Patent Publication Number: US-2022223359-A1

Title: Switch assembly and vehicle

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 202110023722.9 filed Jan. 8, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This application relates to the field of vehicle switch structures. More specifically, this application relates to a switch assembly, which provides an improved structural design. This application further relates to a vehicle comprising the foregoing switch assembly. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Vehicles are usually provided with multi-key toggle switches. For example, a control key of a vehicle air conditioner can be implemented by a switch assembly. Keys in a typical multi-key toggle switch are manufactured, assembled and positioned separately. Positioning of a key shifter lever may be implemented, for example, through the structure of a push rod and a rubber pad. To accurately position the key shifter lever, a plurality of dimension relationships associated with the push rod and force of each rubber pad need to be considered. For example, a flush needs to be adjusted by using the dimension relationships, and the dimension relationships need to be adjusted by repairing a mold many times in a later stage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect, an objective of this application is to provide a switch assembly, which aims to provide a convenient and reliable solution for dimension relationship of the switch assembly. According to another aspect, an objective of this application is to provide a vehicle comprising the foregoing switch assembly. 
     The objectives of this application are achieved by the following technical solutions: 
     a switch assembly, comprising: 
     a first housing; 
     a plurality of key shifter levers, the key shifter levers each comprising a first end and a second end, a pin shaft being connected to the key shifter lever between the first end and the second end, the key shifter lever extending from the first end to the second end, and the key shifter lever being configured to pivot in a radial plane with the shaft pin as a center, wherein the second end extends to the outside of the first housing; 
     a second housing, the second housing surrounding the first end of the key shifter lever and having a first limiting surface located above the key shifter lever and a second limiting surface located below the key shifter lever; and 
     a first push rod and a second push rod, the first push rod and the second push rod being arranged in the radial plane and respectively corresponding to the first limiting surface and the second limiting surface, and the first push rod and the second push rod leaning on the key shifter lever between the first end and the shaft pin, wherein at least one of the first push rod and the second push rod is always kept in contact with the first limiting surface or the second limiting surface by setting a dimension relationship. 
     In the foregoing switch assembly, optionally, the first push rod is installed at the first limiting surface and extends by a first distance from the first limiting surface toward the key shifter lever, and the second push rod is installed at the second limiting surface and extends by a second distance from the second limiting surface toward the key shifter lever; and 
     the sum of the first distance, the second distance and a thickness of the key shifter lever is configured to be greater than a distance between the first limiting surface and the second limiting surface. 
     In the foregoing switch assembly, optionally, thrust applied by the first push rod to the key shifter lever is equal to thrust applied by the second push rod to the key shifter lever. 
     In the foregoing switch assembly, optionally, the switch assembly further comprises a first rubber pad and a second rubber pad, the first rubber pad and the second rubber pad respectively matching the first push rod and the second push rod, the first rubber pad being configured to push the first push rod toward the key shifter lever, and the second rubber pad being configured to push the second push rod toward the key shifter lever, wherein a second prepressure provided by the second rubber pad exceeds a predetermined value than a first prepressure provided by the first rubber pad. 
     In the foregoing switch assembly, optionally, the second rubber pad pushes the second push rod toward the second limiting surface, and the second push rod is always kept in contact with the second housing in an initial zero state of the key shifter lever. 
     In the foregoing switch assembly, optionally, under the action of the second prepressure, the first push rod tends to be separated from the second housing, so that an initial interference amount between the first push rod and the key shifter lever is at least partially eliminated. 
     In the foregoing switch assembly, optionally, the predetermined value is between 0.3 N and 2 N. 
     In the foregoing switch assembly, optionally, the shaft pin is located between the first housing and the second housing. 
     In the foregoing switch assembly, optionally, the shaft pin extends through a plurality of key shifter levers, so that the key shifter levers have a common pivotal axis. 
     A vehicle, comprising the foregoing switch assembly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       This application is further described in detail below with reference to drawings and preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art shall understand that these drawings are drawn only for the purpose of explaining the preferred embodiments, and therefore should not be used as a limitation on the scope of this application. In addition, unless otherwise specified, the drawings are merely intended to conceptually represent the composition or configuration of the described objects, and may contain exaggerated display. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a key shifter lever and a shaft pin according to this application. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a switch assembly according to this application. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments of this application will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. It shall be understood by those skilled in the art that these descriptions are merely illustrative and exemplary, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this application. 
     First, it should be noted that the orientation terms, such as top, bottom, upward, and downward, that are described herein are defined relative to the directions in each drawing. These orientations are relative concepts, and therefore will change according to their positions and states. Therefore, these or other orientation terms should not be construed as limiting. 
     In addition, it should also be noted that any single technical feature described or implied in the embodiments herein, or any single technical feature shown or implied in the drawings, or equivalents thereof can continue to be combined, so as to obtain other embodiments which are not directly mentioned herein. 
