CN110895424A

CN110895424A - Method for mounting an actuating element having a spring-based latching haptic and actuating element

Info

Publication number: CN110895424A
Application number: CN201910809624.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: B·斯密特; J·策厄; M·特里普; T·齐克尔巴赫; M·布卢姆; T·霍芬希策
Original assignee: Preh GmbH
Current assignee: Preh GmbH
Priority date: 2018-09-12
Filing date: 2019-08-29
Publication date: 2020-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2039-08-29
Also published as: DE102019119157A1; CN110895424B; DE102019119157B4

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuating element, comprising: a handle and a shaft, which is connected to the handle in a rotationally fixed manner, on which shaft a locking contour is formed, which is axially offset from the locking contour and forms a ramp; a bearing bracket for receiving the shaft at a predetermined position and for rotatably supporting the shaft; and at least one locking spring arm, one side of which is fixed on a bearing support of the shaft side located at a preset position in order to be elastically pre-stressed and slidably embedded with the locking contour; the shaft and the bearing support are arranged to allow the shaft to be introduced into the bearing support transversely in a direction laterally to the axial course of the shaft, the latch arm striking against the ramp during the course of the transverse introduction to push into the deflected position against its resilient return; the shaft and the bearing bracket are additionally arranged to enable the following shaft to move axially in the bearing bracket in a direction following the axial direction of the shaft, and a connecting device is provided to fix the shaft axially in the bearing bracket.

Description

Method for mounting an actuating element having a spring-based latching haptic and actuating element

Technical Field

The invention relates to a method for mounting an actuating element having a spring-based latching haptic and to a corresponding actuating element.

Background

In the known actuating elements with latching haptics, usually at least one latch arm is in a pretensioned engagement with a latching linkage or also referred to as latching contour. Wherein the pretensioned latch arm with its spherical cap formed on one of the two outer ends of the latch arm is in effective engagement with the latching contour, wherein the latch arm, upon manual adjustment of the handle, is immersed in one of the latching depressions in order to give a tactile feedback as this specific position is reached and/or to prevent the handle from twisting slightly out of the specific position predefined by the latching depressions spontaneously. The mounting of the actuating element implies difficulties in bringing the latch arm into engagement with the latching contour without damage. In the case of a handle with a purely bayonet shaft, i.e. a shaft in which an axial insertion movement, i.e. in the circumferential direction of the shaft or in the course of the shaft, provides a connection between the shaft to which the handle is assigned and the bearing support provided for the rotatable mounting of the shaft, and thus of the handle, a ramp-like or conical design is provided which displaces the locking spring arm with respect to its restoring force in order to be able to bring the locking spring arm into a defined locking contour. In the case of latch arms which are usually fixed on the longitudinal sides of the shaft, as in the case of latch arms which engage tangentially in a latching contour around the shaft, for example, the compression expected by the conical surface and the separation of these latch arms in the case of a larger number of latch arms leads to an undesirable loading of the latch arms in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the shaft, i.e. in a direction parallel to the shaft run. As a result, plastic deformation can occur, which in turn leads to a residual misorientation of the spring arm, so that the engagement with the detent contour required for the detent haptic can no longer be formed.

Against this background, there is a need for a mounting method for such actuating elements which less influence the reliability of the latching haptics, by means of a stress reduction of the one or more latch arms during the mounting process, in particular in the axial direction, with respect to the axis associated with the latching haptics. This object is achieved by a mounting method according to claim 1. An equally advantageous actuating element and the use thereof are the subject matter of the dependent claims. The contents of the description of the dependent claims are in each case advantageous embodiments. It is to be noted that the features listed individually in the claims can be combined with one another in any technically expedient manner, thereby indicating further alternative designs of the invention. In addition, the description explains and specifies features of the invention, particularly in conjunction with the drawings.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention relates to a method for mounting an actuating element, such as a rotary actuator or the like. In a preliminary step, a handle and a shaft are provided, wherein the latter is connected to the handle in a rotationally fixed manner. On the shaft, a locking contour is formed, at least one ramp being formed in the axial direction, i.e. in the direction of travel of the shaft, offset (versezt) from the locking contour. The locking contour has at least one or more locking recesses or locking projections. Furthermore, in a next preparation step, a bearing support for accommodating the shaft and rotatably supporting the shaft is provided. Further, at least one latch arm is provided. The bearing bracket serves to accommodate the shaft in a predetermined position and, in addition, to fix the actuating element to a housing, a plate or the like. In order to engage the locking contour, in particular at its free end or a spherical cap formed on this end, in a resiliently pretensioned, sliding manner, the latch spring arm is provided with the locking contour and is fastened for this purpose on one side to the bearing bracket and on the side, i.e. longitudinally, with respect to the shaft located at the predetermined position. The fixed position is thus located laterally with respect to the predetermined position of the shaft and thus on a longitudinal side of the shaft. The latch arm extends, for example, substantially tangentially to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft given the locking profile in the mounted state.

