Flared Slider With Local Deformation For Vehicle Seat
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sliders for automotive vehicle seats are costly and lack robustness due to varying cross-sections, which affect their rigidity and material usage.
Innovation Solution
A slider design with a substantially planar base plate and constant width, featuring local deformations that narrow the shoulder and create breaks in the raceway, along with roller elements held by a cage, reduces material usage and enhances strength and compactness, ensuring correct positioning and stress resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the cross-section of the profile section is varied along its length to improve rigidity, then the rigidity is improved, but the cost and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a local deformation (bulge) only in the attachment area of the fixed profile section, rather than varying the cross-section along the entire length. This localized reinforcement increases rigidity where needed (at the attachment area) while maintaining a constant cross-section elsewhere, thus reducing material usage and cost while still achieving the required strength.
2Strength
If the width of the base plate is increased to improve strength, then the strength is improved, but the compactness and material usage deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The local deformation (bulge) concentrates material and strength in the attachment area without increasing the overall width of the base plate. The bulge creates a localized reinforcement that improves strength at the critical attachment point while maintaining the compact overall dimensions of the slider assembly.
3Reliability
If the roller elements are positioned closely together to improve support, then the support is improved, but the risk of them becoming wedged in the break increases
Solution Approach 1:
The roller elements are divided into separate groups (first group and second group) positioned on opposite sides of the break in the raceway. This segmentation ensures that rollers in one group do not become wedged in the break, while still providing adequate support through the distributed arrangement of multiple groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller groups are positioned asymmetrically relative to the break in the raceway, with each group located on opposite sides. This asymmetric positioning prevents the rollers from becoming trapped in the break while maintaining balanced support on both sides of the movable profile section.
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 design results in a more compact, robust, and cost-effective slider that withstands stresses better, using less material while ensuring secure fastening and improved sliding performance.
Implementation Method 1
roller elements enabling the movable profile section to slide relative to the fixed profile section by rolling along a raceway
Data Source
AI summary
A slider for a motor vehicle seat including a stationary profile section extending in a longitudinal direction and comprising a substantially planar base plate and at least one side shoulder, said base plate having a substantially constant width and including an attachment area for receiving a head of a fastening screw, wherein the stationary profile section has a local deformation increasing the width of the base plate and narrowing the shoulder to the extent that the raceway of the stationary profile section is blocked; a movable profile section; roller elements rolling along a raceway extending longitudinally on the shoulder of the stationary profile section and retained in position relative to each other by cage.