Rotary Connector Neutral Position Alignment via Segmented Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotatable connector devices face challenges in accurately fixing the rotatable-side member at a neutral position due to an imbalance in the number and distribution of engageable and engaging parts, leading to potential misalignment and instability in the spring contact face, which affects the uniform rotation of the steering wheel.
Innovation Solution
The rotatable connector device features engaging and engageable parts located at specific neutral and opposite positions, with a regulation mechanism such as a fitting groove or cylindrical part to stabilize the spring member's position, ensuring balanced urging and preventing misalignment, thus allowing for easy and accurate attachment of the rotatable operation tool.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If engageable parts are formed at many positions all along the outer periphery of the center hole, then the engaging member can be engaged at multiple positions, but it becomes difficult to accurately fix the rotatable-side member at the neutral position
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging parts and engageable parts are segmented into specific discrete positions: one at the neutral position and another at the opposite position. This segmentation allows the system to maintain both engagement flexibility and precise neutral position alignment by limiting engagement to these specific segmented locations rather than allowing continuous engagement along the entire periphery.
2Device complexity
If the spring contact face of the engaging member is formed with a uniform planar shape, then the structure is simple, but the top end of the spring member may be unstable during extension and compression
Solution Approach 1:
The spring contact face is designed with local quality variation: a fitted groove is provided at the specific location where the top end of the spring member contacts. This local modification to the planar surface provides stable positioning for the spring member during extension and compression while maintaining the overall simplicity of the planar structure.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the engaging part projects outward to run through the bearing member, then the engaging part can be non-rotatable with respect to the bearing member, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The engaging part is designed with asymmetric geometry, projecting outward to run through the bearing member. This asymmetric configuration provides rotational stability by creating a non-circular engagement profile that prevents rotation, while the projection structure itself remains relatively simple without requiring additional complex components.
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 configuration ensures easy and accurate neutral position alignment, maintaining balanced urging states during attachment and detachment, and prevents foreign object entry, ensuring stable and uniform rotation of the steering wheel.
Implementation Method 1
An engaging part (locking projection 47) of an engaging member (locking body 17) is moved upward by an urging force of a spring member (return spring 18), which is formed of a coil spring built in the provisional fixing mechanism
Data Source
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AI summary
A rotator is provisionally fixed to a neutral position with respect to a stator easily, and a steering wheel is appropriately attached, to or detached from, the rotator easily in a state where an urged state for the provisional fixation is uniform. A rotatable connector device 11 includes the stator 21, the rotator 31, and a provisional fixing mechanism 41 for performing provisional fixation at the neutral position. The provisional fixing mechanism 41 has a center hole 42 and is integrally fixed to a bottom part of the rotator 31, and puts engaging parts 47, of an engaging member 44 moved upward by an urging force of a built-in spring member 43, into engagement with engageable parts 22a of the stator 21. The engaging parts 47 and the engageable parts 22a are located at one neutral position at which the rotator 31 is at the neutral position when these parts are engaged with each other, and at an opposite position opposite thereto. In the vicinity of a spring contact face 44a of the engaging member 44 that is contactable with a top end of the spring member 43, regulation means 49 for regulating the position of the top end of the spring member 43 is provided.