Vehicle Switch Device Preventing Lever Pivoting During Push Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lever combination switches used in vehicles often result in erroneous operations due to the lever being inadvertently moved when operating push buttons, leading to unintended switching functionalities.
Innovation Solution
A lever-type switch device with a switch body attached to the steering unit, featuring a lever unit that pivots about an axis aligned with the steering shaft, a lever shaft intersecting this axis, a hammer-shaped lever head larger than the shaft, and a push operation unit directed toward the axis, preventing accidental pivoting during push operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If push buttons are integrated into the lever combination switch, then switching functionalities are enhanced, but erroneous operations occur when the lever is inadvertently moved during push button operation
Solution Approach 1:
A guide pin and guide groove mechanism is introduced as an intermediary between the push button and lever. The guide pin fits into the guide groove, creating a mechanical constraint that prevents the lever from moving laterally during push button operation. This intermediary structure allows the push button to function independently without accidentally triggering lever movement, thus eliminating erroneous operations while preserving both switching functionalities.
2Ease of operation
If the push operation unit is arranged on the lever head, then ease of operation is improved, but the lever may be inadvertently pivoted during push operations
Solution Approach 1:
The guide groove is designed with specific local geometric features that match the guide pin profile. The guide groove has a wider portion and a narrower portion, creating different resistance characteristics at different stages of push button operation. This local quality variation ensures that the push button can be easily pressed while the guide pin prevents lateral movement that would cause accidental lever pivoting, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and prevention of accidental pivoting.
Data Source
AI summary
A switch device includes a switch body, which is arranged at the back side of a steering unit, and a lever unit, which is attached to the switch body to allow for switching by a pivotal operation about a first axis, which extends in the axial direction of a steering shaft. The lever unit includes a lever shaft, which extends in a direction intersecting the first axis of the pivotal operation, a lever head, which is arranged at the distal end of the lever shaft and has a larger dimension than the diameter of the lever shaft, and a push operation unit, which allows for switching by a push operation. The push operation unit is arranged so that the operation direction of the push operation is directed toward the first axis.