TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FOR SYNCHRONIZING THE MOVEMENT OF AN OBJECT MOUNTED ON AT LEAST TWO PARALLEL SLIDES

Abstract

A transmission system (1) for synchronizing the movement of an object mounted on at least two parallel slides, said system comprising: at least two parallel slides (2A, 2B), each equipped with a means (M) for actuating the slides by converting a rotational movement into a translational movement, a drive pulley (3) mounted on a drive shaft intended to be connected to a drive means (5) capable of imparting a rotational movement to the drive shaft, a first and a second driven pulley (20A, 20B), each of said driven pulleys being mounted on a driven shaft connected to said means for actuating the slides, a plurality of asynchronous belts (10, 10A, 10B) for transmitting a rotational movement between the drive pulley and the driven pulleys, the drive pulley, the driven pulleys and the asynchronous belts being arranged in a space between the two slides. Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FOR SYNCHRONIZING THE MOVEMENT OF AN OBJECT MOUNTED ON AT LEAST TWO PARALLEL SLIDES Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a transmission system for synchronizing the movement of an object mounted on at least two parallel slides, the object being able to be a seat in the context of a seating application. Technological background

[0002] Classically, transmission systems allowing controlled movement, in particular, in translation of an object mounted on two slides use flexible hoses, chains or toothed (synchronous) belts.

[0003] However, these systems are rigid and do not provide complete satisfaction. Indeed, these types of systems do not absorb shocks or prevent excessive torques that can cause breakage or blockage of the transmission. These blockages can also lead to a desynchronization of the translational movement between the two parallel slides, meaning that the movement of one slide occurs with a delay relative to the other slide. Once the slides are misaligned with each other, it is then difficult to realign them without human intervention.

[0004] In the particular case of transmission systems with toothed chains or belts, the meshing on the pulleys is a source of noise and vibrations which can be bothersome for users.

[0005] Also, an objective of the invention is to propose an improved transmission system which makes it possible to resolve at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0006] Another objective of the invention is to provide a transmission system that improves the synchronization of movement between two parallel slides. Summary of the invention

[0007] A transmission system is therefore proposed for synchronizing the movement of an object mounted on at least two parallel slides, said system comprising: - at least two parallel slides, each equipped with a means for actuating the slides by converting a rotational movement into a translational movement, - a drive pulley mounted on a drive shaft intended to be connected to a drive means capable of imparting a rotational movement to the shaft engine, - a first and a second receiving pulley, each of the receiving pulleys being mounted on a receiving shaft connected to the means for actuating the slides, - a plurality of asynchronous belts to transmit rotational motion between the drive pulley and the driven pulleys, the drive pulley, the driven pulleys and the asynchronous belts being arranged in a space between the two slides.

[0008] Thus, thanks to the invention, improved synchronization of the movement of two slides is ensured. Indeed, the use of asynchronous belts, for example of the poly-V® type, makes it possible to absorb any excess torque occurring on the transmission due to slippage on the pulley. In this way, desynchronization of one slide relative to the other is avoided. In other words, the invention makes it possible to protect the transmission against any torque anomaly. Furthermore, in the event of an accidental desynchronization of the slides, the transmission system according to the invention allows for resynchronization of the slides with respect to each other.

[0009] The transmission system according to the invention may comprise one or more of the following features, taken individually or in combination with each other: - a first asynchronous belt is mounted between the drive pulley and the first driven pulley and a second asynchronous belt is mounted between the drive pulley and the second driven pulley; - the system includes an additional asynchronous belt and a reduction pulley, the reduction pulley having, on the same axis, a central wheel, having a given diameter, and two lateral shafts, each having a diameter less than the diameter of the central wheel so as to define a given ratio between the central wheel and each lateral shaft, the additional asynchronous belt being mounted between the drive pulley and the central wheel of the reduction pulley, a first asynchronous belt being mounted between the first driven pulley and one of the two lateral shafts of the reduction pulley and a second asynchronous belt being mounted between the second driven pulley and the other of the lateral shafts of the reduction pulley; - the different pulleys are substantially aligned in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the slides; - the system includes a protective housing inside which the various pulleys and belts are mounted; - the protective casing has openings designed for the passage of driven shafts of each of the driven pulleys so that the driven shafts of the driven pulleys are connected to the means for actuating the slides and another opening designed for the passage of the drive shaft of the drive pulley so that the drive shaft of the drive pulley is connected to a drive means; - the system includes the means of drive, for example an electric motor. Brief description of the figures

[0010] The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0011] Figure 1 represents a schematic view of one embodiment of a transmission system according to the invention,

[0012] Figure [Fig. 2] represents a schematic view of another embodiment of a transmission system according to the invention,

[0013] Figure 3 shows a schematic view of an asynchronous belt, in particular of the poly-V® type, mounted on a pulley,

[0014] Fig. 4 represents a schematic view of a transmission system according to the invention comprising a protective housing, installed in particular for a seat application. Detailed description of the invention

[0015] With reference to figures 1 and 2, the invention relates to a transmission system 1 for synchronizing the movement of an object mounted on at least two slides 2A, 2B. This transmission system 1 comprises at least two parallel slides 2A, 2B, a drive pulley 3, a first driven pulley 20A, a second driven pulley 20B and a plurality of asynchronous belts 10, 10A, 10B.

