Seat Recliner Brake Mechanism Using Spring-Keyed Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional brake devices for vehicle seat recliners generate braking force through friction, leading to operational issues such as noise, vibration, and harshness, and require multiple parts, necessitating a method to improve locking force through engagement and release rather than friction-based braking.
Innovation Solution
A brake device with a housing, fixture, and release lever that uses a spring-supported protrusion portion and key portion for engagement and disengagement to prevent rotation when the vehicle seat is fixed, allowing rotation when a forward input is applied to the release lever, enhancing locking force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If friction-based braking is used in the recliner, then braking force is generated, but noise, vibration, and harshness occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the friction-based mechanical braking system with a mechanical engagement system using protrusion portions and key portions. Instead of generating braking force through friction between metal surfaces, the invention uses direct mechanical engagement where the protrusion portion of the fixture engages with the key portion of the housing to prevent rotation, thereby eliminating noise, vibration, and harshness associated with friction-based braking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful friction-based braking mechanism and replaces it with a clean mechanical engagement system. By removing the friction interface and substituting it with positive mechanical engagement between discrete engagement features (protrusion and key portions), the harmful effects of friction are eliminated while retaining the braking function.
2Force
If friction-based braking system is used, then braking function is achieved, but increased number of parts are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the fixture component. The fixture simultaneously serves as the brake actuator, the engagement mechanism (with protrusion portion), and the connection element to the shaft. By integrating these functions into a single component rather than using separate friction pads, actuators, and locking mechanisms, the number of parts is reduced while maintaining the braking and locking functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixture is designed as a multi-functional component that performs multiple roles: it acts as the brake actuator through spring support, provides the engagement feature (protrusion portion) for locking, and serves as the connection element to the shaft. This universal design eliminates the need for separate components for each function, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
3Force
If engagement and release mechanism is used instead of friction braking, then locking force is improved, but device complexity may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by making the engagement mechanism (protrusion and key portions) an integral part of the existing fixture and housing structure, rather than adding a separate locking mechanism. The fixture's protrusion portion directly engages with the housing's key portion, utilizing the existing structural elements to provide enhanced locking force without significantly increasing device complexity.
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 solution effectively improves locking force by enabling rotation of the recliner with forward input and preventing rotation with fixed input, reducing operational issues associated with friction-based braking systems.
Implementation Method 1
a fixture provided in the accommodation space of the housing, through which the shaft penetrates, supported upwards by a spring
Data Source
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AI summary
A brake device of a recliner for a vehicle seat includes: a housing having a through-hole through which a shaft of a seat recliner passes and a key portion formed toward the inside thereof, a fixture provided in an accommodation space of the housing, through which the shaft penetrates, supported upwards by a spring, and configured to be prevented from rotating by engagement of a protrusion portion and the key portion while being supported upwards; and a release lever installed above the fixture to be coupled to the shaft and configured to preferentially rotate, when a rotational force is applied from the outside, the shaft and enable rotation of the shaft and the fixture.