Lateral Driver's Station Translation for Racing Vehicle Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seats, particularly in racing vehicles, lack adjustability and configurability, making it difficult for drivers to access and position themselves comfortably for both road and track use.
Innovation Solution
A motor vehicle with a seat assembly that can translate along a guide mechanism, allowing the driver's station to move laterally, coupled with an actuator assembly and control system for adjusting the seat and pedal positions, enabling the driver to easily enter and position themselves for optimal driving configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If the seat is completely fixed as in racing vehicles, then the streamlined profile and racing performance are improved, but the driver's accessibility and positioning comfort are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The driver's station is made dynamically adjustable through a translation mechanism that allows lateral movement along the guide. The seat assembly can be positioned at different lateral locations within the passenger compartment, enabling the driver to access the vehicle more easily when the station is repositioned, while maintaining the streamlined profile when positioned centrally for racing
2Reliability
If the seat is completely fixed as in racing vehicles, then the structural simplicity and reliability are improved, but the configurability for different driving scenarios is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides adaptability through controlled movement. The driver's station can be laterally repositioned along the guide to accommodate different driving scenarios (road vs. track), while the locking mechanism ensures structural reliability when the position is fixed. This dynamic adjustability allows the same structure to serve multiple purposes
3Ease of operation
If the driver's station is made movable with guide and actuator assemblies, then the ease of entry and positioning is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The driver's station is segmented into separable components (seat assembly, steering assembly, pedal assembly) that can move independently along the guide. This segmentation allows each component to be optimally positioned and simplifies the movement mechanism compared to moving the entire driver compartment as one rigid unit
Solution Approach 2:
The guide assembly and actuator system serve multiple functions: they enable lateral movement of the seat, steering wheel, and pedals simultaneously, and provide positioning adjustment for optimal driver configuration. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate adjustment mechanisms for each component
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle (1) comprising a body (2), a seat assembly (10) comprising, in turn, a seat (7) for a driver, and a guide (17) coupled to the body (2) and to the seat assembly (10) so as to constrain the seat assembly (10) relative to the body (2) allowing for a translation movement of the seat assembly (10) along a moving direction (K), characterized in that the moving direction (K) is lateral relative to a driving direction (X) of the vehicle (1).