[0016] The slides 2A, 2B are each provided with a means M for actuating the slides 2A, 2B by converting a rotational motion into a translational motion. This means M may be a worm screw.

[0017] The drive pulley 3 is mounted on a drive shaft. This drive shaft is intended to be connected to a drive means 5 capable of imparting a rotational movement to the drive shaft. This drive means 5 enables the drive pulley 3 to be actuation and rotated. The drive pulley can be actuation, for example, by an electric motor or a mechanical means such as a handwheel.

[0018] Each of the driven pulleys 20A, 20B is mounted on a driven shaft. This driven shaft is connected to the means M to actuate the slides 2A, 2B.

[0019] The plurality of asynchronous belts 10, 10A, 10B is configured to transmit a rotational movement between the drive pulley 3 and the driven pulleys 20A, 20B.

[0020] The drive pulley 3, the driven pulleys 20A, 20B and the asynchronous belts 10, 10A, 10B are also arranged in a space between the two slides 2A, 2B.

[0021] Figure 3 shows an example of an asynchronous belt A mounted on a pulley B. The asynchronous belt A is an example that can be used in the plurality of asynchronous belts 10, 10A, 10B. Similarly, the pulley B is an example that can be used for the different pulleys of the transmission system 1.

[0022] Typically, an asynchronous belt A has a plurality of longitudinal teeth D, the number of which varies according to the desired characteristics. The asynchronous belt A may also have tension cables C embedded in its body. These tension cables C allow control of the belt tension A when it is mounted between pulleys. Each asynchronous belt in the system may be of the poly-V® type.

[0023] Still referring to [Fig.3], the pulley B has a plurality of grooves G designed to receive the longitudinal teeth D of the asynchronous belt A. The contact between the lateral walls of the longitudinal teeth D and the lateral walls of the grooves G ensures the drive of the pulley B.

[0024] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment according to the invention. In this first embodiment, the first asynchronous belt 10A is mounted between the drive pulley 3 and the first driven pulley 20A while the second asynchronous belt 10B is mounted between the drive pulley 3 and the second driven pulley 20B.

[0025] The rotating drive pulley 3 causes the rotation of one part of the asynchronous belt 10A and the other part of the asynchronous belt 10B. It should be noted that the asynchronous belts 10A, 10B are driven in the same direction of rotation as the drive pulley 3. Each of the asynchronous belts 10A, 10B then drives a driven pulley 20A, 20B in rotation which, via its driven shaft, actuates the means M to actuate the slides 2A, 2B by converting the rotational motion into translational motion.

[0026] Figure 2 represents a second embodiment according to the invention. In this embodiment, the plurality of asynchronous belts comprises a first asynchronous belt 10A, a second asynchronous belt 10B, and an additional asynchronous belt 10. The transmission system 1 further comprises a reduction pulley 4 comprising, on the same axis, a central wheel 41, having a given diameter, a first lateral shaft 42A, and a second lateral shaft 42B, each having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the central wheel so as to define a given ratio between the central wheel and each lateral shaft 42A, 42B. It is given that the first lateral shaft 42A and the second lateral shaft 42B each have the same diameter.

[0027] The additional asynchronous belt 10 is mounted between the drive pulley 3 and the central wheel 41 of the reduction pulley 4. The first asynchronous belt 10A is mounted between the first driven pulley 20A and the first lateral shaft 42A of the reduction pulley 4. The second asynchronous belt 10B is mounted between the second driven pulley 20B and the second lateral shaft 42B of the reduction pulley 4.

[0028] The reduction pulley 4 redistributes torque, supplied by the additional asynchronous belt 10 from the drive pulley 3, to the asynchronous belts 10A, 10B via the lateral shafts 42A, 42B. Since the reduction pulley 4 has two lateral shafts 42A, 42B, the torque supplied by the additional asynchronous belt 10 is thus divided in half between the asynchronous belts 10A, 10B. The diameter ratio between the central wheel 41 and the lateral shafts 42A, 42B compensates for the distribution of the torque received by the asynchronous belts 10A, 10B. The diameter ratio can be at least 2.

[0029] In operation, the aim is to optimize the drive means 5 that actuates the drive pulley 3; that is, to find the best compromise between the rotational speed and the torque delivered by the drive means 5, particularly when it is an electric motor. Furthermore, the rotational speed required to move the object mounted on the slides 2A, 2B is generally a predetermined condition. In such a case, the drive ratio ensures that the drive means 5, such as a motor, will deliver the optimum torque over this speed range.

[0030] As before, each of the asynchronous belts 10A, 10B then drives in rotation a driven pulley 20A, 20B which, via its driven shaft, actuates the means M to actuate the slides 2A, 2B by converting the rotational motion into translational motion.

[0031] In a particular embodiment of [Fig.2], the drive pulley 3 has a diameter of 11 mm, the driven pulleys 20A, 20B and the side shafts 42A, 42B each have a diameter of 12.5 mm and the central pulley 41 has a diameter of 25 mm.

