Adjustment device

Abstract

Adjustment device (6), in particular for adjusting seats (2), comprising: a) a rotatable drive element (7, 30); b) a rotatable output element (18); c) a first clamping element freewheel (10) which continuously blocks the output element (18) in different positions in both adjustment directions and can be released by means of a release element (70), and d) a second clamping element freewheel (20) which is coupled to the first clamping element freewheel (10) via the release element (70) and which continuously blocks the output element (18) in different positions in both adjustment directions and can be released by means of an actuating element (40), wherein the drive element (7, 30) is biased into a central position by means of two springs (60, 61) acting in opposite directions, and the two springs (60, 61) also bias the actuating element (40) into a central position, wherein a projection (33) of the drive element (7, 30) is arranged between two first end faces of the springs (60, 61) and a projection (42) of the actuating element is arranged between two opposing second end faces of the springs (60, 61), characterized by the fact that the second clamping element freewheel (20) around clamping elements (22, 22') comprises an outer ring (30) which forms a cross-section deviating from the cylindrical contour in order to clamp the clamping elements (22, 22') in opposite directions and the outer ring (30) is coupled to a drive lever via projections (31).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an adjustment device, in particular for adjusting seats, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] DE 11 2007 002 311 T5 discloses a pumping device for a vehicle seat cushion, which includes a clutch assembly and a brake assembly. The clutch assembly comprises clutch springs that bias a lever bracket into a starting position. In addition, the clutch springs also hold a cage assembly in a central position, which is coupled to the brake assembly.

[0003] EP 979 179 B2 shows a seat adjuster in which a brake is provided between a fixed part and an adjustable part to allow stepless locking of both parts in either direction of adjustment. The brake can be released via a release element, allowing adjustment in one of the two directions using an adjustment mechanism. A step-by-step additional locking mechanism engages to secure the locked position. Users find this type of locking mechanism disruptive, as it produces clicking noises and prevents locking in intermediate positions. Furthermore, numerous components are required for the preload of the locking pawls, making assembly complex.

[0004] WO 2012 / 013234 A1 discloses an adjustment mechanism in which two clamping locks connected in series can be provided, each forming a freewheel brake. The two clamping locks comprise clamping elements that allow stepless adjustment and locking in both directions. The two clamping locks are coupled to each other via a release element, so that after a driven element is locked by the first clamping lock, the second clamping lock can be switched to a freewheel position to move an actuating lever back to a starting position. The actuating lever is pre-tensioned to a starting position by a first locking spring, and the release element is pre-tensioned to a starting position by a second locking spring. The two locking springs are arranged one behind the other in the axial direction of the driven shaft, so that a relatively large amount of installation space is required in the axial direction.Furthermore, there is the problem that one lock spring acts on the release element and the other on the lever adapter. Due to tolerances and play in the individual components, the return action is relatively imprecise.

[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to create an adjustment device which has a compact design and enables precise adjustment of the drive element relative to the output element.

[0006] This problem is solved with an adjustment device having the features of claim 1.

[0007] According to the invention, the adjusting device comprises a first clamping element freewheel and a second clamping element freewheel, by means of which an output element can be continuously locked and unlocked in different positions in both adjustment directions. A release element is provided for unlocking the first clamping element freewheel, and an actuating element is provided for unlocking the second clamping element freewheel. The drive element is biased into a central position by two springs acting in opposite directions, and the two springs also bias the actuating element into a central position. This allows either of the two springs to be used to return the drive element to a starting position, i.e., a central position, regardless of the direction of rotation.The other spring serves to return the actuating element to a neutral position, so that, depending on the direction of rotation, one spring either preloads the drive element or the actuating element into a neutral position. This results in a compact design and allows the adjustment device to be manufactured with only a few components. The preload of the actuating element is essentially backlash-free, since movement of the drive element directly moves the actuating element and preloads it into a neutral position.

[0008] The first and second clamping element freewheels can each be designed as clamping locks, in which clamping elements are provided between an outer ring and an inner ring, enabling stepless locking in both directions of adjustment. Such clamping locks are described in detail, for example, in WO 2012 / 013 234 A1 and are referred to below as clamping element freewheels, since, in addition to the locking function, a freewheeling function can also be achieved.

[0009] Preferably, when the drive element is moved in a first direction of rotation, it is pre-tensioned to the center position by one of the two springs, and the actuating element is pre-tensioned to the center position by the other spring. Conversely, when the drive element is moved in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first, the drive element is pre-tensioned to the center position by the second spring, and the actuating element is pre-tensioned to the center position by the first spring. Thus, depending on the direction of rotation, the drive element and the actuating element can be pre-tensioned by either the first or the second spring.

