Vehicle Seat Recliner Locking Mechanism Clearance Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reclining apparatuses for vehicle seats face challenges in maintaining strong coupling force and minimizing operation noise due to clearance between components during reclining operations, while also being bulky and heavy, which can lead to unintended adjustments and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A reclining apparatus featuring a base plate with a circular operation space, a mobile flange with an internal gear, a central cam, and a locking device that engages or disengages with the internal gear, along with a spring member and retainer to ensure a coupled state, reducing clearance and enhancing strength and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If clearance is generated between components engaged with each other, then the structure allows for easier assembly and manufacturing tolerance, but the coupling force weakens and operation noise increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is designed to preliminarily eliminate clearance between the gear and internal gear before load application. The locking protrusion and locking groove engage in advance to pre-load the meshing teeth, ensuring zero clearance at the start of operation, which maintains strong coupling force while allowing standard manufacturing tolerances
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the gear components. It mediates the clearance issue by providing a positive engagement system that eliminates gaps without requiring tighter manufacturing tolerances on the gear teeth themselves, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while improving coupling strength
2Reliability
If more components are added to eliminate clearance and improve coupling force, then the reliability increases, but the device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is merged with the existing cam mechanism. The locking protrusion is formed as an integral part of the cam structure, and the locking groove is formed on the gear component itself. This integration eliminates the need for separate locking components while maintaining reliability through the unified design
Solution Approach 2:
The cam mechanism serves multiple functions: it controls the locking device engagement, provides the locking action itself through the locking protrusion, and maintains the coupling force. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed while improving coupling stability
3Strength
If traditional reclining apparatus design is used, then the coupling force is sufficient, but the size and weight of the apparatus increase
Solution Approach 1:
The reclining apparatus is segmented into functional modules: the base plate, mobile flange, cam mechanism with integrated locking device, and spring member. This segmentation allows for optimized material usage and reduced weight in each component while maintaining overall coupling strength through the distributed locking system
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the structural parameters by using a compact cam-based locking mechanism instead of traditional larger mechanical linkages. The locking protrusion and groove geometry is optimized to provide maximum coupling force with minimum material, reducing the overall weight while maintaining sufficient strength
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 removes clearance between components, improving strength and durability, reducing operation noise, and minimizing the size and weight of the apparatus, thereby decreasing costs.
Implementation Method 1
a spring member positioned in the operation space and having one end supported by the base plate and the other end supported by the central cam to provide elastic rotation restoring force to the central cam
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is a reclining apparatus for a vehicle seat that is capable of improving coupling strength and entire durability and removing operation noise by removing a clearance between components at the time of a reclining operation and is capable of decreasing a cost and a weight by decreasing an entire size.