Positively Engaged Locking Mechanism for Vehicle Seat Tracks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat track assemblies fail to effectively prevent seat movement during normal use and crash events, as known locking mechanisms are not robust enough to maintain engagement under impact conditions.
Innovation Solution
A positively engaged locking (PEL) mechanism with pins that are slidably movable between engaged and disengaged positions, where the pins are angled to prevent upward movement during impacts, ensuring secure engagement with the track openings to prevent seat movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional locking pins are used that move horizontally or vertically, then the locking mechanism can be simple in structure, but the locking reliability during crash events is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The locking pin is configured to move in a slanted trajectory that combines both vertical and horizontal components, rather than moving purely horizontally or vertically. This dimensional change allows the pin to engage with the opening at an angle, creating positive engagement that prevents upward movement during crashes while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking pin is designed with an asymmetric engagement geometry where the pin engages the opening at a specific angle during normal operation, but the engagement becomes asymmetric during crash events. The slanted movement path creates an asymmetric force distribution that locks the pin in place during impacts, enhancing reliability without adding complex mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If the locking pin moves horizontally into openings, then the ease of operation is improved, but the ability to prevent upward movement during impacts is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The locking pin engages the opening at a slanted angle rather than purely horizontally, adding a vertical component to the engagement. This angular engagement creates mechanical interlocking that prevents upward movement during crashes while still allowing relatively easy operation through actuator-driven slanted motion.
3Reliability
If the locking pin moves vertically underneath tracks, then the locking reliability is improved, but the ease of operation and device complexity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The locking pin combines vertical and horizontal movement into a slanted trajectory, achieving the reliability benefits of vertical engagement (preventing upward movement) while incorporating horizontal movement components that facilitate easier operation and actuation compared to purely vertical mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
A seat track assembly includes a first track having a wall including a plurality of openings formed therein. A second track is slidably mounted relative to the first track and has a pair of spaced apart walls, each of the walls include a plurality of openings formed therein. The seat track assembly further includes a locking mechanism that includes a pin carried by the second track and slidably movable within a substantially horizontal plane between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the pin is disposed in one of the plurality of openings formed in the wall of the first track and is pivoted to a position such that an axis of the pin is not parallel with the substantially horizontal plane. In the disengaged position, the pin is not disposed in the opening formed in the wall of the first track.