US 11,865,920 B2
Controller for vehicle air conditioner
Jundi Hu, Zhejiang (CN); Junjie Yang, Zhejiang (CN); and Liying Zhang, Zhejiang (CN)
Assigned to HANGZHOU SANHUA RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD., Hangzhou (CN)
Filed by HANGZHOU SANHUA RESEARCH INSTITUTE CO., LTD., Zhejiang (CN)
Filed on Mar. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/208,786.
Application 17/208,786 is a continuation of application No. PCT/CN2020/072515, filed on Jan. 16, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 201910053241.5 (CN), filed on Jan. 21, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0206273 A1, Jul. 8, 2021
Int. Cl. B60K 37/06 (2006.01)
CPC B60K 37/06 (2013.01) [B60K 2370/126 (2019.05); B60K 2370/128 (2019.05); B60K 2370/139 (2019.05); B60K 2370/345 (2019.05)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A controller for vehicle air conditioner, comprising:
a base defining a mounting cavity;
a knob assembly rotatably mounted to the base, wherein at least a portion of the knob assembly is located in the mounting cavity; and
at least one bearing element arranged between the base and the knob assembly;
wherein the base comprises a support portion located in the mounting cavity, the knob assembly comprises a knob cap and a shift portion connected to each other, and the at least one bearing element comprises a first bearing element located between the support portion and the knob cap;
wherein the first bearing element is located between opposed axial end surfaces of the knob cap and the support portion; the first bearing element comprises a retaining ring and a plurality of rolling members, the retaining ring comprises a plurality of receiving holes axially extending therethrough, the rolling members are movably retained within the retaining ring, and two axial ends of each rolling member protrude out from two axial end surfaces of the retaining ring to act as frictional contact areas; and
wherein the controller for vehicle air conditioner comprises a buffer and a holder arranged between the knob cap and the support portion, wherein one side of the buffer is arranged adjacent to one of the knob cap and the support portion, and the holder is arranged adjacent to an other side of the buffer; the first bearing element is arranged between the holder and an other one of the knob cap and the support portion.