[0010] For a compact design of the adjustment mechanism and easy assembly, the springs can be designed as coil springs. The springs are preferably held in an arc-shaped recess within a housing. In the central position of the drive element and the actuating element, the springs are held against a stop with their ends. A projection of the drive element is arranged between the ends of the springs, and a projection of the actuating element is arranged between two opposing ends of the springs. This allows for a virtually backlash-free adjustment and locking process via the first and second clamping element freewheels, provided the actuating element is fixed to the drive element in a rotationally rigid manner.

[0011] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the output element has an axle and the drive element has a ring arranged around the axle. The ring can form part of the second clamping element freewheel, so that the drive element acts directly on the second clamping element freewheel via the ring, thus reducing the number of components. It is also possible, of course, to design the drive element as an axle and the output element as a ring to provide an adjustment device according to the invention.

[0012] The springs arranged in the arc-shaped receptacles on the housing can be mounted into the receptacles from a first side. The arc-shaped receptacles can also have at least one slot through which a projection passes, bearing against an end face of the springs. This allows the actuating element and the drive element to be mounted compactly within the housing.

[0013] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a view of a seat with an adjustment device according to the invention; Fig. 2 a perspective view of the adjustment device according to the invention; Fig. 3 a perspective exploded view of the adjustment mechanism of the Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a top view of a first clamping element freewheel of the adjusting device of the Fig. 2; Fig. 5 a view of the first clamping body freewheel of the Fig. 4 with an unlocking element Fig. 6 a top view of a second clamping element freewheel of the adjusting device; Fig. 7 a view of the second clamping body freewheel with an actuating element; Fig. 8 a perspective exploded view of a housing of the adjustment device; Fig. 9 a view of the housing of the adjusting device with the springs, and Fig. 10 A perspective view of the housing with the springs during assembly.

[0014] A seat 1, in particular a vehicle seat, comprises a seat body 2 on which a backrest 3 is pivotably mounted. The seat body 2 is supported on a frame 4, the seat body 2 being held on the frame 4 by two parallel levers 5. An adjustment device 6 according to the invention, with a drive lever 7 rotatable about a horizontal axis in both directions, is also mounted on the seat body 2. If the drive lever 7 is pivoted upwards to position 7A, the adjustment device 6 initiates a clockwise pivoting of the levers 5, thereby lowering the seat surface 2. If the drive lever 7 is pivoted downwards to position 7B, the gear mechanism causes the levers 5 to rotate counterclockwise, thus raising the seat body 2.

[0015] In the Fig. 2 and Fig. Figure 3 shows the adjusting device 6. The adjusting device 6 comprises a housing 80, which has a flange 8 with openings 9 on opposite sides for fixing the housing 80 to the seat body 2. The housing 80 is closed at the top by a cover 50, which is plate-shaped and has webs 52 that engage between projections 55 of the housing. The housing 80 and the cover 50 are traversed by an axis 17.

[0016] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the axle 17 has a smooth-walled section and a central section with radially projecting wedges 19, which serve to fix an inner ring 12 of a first clamping element freewheel 10 in a rotationally fixed manner. Furthermore, a projecting pinion 18 is provided on the axle 17, which engages with a gear, in particular a toothed rocker, which is formed on a lever 5 or a component connected to the lever 5, in order to enable height adjustment of the seat body 2 via the pinion 18.

[0017] The first clamping element freewheel 10 comprises cylindrical clamping elements 13 and 13' that bear against a cylindrical inner surface of an outer ring 11. Furthermore, the clamping elements 13 and 13' bear against the inner ring 12, which has a round contour and a flattened area 14 in the region of the clamping elements 13 and 13'. A block 45 made of an elastic material is inserted between the clamping elements 13 and 13'. The inner ring 12 can be locked and unlocked relative to the outer ring 11 in both directions via the clamping elements 13 and 13'. In a starting position, the inner ring 12 and outer ring 11 are locked relative to each other, as each of the clamping elements 13 and 13' causes a lock in one direction. If the clamping elements 13 are moved slightly in a circumferential direction by a release element 70 with projections 71, the lock is released.The inner ring 12 can then be rotated in a first direction relative to the outer ring 11. If the release element 70 with the projections 71 is moved in the opposite direction and the clamping elements 13' are displaced, movement of the inner ring 12 relative to the outer ring 11 in the opposite direction is enabled.

