Gas Spring Thread Play-Free Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing adjustment devices for gas springs, used in motor vehicle seats, suffer from bearing play issues that lead to annoying noises and vibrations during operation, compromising passenger comfort.
Innovation Solution
The adjustment device employs an internal thread on the gas spring's free end and an external thread on the bearing device, with one thread being more elastic than the other, allowing for play-free mounting by accommodating different thread parameters, such as pitch, diameter, and flank dimensions, and using a combination of materials like plastic and metal, or coatings for tolerance compensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gas spring is mounted on a bearing device using conventional mounting methods, then the gas spring can be attached to the bearing device, but bearing play occurs between the gas spring and the bearing device leading to instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying thread parameters (pitch, diameter, flank height, and angle) between the internal thread on the gas spring and the external thread on the bearing device. By making these parameters different, the threads cannot mate perfectly, creating intentional clearance that allows for tolerance compensation and eliminates bearing play during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - a bearing bushing with an internal thread - that mediates between the gas spring and the bearing device. This bearing bushing absorbs the mismatch between threads through its elastic deformation, acting as a buffer that eliminates bearing play while maintaining secure attachment.
2Reliability
If threads with different parameters are used to eliminate bearing play, then play-free mounting is achieved, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to multiple parameter variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent systematically varies thread parameters (pitch, diameter, flank height, and angle) to create non-matching threads that eliminate bearing play. This controlled parameter variation ensures that the threads cannot mate perfectly, providing tolerance compensation while maintaining a relatively simple threaded connection structure.
3Manufacturing precision
If one thread is made more elastic than the other to enable defined deformation, then play-free mounting is achieved, but the material selection and manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes one thread (typically the internal thread in the bearing bushing) more elastic than the other by selecting appropriate materials and thread parameters. This elastic thread yields or deforms in a defined manner when the two threads are screwed together, absorbing tolerances and enabling play-free mounting without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances on both components.
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 solution enables a play-free connection between movable parts of a vehicle seat, reducing noise and vibrations, thereby enhancing passenger comfort by ensuring a secure and smooth operation of the gas spring mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
At least one of the two threads is preferably designed to be more elastic than the other thread, so that the corresponding thread yields or is deformed in a defined manner when the two threads are screwed together
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to an adjusting device (1) for adjusting a first part (2) relative to a second part (3), comprising a gas spring (10), which is designed and provided to connect the two parts (2, 3) to one another, a first free end (101) of the gas spring (10), and a bearing device (40), which is designed and provided to be fastened to the first part (2) or the second part (3), wherein the first free end (101) of the gas spring (10) is supported on the bearing device (40). According to the invention, the first free end (101) is supported on an external thread (A) formed on the bearing device (40) by means of an internal thread (I) formed on the first free end (101).