Vehicle Wind Direction Adjuster Universal Joint Elastic Body Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle wind direction adjusters face challenges in providing distinct operation feelings for vertical and horizontal operations due to non-uniform elastic body coverage on the ball joint, making it difficult to satisfy the demand for varying operation sensations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle wind direction adjuster featuring a universal joint with separate elastic bodies for each shaft, allowing for adjustable hardness and compression allowances to differentiate operation feelings between vertical and horizontal operations, enhancing the overall turning experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the entire surface of the ball of the ball joint is covered with an elastic body, then operation feeling in the turning operation is improved, but it is difficult to satisfy the demand for changing the operation feeling for each of vertical and horizontal operations
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic body is divided into multiple segments corresponding to different turning directions (vertical and horizontal operations). Each segment can be independently designed with different hardness values, allowing distinct operation feelings for each direction while maintaining the overall turning functionality of the ball joint.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the elastic body covering the ball joint are assigned different local properties (hardness values). Specifically, the elastic body has different hardness in the vertical direction compared to the horizontal direction, enabling tailored operation feelings for each turning direction without compromising overall operation smoothness.
2Ease of operation
If the shape of the ball of the ball joint or the thickness of the elastic body is made non-uniform, then direction-specific operation feeling can be achieved, but manufacturing precision and consistency become difficult to ensure
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of changing the geometric shape or thickness of the elastic body, the invention changes the material parameter (hardness) of the elastic body in different regions. This allows direction-specific operation feelings to be achieved through material property variation rather than geometric variation, simplifying manufacturing and ensuring consistency.
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
The solution enables tailored operation feelings for each direction, improving the overall operation feeling by allowing for customizable torque and resistance settings, thus enhancing user experience.
Implementation Method 1
the shaft member and the first turning supporter make sliding contact with each other through first elastic body
Implementation Method 2
a first elastic body is provided around the first shaft such that the first elastic body is interposed between the shaft member and the first turning supporter
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle wind direction adjuster includes: a case having a cylindrical shape; a housing having a cylindrical shape and turnably coupled to the case through a universal joint; and a louver provided in the housing, wherein: the universal joint includes a shaft member having a first shaft and a second shaft orthogonal to the first shaft, a first turning supporter coupled to the case and configured to turnably support the first shaft, and a second turning supporter coupled to the housing and configured to turnably support the second shaft; an first elastic body is provided around the first shaft such that the first elastic body is interposed between the shaft member and the first turning supporter; and an second elastic body is provided around the second shaft such that the second elastic body is interposed between the shaft member and the second turning supporter.