Vehicle Seat Reclining Device Eccentric Gear Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing reclining devices for vehicle seats often suffer from insufficient coupling force between the gear plate and the lower bracket, leading to unintended changes in the angle between the seatback and seat cushion, which can cause passenger injury due to inadequate locking of the welding line.
Innovation Solution
The reclining device incorporates a flange with inner teeth and a gear plate featuring outer teeth and a coupling part with locking steps, which are eccentrically engaged and locked by a bracket with an insertion hole and locking protrusions, preventing relative rotation and enhancing the coupling force through a secure locking mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a welding line is used to couple the gear plate and bracket, then the coupling force is improved, but the welding line may partially space apart from the contact line, leading to insufficient coupling force and potential passenger injury
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is divided into multiple locking protrusions and locking steps that work together to provide distributed locking points around the coupling part, ensuring reliable engagement even if one point experiences stress
Solution Approach 2:
The locking protrusions and locking steps act as intermediary mechanical features that mediate the connection between the gear plate and bracket, providing a positive mechanical lock that eliminates the need for welding and ensures precise alignment
2Stability of the object's composition
If the gear plate and bracket are coupled together, then the angle between seatback and seat cushion is fixed, but the coupling mechanism must prevent relative rotation under load
Solution Approach 1:
The locking protrusions and locking steps are designed with asymmetric geometries that allow insertion in one direction while preventing withdrawal or rotation in the opposite direction, creating a secure mechanical lock against rotational forces
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling part and insertion hole feature curved surfaces that guide engagement and distribute loads, with the locking features positioned to engage at optimal angles for resisting rotational moments
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
This design effectively prevents unintentional changes in the angle between the seatback and seat cushion, ensuring a stronger coupling force and improved safety by securely locking the gear plate and bracket together, even under load.
Implementation Method 1
the spring 8 accumulates an elastic force. The accumulated elastic force causes the spring 8 to push the second cam 7 clockwise
Implementation Method 2
a gear plate having an outer tooth part and a coupling part, the outer tooth part provided with outer teeth formed along a circumference thereof and engaged with a part of the inner teeth of the flange in an eccentric state with the flange
Implementation Method 3
a locking protrusion that is locked by the locking step of the coupling part is formed at an inner circumferential surface of the insertion hole to prevent the relative rotation with the gear plate
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a reclining device for a vehicle seat, the reclining device includes: a flange having inner teeth; a gear plate having an outer tooth part and a coupling part, the outer tooth part provided with outer teeth and engaged with a part of the inner teeth of the flange in an eccentric state with the flange, and the coupling part having a locking step; an input device provided inside a through hole of the gear plate and coupled to a shaft to allow the flange and the gear plate to be eccentric with each other and to perform relative rotation when the shaft is rotated; and a bracket having an insertion hole, and a locking protrusion that is locked by the locking step of the coupling part formed at an inner circumferential surface of the insertion hole to prevent the relative rotation with the gear plate.