so as to extend therethrough, the pair of shaft portions being rotatably fitted into the bearing hole, a projecting portion is provided on an outside face of the pair of side wall parts, the projecting portion being pressed into contact with the support body to thus prevent rattling of the switch case, and a support pin is fitted into the bearing hole, opposite ends of the support pin abutting against extremities of the pair of shaft portions respectively. Such arrangement prevents switch malfunctioning, and restrains deformation of the side wall parts.