Seat Link Locking Structure for Buckle Load Height Link Restraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
In vehicle seats with buckles affixed to the seat base, the force exerted on the seat belt during a collision causes the height link to rotate, leading to distortion of the seat cushion and damage to the support members.
Innovation Solution
A link locking device comprising a sector gear unit and a locking unit, where the sector gear unit is fastened to the link connection unit and the height link, and the locking unit is coupled to the buckle of the seat belt to engage the sector gear unit and block the rotation of the link connection unit when the buckle is pulled.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the buckle is mounted on the seat base to remain in the same position during height adjustment, then the buckle position stability is improved, but the link rotation resistance deteriorates under collision load
Solution Approach 1:
A locking unit is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the buckle and the height link. This locking unit includes a locking member that engages with a locking groove on the height link, preventing rotational movement while allowing the buckle to remain mounted on the seat base for position stability during adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking unit is designed to preemptively prevent the harmful rotational action before it can occur. The locking member is positioned to engage with the locking groove in advance, creating a preliminary constraint that stops the height link from rotating under collision load, thereby protecting the seat cushion support members.
2Ease of operation
If the height link is allowed to rotate freely for cushion adjustment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural integrity deteriorates under impact load
Solution Approach 1:
The locking unit is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to remain disengaged during normal cushion adjustment operations, permitting free rotation of the height link for ease of operation. However, under collision load, the locking member engages with the locking groove to prevent rotation, thereby protecting structural integrity when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking unit is designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the operational conditions. During normal adjustment, the mechanism remains disengaged allowing free movement. Under collision load, the locking member self-activates to engage with the locking groove, providing automatic protection without requiring external control.
3Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to prevent link rotation, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is segmented into distinct components: a locking unit with a locking member, and a locking groove on the height link. This segmentation allows the locking mechanism to be integrated into the existing seat structure without requiring a completely new complex system, thereby improving reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
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 device effectively prevents the rotation of the height link during a collision, thereby preventing distortion of the seat cushion and maintaining the necessary support to prevent forward movement and sagging.
Implementation Method 1
a sector gear unit rotatably fastened to a cushion frame and fastened to a link connection unit, to which a height link provided in a seat rail is rotatably coupled, to rotate together and a locking unit rotatably coupled to the cushion frame and fastened to a buckle of a seat belt to engage the sector gear unit and block the rotation of the link connection unit
Data Source
AI summary
A link locking device of a vehicle seat is configured to prevent a force exerted on a seat belt from causing the rotation of a height link through a buckle. The device includes a sector gear unit rotatably fastened to a cushion frame and fastened to a link connection unit, to which a height link provided in a seat rail is rotatably coupled, to rotate together and a locking unit rotatably coupled to the cushion frame and fastened to a buckle of a seat belt to engage the sector gear unit and block the rotation of the link connection unit when the buckle is pulled. In this configuration, when the buckle is pulled, the locking unit engages the sector gear unit to restrain the link connection unit from rotating to prevent the rotation of the height link, thereby having the effect of preventing the distortion of the seat cushion.