Active Material Actuated Seat Bolster for Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seat bolsters are often one-size-fits-all, leading to inadequate support and accelerated wear due to repetitive engagement, resulting in increased maintenance and repair costs.
Innovation Solution
A manipulable seat bolster utilizing active material actuation, allowing for adjustable configurations to accommodate different occupant sizes and preferences, improving energy efficiency, reducing weight and complexity, and minimizing noise and electromagnetic interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional fixed seat bolsters are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different occupant sizes and preferences deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seat bolster is transformed from a fixed static structure to a dynamic adjustable one. The bolster can move between a first position (spaced from the seat surface) and a second position (closer to the seat surface), allowing it to adapt to different occupant sizes and preferences. This dynamic capability directly resolves the contradiction by providing adaptability while using a relatively simple actuation mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical actuation systems with active material-based actuators. These active materials (such as shape memory alloys, electroactive polymers, or magnetorheological materials) can change their physical properties in response to electrical, magnetic, or other field stimuli, thereby actuating the bolster position with simpler and more efficient control compared to traditional mechanical systems.
2Reliability
If fixed bolster configurations are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but wear and tear from repetitive engagement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable bolster can dynamically change its position to reduce repetitive engagement with the occupant. By moving between positions, the bolster can optimize contact points and distribute wear more evenly, thereby improving reliability and reducing wear and tear compared to fixed configurations that suffer from concentrated wear at the same locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The bolster configuration parameters (position, orientation) are made changeable to optimize performance and reduce wear. By adjusting these parameters based on usage conditions, the system can minimize repetitive stress on specific areas, thereby improving reliability without requiring complex structural changes.
3Use of energy by moving object
If conventional mechanical actuation systems are used, then reliability is maintained, but energy efficiency and weight deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes traditional mechanical actuation systems (motors, linkages, gears) with active material-based actuators. These active materials respond directly to field stimuli (electrical, magnetic, thermal) to produce motion or force, eliminating the need for complex mechanical transmission components. This substitution improves energy efficiency by reducing mechanical losses and reduces weight by eliminating heavy mechanical actuation components, while maintaining or improving reliability through fewer moving parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The active materials utilized in the actuator may exploit phase transitions (such as martensite-austenite transformation in shape memory alloys) to achieve large deformations or force generation with minimal energy input. This phase transition mechanism enables highly efficient actuation with significantly reduced energy consumption compared to conventional mechanical systems.
4Ease of operation
If adjustable bolster configurations are implemented, then occupant comfort and safety are improved, but device complexity and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing complex mechanical actuation systems with active material-based actuators, the patent reduces the number of moving parts, linkages, and mechanical components that require maintenance. Active materials have no moving parts within the actuator itself, which eliminates wear, friction, and mechanical failure modes, thereby reducing maintenance costs and improving ease of repair while maintaining adjustable functionality for occupant comfort and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The active material actuators are designed to be self-contained and self-regulating systems that respond automatically to control signals without requiring external mechanical linkages or complex control mechanisms. This self-service characteristic reduces the need for maintenance and repair while preserving the full adjustability functionality for optimizing occupant comfort and safety.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The active material actuated seat bolster provides customizable support, enhances occupant kinematics during side-impact, and extends the lifespan of the bolster by reducing wear and maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
An actuator is drivenly coupled to the structure, and includes an active material element. A signal source is operable to generate and deliver an activation signal to the element, so as to power the bolster. The actuator is configured to move the structure to a second position spaced from the surface a second distance different from the first, when the material element is activated.
Implementation Method 2
A manipulable seat bolster utilizing active material actuation, which allows for adjustable configurations through the use of shape memory alloys, electroactive polymers, and other active materials to change geometric shape or orientation in response to activation signals
Data Source
AI summary
A manipulable seat bolster including an active material actuator configured to selectively cause or enable a condition, such as the geometric configuration, or position of the bolster to be modified, when the active material is activated.