Angled Spindle Drive for Motor Vehicle Seat Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle seats with spindle drives experience lateral deflection during normal operation and crashes, leading to increased wear and noise, as well as space constraints due to the required distance from seat rails and side parts.
Innovation Solution
The spindle drive is installed at an angle greater than 2°, preferably 10°, to the adjustment direction, allowing for a more compact design with a reinforcing triangle formed by the spindle drive, adjustable parts, and rigid areas, and utilizing a universal joint to compensate for the changing pivot axis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the spindle drive is installed parallel to the seat rail (prior art configuration), then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but lateral deflection occurs during operation leading to increased wear and noise
Solution Approach 1:
The spindle drive is installed at an oblique angle (greater than 2°, preferably greater than 10°) relative to the adjustment direction, breaking the symmetric parallel configuration. This asymmetric installation eliminates lateral deflection during operation by aligning the spindle drive forces with the adjustment direction, preventing irregular stresses on the spindle nut and reducing wear and noise.
2Ease of operation
If the spindle drive is installed with sufficient distance from seat rails (prior art configuration), then the spindle drive has adequate space for operation, but the space required beneath the seat support increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spindle drive is repositioned from a parallel configuration to an oblique configuration, utilizing the angular dimension to optimize space utilization. By installing the spindle drive at an angle greater than 2° relative to the adjustment direction, the design allows the spindle drive to be positioned closer to the seat rail in certain areas while maintaining adequate operational space through the angular orientation.
3Reliability
If the spindle drive is installed obliquely at an angle greater than 2° to the adjustment direction, then lateral deflection is reduced and space is optimized, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The installation angle parameter of the spindle drive is changed from parallel (0°) to oblique (greater than 2°, preferably greater than 10°) relative to the adjustment direction. This parameter change fundamentally improves operational stability by eliminating lateral deflection while the complexity increase is limited to the installation configuration rather than the mechanical components themselves.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable motor vehicle seat comprises an adjustment device. The adjustment device comprises a spindle drive equipped with a spindle, and having a first articulation area and a second articulation area. The adjustment device is adjustable in an adjustment direction. The spindle extends in an angle of one of alpha (α) >2° and alpha >10°, to the adjustment direction.