Flat Motor Rotor Locking for Compact Vehicle Seat Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive devices for motor vehicle components, such as vehicle seats, require significant installation space, are prone to high wear, and are costly due to the use of electric motors and gearboxes.
Innovation Solution
A drive device utilizing a flat electric motor with a disc rotor and a locking mechanism, featuring a locking element that moves between holding and release positions, actuated by an actuator device and returned by a passive spring mechanism, reduces space requirements and wear while providing a high holding torque.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mechanical actuator is used to adjust the headrest, then the headrest position can be adjusted, but the adjustment process takes a long time and the structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical actuator with an electric motor-driven spool mechanism. The motor rotates the spool to wind or unwind the cable, thereby adjusting the headrest position. This substitution simplifies the overall structure by eliminating complex mechanical linkages while maintaining adjustment functionality through a more compact electromechanical system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cable as an intermediary element between the spool and the headrest. The cable transmits the rotational motion from the spool to the linear motion required for headrest adjustment. This intermediary mechanism allows for a simpler actuator design while achieving the desired adjustment motion, reducing the complexity of direct mechanical coupling.
2Ease of operation
If a mechanical actuator with cable is used to adjust the headrest, then the headrest position can be adjusted, but the adjustment time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical actuator with an electric motor-driven spool system. The motor can rotate the spool at controlled speeds, allowing the cable to be wound or unwound more quickly than mechanical actuators. This enables faster headrest adjustment while maintaining precise position control, directly addressing the time loss issue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a control unit that can operate the motor in periodic or stepwise manner to achieve the desired headrest position. The motor can be activated in controlled intervals, winding or unwinding the cable in stages until the target position is reached. This periodic control approach optimizes adjustment time while preventing overshooting or excessive movement.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a drive device (1) for driving movable components of a motor vehicle, having a flat electric motor (2) with a stator (3) and a disc rotor (4), which is mounted such that it can be rotated about an axis of rotation (R). The drive device (1) has a securing device (5), which is designed for securing the disc rotor (4), the securing device (5) having a securing element (6), which is mounted such that it can be moved between a retaining position and a release position, having an actuable actuator device (7) with a movably mounted actuator element (8) for moving the securing element (6) from the retaining position into the release position, and having a restoring device (9) for restoring the securing element (6) from the release position into the retaining position. In the retaining position, the securing element (6) is in mechanical engagement with a securing portion (10) of the disc rotor (4). The invention also relates to a seat-adjustment device (16) for a vehicle seat and to a method for adjusting a movable component of a motor vehicle.