In the insertion step according to the invention, which is prior to the axial displacement step of the shaft, a lateral insertion of the shaft into the bearing support is carried out, which is also referred to as a longitudinal insertion. This is followed by the introduction of the shaft in a lateral, for example perpendicular, direction with respect to the axial course of the shaft. The axial course is determined by the axis of rotation of the shaft in the final installation position. The bearing support is for example provided with openings on the respective side.

During the introduction process, the latch arm strikes against the ramp in order to move, for example, outwardly into a deflected position against its resilient return. Temporally subsequent, in the moving step, an axial movement of the shaft within the bearing support takes place. During this step, the latch spring arm, in the reset or retained previous deflected position, is out of engagement with the ramp and into engagement with the locking profile. In other words, during the process of the bolt arm engaging the detent contour, a further deflection of the bolt opposite the return direction is avoided, as a result of which stresses are avoided when engaging into the detent contour. For easier positioning of the shaft, one or more guide aids, such as tabs or constrictions, are provided, for example. Until then, the shaft is not fixed axially on or in the bearing bracket. The manner of fixing is not limited in the present invention. A snap connection or a snap-on connection is provided between the shaft and the bearing support. Preferably, a connection device, such as a snap-fit connection and/or a snap-on connection or a device forming a plug-in connection, is provided between the shaft and the bearing bracket in order to achieve an axial fixing of the shaft while maintaining the rotational stability of the shaft.

In the actuating element according to the invention, according to the method according to the invention, a handle and a shaft which is fixed in a rotationally fixed manner on the handle are provided. The shaft forms a locking contour, which has, for example, one or more locking recesses. In the actuating element according to the invention, a chamfer is provided on the shaft in the axial direction of the shaft, alternating with the locking contour. Furthermore, a bearing support is provided for receiving and rotatably supporting the shaft, and at least one locking spring arm is provided. The bearing bracket serves to accommodate the shaft in a predetermined position and, in addition, to fix the actuating element to a housing, a plate or the like. In order to engage it, preferably its free end or a spherical cap formed on this end, in a resiliently pretensioned, sliding manner with the locking contour, the latch arm is fixed on one side to the bearing bracket and on the side with respect to the shaft located at the predetermined position. The fixed position is thus located laterally with respect to the predetermined position of the shaft and thus on a longitudinal side of the shaft. The bolt arms extend, for example, substantially tangentially to the outer peripheral surface of the shaft given the locking contour.

The bearing bracket and the shaft are each designed such that, on the one hand, a lateral insertion of the shaft into the bearing bracket is possible, and, in addition, during the course of the lateral insertion, the latch arm strikes against the ramp in order to be pushed into the deflected position against its resilient return. On the other hand, axial displacement of the shaft in the bearing bracket is to be allowed to follow at the time, wherein the latch spring arm retains its deflected position or is reset as it is reversed, while at the same time the latch spring arm is out of sliding contact with the ramp and into engagement with the latching contour. According to the invention, the actuating element has a connection device for axially fixing the shaft while maintaining the rotatability in the bearing bracket. The axial displacement of the shaft is carried out with as much retention as possible or, if necessary, with a return from the deflected position of the latch spring arm, as a result of which stresses during the mounting of the latch spring arm, in particular during the strain thereof, in particular in a direction parallel to the course of the shaft, can be reduced. Undesired deviations of the orientation of the latch arm with respect to the peripheral course of the latching contour from the nominal orientation due to overloading, and the associated uncomplicated deformation of the latch arm, are avoided. The reliability of the latching haptics is generally improved and, in connection therewith, series deviations are reduced.

