Vehicle Shifter Assembly Sleeve Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shifter assemblies for vehicles experience play or lash between the handle and lever, which can lead to operational inefficiencies and difficulties in assembly and disassembly.
Innovation Solution
A shifter assembly design that includes a sleeve rotatable between locked and unlocked positions, with a flange wedged between the lever and collar portion to prevent play, and a method for mounting the handle that involves disposing the sleeve around the lever, mounting the collar portion, and rotating the sleeve to secure the handle, thereby eliminating play between the handle and lever.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a ring element is used to secure the knob to the lever shaft, then the assembly is simple, but play or lash occurs between the ring element and lever shaft
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is designed to be movable along the lever shaft during assembly, transitioning from an unlocked position to a locked position. This dynamic movement allows the collar to be easily assembled and then securely locked, resolving the contradiction between assembly simplicity and connection stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar changes its positional parameter along the lever shaft, moving from a retracted position during assembly to an extended locked position during operation. This parameter change enables the collar to provide secure locking while maintaining ease of assembly.
2Reliability
If the handle is securely mounted to the lever, then operational reliability is improved, but assembly and disassembly becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is designed with dynamic movement capability along the lever shaft, allowing it to be easily moved to an unlocked position for disassembly and to a locked position for secure mounting. This resolves the contradiction between secure mounting and ease of repair.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection mechanism is segmented into the collar and lever shaft as separate components, allowing the collar to be independently moved along the lever shaft. This segmentation enables easy assembly and disassembly while maintaining secure connection when locked.
3Ease of operation
If the sleeve is rotatable between locked and unlocked positions, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar serves multiple functions: it acts as both a securing element and a locking mechanism. By rotating the collar between locked and unlocked positions, it provides ease of operation while avoiding the need for separate locking components, thus not increasing overall device complexity.
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 effectively prevents play or lash between the handle and lever, facilitating easy assembly and disassembly for servicing purposes while ensuring secure operation.
Implementation Method 1
a flange coupled to the second end of the sleeve and cooperating with the distal end of the collar portion such that the flange is wedged between the lever and the distal end of the collar portion when the sleeve is in the locked position for preventing lash between the handle and the lever
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 5~7
AI summary
A shifter assembly (20) for a vehicle and a method of mounting a handle (32) to a lever (22) in the shifter assembly (20) is disclosed. The assembly (20) includes a lever (22) and a handle (32) having a grip portion (34) and a collar portion (36) extending from the grip portion (34) to a distal end (38). The collar portion (36) defines a cavity (40) for receiving the lever (22) to couple the handle (32) to the lever (22). A sleeve (44) is disposed about the lever (22) and coupled to the collar portion (36) to receive the distal end (38) of the collar portion (36). The sleeve (44) is rotatable between locked and unlocked positions and the sleeve (44) is moveable along the longitudinal axis (L) during rotation of the sleeve (44) between the locked and unlocked positions. A flange (54) is coupled to a second end (48) of the sleeve (44) and cooperates with the distal end (38) of the collar portion (36) such that the flange (54) is wedged between the lever (22) and the distal end (38) of the collar portion (36) when the sleeve (44) is in the locked position for preventing lash between the handle (32) and the lever (22).