Automotive Storage Lid Dynamics and Gear Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage devices for automobiles face issues with unstable rotation and rattling due to misalignment of gear engagement and vibration, leading to potential slippage and low-frequency noise, especially when attached to vehicles.
Innovation Solution
A storage device design featuring a guide device with a slider and rack system that maintains consistent engagement between gears, along with an urging device to prevent rattling and a damper device to attenuate rotation, ensuring stable support and reduced noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the position of the rotation axis is determined such that the lid and the case do not interfere at a rotation time, then the lid can rotate freely, but an end edge of the lid protrudes upward more than the case in an open position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the rotation axis position changeable during rotation. The rotation axis is not fixed at a single position but moves dynamically along an arc locus defined by the guide groove. This allows the lid to rotate freely without interference while preventing the end edge from protruding upward more than the case, as the moving axis adjusts the lid's trajectory throughout the rotation range.
2Shape
If the position of the rotation axis is determined such that the end edge of the lid does not protrude upward more than the case, then the lid position is controlled, but the arms become longer and a wide space for the lid is required around the storage device
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamics principle is applied by making the rotation axis move along an arc locus rather than remaining fixed. This dynamic axis movement allows the arm length to be reduced while still controlling the lid's position to prevent excessive protrusion. The guide groove constrains the axis movement path, enabling compact arm design without requiring wide space around the storage device.
3Ease of operation
If a tensile coil spring is used to urge the lid in an open direction, then the lid can be easily opened, but a backlash direction and an urging direction of the tensile coil spring do not coincide, causing rattling in an engagement portion of the gears
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the inversion principle by reversing the urging direction. Instead of using a tensile coil spring that urges the lid in the open direction (causing mismatch with gear engagement), a compression coil spring is used to urge the lid in the closed direction. This ensures that the urging direction coincides with the gear engagement direction, eliminating rattling while maintaining ease of operation through the spring's buffering effect.
4Ease of operation
If the first fixation gear is formed in the arc shape to enable rotation, then the lid can rotate around a moving axis, but depending on an open or a closed position of the lid, an engagement direction between the first fixation gear and the first arm gear changes, causing backlash and vibration sound
Solution Approach 1:
The inversion principle is applied by changing the spring type from tensile to compression, which reverses the urging direction to match the gear engagement direction. This resolves the backlash and vibration sound issues caused by the arc-shaped fixation gear's changing engagement direction during rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamics principle is applied by allowing the rotation axis to move dynamically along an arc locus defined by the guide groove. This dynamic movement, combined with the compression spring's consistent urging direction, maintains stable gear engagement throughout the rotation range, preventing backlash and vibration sound despite the arc-shaped fixation gear.
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 provides stable rotation and reduced noise even under vibration, enhancing the operational stability and compactness of the storage device.
Implementation Method 1
a tensile coil spring between the case and the arm, and urges the lid in an open direction
Implementation Method 2
a damper device provided between the slider and the arm to attenuate a rotation of the arm relative to the slider
Data Source
AI summary
A storage device includes a box-shaped case having an opening; an opening/closing body opening and closing the opening; a guide device extended along a predetermined straight line on a side wall of the case; a slider supported in the guide device slidably along the straight line; an arm extending from the opening/closing body, supported in the slider rotatably around a predetermined axis line, and having a first gear around the axis line; and a rack extended in the side wall parallel to the straight line, and engaged with the first gear. When the opening/closing body rotates around the axis line relative to the case, the first gear and the rack are engaged with each other so that the opening/closing body moves along the straight line together with the slider.