Preferably two latch arms are provided. These catch arms are manufactured, for example, from spring steel, such as spring steel sheet. The two bolt arms are provided, for example, in one piece. More preferably, the spring is arranged in such a way that the engagement of the springs in the locking contour is diametrically opposite to each other. For example, providing exactly one ramp for each latch arm.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention or of the actuating element, the associated bevel is formed by an overrun wedge or eccentric extending radially with respect to the shaft.

Preferably, the deflected position is equal to or greater than the maximum deflection of the latch arm, which is predetermined by the detent contour.

Preferably, the chamfer is shaped as a convex curve in the direction of revolution.

The shaft is provided according to a preferred embodiment, and an additional return spring is mounted in order to bring about a return of the handle into the home position.

The invention further relates to the use of the actuating element in one of the above-described embodiments in a motor vehicle.

Drawings

The invention is further elucidated with the aid of the following figures. The drawing is merely an illustration and merely shows preferred embodiments. Wherein:

fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the actuating element 1 according to the invention;

fig. 2 is a perspective view of a detail associated with the actuating element 1 according to the invention in fig. 1;

fig. 3 is a side view of a detail associated with the actuating element 1 according to the invention from fig. 1;

fig. 4 is a side view for explaining a lateral introduction step of the mounting method according to the present invention;

fig. 5 is a side view for explaining an axial moving step of the mounting method according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an actuating element 1 according to the invention. It concerns a rocker switch in which the handle 2 is supported by means of a shaft 3 so as to be pivotable from a home position in two opposite directions with respect to a restoring force. The necessary rotatability for this is provided by means of the shaft 3 which is rotatably accommodated in the bearing bracket 4. In order to provide a detent feel during the rotational or pivoting adjustment, two latch arms 5 are provided, each of which is fastened on one side to the bearing bracket 4 and is in sliding engagement with a detent contour, which is not visible in fig. 1, at their free ends. The fixing points of the latch spring arms 5 on the bearing bracket 4 are arranged in each case on the longitudinal sides of the shaft 3 and thus on the sides of the shaft 3, so that the latch spring arms 5 extend in each case approximately tangentially to the latching contour, as shown in fig. 2. The different deflection positions of the latch arm 5 are indicated by 5a, 5b and 5 c. 5c respectively denote the position of the bolt arm 5 on which it engages with the locking recess 8 of the locking contour 7, whereas 5b denotes the position of the bolt arm 5 on which it is deflected against its resilient return and is located on the locking ramp, i.e. outside the locking recess 8 of the locking contour 7, while being in contact with the locking contour 7. Position 5a, in contrast, indicates the position of the latch arm 5 which it occupies during the mounting method according to the invention in the lateral insertion step shown in fig. 4, in which the shaft 3 is inserted into the bearing bracket 4 in the lateral direction S1 with respect to its axial course. In order then to achieve a contact engagement with the locking contour 7 by an axial displacement of the shaft 3 in a direction S2 which corresponds to the axial course of the shaft, as shown in fig. 5. In which the bolt arm 5 is reset with it and first returns to position 5 b. In order to bring about the deflection of the locking spring 5 into the deflected position 5a while the load in the axial direction, i.e. in a direction parallel to the course of the shaft 3, is as low as possible, the shaft 3 has a profile designed as an eccentric 6 which delimits a lateral ramp 9, each of the two locking spring arms 5 resting with its free end on each ramp 9 during the lateral introduction of the shaft 3 into the bearing bracket 4 in the direction S1 lying laterally to the axial course of the shaft in order to be deflected gradually as the introduction continues until the position 5a is reached. For this purpose, the eccentric 6 has, on the outer circumferential surface facing the bolt arms, in each case a ramp 9 which is convexly curved in the circumferential direction and on which each of the bolt arms 5 rests during the insertion step in order to move away from this ramp in the direction of the locking contour 7 during the subsequent axial displacement of the shaft 3, as shown in fig. 5, without any further deflection of the bolt in relation to its return movement being formed, but rather the bolt 5 is moved back into the position 5b with its return force. For a more reliable positioning of the shaft 3 during the process of lateral introduction in a direction S1 which runs laterally or perpendicularly to the axial direction of the shaft 3, the shaft 3 has a constriction 10 in which a support cutout (Halteschneiden)12 with an opening of the bearing bracket 4 engages. In a locking step, which is not shown in detail in the figures, the fixation of the shaft 3 in the axial direction is performed.