     It should be noted that in different drawings, the same reference numerals denote the same or substantially the same components. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a key shifter lever and a shaft pin according to this application. As shown in the figure, a switch assembly according to this application may comprise a plurality of key shifter levers  100 , and the key shifter levers  100  may have a common shaft pin  200 . The shaft pin  200  extends through each key shifter lever  100  in a direction indicated by an arrow A, thereby limiting a pivot center of each key shifter lever  100  in the direction indicated by the arrow A. In this way, consistency of the dimension and coaxiality of the shaft pin of the key shifter levers is ensured, so that a deviation quantity of each key shifter lever in all directions is ensured, and the dislocation of the key shifter lever caused by accumulated tolerance of dimension is reduced. 
     In an embodiment, the shaft pin  200  may be made of metal, including but not limited to iron, stainless steel, copper, and the like. In a further embodiment, the key shifter lever  100  may be made of any suitable material, including but not limited to plastic, and the like. 
       FIG. 2  is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a switch assembly according to this application. As shown in the figure, the switch assembly includes a first housing  310  and a second housing  320 . The shaft pin  200  is disposed between the first housing  310  and the second housing  320 , and the key shifter lever  100  extends from a first end  110  to a second end  120 . At least a part of the second housing  320  extends about the first end  110  of the key shifter lever  100 , and the second end  120  of the key shifter lever  100  at least partially extends to the outside of the first housing  310 . Therefore, the second end  120  of the key shifter lever  100  can be operated by a user outside the first housing  310 . For example, the user can press the second end  120  of the key shifter lever  100  with a finger, so that the key shifter lever  100  tends to move clockwise about the shaft pin  200  in the state shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Herein, the key shifter lever  100  is defined as pivoting about the shaft pin  200 , and a direction in which the shaft pin  200  is located is defined as an axial direction. Accordingly, a plane perpendicular to the shaft pin  200  is defined as a radial direction. For example, the plane of paper in the state shown in  FIG. 2  is the radial direction. In use, the key shifter lever  100  pivots about the shaft pin  200  in a radial plane. 
     The second housing  320  has a first limiting surface  321  and a second limiting surface  322 . In the embodiment shown in the figure, the first limiting surface  321  is located above the key shifter lever  100 , and the second limiting surface  322  is located below the key shifter lever  100 . A first push rod  410  and a second push rod  420  are respectively installed on the first limiting surface  321  and the second limiting surface  322 , and respectively extend toward the key shifter lever  100  by a first distance D 1  and a second distance D 2 . Therefore, between the first end  110  and the shaft pin  200 , the key shifter lever  100  is positioned between the first push rod  410  and the second push rod  420 . The second push rod  420  is dimensioned in such a way that the second push rod is always kept in contact with the second limiting surface  322  in an initial zero state of the key shifter lever. 
     In an embodiment, the key shifter lever  100  forms a positioning relationship between the first push rod  410  and the second push rod  420 , and at least one of the first push rod  410  and the second push rod  420  is always kept in contact with the limiting surface of the second housing  320  by using an ingenious design. 
     The initial zero state of the key shifter lever refers to a force balance state of the key shifter lever  100  without operation by a user. In this state, the first push rod  410  and the second push rod  420  apply force to the key shifter lever  100 , so that the key shifter lever is in the position represented by a dotted line B in  FIG. 2 . 
     More specifically, as shown in the figure, the key shifter lever  100  has a thickness T, and the distance between the first limiting surface  321  and the second limiting surface  322  is D 3 . The sum of the first distance D 1 , the second distance D 2  and the thickness T is greater than the distance D 3  between the first limiting surface  321  and the second limiting surface  322 . This can at least partially eliminate clearance wobble that may be caused by the tolerance of the distance D 3 . It is easy to understand that the distance D 3  between the first limiting surface  321  and the second limiting surface  322  may be composed of two parts, that is, a distance from the first limiting surface  321  to a horizontal symmetry axis of the key shifter lever  100  (also referred to as a height of the first limiting surface) and a distance from the second limiting surface  322  to the horizontal symmetry axis of the key shifter lever  100  (also referred to as a height of the second limiting surface). 
     In an embodiment, the first push rod  410  and the second push rod  420  have the same height or extension length, in other words, the first push rod  410  and the second push rod  420  may be the same push rod. Through the technical solution of this application, a dimension relationship of the entire switch assembly can be adjusted only by adjusting the distance between the first limiting surface  321  and the second limiting surface  322  of the second housing  320 . 
