Vehicle Seat Folding Table Layout for Lower Adjustment Force
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Solution Overview
Problem
Folding table devices in vehicles require excessive force to adjust due to the additional mass of airbag modules, compromising convenience in manually adjustable systems and necessitating powerful drives in automatic systems.
Innovation Solution
The folding table device design positions the airbag inflator's center of gravity closer to the pivot axis by attaching it outside the airbag or using a gas lance system, allowing for efficient inflation of both the airbag and an auxiliary airbag, minimizing the overall mass and facilitating easier adjustment with a common inflator.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If airbag modules are mounted on the table top, then the protective effect for the vehicle occupant is improved, but the force required to adjust the table top increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inflator is positioned in the longitudinal direction of the table top, extending from the rear toward the front, rather than being mounted vertically or horizontally in conventional positions. This spatial reconfiguration moves the inflator's center of gravity closer to the pivot axis, reducing the moment arm and thereby decreasing the adjustment force required while maintaining protective functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The inflator is strategically positioned with its center of gravity closer to the pivot axis of the table top articulation. This localized placement optimizes the weight distribution specifically at the critical pivot point, reducing the torque required for table top adjustment while the airbag itself remains positioned to provide adequate protective effect
2Reliability
If the inflator is positioned inside the airbag, then the protective effect is maximized, but the center of gravity is farther from the pivot axis requiring more adjustment force
Solution Approach 1:
The inflator is extracted from the conventional position inside the airbag and relocated to an external position on the table top. This separation allows the inflator to be positioned independently closer to the pivot axis, improving ease of adjustment, while the airbag maintains its protective function through its own structural design and positioning
3Device complexity
If a common inflator is used for both airbag and auxiliary airbag, then the device complexity is reduced, but the positioning of the center of gravity becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
A single common inflator is used to inflate both the airbag and the auxiliary airbag, consolidating what could have been two separate inflation systems into one. This merging reduces device complexity and component count. The inflator is positioned to serve both airbags effectively while maintaining its center of gravity close to the pivot axis for ease of adjustment
Solution Approach 2:
The common inflator performs multiple functions by serving both the airbag and the auxiliary airbag. This multi-functional design reduces the number of components needed while the inflator's strategic positioning ensures that it maintains optimal center of gravity location for table top adjustment ease
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
This design reduces the force required to adjust the table top while maintaining the airbag's protective effect, allowing for convenient and efficient operation with minimal effort.
Implementation Method 1
an inflator connected to the airbag by means of which the airbag is inflatable
Data Source
AI summary
A folding table device (20) for a vehicle seat comprises a table top (22), an articulated arm (24), an articulation (26), an airbag (38) as well as an inflator (42) connected to the airbag (38) by means of which the airbag (38) is inflatable. The table top (22) can be adjusted via the articulation (26) including the articulated arm (24) about a pivot axis (S) from a rest position into a use position and from the use position into the rest position. Further, the airbag (38) and the inflator (42) are attached to the table top (22). Accordingly, the distance (a) of the center of gravity (54) of the inflator (42) from the pivot axis (S) is smaller than the distance (A) of the center of gravity (56) of the folded airbag (38) from the pivot axis (S). In addition, there is provided a vehicle comprising a vehicle seat and a folding table device (20) of this type.