Vehicular Shift Device Magnetic Moderation Eliminates Sliding Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicular shift operating devices experience durability issues due to a sliding mechanism that wears down over repetitive pivoting operations, leading to problems like moderating spring deterioration and looseness between components.
Innovation Solution
An operating device employing tiltable magnetic members with stopper portions that change attraction states to provide a sense of moderation without a sliding mechanism, using movable-side and opposing-side magnetic members that are attracted and separated to stop tilting actions, ensuring durability through magnetic attraction and automatic return to a reference position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sliding mechanism with moderating grooves and moderating members is used to provide a sense of moderation, then the sense of moderation is improved, but the durability deteriorates due to wear and component deterioration from repetitive operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical sliding mechanism (moderating member sliding through moderating grooves) with a magnetic field-based system. Movable-side magnetic members and opposing-side magnetic members interact through magnetic attraction and repulsion forces, eliminating physical contact and sliding wear while maintaining the sense of moderation through magnetic force changes at different positions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the pressing member that was previously needed to apply force to the moderating member. Instead, the magnetic interaction between movable-side and opposing-side magnetic members inherently provides the moderating force, extracting the unnecessary mechanical pressing component and simplifying the system
2Ease of operation
If a sliding mechanism with moderating springs is used to provide automatic return, then the automatic return function is achieved, but the durability deteriorates due to spring deterioration from repetitive compression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical moderating spring system with a magnetic field-based return mechanism. The magnetic attraction between movable-side and opposing-side magnetic members naturally pulls the operating member back to the reference position without requiring physical spring compression and expansion, eliminating spring deterioration
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic interaction system is self-regulating and automatically returns the operating member to the reference position through magnetic attraction forces without requiring external pressing members or spring mechanisms. The system serves itself by using magnetic field changes to provide both the moderating effect and the automatic return function
3Ease of operation
If multiple pressing members and moderating springs are used to achieve moderation and automatic return, then the functional performance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple pressing members and moderating springs into a single integrated magnetic field system. The movable-side magnetic members and opposing-side magnetic members work together to simultaneously provide the moderating effect and automatic return function, eliminating the need for separate mechanical components
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic interaction system performs multiple functions (providing sense of moderation, enabling automatic return, and positioning at reference and tilted positions) through a single mechanism, making each magnetic member multi-functional and reducing the overall component count
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 solution enhances durability by eliminating the sliding mechanism, providing a strong sense of moderation and automatic return without pressing members, while allowing for easy fabrication and reduced component count, resulting in improved operational reliability and reduced maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
movable-side magnetic members and opposing-side magnetic members which are disposed facing each other. When the operating member is at the reference position, the movable-side magnetic members and the facing opposing-side magnetic members are all attracted
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
An operating device (101), applicable to a vehicular shift device (500), includes an operating member (11) capable of tilting by operations performed by an operator; a supporting member (11d) tiltably supporting the operating member (11); multiple movable-side magnetic members (MM) tilting along with the operating member (11); multiple opposing-side magnetic members (TM) disposed facing each of the multiple movable-side magnetic members (MM); and multiple stopper portions (16) corresponding to the multiple positions of the operating member (11). When the operating member (11) is at a reference position, the movable-side magnetic members (MM) and the facing opposing-side magnetic members (TM) are all attracted. When the operating member (11) has been tilted from the reference position and is at any one of the multiple positions, the plurality of movable-side magnetic members (MM) are tilted, and each of the stopper portions (16) stop the tilting of the respective opposing-side magnetic members (TM).