Shift Lever Lock Assembly With External Slide Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing shift devices with a shift-by-wire system face issues of insufficient strength in the operation lever and inferior assembly properties due to the incorporation of a lock mechanism within the shaft portion, leading to potential deformation and complex component integration.
Innovation Solution
A shift device design utilizing a solid operation lever with the lock mechanism components attached externally, featuring a cam mechanism for releasing the lever restriction and an integrated operation knob and lever mounting within a cylindrical slide member, along with a return mechanism for automatic reset to the home position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the lock mechanism is incorporated in the shaft portion of the operation lever, then the operation lever can be made compact, but the strength of the shaft portion is not sufficiently secured and the operation lever may be deformed
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is extracted from the shaft portion of the operation lever and relocated to the housing. This allows the shaft portion to be solid and maintain sufficient strength while achieving compactness through external integration of the lock mechanism components.
2Volume of moving object
If the lock mechanism is incorporated in the shaft portion of the operation lever, then the operation lever can be made compact, but the assembly property of components is inferior due to complicated incorporation
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism components are taken out from the shaft portion and relocated to the housing, simplifying the incorporation process and improving assembly properties while maintaining compactness through external integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking portion and guide portion are merged into a single slide member that is integrally formed. This reduces the number of components and simplifies assembly while maintaining the compact design of the operation lever.
3Device complexity
If the operation lever is made hollow to incorporate the lock mechanism, then the lock mechanism can be integrated, but the strength of the operation lever is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is extracted from the hollow shaft portion and relocated to the housing, allowing the operation lever to be solid and maintain full strength while the lock mechanism remains integrated through external mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The operation knob and operation lever are nested within the cylindrical slide member housing. This allows the lock mechanism to be integrated in the housing while the solid operation lever maintains its strength, achieving both integration and structural integrity.
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 enhances the strength and assembly quality of the shift device, reduces component costs, ensures reliable operation direction control, and facilitates efficient mounting and automatic return to the home position, preventing accidental neutral position operation.
Implementation Method 1
a cam mechanism that transfers a driving force of the operation restriction release button to the movement direction of the slide member
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3
AI summary
A shift device includes: a housing 3; an operation lever 2 supported by the housing to be able to be swung; and a lock mechanism 5 configured to restrict a movement operation of the operation lever 2 at a home position, wherein, by a movement operation of a cylindrical slide member 50 of the lock mechanism 5 assembled to be movable in an axial direction along an outer periphery of the operation lever 2, the movement operation of the operation lever is restricted or its restriction is released.