Unlocking device and zero-gravity seat

Abstract

This application relates to the field of automotive component technology, providing an unlocking device and a zero-gravity seat. The unlocking device includes: a piston housed in a cavity with its tail end exposed, the cavity being disposed within a housing; a detonator fixed to the cavity, with a pre-existing detonation working chamber between the gas outlet of the detonator and the piston; an actuator disposed within the housing, connected to the tail end of the piston and extending into the gap between the housing and the cavity; and a cable assembly, the actuator having a lug extending out of the housing, one end of the cable assembly connected to the lug. This application utilizes the cable assembly and the detonator, achieving millisecond-level response speed for fast and reliable unlocking. The unlocking device of this application can be applied to applications such as the backrest of a zero-gravity seat, achieving fast and reliable unlocking. This allows locked devices such as the backrest of a zero-gravity seat to unlock quickly and reliably under extreme conditions such as collisions, thereby enabling the seatbelt system to better protect occupants and ensure safety.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of automotive parts technology, and more specifically, to unlocking devices and zero-gravity seats. Background Technology

[0002] Zero-gravity seats provide a relaxed, near-weightless posture, enhancing comfort. The unlocking mechanism is a key component enabling the adjustable and lockable functions of a zero-gravity seat. It allows the seat to move freely for angle adjustments as needed, and then locks securely in place once the desired zero-gravity position is reached, maintaining the set zero-gravity posture.

[0003] In extreme emergency situations such as collisions, it is necessary to quickly and reliably unlock the zero-gravity seat to restore it to a safe posture, avoid safety risks caused by posture fixation, and ensure that the occupant restraint system (such as the seat belt system) can work effectively.

[0004] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the background section above is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of this application, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art known to those skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0005] This application provides an unlocking device and a zero-gravity seat equipped with the unlocking device, which can achieve fast and reliable unlocking, enabling locked devices such as the backrest of the zero-gravity seat to be unlocked quickly and reliably under extreme conditions such as collisions, thus ensuring safety.

[0006] According to one aspect of this application, an unlocking device is provided, comprising: a piston housed in a cavity with its tail end exposed, the cavity being disposed within a housing; a detonator fixed to the cavity, a detonation working chamber reserved between the gas outlet of the detonator and the piston; an actuator disposed within the housing, the actuator being connected to the tail end of the piston and extending into the gap between the housing and the cavity; and a cable assembly, the actuator having a lug extending out of the housing, one end of the cable assembly being connected to the lug.

[0007] In some embodiments, when the detonator inflates the detonation chamber, the piston pushes the actuator, which slides along the housing and pulls the cable assembly, thereby unlocking the unlocking device.

[0008] In some embodiments, the actuator includes a hollow main body with a U-shaped cross-section, the housing is provided with a slide with an arc-shaped cross-section, and the hollow main body partially covers the cavity and contacts and engages with the slide.

[0009] In some embodiments, the housing includes a first housing and a second housing, the first housing having the cavity and the slide that is clearance-fitted with the cavity, and the second housing being assembled with the first housing and clearance-fitted with the actuator.

[0010] In some embodiments, the lugs are disposed on both sides of the hollow main body; the side of the first shell and the side of the second shell are spaced apart to form a channel for the lugs to slide.

[0011] In some embodiments, the bottom wall of the hollow main body is provided with a protrusion, which is inserted into a recess at the tail end of the piston.

[0012] In some embodiments, the actuator is locked to the housing by a shear pin; during unlocking, the shear pin breaks.

[0013] In some embodiments, a stop shoulder is provided at the tail end of the housing, the stop shoulder being used to limit the lug.

[0014] In some embodiments, the end of the piston near the detonation chamber is sealed to the chamber by a plurality of sealing rings.

[0015] In some embodiments, the detonator portion is housed within the cavity and is secured by a nut screwed into the cavity.

[0016] According to another aspect of this application, a zero-gravity seat is provided, wherein the backrest of the zero-gravity seat is configured with an unlocking device as described in any of the above embodiments; wherein the housing of the unlocking device is connected to the frame of the backrest, and the other end of the cable assembly is connected to the angle adjustment mechanism of the backrest, and the cable assembly can pull the angle adjustment mechanism to move.

