Vehicle Shifting Arm Vibration Reduction via Three-Bearing Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual transmission shift knobs in vehicles with automatic engine/stop systems experience undesirable deflections and vibrations, especially when the engine is started, due to the frequent switching on and off in stop-and-go traffic, which conventional vibration absorbers fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

A shifting device with an external shifting system featuring a shifting arm supported by three bearings, allowing for pivoting and elastic movement, which mounts the shift lever immovably in the transverse direction and couples it to a selector shaft via a shift rod, effectively eliminating transverse movements and vibrations by compensating with opposing movements of the shift rod.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If conventional vibration absorbers are used to reduce vibrations, then vibrations during engine operation are reduced, but the device becomes more complex and heavier, and deflections during engine starting are not adequately addressed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibrations and deflections of shift knobVSAvoidconstruction complexity of shifting device
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shifting arm is divided into multiple sections with different bearing points, creating segmented support zones that independently handle different types of movements (transverse, longitudinal, vertical), allowing complex vibration reduction without overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The three bearing points act as intermediary elements between the shifting arm and the vehicle body, mediating and filtering out vibrations and deflections before they reach the shift knob, while maintaining the simplicity of the overall shifting mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If vibration absorber masses are added to reduce vibrations, then vibrations during engine running are reduced, but additional weight of around 500g is added and deflections during engine starting are hardly suitable

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibrations during engine operationVSAvoidweight of shifting device
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The shifting arm structure itself provides vibration reduction functionality through its three-bearing-point design, eliminating the need for separate vibration absorber masses. The system uses its own structural configuration to counteract vibrations without adding external weight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the structural parameters of the shifting arm (adding three bearing points at specific locations) rather than adding mass parameters (vibration absorber masses). This structural parameter change achieves vibration reduction without increasing weight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Stability of the object's composition

If the shifting arm is rigidly mounted to eliminate all movements, then transverse movements are eliminated, but the device loses necessary mobility and elasticity for proper operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of shifting arm positionVSAvoidmobility and elasticity of shifting device
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The shifting arm is designed with dynamic characteristics through three bearing points that allow controlled movements in specific directions while restricting movements in other directions. This creates a dynamically stable system that adapts to operational requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different sections of the shifting arm have different mobility characteristics: the first bearing point allows transverse movement compensation, the second allows longitudinal pivoting, and the third allows vertical/longitudinal elasticity, creating local quality variations that achieve overall stability while maintaining necessary adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 design significantly reduces vibrations and deflections of the shift knob when the engine starts, maintaining simplicity in construction and ensuring minimal disturbance from engine jerks and transverse movements.

Implementation Method 1

a third shift arm bearing (e.g. rear shift arm bearing) is provided, via which a second end section of the shift arm facing away from the first end section is elastically and/or displaceably connected directly or indirectly to a body element of the vehicle body in a vehicle transverse direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2781794B1Shifting device for shifting a manual gearbox of a vehicle
Publication Date: 2018.04.11 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG
  • EP2781794B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The shifting device (1) has a shift lever (4) and a shifting arm (2) extended in a longitudinal direction (x), where the shifting arm is mounted on the shift lever in a pivoted manner. A first shifting arm bearing (9) is provided, by which the shifting arm is pivoted at a location of the first shifting arm bearing around a vertical axis (z) of a vehicle and immovable in a transverse direction (y) of the vehicle. A second shifting arm bearing (13) is formed as a pivot bearing.