Vehicle Dial Operating Device Backlash Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air conditioning operating devices for vehicles suffer from backlash in gear engagements, leading to deteriorated operation feeling, increased size, and higher costs due to multiple gear stages and inefficient use of space.
Innovation Solution
An operating device with a dial member and a rotated body that directly transmit rotation through peripheral engaging portions, eliminating the need for multiple gear stages and allowing for a more compact design by positioning electric equipment in the center.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple gear stages are used to transmit rotation from the dial to the pulley, then the transmission mechanism is established, but backlash occurs and operation feeling deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intermediate gear stage from the transmission system, directly engaging the dial's gear teeth with the pulley's gear teeth. This extraction of the unnecessary intermediate component eliminates the source of backlash while maintaining the essential rotation transmission function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the dial and pulley into a direct engagement relationship, eliminating the intermediate gear. By combining what was previously separate transmission stages into a single direct connection, the patent reduces backlash and simplifies the overall structure.
2Ease of operation
If multiple gear stages and components are included, then rotation transmission is achieved, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the intermediate gear and its associated housing components, significantly reducing the radial and axial dimensions of the device while preserving the core rotation transmission capability between the dial and pulley.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of expanding the transmission system with multiple gear stages, the patent inverts the approach by using a direct engagement mechanism that achieves the same transmission function with minimal space, effectively shrinking the device footprint.
3Reliability
If multiple gear stages and components are used, then the transmission mechanism functions, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the intermediate gear, its housing, and associated components, thereby reducing the total part count, simplifying manufacturing processes, and lowering material and assembly costs while maintaining the essential transmission function through direct gear engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional approach of adding components to ensure transmission reliability by instead using a simplified direct engagement system that is inherently more reliable with fewer parts, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
4Ease of operation
If gear teeth are formed in the inner circumferential portion of the final stage gear, then rotation transmission to the pulley is achieved, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the final stage gear function directly into the pulley structure, eliminating the need for a separate final stage gear component. The gear teeth are formed directly on the pulley, combining two functions into one component and reducing overall device size.
Data Source
AI summary
An operating device includes a dial member that has a first engaging portion provided on a peripheral portion thereof, a rotated body that has a hollow portion at a center portion thereof and a second engaging portion which is engaged with the first engaging portion of the dial member, the second engaging portion being provided on a peripheral portion of the rotated body, and an electric equipment member that is inserted into the hollow portion of the rotated body. A rotation of the dial member is transmitted to the rotated body through an engagement of the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion.