Mechanical Manual Leg Tilt with Spring-Biased Piston
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern vehicle seats face challenges in accommodating various driver and passenger sizes, shapes, and desired postures, requiring adjustable comfort components to enhance ergonomics and endurance during extended rides.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seating assembly with a mechanical manual leg tilt system, featuring a support bracket rotatably coupled with a seat frame, a spring-biased piston, and a release mechanism that allows vertical movement of the seat cushion tube, enabling easy adjustment between raised and lowered positions for optimal comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mechanical manual leg tilt system is implemented to allow seat adjustment, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support bracket is designed to be rotatable relative to the seat frame, allowing the seat to transition between fixed and adjustable positions. This dynamic configuration enables the seat to adapt to different user needs while maintaining structural integrity through the rotatable joint mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring-biased piston automatically returns the support bracket to its initial position after adjustment, and the release bar with spring bias provides self-locking functionality. These self-service features reduce the need for additional actuators or complex control systems, simplifying the overall mechanism while maintaining ease of operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple adjustment components are added to accommodate different user sizes and postures, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support bracket serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the seat, enables rotational adjustment for leg tilt, and incorporates the piston mechanism for position control. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components for each adjustment function, maintaining adaptability while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The release bar mechanism is integrated directly into the piston assembly, combining the locking/release function with the positioning function. This merging of functions allows the system to accommodate different user needs through a unified mechanism rather than separate controls, simplifying the overall device structure.
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 system provides a strong, lightweight, and affordable solution that allows for customizable leg support, enhancing occupant comfort and usability by allowing easy adjustment of the seat height to accommodate different users.
Implementation Method 1
A position clamp includes a spring-biased piston rotatably coupled with the spindle bracket
Implementation Method 2
The movement of the housing between the fore and aft positions rotates the support bracket between raised and lowered positions
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat frame. A support bracket is rotatably coupled with the seat frame, and is coupled with a front seat cushion tube supporting a forward portion of a seat. A spindle bracket is operably coupled with the frame. A position clamp includes a spring-biased piston rotatably coupled with the spindle bracket. A housing is slidably coupled with the piston, operable between fore and aft positions, and is rotatably coupled with a clamp mounting bracket, which is fixedly coupled with the support bracket. A release bar is operably coupled with the position clamp, is operable between lock and release positions, and is spring-biased to the lock position. A release handle is operably coupled to the release bar and configured to disengage the release bar from the lock position, thereby allowing sliding movement of the housing fore and aft relative to the piston.