Bearing Power Feeding Path via Elastic Contactor

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Solution Overview

Problem

In vehicle power feeding paths, providing excess length for harnesses around rotating shafts to prevent stretching and improve appearance is inefficient, as it requires additional space and protrusions for covering, which reduces interior space and is unnecessary.

Innovation Solution

A bearing structure with a power feeding path that includes a contactor and conductor maintaining continuous electric conduction between a rotary member and a bearing member, eliminating the need for excess harness length and covering, using an elastic contactor and retaining sections to ensure reliable power delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a power feeding path is provided around a rotating shaft for a seat flip-up motion, then electric power can be fed to devices in the rotary member, but it is necessary to provide an excess length for preventing a harness from being stretched, prevent the harness having the excess length from being bit, and improve appearance of the harness when being slacked

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectric power feeding reliabilityVSAvoidharness structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical harness system with an electrical contact system consisting of a conductor and contactor. This substitution eliminates the need for excess harness length and complex mechanical arrangements while maintaining reliable power feeding to the rotary member during flip-up motion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the power feeding function from the mechanical harness and implements it through a separate electrical contact mechanism. The conductor and contactor are positioned to maintain electrical connection without requiring the harness to accommodate mechanical movement, thus simplifying the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Shape

If a power feeding cover is provided to cover the harness having the excess length, then the harness appearance is improved and protection is provided, but the power feeding cover becomes a protrusion and reduces an effect of enlarging a vehicle interior space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveharness appearanceVSAvoidvehicle interior space

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the need for a power feeding cover by extracting the power feeding function into a compact electrical contact system. The conductor and contactor arrangement eliminates excess harness length that would otherwise require covering, thus avoiding protrusions and maximizing vehicle interior space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of covering the harness to improve appearance, the invention inverts the approach by eliminating the need for coverage through the use of a compact electrical contact system. The conductor and contactor are positioned to maintain connection without requiring protective covers, thus improving space utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If an excess length is provided in the harness, then stretching and biting prevention is improved, but the appearance when slacked deteriorates and additional covering is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveharness durabilityVSAvoidharness appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical harness system with an electrical contact system that maintains reliable power feeding without requiring excess length for durability. The conductor and contactor arrangement provides inherent protection against stretching and biting while maintaining a clean appearance without slacking issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This solution allows for efficient power feeding without excess harness length, enhancing the appearance and reducing the need for a power feeding cover, while maintaining reliable electric conduction and smooth rotation.

Implementation Method 1

the contactor may be formed by an elastic body that urges the base-side unit structure and the rotary member-side unit structure to directions in which the base-side unit structure and the rotary member-side unit structure are separated from each other

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11479187B2Bearing structure with power feeding path

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 TACHI S CO LTD

AI summary

A bearing structure includes a base-side unit structure provided on a bearing member side, a rotary member-side unit structure relatively rotatable with respect to the base-side unit structure, an arcuate or circumferential conductor provided in one of the base-side unit structure and the rotary member-side unit structure, and a contactor provided in the other of the unit structures and configured to retain an electric conduction state with the conductor and includes a power feeding path configured by a power feeding harness for feeding electric power from a power feeding device of a vehicle to an electric device of the rotary member via the conductor and the contactor.