     In this way, the second push rod  420  is configured to be always kept in contact with the second limiting surface  322 , and no undesired movement occurs. In this case, the key shifter lever  100  is also in a force balance state, that is, thrust applied by the first push rod  410  to the key shifter lever  100  is equal to thrust applied by the second push rod  420  to the key shifter lever  100 . The height of the second push rod  420  is designed to be equal to the distance from the second limiting surface  322  to the surface of the key shifter lever  100 . In this way, when the second push rod  420  is always attached to the second limiting surface  322 , a top end of the second push rod  420  always remains at this position. The force from the first push rod  410  is not enough to push the second push rod  420 , so that the second push rod  420  keeps the key shifter lever  100  at an absolute theoretical design zero position (that is, the position indicated by the dotted line B) as seen from a design state. In addition, in the presence of the foregoing dimension relationship, only the following five parameters need to be considered for a tolerance chain design of the switch assembly: the first distance D 1  (that is, the height of the first push rod  410 ), the second distance D 2  (that is, the height of the second push rod  420 ), the thickness T of the key shifter lever  100  (that is, the profile of the key shifter lever), the distance from the first limiting surface  321  to the horizontal symmetry axis of the key shifter lever  100  (that is, the height of the first limiting surface), and the distance from the second limiting surface  322  to the horizontal symmetry axis of the key shifter lever  100  (that is, the height of the second limiting surface). 
     In an embodiment, the thrust of the first push rod  410  is always less than the thrust of the second push rod  420  by using the design of asymmetric force. Therefore, the position of the second push rod  420  will not change, so that the height position of the second push rod  420  relative to the key shifter lever  110  becomes the only factor controlling the end position of the key shifter lever  120 . In other words, only the dimension of this part needs to be controlled in production. It should be noted that the first push rod  410  and the second push rod  420  are actually the same components, and therefore only the relative height of the second limiting surface  322  relative to the key shifter lever  100  needs to be controlled. Therefore, through the solution of this application, uncertainty of the key flush in production (that is, the second end  120  of each key shifter lever  100  is positioned above or below the dotted line B and not at the same height) can be lowered, so that the key shifter levers  100  are kept centered along the dotted line B or deviate to one side of the dotted line B together. In this way, the flush between the key shifter levers  100  is improved. 
     An interference amount of the first push rod  410  in design is actually reflected as the distance where the first push rod is pushed away between the first push rod  410  and the first limiting surface  321  of the second housing  320 . Through the dimension relationship of D 1 +D 2 &gt;D 3 , clearance wobble caused when the dimension of the second push rod  420  (that is, the relative height of the second limiting surface  322  relative to the key shifter lever  100 ) is excessively small can be avoided. 
     In an embodiment, a first rubber pad  510  and a second rubber pad  520  respectively match the first push rod  410  and the second push rod  420 , and assist in respectively positioning the first push rod  410  and the second push rod  420  on the first limiting surface  321  and the second limiting surface  322 . The first rubber pad  510  applies a first predetermined pressure to the first push rod  410 , and the second rubber pad  520  applies a second predetermined pressure to the second push rod  420 . The second predetermined pressure may be greater than the first predetermined pressure, for example, by 0.3-2 N. In an embodiment, the second predetermined pressure is 0.5 N greater than the first predetermined pressure. The foregoing predetermined pressure ensures that the second push rod  420  is always in contact with the second housing  320  or the second limiting surface  322  during operation. At this time, the first push rod  410  is also affected by the difference between the foregoing predetermined pressures, and will be pushed to tend to be separated from the second housing  320  or the first limiting surface  321 , so that an initial interference amount between the first push rod  410  and the key shifter lever  100  is at least partially eliminated. In an embodiment, the initial interference amount N is equal to the sum of the first distance D 1 , the second distance D 2  and the thickness T minus the distance D 3  between the first limiting surface  321  and the second limiting surface  322 . 
     In this case, only the following three parameters need to be considered for a tolerance chain design of the switch assembly: the second distance D 2  (that is, the height of the second push rod  420 ), the thickness T of the key shifter lever  100  (that is, the profile of the key shifter lever), and the distance from the second limiting surface  322  to the horizontal symmetry axis of the key shifter lever  100  (that is, the height of the second limiting surface). In this way, the tolerance chain design of the switch assembly is further simplified, and the number of tolerance chains that affect the flush is reduced to three, so that better dimensional control can be implemented. 
     This application further relates to a vehicle, comprising the switch assembly described above. In an embodiment, the switch assembly is disposed at an instrument panel of the vehicle. 
     The switch assembly and the vehicle according to this application have the advantages of simplicity, reliability, ease of implementation, convenience in use, and the like. The control over the flush of the switch assembly is improved. 
     This application is disclosed in this description with reference to the drawings, and those skilled in the art may further implement this application, including manufacturing and using any device or system, selecting suitable materials, and using any combined methods. The scope of this application is defined by the claimed technical solutions, and includes other examples conceivable by those skilled in the art. As long as such other examples include structural elements that do not differ from those described by the literal language of the claimed technical solutions or such other examples include equivalent structural elements which are not substantially different from those described by the literal language of the claimed technical solutions, such other examples should be considered to be within the scope of protection as determined by the claimed technical solutions of this application.