[0018] The outer ring 11 is connected to a lower housing part in a rotationally fixed manner. The lower housing part is plate-shaped and has outwardly projecting webs 15. Upwardly projecting sleeves 16 are provided on the webs 15, which engage in the openings 9 of the housing 80, so that the lower housing part and the housing 80 are fixed to each other in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0019] The adjusting device 6 according to the invention further comprises a second clamping element freewheel 20, which can be released via an actuating element 40. The second clamping element freewheel 20 comprises an outer ring 30, which has two radially projecting projections 31 with openings 32 on which the drive lever 7 can be fixed.

[0020] The first clamping element freewheel 10 and the second clamping element freewheel 20 are arranged inside the housing 80, which is closed by the cover 50. The cover 50 has an inner opening 51 for the passage of one end of the shaft 17. Furthermore, recesses 53 are provided between the webs 52, into which the projections 55, which protrude from a bearing surface 54, engage.

[0021] In Fig. Figure 4 shows the first clamping element freewheel 10 in a top view. The inner ring 12 comprises a non-circular contour with flattened sections 14, on which a pair of clamping elements 13 and 13' are provided. An elastic block 45 is arranged between the clamping elements 13 and 13' of each pair. Between two clamping elements 13 and 13' on which no elastic block 45 is provided, i.e., between two adjacent pairs of clamping elements 13 and 13', a projection 71 of a release element 70 engages, the release element 70 being essentially ring-shaped and rotationally fixed to the shaft 17 on its inner side. The projections 71 are bent and engage between the clamping elements 13 and 13' in a substantially positive-locking manner or with minimal play, as shown in Figure 4. Fig. 5 is shown.

[0022] In Fig. Figure 6 shows the second clamping element freewheel 20. The clamping element freewheel 20 comprises an inner ring 21, which has receptacles on its inner surface for the wedges 19 of the shaft 17 and is thus rotationally fixed to the shaft 17. The inner ring 21 is cylindrical on its outer circumference and rests against clamping elements 22 and 22'. An outer ring 30 is provided around the clamping elements 22 and 22', which has a cross-section that deviates from the cylindrical contour in order to clamp the clamping elements 22 and 22' in opposite directions. An elastic block 23 is provided between the clamping elements 22 and 22'.In a starting position, the inner ring 21 is blocked relative to the ring 30 in opposite directions. This blockage can be released by displacing one of the clamping elements 22 or 22' against the force of the elastic block 23, allowing the ring 30 to be rotated relative to the inner ring 21 in one direction. The function of the second clamping element freewheel 20 is thus similar to that of the first clamping element freewheel 10. In the second clamping element freewheel 20, the outer ring 30 is coupled to the drive lever 7 via the projections 31.

[0023] In Fig. 7 is a substantially disc-shaped actuating element 40 mounted on the second clamping element freewheel 20. The actuating element 40 is substantially ring-shaped and includes vertically downward-projecting projections 41 that engage between two clamping elements 22 and 22' to displace one of the clamping elements 22 or 22' depending on the direction of rotation, thus disengaging it. Furthermore, the actuating element 40 is provided with an inner cylindrical opening 43 through which the shaft 17 passes. A projecting rib 42 is formed on one side of the actuating element 40, which engages between two springs 60 and 61, as will be explained below.

[0024] In Fig. Figure 8 shows the housing 80 with the two springs 60 and 61. The springs 60 and 61 are designed as helical springs and are arranged essentially semicircularly within the housing 80. The springs 60 and 61 are designed as compression springs and are each held in an arc-shaped recess, with one end face of each spring 60 and 61 supported against a first stop 62 or an opposing stop 65. A slot 63 is provided in the stop 62 and a slot 64 in the stop 65. The actuating element 40 engages with the projection 42 in the slot 64. On the opposite side, a projection 33 on the ring 30 engages in the slot 63. When the ring 30 is turned, the second clamping element freewheel 20 is first unlocked and then moves the actuating element 40 via the clamping elements 22 or 22', which is moved via the projections 41 with the clamping elements 22 and 22'.As a result, the projection 42 also moves in the direction of rotation of the ring 30 against the force of one of the springs 60 or 61.

[0025] In Fig. Figure 9 shows the housing 80 with the springs 60 and 61, which are held in arc-shaped receptacles. The stops 62 and 65 are also visible, each with a slot 63 or 64. The springs 60 and 61 are arranged essentially in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the axis 17; at least, the springs 60 and 61 overlap in this plane, resulting in a compact structure.

