Shift Finger Arrangement One-Piece Metal Forming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shift finger arrangements for transmission mechanisms are costly to produce with low accuracy, and the technical joining solutions often result in errors due to the mutual adjustment of finger and sleeve sections.
Innovation Solution
A method for producing a shift finger arrangement where the finger and sleeve sections are formed as a single, one-piece part using metal-forming techniques, specifically collar drawing from a flat semi-finished product, ensuring high accuracy and reducing production costs by eliminating the need for separate joining processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If technical joining solutions are used to assemble finger section and sleeve section separately, then production flexibility is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to mutual adjustment errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the finger section and sleeve section into a single one-piece formed part produced by collar drawing. This eliminates the joining interface between separate components, thereby eliminating mutual adjustment errors and achieving high manufacturing precision while maintaining production efficiency through a single-forming process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the formed part into functional sections (finger section and sleeve section) that are produced as one piece. This allows the sleeve section to be formed with high dimensional accuracy through collar drawing while the finger section maintains its functional geometry, achieving overall high manufacturing precision without joining operations.
2Ease of operation
If separate joining of finger section and sleeve section is used, then ease of assembly is improved, but production cost increases due to additional joining processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the finger section and sleeve section into a single one-piece component produced by collar drawing. This eliminates all joining processes (riveting, welding, or adhesive bonding), thereby reducing production process complexity and cost while the integrated design ensures proper alignment and assembly without additional fastening operations.
3Manufacturing precision
If collar drawing is used to produce sleeve section from flat semi-finished product, then manufacturing precision is improved, but production time increases due to forming process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses collar drawing to pre-form the sleeve section with high dimensional accuracy directly from a flat semi-finished product. The forming process creates the precise cylindrical geometry and thickness distribution in a single operation, eliminating the need for subsequent machining or adjustment operations, thereby achieving high productivity despite the forming process.
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 approach results in a shift finger arrangement with high production accuracy and reduced costs, minimizing errors and enhancing the dimensional accuracy of the sleeve section, while allowing for precise engagement with shift rails and forks.
Implementation Method 1
The sleeve section is manufactured from a flat semi-finished product, in particular steel, by collar drawing, or by single-stage or multi-stage collar drawing
Data Source
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AI summary
The aim of the invention is to provide a shift finger arrangement that can be produced with a high or adequate production accuracy with low production costs. The shift finger arrangement (59, 60) for a shift mechanism (1) is characterised in that it comprises a finger section (6) that is designed to actuate a baffle element, and a sleeve section (61) that is configured to fix the finger section (6) to a gearshift shaft. Said finger section (6) and the sleeve section (61) are embodied as a common formed part.