Inventors:
Lev A. Fruitman - Southfield MI
Dale E. Thorsby - Riverview MI
Assignee:
Ford Motor Company - Dearborn MI
International Classification:
G01L 1914
Abstract:
A gauge assembly for a vehicle instrument cluster is provided. The gauge assembly includes a pointer assembly and a plastic housing having a pair of housing elements. One of the housing elements includes a receptacle which defines a side wall having a first circumferentially extending mating surface, while the other housing element includes a plug which defines a side wall having a second circumferentially extending mating surface. Upon assembly of the housing, the plug and receptacle together define a chamber therebetween. The pointer assembly includes a magnet rotatably disposed within the chamber, a pointer body positioned outside of the housing, and a shaft rotatably extending along an axis of rotation defined through one of the housing elements. The shaft couples the pointer body to the magnet for rotative movement about the axis of rotation. The gauge assembly further includes a viscous damping fluid carried in the chamber for damping the rotational movement of the magnet.