[0026] In Fig. Figure 10 shows an exploded view of the housing 80. The housing 80 includes arc-shaped receptacles 66 and 67, each holding a spring 60 or 61. As the Fig.As shown in Figure 10, the slot 64 is not only located in the area of ​​the stop 65, but also extends as slot 68 into the receptacle 66 and the receptacle 67. This allows the actuating element 40 to be moved from a central position, in which the projection 42 is located in the area of ​​the stop 65, in both directions of rotation along the slot 68. On the opposite side, the slot 63 is provided at the stop 62, which extends on opposite sides as slot 69. This allows the projection 33 of the ring 30 to also be rotated from the central position against the force of the springs 60 or 61 in opposite directions.

[0027] Moving the drive lever 7 downwards from a central position initiates an adjustment process by rotating the output element with the pinion 18. When the drive lever 7 is then released, one of the springs 60 or 61 returns the drive lever 7 to its initial position, with the pinion 18 remaining in the locked position, thus allowing manual adjustment of the seat body 2. Conversely, the drive lever 7 can also be moved upwards from the central position to adjust the seat body upwards, in which case the pinion 18 is locked in the adjusted position and the drive lever 7 is returned to its central position by the force of one of the springs 60 or 61. Reference symbol list 1 seat 2 seat bodies 3 Backrest 4 frame 5 levers 6 Adjustment device 7 Drive levers Position 7A 7B Position 8 flange 9 Opening 10 Clamping element freewheel 11 Outer ring 12 inner rings 13, 13' Clamping body 14 Flattening 15 Bridge 16 Sleeve 17 axle 18 sprockets 19 wedge 20 Clamping element freewheel 21 inner ring 22, 22' clamping body Block 23 30 outer ring 31 lead 32 Opening 33 lead 40 Actuating element 41 lead 42 Bridge / Protrusion 43 Opening 45 Block 50 Coverage 51 Opening 52 Bridge 53 recess 54 contact surface 55 lead 60 springs 61 spring 62 stops 63 slots 64 slots 65 stop 66 recording 67th entry 68 slots 69 slots 70 Unlocking element 71 lead 80 cases

Claims

[1] Adjustment device (6), in particular for adjusting seats (2), comprising: a) a rotatable drive element (7, 30); b) a rotatable output element (18); c) a first clamping element freewheel (10) which continuously blocks the output element (18) in different positions in both adjustment directions and can be released by means of a release element (70), and d) a second clamping element freewheel (20) which is coupled to the first clamping element freewheel (10) via the release element (70) and which continuously blocks the output element (18) in different positions in both adjustment directions and can be released by means of an actuating element (40), wherein the drive element (7, 30) is biased into a central position by means of two springs (60, 61) acting in opposite directions, and the two springs (60, 61) also bias the actuating element (40) into a central position, wherein a projection (33) of the drive element (7, 30) is arranged between two first end faces of the springs (60, 61) and a projection (42) of the actuating element is arranged between two opposing second end faces of the springs (60, 61), characterized by , that the second clamping element freewheel (20) around clamping elements (22, 22') comprises an outer ring (30) which forms a cross-section deviating from the cylindrical contour in order to clamp the clamping elements (22, 22') in opposite directions and the outer ring (30) is coupled to a drive lever via projections (31). [2] Adjustment device according to claim 1, characterized by, that when the drive element (7, 30) moves in a first direction of rotation, it is pre-tensioned into the central position by a first of the two springs (60) and the actuating element (40) is pre-tensioned into the central position by the other second of the two springs (61). [3] Adjustment device according to claim 2, characterized by , that when the drive element (7, 30) moves in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation, the drive element (7, 30) is pre-tensioned into the central position by the second spring (61) and the actuating element (40) is pre-tensioned into the central position by the first spring (60). [4] Adjustment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the springs (60, 61) are designed as coil springs. [5] Adjustment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the springs (60, 61) are held in an arc shape in a receptacle (66, 67) of a housing (80). [6] Adjustment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the springs (60, 61) are designed as compression springs. [7] Adjustment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that in the middle position the springs (60, 61) are held with their end faces against a stop (62, 65). [8] Adjustment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the output element (18) has an axis (17) and the input element (7, 30) comprises a ring (30) arranged around the axis (17). [9] Adjustment device according to claim 8, characterized by , that the ring (30) forms part of the second clamping element freewheel (20). [10] Adjustment device according to claim 5, characterized by, that at least one slot (68, 69) is provided on the arc-shaped receptacles (66, 67) through which a projection (33, 42) is passed, which rests against an end face of a spring (60, 61). [11] Adjustment device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the springs (60, 61) are arranged essentially in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of an axis (17) of the driving or driven element.

Images