Vehicle Switch Bending Bar Adjustment for Short-Stroke Key Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle operating devices face challenges in accurately adjusting the switch triggering position due to manufacturing tolerances, particularly with short-stroke keys, which complicates the manufacturing process and assembly.
Innovation Solution
An operating device design featuring a support element with a bending bar and a self-tapping adjustment screw that allows for precise adjustment and stabilization of the switch position relative to the operating element, eliminating the need for additional locking mechanisms and simplifying assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If adjustment screws with additional locking mechanisms are used to compensate for manufacturing tolerances, then the switch triggering position can be adjusted, but the device complexity and assembly cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment screw serves itself by integrating both adjustment and locking functions into a single component. The elastic bending bar automatically locks the adjustment when bent to the desired position, eliminating the need for separate locking mechanisms and reducing device complexity while maintaining manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the adjustment function and locking function into a single adjustment screw mechanism. The elastic bending bar acts as both the support structure and the locking element, merging multiple functions into fewer components to reduce overall device complexity.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple adjustment components are used to achieve precise switch positioning, then the switch triggering position can be accurately adjusted, but the assembly process becomes more time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment screw automatically locks itself when the elastic bending bar is bent to the desired position, eliminating the need for separate locking operations during assembly. This self-locking mechanism simplifies the assembly process while maintaining precise switch positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes unnecessary locking mechanisms and complex adjustment components, retaining only the essential adjustment screw and elastic bending bar combination. This extraction of unnecessary components reduces assembly steps and manufacturing costs while preserving positioning accuracy.
3Speed
If the switch is positioned closer to the operating element to reduce actuation travel, then the response time decreases, but the switch may be affected by vibrations and manufacturing tolerances more strongly
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic bending bar provides dynamic adjustment capability, allowing the switch position to be precisely tuned to achieve optimal response time. The elastic nature of the bending bar also provides vibration damping, maintaining reliability even when the switch is positioned closer to the operating element.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables precise adjustment of the switch position by changing the bending degree of the elastic bending bar through the adjustment screw. This parameter adjustment allows optimization of response time while the elastic structure maintains stability under vibration conditions.
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 enables precise adjustment of the switch triggering position, reducing assembly costs and tolerances, allowing for short response times and small actuation travels, while maintaining stability against vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
an adjustment member acting on the bending bar for adjusting the bending position of the bending bar relative to the operating element in its resting position and for maintaining and thus stabilizing the bending bar in its adjusted bending position when the operating element acts on the switching member, wherein the adjustment member comprises a threaded sleeve with an internal thread and an adjustment screw with a threaded shaft in the form of a self-tapping screw
Implementation Method 2
a support element arranged inside the housing with a distance to the operating element, wherein the support element comprises a bending bar with an upper side facing the operating element and a lower side facing away from the upper side, and wherein the switch assigned to the operating element is arranged on the bending bar
Data Source
AI summary
The operating device for a vehicle is provided with a housing having a front wall. At least one operating element is arranged on the front wall and can be manually actuated starting from a rest position for the purpose of entering a command or activating a function. The operating element is associated with a switch having a switching member on which the operating key acts during manual operation. Furthermore, a support element is arranged in the housing at a distance from the operating element, on which support element the switch associated with the operating element is arranged, the support element having a bending bar with an upper side facing the operating element and a lower side facing away from the upper side, and the switch being arranged on the bending bar. Finally, the operating device is provided with an adjustment member acting on the bending bar for adjusting the bending position of the bending bar relative to the operating element in its resting position and for maintaining and thus stabilizing the bending bar in its adjusted bending position when the operating element acts on the switching member. The adjustment member comprises a threaded sleeve with an internal thread and a self-tapping adjustment screw with a threaded shaft, wherein the internal thread of the threaded sleeve and the external thread of the threaded shaft of the self-tapping adjustment screw have the same or substantially the same pitch.