Pivoting Floor Shutter Mechanism for Automotive Seats
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Solution Overview
Problem
Motor vehicle shutters often jam or vibrate when moving, particularly when transitioning between raised and rest positions, due to lack of controlled movement mechanisms, leading to reliability issues.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism comprising drive members connected to the backrest and slideways attached to the shutter's edge, allowing controlled upward and downward movement of the shutter, ensuring smooth operation and reduced jamming risk by applying forces through these members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a simple pivot connection is used to allow the floor flap to move between rest and raised positions, then the device complexity is reduced, but the shutter may jam during movement and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A drive member connected to the backrest acts as an intermediary element that mediates the movement between the backrest and the floor flap. This drive member transfers motion smoothly, preventing direct contact and potential jamming between the flap and surrounding structures, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The movement mechanism is designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing the floor flap to pivot smoothly between positions. The mechanism adapts its configuration during movement, enabling controlled transition while maintaining reliability through dynamic adjustment rather than rigid fixed connections.
2Ease of operation
If the shutter is allowed to move freely between positions, then the ease of operation is improved, but the shutter may vibrate when in the raised position, worsening the reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The drive member connected to the backrest provides self-service stabilization by automatically engaging with the floor flap's movement. As the backrest moves, the drive member automatically guides the floor flap into the correct position and maintains stability, eliminating the need for additional active control systems while preventing vibration.
3Reliability
If a mechanism with drive members and slideways is implemented to control shutter movement, then the reliability is improved by preventing jamming, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movement mechanism is segmented into distinct functional elements: drive members connected to the backrest, slideways attached to the floor flap, and pivot connections. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, improving reliability through controlled movement while managing complexity through modular design.
Data Source
AI summary
The vehicle has a seat (1) e.g. front passenger seat, with a backrest (5) mobile between a straightened position and a folded position. A floor pan (11) has a mobile shutter (35) displaced forwards by a front edge (49). A displacement mechanism (43) displaces the shutter between a rest position and a raised position, when the backrest is displaced between the straightened and the folded positions. A slide (47) is defined upwards and downwards by upper and lower edges (55, 57) against which the driving unit (45) is supported to move the shutter between the raised position and the rest position.