Shift Lever Sliding Structure for Low Noise and Better Slidability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shift lever devices face challenges in improving slidability and reducing noise generated during sliding motion due to restricted sliding, requiring a simple yet effective structural solution.
Innovation Solution
A shift device with a sliding portion, a restricting portion, and a supporting body, where both the slid-against and restricting portions are made from softer materials than the sliding and restricted portions, respectively, integrated as a single body, along with a sliding motion urging mechanism to inhibit tilting and play, and a detecting portion for accurate position detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hard material is used for both the sliding portion and slid-against portion, then structural strength is maintained, but slidability deteriorates and noise increases when sliding is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the slid-against portion have a different material hardness than the restricting portion. Specifically, the slid-against portion is made softer to improve slidability and reduce noise during normal sliding operation, while the restricting portion maintains higher hardness to provide adequate restriction force when the shift body reaches its travel limits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by integrating two portions with different material properties into a single component. The slid-against portion uses a softer material (e.g., resin with lower hardness) while the restricting portion uses a harder material, creating a composite structure that simultaneously achieves low noise during sliding and effective position restriction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the slid-against portion and restricting portion are made as separate components, then material selection flexibility is improved, but device complexity and assembly steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the slid-against portion and restricting portion into a single integrated component. This unified structure eliminates the need for separate assembly steps while maintaining the ability to use different materials for different portions, thereby reducing device complexity without sacrificing material selection flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated component serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides a sliding surface for the shift body during normal operation and acts as a restricting element when the shift body reaches its travel limits. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed while maintaining adequate performance for both sliding and restriction functions.
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
Enhances slidability, reduces noise during sliding motion restriction, simplifies the structure, reduces assembly steps, and improves position detection accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
the slid-against portion is formed from a softer material than the sliding portion, and along which the sliding portion is moved slidingly
Implementation Method 2
the slid-against portion is formed from a softer material than the sliding portion, and along which the sliding portion is moved slidingly
Implementation Method 3
the restricting portion is formed from a softer material than the restricted portion, and that restricts a sliding motion of the restricted portion
Implementation Method 4
the restricting portion is formed from a softer material than the restricted portion, and that restricts a sliding motion of the restricted portion so that a sliding motion of the shift body is restricted
Data Source
AI summary
In a shift device, as a result of lower sliding projections of a lever moving slidingly against lower sliding plates of soft materials, the slidability of the lever is improved. Moreover, as a result of restricting projections of the lever being abutted against stoppers of the soft materials, noise generated when a sliding motion of the lever is restricted is reduced. Additionally, because the lower sliding plates and the stoppers are formed integrally with each other, the structure can be simplified.