[0032] The asynchronous belts 10, 10A, 10B are, in this example, of the poly-V type with an H profile, and have polyamide tension cords. The first and second asynchronous belts 10A, 10B each have three longitudinal teeth. The additional asynchronous belt 10 has four longitudinal teeth.

[0033] In this configuration, the additional asynchronous belt 10 can transmit a The torque is approximately 0.44 Nm at the reduction pulley 4, so that the torque transmitted by the first and second asynchronous belts 10A, 10B to the driven pulleys 20A, 20B is approximately 0.22 Nm

[0034] In the embodiments of figures 1 and 2, the various pulleys, i.e. the driving pulley 3, the receiving pulleys 20A, 20B and, where applicable, the reduction pulley 4, are advantageously substantially aligned in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the slides 2A, 2B. This makes it possible to reduce the overall size of the transmission system 1.

[0035] Advantageously, the transmission system 1 according to the invention may include a protective housing 6 inside which the various pulleys and belts are mounted. This provides protection for the pulleys and belts against external shocks that could destabilize the assembly.

[0036] The protective housing 6 may have openings designed for the passage of the driven shafts of each of the driven pulleys 20A, 20B so that the driven shafts of these pulleys are connected to the means M for actuating the slides 2A, 2B. The protective housing 6 may also have another opening designed for the passage of the drive shaft of the drive pulley 3 so that this drive shaft is connected to a drive means 5, such as an electric motor.

[0037] The transmission system 1 may further include the drive means, for example an electric motor or a knob intended to be turned manually.

[0038] In operation, when an obstacle is present on the track of one of the slides, an overtorque occurs in the transmission system. Thus, thanks to the invention, the overtorque is absorbed by the slippage of the asynchronous belts on the pulleys. This allows the slides to be resynchronized with each other.

[0039] With reference to [Fig. 4], the invention also relates to an assembly 100 comprising a seat 7 mounted on slides 2A, 2B of a transmission system 1 as described above. The seat 7 is, for example, a seat for a motor vehicle or aircraft.

[0040] In such an assembly 100, the transmission system 1 allows the seat 7 to move along the slides 2A, 2B while avoiding a blockage or misalignment of the latter.

[0041] The transmission system 1 as described above can be used, as previously seen, for a seat application but can also be used for any application currently using synchronous or smooth belts. These applications may include, for example, mechanisms for opening / closing sliding doors, windows, shutters or curtains.

[0042] Whatever the intended application, the use of an asynchronous belt, of poly-V type ® for example, in a transmission system according to the invention, makes it possible to avoid desynchronization in case of shock and will provide a reduction in noise.

Claims

Demands

1. A transmission system (1) for synchronizing the movement of an object mounted on at least two parallel slides (2A, 2B), said system comprising: - at least two parallel slides (2A, 2B), each equipped with a means (M) for actuating the slides by converting a rotational motion into a translational motion, - a drive pulley (3) mounted on a drive shaft intended to be connected to a drive means (5) capable of imparting a rotational motion to the drive shaft, - a first and a second driven pulley (20A, 20B), each of said driven pulleys being mounted on a driven shaft connected to said means (M) for actuating the slides, - a plurality of asynchronous belts (10, 10A, 10B) for transmitting a rotational motion between the drive pulley and the driven pulleys, the drive pulley,the driven pulleys and the asynchronous belts being arranged in a space between the two slides.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein a first asynchronous belt (10A) is mounted between the drive pulley (3) and the first driven pulley (20A) and a second asynchronous belt (10B) is mounted between the drive pulley (3) and the second driven pulley (20B).

3. System (1) according to claim 1, comprising an additional asynchronous belt (10) and a reduction pulley (4), said reduction pulley comprising, on the same axis, a central wheel (41) having a given diameter, and two lateral shafts (42A, 42B), each having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the central wheel so as to define a given ratio between the central wheel and each lateral shaft, said additional asynchronous belt being mounted between the drive pulley (3) and said central wheel (41) of said reduction pulley (4), a first asynchronous belt (10A) being mounted between said first driven pulley (20A) and one (42A) of the two lateral shafts of the reduction pulley (4), and a second asynchronous belt (10B) being mounted between said second driven pulley (20A) and one (42A) of the two lateral shafts of the reduction pulley (4), and

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7. receiving (20B) and the other (42B) of said lateral shafts of the reduction pulley (4). System (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the various pulleys are substantially aligned in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the slides (2A, 2B). System (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a protective housing (6) inside which are mounted the various pulleys and the various belts (10, 10A, 10B). System (1) according to claim 5, wherein said protective housing (6) has openings designed for the passage of the driven shafts of each of said driven pulleys (20A, 20B) such that said driven shafts of the driven pulleys are connected to the means (M) for actuating the slides (2A, 2B) and another opening designed for the passage of the driven shaft of said driven pulley (3) such that said driven shaft of the driven pulley is connected to a drive means (5). System (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising said drive means (5), for example an electric motor.

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