Vehicle Console Sliding Assembly with Dual-Jaw Locking Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliding consoles in motor vehicles, particularly in minivans and utility vehicles, experience instability when subjected to transverse forces, leading to vibratory movements and difficulties in extraction, which negatively impacts user satisfaction and the stability of convertible support tables.
Innovation Solution
A sliding assembly with a U-section profiled slide and a locking device featuring jaws that pivot about a common axis, allowing for vertical clamping without play, facilitated by elastic return means and a cam mechanism that modifies the angular spacing of the jaws, ensuring stability and easy installation/extraction of the console.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a bolt with rectangular cross-section is used in the slot, then the console can be extracted when positioned in the extraction zone, but the console exhibits vibratory movements and pivoting around its sliding axis when subjected to transverse forces
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is divided into two independent jaw elements that can move separately between locked and unlocked positions. This segmentation allows the jaws to engage with the slot at different points, providing both extraction capability and transverse stability without requiring the console to be in a specific position.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking jaws are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to dynamically transition between engaged and disengaged states. This dynamic capability enables the system to provide stable locking during normal use while allowing easy extraction when needed, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If the bolt width is between the slot width in the sliding zone and extraction zone, then extraction is enabled at specific positions, but the console becomes unstable when converted into a support table
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system uses two separate jaw elements that can independently engage with different portions of the slot. This segmentation allows one jaw to provide lateral restraint for table stability while the other enables extraction, eliminating the need to compromise between these conflicting requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking jaws act as intermediary elements between the console and the slide structure. They transmit and distribute forces during both extraction and stable support operations, enabling the system to achieve both extraction capability and table stability through the mediating action of the jaws.
3Reliability
If a longitudinal and vertical locking system is used, then the console can be securely positioned, but the system becomes complex with multiple locking members and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The two locking functions (lateral restraint and vertical positioning) are merged into a single integrated locking device with two jaws. This unified structure provides both locking actions simultaneously through one mechanism, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliable locking in both directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device with two jaws serves multiple functions: it provides lateral restraint, vertical positioning, and extraction capability all through a single mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate locking systems, reducing complexity while maintaining reliability.
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 solution provides excellent stability to the console, particularly when used as a support table, and simplifies its installation and extraction, ensuring it can be positioned at any longitudinal location relative to the slide.
Implementation Method 1
first elastic return means permanently urging said jaws towards said close position
Implementation Method 2
a cam mounted to slide along an inclined longitudinal slope through a hollow body, said cam having a substantially horizontal underside in bearing on the upper ends of said jaws and whose height varies according to the longitudinal position of said cam so as to cause a modification of the angular spacing between said jaws
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sliding assembly comprising a profiled slide (10) with a U-shaped cross-section to be secured to the floor of a vehicle and comprising a horizontal base (11) and two side wings (12, 13) which comprise, on the ends thereof, two respective inner edges (14, 15) which face each other; and a console that can be slidably mounted on said slide (10) in a detachable manner, said console also comprising a locking device (120) comprising two jaws (136, 137) that are pivotably mounted about the same longitudinal axis (A) and can be displaced by control means (130) between a widened position in which the lower ends thereof in the form of a lip (138, 139) are respectively engaged with the lower faces of the two inner edges (14, 15) of said slide (10), and a closer position in which they are contained between said inner edges (14, 15).