[0017] In some embodiments, the angle adjustment mechanism includes: a pawl-ratchet assembly, wherein the pawl is connected to the backrest; a cam connected to the ratchet of the pawl-ratchet assembly; and a locking pin disposed on the cam and connected to the other end of the cable assembly.

[0018] The beneficial effects of this application compared to the prior art include at least the following:

[0019] This application utilizes a cable assembly and a detonator, achieving millisecond-level response speed for rapid and reliable unlocking. A detonation chamber is pre-installed between the gas outlet of the detonator and the piston. When the detonator fills this chamber with gas, the piston pushes the actuator. The actuator slides along the housing and pulls the cable assembly, instantly unlocking the device and releasing the locked device. The actuator extends into the gap between the housing and the chamber. During unlocking, the inner wall of the housing / outer wall of the chamber acts as a guide rail for the actuator, guiding its sliding and ensuring a stable and reliable unlocking process.

[0020] The unlocking device of this application can be applied to conditions such as the backrest of a zero-gravity seat to achieve fast and reliable unlocking. This allows locked devices such as the backrest of a zero-gravity seat to unlock quickly and reliably under extreme conditions such as collisions, thereby enabling the seat belt system to better protect occupants and ensure safety.

[0021] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and do not limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application. It is obvious that the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any inventive effort.

[0023] Figure 1 This diagram illustrates the assembly structure of the unlocking device in an embodiment of this application.

[0024] Figure 2 This diagram illustrates the exploded structure of the unlocking device in an embodiment of this application.

[0025] Figure 3 This diagram illustrates the internal structure of the unlocking device in an embodiment of this application.

[0026] Figure 4 This diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the unlocking device in an embodiment of this application.

[0027] Figure 5 This diagram illustrates the structure of the unlocking device in the unlocked state in an embodiment of this application.

[0028] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the backrest angle adjustment mechanism of the zero-gravity seat in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0029] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments can be implemented in many forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make this application more comprehensive and complete, and to fully convey the concept of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art.

[0030] The accompanying drawings are merely illustrative of this application and are not necessarily drawn to scale. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar structures, and therefore, repeated descriptions of them will be omitted.

[0031] The use of terms such as "first," "second," and similar words in the specific description does not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but is merely used to distinguish different components. The terms "left," "right," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Furthermore, in the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the term "connection" should be interpreted broadly, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be a connection within two elements.

[0032] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments of this application and the features in different embodiments can be combined with each other.

[0033] Figure 1 The assembly structure of the unlocking device is shown. Figure 2 The explosive structure of the unlocking device is shown. Figure 3 The internal structure of the unlocking device is shown. Figure 4 The diagram shows a cross-sectional view of the unlocking device. Figure 5 The diagram illustrates the structure of the unlocking device in the unlocked state; combined with Figures 1 to 5 As shown, the unlocking device provided in this application embodiment includes:

[0034] A piston 100 is housed in a cavity 200 with its tail end 110 protruding. The cavity 200 is located within a housing (310, 320). A detonator 400 is fixed to the cavity 200, and a detonation working chamber 220 is reserved between the gas outlet of the detonator 400 and the piston 100. An actuator 500 is located within the housing (310, 320), and the actuator 500 is connected to the tail end 110 of the piston 100 and extends into the gap between the housing (310, 320) and the cavity 200. A cable assembly 600 is provided, and the actuator 500 has a lug 520 protruding from the housing (310, 320). One end of the cable assembly 600 is connected to the lug 520.

