Modular Seat Adjuster With Integral Vibration Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat position adjustment systems for vehicles require large frames for vibration isolation, making them unsuitable for compact or lower profile seat assemblies, and often require significant space for operation, limiting their applicability.
Innovation Solution
A modular vibration isolating seat position adjustment system with an integral fore-aft seat position adjuster and isolator that includes a torsionally biased latch and damper, allowing for vibration isolation and compact design, with an isolator lockout for deactivation when not needed, enabling fore-aft seat movement and adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If large steel frames are used for vibration isolation, then vibration isolation performance is improved, but device size and profile height increase making them unsuitable for compact seat assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the seat position adjustment mechanism and vibration isolation system into a single integrated assembly. The adjustment slides directly engage with the seat frame while incorporating vibration isolation elements, eliminating the need for separate large steel frames. This merging allows compact seat assemblies to achieve both position adjustment and vibration isolation without increasing overall device volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The seat adjustment slides serve dual functions: they enable fore-aft position adjustment of the seat and simultaneously provide vibration isolation. The slides incorporate isolation elements that dampen vibrations while maintaining their primary adjustment function, allowing a single component to address multiple requirements without increasing device size.
2Ease of operation
If multiple opposing springs and a seat position adjustment lever are used, then fore-aft seat position adjustment is achieved, but the system requires considerable space for lever movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the lever mechanism from the adjustment system and replaces it with direct manual manipulation of the adjustment slides. Users can directly move the slides along the seat frame to achieve position adjustment without requiring a lever with significant travel distance, thereby reducing the space needed for the adjustment mechanism while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a lever that moves up and down to adjust seat position, the system inverts the approach by allowing direct linear movement of the adjustment slides along the seat frame. This inversion eliminates the need for considerable lever travel space while achieving the same adjustment function through a more space-efficient linear motion path.
3Measurement precision
If separate seat position adjustment systems are provided for each slide mechanism, then precise position control is achieved, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the vibration isolation function into the existing seat adjustment slides, allowing a single mechanism to serve both position adjustment and vibration damping purposes. This integration maintains precise position control through the slide mechanisms while avoiding the need for separate control systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity without sacrificing positioning precision.
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 effective vibration isolation and comfort for vehicle occupants while maintaining a compact design, suitable for various seat assemblies, and allows for independent operation of seat position adjustment and vibration isolation.
Implementation Method 1
a spring captured in torsion between a spring seat of the latch cylinder and a spring seat grounded to the housing that can be and preferably is part of a bearing fixed to one of the mounts of the mounting bracket of the housing
Implementation Method 2
The isolator includes a spring captured in compression or tension between a first spring seat and a second spring seat
Implementation Method 3
The isolator can also include a damper having a reciprocable piston rod coupled to the control shaft for axial movement of the damper piston rod substantially in unison with axial movement of the seat position adjuster control shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A seat position adjuster with a manipulable control shaft carrying a position locking latch and a spring that biases the latch toward a latched position that locks seat position with the spring being part of a vibration isolator selectively deactivated by an isolator lockout. The shaft is rotatively and axially movable relative to a mounting bracket carrying the shaft that also is attached to one rail of a slide mechanism with the latch being urged by spring into operative engagement with the other rail. Spring is captured in torsion rotatively biasing the latch toward the latched position and is active in tension and/or compression isolating the seat from vibration and lateral/longitudinal accelerations. A control shaft of the lockout is manipulable between a locked position deactivating isolation by preventing axial movement of the position adjuster control shaft relative to bracket and an unlocked position permitting relative axial movement therebetween activating isolation.