Bus Emergency Exit Seat Folding Mechanism with Strap Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional emergency exit seats in buses are difficult to fold due to their weight and large rotation trajectory, posing a tripping hazard and obstructing escape passages during emergencies.
Innovation Solution
A device with a main frame, folding frames, seat legs, hinge bodies, latch assemblies, and a strap system that allows passengers to easily fold the emergency exit seat by pulling a strap, reducing the rotation trajectory and eliminating the need for a foot pedal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the entire seat including seat legs is rotated forwards to secure escape passage, then the emergency exit is accessible, but the operation becomes difficult due to heavy weight and large rotation trajectory
Solution Approach 1:
The seat structure is divided into two independent parts: the seat body (main frame) and the seat legs. The seat legs remain fixed on the floor panel while only the seat body rotates forwards. This segmentation allows the escape passage to be cleared without moving the heavy seat legs, significantly reducing the weight that needs to be moved and the rotation trajectory required.
2Ease of operation
If the entire seat including seat legs is rotated forwards, then the emergency exit is accessible, but the rotation trajectory becomes large making operation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the seat body from the seat legs, only the seat body needs to rotate forwards to clear the escape passage. The seat legs remain stationary on the floor panel, dramatically reducing the rotation trajectory from the full seat length to just the seat body depth.
3Ease of operation
If a foot pedal is used to release pinned portions of seat legs, then the seat can be folded, but it creates tripping hazards during escape
Solution Approach 1:
The foot pedal mechanism is completely removed from the system. Instead, a strap is attached to the seat body that passengers can pull from a safe position to release the latch assembly and fold the seat forwards, eliminating the tripping hazard created by floor-mounted pedals.
Solution Approach 2:
A strap serves as an intermediary tool that allows passengers to operate the seat folding mechanism from a safe distance. The strap transmits the pulling force to the latch assembly without requiring direct contact with floor-mounted components, thus avoiding tripping hazards.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the seat legs are pinned to the floor panel, then the seat is stable during normal use, but the pinned portions obstruct the escape passage when folded
Solution Approach 1:
The seat structure is segmented so that seat legs remain pinned to the floor panel for stability during normal use, while the seat body (main frame) is detached and can rotate forwards independently. This allows the seat body to clear the escape passage without the seat legs interfering.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for folding an emergency exit seat for a bus includes: a main frame for supporting a seat; a first folding frame and a second folding frame; a first seat leg and a second seat leg; a hinge body configured in a way that the first folding frame is hinged at the first seat leg and the second folding frame is hinged at the second seat leg; a first latch assembly arranged between a rear end portion of the first folding frame and a rear end portion of the first seat leg; a second latch assembly arranged between a rear end portion of the second folding frame and a rear end portion of the second seat leg; a wire connected to the first latch assembly and the second latch assembly; and a strap connected to the first latch assembly.