[0035] This application utilizes a cable assembly 600 and a detonator 400, achieving a millisecond-level response speed for rapid and reliable unlocking. Specifically, a sealed detonation chamber 220 is pre-formed between the gas outlet of the detonator 400 and the piston 100. When the detonator 400 fills the detonation chamber 220 with gas, the piston 100 pushes the actuator 500. The actuator 500 slides along the housing (310, 320) and pulls the cable assembly 600, instantly unlocking the device and releasing the locked device. For example, in the application of a zero-gravity seat backrest, external trigger signals such as electrical signals from a collision sensor can detonate the detonator 400. The resulting high-pressure gas instantly enters the detonation working chamber 220, pushing the piston 100 to move. The piston 100 simultaneously pushes the actuator 500 to move, causing the actuator 500 to slide along the housing (310, 320) and pull the cable assembly 600, thus releasing the backrest instantly upon detonation and quickly unlocking the backrest lock. This allows the backrest to return to a safe posture, enabling the occupant restraint system to work effectively. The chamber 200 provides precise guidance and support for the piston 100, ensuring the reliability of the piston 100's movement. The chamber 200 and the detonator 400 together form a sealed detonation working chamber 220.

[0036] The cable assembly 600 also provides a flexible power transmission method, transmitting the unlocking action to a remote locking device (such as a backrest adjustment mechanism) where the actuator is inconvenient to install directly in space, thus improving the flexibility and adaptability of the layout. The cable assembly 600 can be made of steel wire rope to ensure a certain strength, but is not limited to this. The exposed lug 520 of the actuator 500 allows for convenient and reliable connection between the cable assembly 600 and the actuator 500, effectively converting the movement of the actuator 500 into tension on the cable assembly 600. Furthermore, the actuator 500 extends into the gap between the housing (310, 320) and the cavity 200, resulting in a compact structure. During unlocking, the inner wall of the housing (310, 320) / outer wall of the cavity 200 can act as a guide rail for the actuator 500, guiding its sliding and ensuring a stable and reliable unlocking process.

[0037] The unlocking device of this application can be applied to conditions such as the backrest of a zero-gravity seat to achieve fast and reliable unlocking. This allows locked devices such as the backrest of a zero-gravity seat to unlock quickly and reliably under extreme conditions such as collisions, thereby enabling the seat belt system to better protect occupants and ensure safety.

[0038] In some embodiments, the actuator 500 includes a hollow main body 510 with a U-shaped cross section. The housing (310, 320) is provided with a slide rail 311 with an arc-shaped cross section. The hollow main body 510 partially covers the cavity 200 and contacts and engages with the slide rail 311, achieving a compact structural design and providing good guidance and support for the actuator 500. During the unlocking process, the slide rail 311 with an arc-shaped cross section of the housing (310, 320) can accurately guide the sliding of the hollow main body 510 with a U-shaped cross section of the actuator 500, making the movement of the actuator 500 smooth and reliable, and avoiding tilting or jamming.

[0039] In some embodiments, the housing (310, 320) includes a first housing member 310 and a second housing member 320. The first housing member 310 is provided with a cavity 200 and a slide rail 311 that is clearance-fitted with the cavity 200. The second housing member 320 is assembled with the first housing member 310 and is clearance-fitted with the actuator 500. The use of separate first housing member 310 and second housing member 320 facilitates production and assembly. The first housing member 310 guides the actuator 500 and supports the cavity 200, while the second housing member 320 serves as an enclosure and is clearance-fitted with the actuator 500 to avoid interfering with the movement of the actuator 500.

[0040] The first housing 310, the second housing 320, the cavity 200, and the actuator 500 may be made of aluminum alloy, and the piston 100 may be made of engineering plastics such as polyamide, but are not limited thereto. The first housing 310 and the second housing 320, and the cavity 200 and the first housing 310 and the second housing 320 may be fastened together with high-strength bolts, but are not limited thereto.

[0041] It should be noted that in this embodiment, the cavity 200 and the first shell 310 are formed as a single unit; in other embodiments, the cavity 200 and the first shell 310 can be formed as independent components according to actual needs.

[0042] In some embodiments, lugs 520 are disposed on both sides of the hollow main body 510 to ensure balanced force and prevent the actuator 500 from being jammed by eccentric force; the side of the first housing 310 and the side of the second housing 320 are spaced apart to form a channel 522 for the lugs 520 to slide, and the channel 522 guides and limits the movement of the lugs 520.

