Shift Device Knob Assembly Gap Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shift devices suffer from the formation of gaps and steps between adjacent portions due to improper engagement of protrusions and grooves, leading to aesthetic and functional issues.
Innovation Solution
A shift device design featuring adjacent bodies with operation portions that are inserted into assembly portions, allowing for contact and proximity, with pressing and guide mechanisms to ensure proper alignment and prevent gaps and steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If engaging protrusions are inserted into engaging grooves to connect components, then assembly is achieved, but gaps and steps form between adjacent portions
Solution Approach 1:
A pressing portion is introduced as an intermediary element between the engaging protrusions and the adjacent portions. This pressing portion actively presses the adjacent portions from the outer side to ensure they are in close proximity, thereby preventing gaps and steps from forming while maintaining the assembly connection provided by the engaging protrusions and grooves.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing portion applies a preliminary pressing action to the adjacent portions before final assembly is completed. By pressing the adjacent portions into close proximity in advance, the system prevents the formation of gaps and steps that would otherwise occur during the assembly process when engaging protrusions are inserted into engaging grooves.
2Reliability
If components are assembled using engaging protrusions and grooves, then assembly is achieved, but outer peripheries of adjacent portions separate
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing portion serves as a mediator that acts on the outer peripheries of adjacent portions. It applies continuous pressing force to keep the outer peripheries in close proximity, preventing separation while allowing the engaging protrusions and grooves to perform their assembly function.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressing portion performs a preliminary action by pressing the adjacent portions into close proximity before the final assembly state is reached. This preliminary pressing action ensures that the outer peripheries remain continuous and do not separate during the assembly process.
Data Source
AI summary
When a knob of a shift lever device is being assembled, a pair of design frames are assembled to a knob main body, and then a cover is assembled to the knob main body. When the cover is being assembled to the knob main body, ribs of the pair of design frames are inserted into an insertion hole in the cover. The pair of ribs are put into surface contact with one another in a left-and-right direction, and distal end portions of the pair of design frames are put into surface contact in the left-and-right direction. Consequently, the formation of a gap between the distal end portions of the pair of design frames may be inhibited.