Vehicle Switch Assembly for Key Shifter Lever Flush Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle switch assemblies face challenges in accurately positioning key shifter levers due to complex dimension relationships and tolerance issues, requiring frequent mold adjustments to achieve a flush position.
Innovation Solution
A switch assembly design featuring a first and second housing with push rods and rubber pads, where the push rods are positioned to maintain contact with limiting surfaces, ensuring a consistent pivotal axis for key shifter levers, and the dimension relationship is adjusted by modifying the distance between these surfaces, simplifying tolerance chain design and improving flush control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate assembly and positioning of key shifter levers is implemented using push rod and rubber pad structures, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but positioning precision and flush consistency deteriorate due to complex dimension relationships and tolerance accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the switch assembly into modular components: a first housing containing multiple key shifter levers, a second housing providing limiting surfaces, and individual push rods for each lever. This segmentation allows independent manufacturing of components while maintaining precise positioning through the standardized limiting surfaces and push rod-contact lever interfaces, reducing tolerance accumulation across the assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the dimensional parameters by establishing fixed dimension relationships between the push rod length, key shifter lever thickness, and distance between limiting surfaces. By controlling these specific parameters and their relationships, the patent achieves consistent positioning of key shifter levers while maintaining manufacturing flexibility through modular component design.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple dimension relationships are considered for accurate positioning of key shifter lever, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the positioning function into a dedicated structure: the second housing provides standardized limiting surfaces that define the position of key shifter levers. The push rods are designed with specific lengths to contact these limiting surfaces, separating the positioning function from the actuation function. This extraction simplifies the overall assembly process by providing clear, standardized interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements preliminary action by pre-positioning the key shifter levers between the first and second housings during assembly. The push rods are configured to automatically maintain contact with the limiting surfaces, establishing the correct dimension relationships and positioning accuracy before final assembly completion, thereby reducing the need for complex adjustments.
3Manufacturing precision
If mold repairs are performed multiple times to adjust dimension relationships, then positioning accuracy is improved, but production time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the approach to dimension control by establishing fixed parameter relationships during the initial mold design phase. The push rod lengths, key shifter lever thickness, and limiting surface distances are designed with predetermined dimension relationships that ensure proper positioning. This eliminates the need for repeated mold repairs and adjustments, improving production efficiency while maintaining flush consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements preliminary action by incorporating all necessary dimension relationship adjustments into the initial mold design and component fabrication. The push rods and limiting surfaces are manufactured with precise dimensions that pre-establish the correct positioning, eliminating the need for post-manufacturing adjustments and repeated mold repairs, thereby improving production efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides a switch assembly and a vehicle. The switch assembly comprises: a first housing; a plurality of key shifter levers, the key shifter levers each comprising a first end and a second end, a pin shaft being connected to the key shifter lever between the first end and the second end, the key shifter lever extending from the first end to the second end, and the key shifter lever being configured to pivot in a radial plane with the shaft pin as a center, wherein the second end extends to the outside of the first housing; a second housing, the second housing surrounding the first end of the key shifter lever and having a first limiting surface located above the key shifter lever and a second limiting surface located below the key shifter lever; and a first push rod and a second push rod, the first push rod and the second push rod being arranged in the radial plane and respectively corresponding to the first limiting surface and the second limiting surface, and the first push rod and the second push rod leaning on the key shifter lever between the first end and the shaft pin, wherein at least one of the first push rod and the second push rod is always kept in contact with the first limiting surface or the second limiting surface by setting a dimension relationship.