[0043] In some embodiments, the bottom wall of the hollow main body 510 of the actuator 500 is provided with a protrusion 511, which is inserted into the recess 111 of the tail end 110 of the piston 100, so that the connection between the actuator 500 and the piston 100 is reliable, ensuring that the piston 100 accurately pushes the actuator 500 during the unlocking process and avoiding relative slippage or disengagement. In other embodiments, the protrusion may also be provided at the tail end 110 of the piston 100 and the recess may be provided at the bottom wall of the hollow main body 510, as long as a reliable connection between the actuator 500 and the piston 100 can be achieved.

[0044] In some embodiments, the actuator 500 is locked to the housing (310, 320) by a shear pin 550; during unlocking, the shear pin 550 breaks. The shear pin 550 secures the actuator 500 when locked, preventing it from moving and causing noise, and avoiding malfunctions; when the detonator 400 generates sufficient thrust, the shear pin 550 is sheared, and the unlocking device can unlock. The shear pin can be made of engineering plastics such as polyoxymethylene to achieve suitable strength, but is not limited thereto.

[0045] In some embodiments, the rear end of the housing (310, 320) is provided with a stop shoulder 322, which is used to limit the lug 520 to precisely limit the stroke of the actuator 500, ensuring that the cable assembly 600 is pulled out with sufficient stroke to reliably trigger the locking device, while also preventing the actuator 500 from moving excessively.

[0046] In some embodiments, the end of the piston 100 near the detonation chamber 220 is sealed to the chamber 200 by a plurality of sealing rings 120 to ensure the sealing of the detonation chamber 220, thereby ensuring the unlocking response speed and reliability. The sealing rings 120 may be made of silicone rubber, but are not limited thereto.

[0047] In some embodiments, the detonator 400 is partially housed within the cavity 200 and secured by a nut 260 screwed into the cavity 200. This facilitates the assembly of the detonator 400 relative to the cavity 200 and its connection to external wiring. The screwed connection is secure and reliable, capable of withstanding the reaction force and vibration generated during operation of the detonator 400, preventing it from loosening, and thus ensuring the smooth execution of the detonation and unlocking process. The detonator 400 may be a micro gas generator (MGG), and the nut may be made of alloy steel, but is not limited to these materials.

[0048] When assembling the unlocking device: First, the piston assembly (piston 100 equipped with sealing ring 120) can be installed into the cavity 200, with the cavity 200 and the first housing 310 forming an integral part. Then, the actuator 500 and shear pin 550 are installed. Next, the second housing 320 is assembled and locked with the first housing 310 with bolts to ensure that the actuator 500 does not tilt upwards when it moves. Then, the detonator 400 is installed, and the cavity 200 is locked with nut 260 to complete the positioning of the detonator 400. Finally, one end of the cable assembly 600 is connected to the actuator 500, and the other end can be connected to the locked device (such as the angle adjustment mechanism of the backrest of a zero-gravity seat) to transmit the power of the detonator 400 to the locked device.

[0049] This application also provides a zero-gravity seat with the aforementioned unlocking device configured on its backrest, enabling stable locking under normal conditions and rapid, reliable unlocking under extreme conditions such as collisions.

[0050] Figure 6 The diagram illustrates the structure of the backrest adjustment mechanism of the zero-gravity seat, with reference to... Figure 6 and combined Figures 1 to 5 As shown in the embodiment of this application, the zero-gravity seat has an adjustable backrest and the aforementioned unlocking device. The housing (310, 320) of the unlocking device is connected to the frame of the backrest, and the other end of the cable assembly 600 of the unlocking device is connected to the adjustable backrest. The cable assembly 600 can pull the adjustable backrest to move.