Claims

1. A method for mounting a handling element (1), comprising:

providing a handle (2) and a shaft (3), wherein the shaft (3) is connected to the handle (2) in a rotationally fixed manner, a locking contour (7) is formed on the shaft (2), and a bevel (9) is formed axially offset from the locking contour (7);

-providing a bearing support (4) for accommodating the shaft (3) in a predetermined position and for rotatably supporting the shaft (3), and at least one latch spring arm (5), which latch spring arm (5) is fixed on one side to the bearing support (4) on the side of the shaft (3) located in the predetermined position, for resiliently pretensioned, sliding engagement with the latching contour (7);

the shaft (3) is guided transversely into the bearing bracket (4) in a direction (S1) transverse to the axial direction of the shaft (3), wherein the latch arm (5) strikes against the inclined surface (9) in order to be pushed into a deflected position against its resilient return;

subsequently, the shaft (3) is axially displaced in the bearing bracket (4) in a direction (S2) following the axial course of the shaft (3), as a result of which the locking spring arm (5) is moved out of engagement with the ramp (9) and into engagement with the locking contour (7) while resetting or holding the deflected position of the locking spring (5);

the shaft (3) is fixed in the bearing support (4) in the axial direction.

2. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein two latch arms (5) are provided, the two latch arms (5) being arranged to engage the locking profile (7) diametrically opposite with respect to the shaft (3).

3. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein the associated bevel (9) is formed by an overrun wedge or eccentric (6) extending radially with respect to the shaft.

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the deflected position corresponds to a maximum deflection of the latch arm (5) which is predefined by the locking profile (7).

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bevel (9) is convexly curved in the direction of the revolution of the shaft (3).

6. An operating element (1) comprising:

a handle (2) and a shaft (3), wherein the shaft (3) is connected to the handle (2) in a rotationally fixed manner, a locking contour (7) is formed on the shaft (3), and a bevel (9) is formed axially offset from the locking contour (7);

a bearing support (4) for accommodating the shaft (3) in a predetermined position and for rotatably supporting the shaft (3); and at least one latch arm (5), which latch arm (5) is fastened on one side to the bearing bracket (4) on the side of the shaft (3) located in a predetermined position, in order to engage with the locking contour (7) in a resiliently pretensioned, sliding manner;

wherein the shaft (3) and the bearing bracket (4) are arranged such that the shaft (3) is allowed to be introduced laterally into the bearing bracket (4) in a direction (S1) transverse to the axial course of the shaft (3), wherein during the course of the lateral introduction the latch arm (5) strikes against the ramp (9) in order to be pushed into a deflected position against its resilient return; wherein the shaft (3) and the bearing bracket (4) are additionally arranged such that an axial displacement of the next shaft (3) in a direction (S2) following the axial course of the shaft (3) within the bearing bracket (4) can be achieved, such that the latch spring arm (5) enters into engagement with the latching contour (7) while resetting or holding the deflected position of the latch spring arm (5); and

a connecting device for axially fixing the shaft (3) in the bearing support (4).

7. Operating element (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein two latch arms (5) are provided, the two latch arms (5) being arranged to engage with the locking profile (7) diametrically opposite with respect to the shaft (3).

8. An operating element (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the associated ramp (9) is formed by an overrun wedge or eccentric (6) extending radially with respect to the shaft (3).

9. The actuating element (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the deflected position corresponds to a maximum deflection of the latch arm (5) which is predefined by the latching contour (7).

10. Operating element (1) according to one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the connecting means are a snap-on and/or snap-on connection or a connecting means forming a plug-in closure.

11. Use of an operating element (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 10 in a motor vehicle.