OEM Seat Access Mechanism With Compact Multi-Axis Transfer Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle access systems for disabled individuals are large and cumbersome, requiring replacement of the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) seat, which is not ideal for maintaining safety features and compactness.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle access system comprising a seat base with a pivot member, shuttle, and tilting mechanism, powered by motors, that allows the vehicle seat to be pivoted, extended, and lowered outside the vehicle door opening, maintaining the OEM seat and associated safety features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a vehicle access system is designed to be compact and maintain the OEM seat, then device complexity is reduced and safety features are preserved, but the system must achieve complex multi-axis movement (pivoting, extending, lowering, tilting) within limited space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested mechanical structure where the trolley moves along the trolley base, the seat base pivots on the pivot member, and the shuttle travels along the pivot member. Each component is housed within or alongside the previous component, creating a compact nested arrangement that achieves complex multi-axis movement (pivoting, extending, lowering, tilting) without requiring large external space or increasing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs multiple degrees of freedom with dynamic movement capabilities: the pivot member enables rotational movement, the shuttle provides linear movement along the pivot member, the trolley moves along the trolley base, and the tilting mechanism provides additional rotational freedom. This dynamic multi-axis movement capability allows the seat to be positioned precisely anywhere within the door opening area while maintaining a compact overall structure
2Ease of operation
If the vehicle access system uses a compact design that maintains the OEM seat, then ease of operation is improved and safety features are preserved, but the mechanism requires precise coordination of multiple moving parts (pivot member, shuttle, trolley base, trolley)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into integrated mechanisms: the pivot mechanism simultaneously handles pivoting and alignment, the tilting mechanism integrates seat angle adjustment with position control, and the extend mechanism coordinates trolley movement with seat positioning. This functional integration reduces the number of independent control systems needed while maintaining precise coordination of all moving parts, thereby improving ease of operation and transfer safety without excessively increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors and control systems that monitor the position and movement of each component (pivot member angle, shuttle position, trolley location, tilting angle) and provide feedback to the control unit. This feedback mechanism enables precise coordination of all moving parts, ensures safe operation during wheelchair-to-seat transfer, and maintains ease of operation even with the complex multi-axis movement capability
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments described and claimed herein are improved vehicle access systems. In particular, one embodiment includes three compact, motorized mechanisms for pivoting a passenger seat toward a door opening, extending the passenger seat outside the door opening, lowering the passenger seat, and tilting the passenger seat to help the passenger stand. The first mechanism concurrently pivots the passenger seat and moves it sideways during the pivoting operation so that it is aligned with the door opening. The second mechanism extends the passenger seat outside the door opening. The third mechanism lowers the seat.