[0051] The angle adjustment mechanism specifically includes: a pawl and ratchet assembly, wherein the pawl 810 is connected to the backrest; a cam 830, connected to the ratchet 820 of the pawl and ratchet assembly; and a locking pin 840, mounted on the cam 830 and connected to the other end of the cable assembly 600. Under normal conditions, the backrest maintains a fixed angle through the angle adjustment mechanism. When an external trigger signal (such as an electrical signal from a collision sensor) acts on the detonator 400, the detonator 400 is detonated, and the resulting high-pressure gas pushes the piston 100. The piston 100 further pushes the actuator 500 to slide along the housing (310, 320), pulling the cable assembly 600. The cable assembly 600 causes the locking pin 840 in the angle adjustment mechanism to rotate, thereby causing the cam 830 and ratchet 820 to rotate. The ratchet 820 disengages from the pawl 810 to unlock, releasing the backrest. At this time, the backrest can return to a safe posture to facilitate occupant escape or cooperate with occupant restraint systems such as airbags and seat belts. For example, in specific working conditions, after the unlocking mechanism is unlocked, the seat returns to its initial position, allowing the seat belt system to stably exert its restraining effect and achieve better protection for the occupants.

[0052] Utilizing the cable assembly 600 and the detonator 400, this application has a millisecond-level response speed, which can accurately transmit the unlocking force to the angle adjustment mechanism at the moment of detonation, achieving efficient and reliable unlocking and enabling rapid and safe release of the backrest in emergency situations.

[0053] It should be noted that the unlocking device of this application is used for rapid unlocking in emergency situations, without participating in or interfering with the normal posture adjustment of the zero-gravity seat; the unlocking device of this application is an independent safety redundancy design with an unlocking priority higher than the angle adjustment mechanism.

[0054] In addition to being used in the backrests of zero-gravity seats, the unlocking device of this application can also be used in other working conditions to achieve fast and reliable unlocking.

[0055] The above description, in conjunction with specific preferred embodiments, provides a further detailed explanation of this application and should not be construed as limiting the specific implementation of this application to these descriptions. For those skilled in the art, various simple deductions or substitutions can be made without departing from the concept of this application, and all such modifications or substitutions should be considered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. An unlocking device, characterized in that, include: A piston is housed in a cavity with its tail end exposed, the cavity being disposed within a housing; An igniter is fixed to the cavity, and an ignition working chamber is reserved between the gas outlet of the igniter and the piston; An actuator is disposed in the housing, the actuator is connected to the tail end of the piston and extends into the gap between the housing and the cavity; A cable assembly, wherein the actuator has a lug extending out of the housing, and one end of the cable assembly is connected to the lug.

2. The unlocking device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, When the detonator fills the detonation chamber with air, the piston pushes the actuator, which slides along the housing and pulls the cable assembly, thereby unlocking the unlocking device.

3. The unlocking device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The actuator includes a hollow main body with a U-shaped cross-section, and the housing is provided with a slide with an arc-shaped cross-section. The hollow main body partially covers the cavity and contacts and engages with the slide.

4. The unlocking device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The housing includes a first housing and a second housing. The first housing has the cavity and the slide that is clearance-fitted with the cavity. The second housing is assembled with the first housing and is clearance-fitted with the actuator.

5. The unlocking device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The lugs are provided on both sides of the hollow main body. The side of the first housing is spaced apart from the side of the second housing to form a channel for the lug to slide.

6. The unlocking device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The bottom wall of the hollow main body is provided with a protrusion, which is inserted into the concave hole at the tail end of the piston.

7. The unlocking device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The actuator is locked to the housing by a shear pin; During the unlocking process, the shear pin broke.

8. The unlocking device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The rear end of the housing is provided with a stop shoulder, which is used to limit the lug.

9. The unlocking device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The end of the piston near the detonation chamber is sealed to the chamber by multiple sealing rings.

10. The unlocking device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The detonator is partially housed in the cavity and is secured by a nut screwed into the cavity.

11. A zero-gravity seat, characterized in that, The backrest of the zero-gravity seat is equipped with an unlocking device as described in any one of claims 1 to 10; The housing of the unlocking device is connected to the frame of the backrest, and the other end of the cable assembly is connected to the angle adjustment mechanism of the backrest. The cable assembly can pull the angle adjustment mechanism to move.

12. The zero-gravity seat as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The angle adjustment mechanism includes: A pawl and ratchet assembly, wherein the pawl is connected to the backrest; The cam is connected to the ratchet of the pawl-ratchet assembly; A locking pin is provided on the cam and connected to the other end of the cable assembly.

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