Vehicle Switch Assembly for Uniform Trim Panel Gaps

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing switches for vehicles face issues with uneven gaps between the switch and the interior trim panel due to machining tolerance, leading to reduced texture and increased dust accumulation, as the conventional design lacks effective adjustment mechanisms for tolerances.

Innovation Solution

A switch design featuring a surface housing with a groove and a pressing rod assembly, including a rocking bar and a connecting piece, where the connecting piece is fixedly connected to the groove and a crushable rib is used to absorb position tolerance, allowing the pressing rod assembly to be installed at any position, ensuring uniformity of the gap between the switch and the trim panel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the connecting piece is rigidly fixed to the groove, then the structural stability is improved, but the gap uniformity deteriorates due to machining tolerance deviations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidgap uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing rod assembly is made movable relative to the groove through a positioning groove and positioning protrusion mechanism, allowing the assembly to adjust its position dynamically to compensate for machining tolerance deviations while maintaining structural stability through the crushable rib constraint

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of manufacture

If the pressing rod assembly position is fixed, then the manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the adaptability to tolerance deviations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly simplicityVSAvoidtolerance compensation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The crushable rib acts as an intermediary element between the pressing rod assembly and the groove, providing a simple yet effective mechanism that enables tolerance compensation without complicating the assembly process. The rib's controlled deformation absorbs position deviations while maintaining ease of assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If no positioning mechanism is provided, then the device complexity is reduced, but the gap uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning mechanism complexityVSAvoidgap uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The crushable rib functions as a flexible structural element that can deform elastically to accommodate position deviations. This thin-walled or ribbed structure provides the necessary compliance to maintain gap uniformity without requiring complex positioning mechanisms, achieving tolerance compensation through controlled flexibility rather than rigid constraints

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 ensures a uniform gap between the switch and the interior trim panel, improving the overall texture and reducing dust accumulation by allowing the pressing rod assembly to adjust to deviations caused by machining tolerance, thereby enhancing the aesthetic and functional quality of the vehicle's interior.

Implementation Method 1

a crushable rib is disposed between the connecting piece and the groove, the crushable rib has the consistent thickness, and a strength of an upper side of the crushable rib is less than a strength of a lower side of the crushable rib

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4033507B1Switch for vehicle and vehicle
Publication Date: 2024.12.18 NIO TECH ANHUI CO LTD
  • EP4033507B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The invention relates to the field of switches, and particularly provides a switch for a vehicle and a vehicle. The invention aims to solve the problem of an uneven gap between a switch and an interior trim panel of an existing vehicle. To this end, the vehicle according to the invention comprises a surface housing, the surface housing is provided with a groove, the switch is disposed in the groove, the switch comprises a pressing rod assembly, the pressing rod assembly comprises a rocking bar and a connecting piece, the rocking bar is rotatably connected to the connecting piece, and the connecting piece is fixedly connected to the groove. When the pressing rod assembly is installed, because no member for positioning the pressing rod assembly is available, the pressing rod assembly can be installed at any position in a transverse direction of the groove. Therefore, when the groove deviates due to the existence of tolerance, the position tolerance of the groove is absorbed by a position change of the pressing rod assembly, which is more conducive to adjusting a gap between the groove and the pressing rod assembly and can ensure uniformity of the gap between the groove and the pressing rod assembly.