Vehicle Seat Reclining Device Stopper Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reclining devices for vehicle seats require additional parts to implement a stopper function, leading to increased weight and production costs, and are prone to noise and deformation due to weak stopper structures.
Innovation Solution
A reclining device with a base plate, gear plate, mobile flange, and power transmission module that uses a stop protrusion and arcuate stop hole to limit seatback rotation within a predetermined range, reducing the number of parts and maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional stopper parts are added to the reclining device, then the stopper function is improved, but the weight and number of parts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper function is merged with the existing mobile flange and base plate structures. The stop protrusion is formed as an integral part of the mobile flange, and the stop hole is formed in the base plate, eliminating the need for separate stopper components while maintaining the stopper function.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile flange serves multiple functions: it transmits torque to rotate the seatback and simultaneously provides the stop protrusion for the stopper function. The base plate serves as both a mounting structure and provides the stop hole for limiting rotation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated stopper parts.
2Device complexity
If conventional weak stoppers are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but noise and deformation occur during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The stop hole is designed with an arcuate shape that guides the stop protrusion smoothly through its travel path. This curved geometry ensures gradual engagement and disengagement of the stopper mechanism, preventing sudden impacts that cause noise and deformation while maintaining structural simplicity.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional stoppers are used, then production cost is reduced, but the stopper strength is insufficient leading to operational issues
Solution Approach 1:
The stopper components are merged into the existing structural parts (mobile flange and base plate) rather than being separate weak components. This integration allows the stopper to utilize the full structural strength of the main components, eliminating the need for additional reinforcement while maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
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 efficiently limits seatback rotation with fewer parts, reducing weight and production costs while preventing noise and deformation, and allowing for adjustable operational ranges without additional components.
Implementation Method 1
a mobile flange (11) connected to a seatback in such a way that the mobile flange transmits torque to the seatback, the mobile flange being provided with internal gear teeth (9), a number of which is greater than a number of the external gear teeth (5) of the gear plate by one, and being eccentrically meshed with the external gear teeth (5) of the gear plate
Implementation Method 2
a power transmission module (13) installed in a central portion of the gear plate (7) and eccentrically rotating the mobile flange (11) relative to the gear plate (7) using the torque transmitted from outside
Implementation Method 3
the stop means includes a stop protrusion (15) formed in the mobile flange (11) and protruding toward the base plate (3), and an arcuate-shape stop hole (17) formed in the base plate (3), and wherein the stop protrusion (15) is inserted into the arcuate-shape stop hole (17) and is configured to move along the arcuate-shape stop hole (17) defining a predetermined range in which an angle of the seatback relative to the seat cushion is adjusted
Data Source
AI summary
A reclining device for a vehicle seat of the present disclosure includes a base plate provided with an assembling depression, a gear plate inserted into the assembling depression, a mobile flange transferring a torque to a seatback, and a power transmission module installed in a central portion of the gear plate to eccentrically rotate the mobile flange and to inhibit power transfer in an opposite direction. In particular, the reclining device further includes a stopper having a stop protrusion on the mobile flange and the stop protrusion is inserted into an arcuate stop hole formed on the base plate so as to efficiently realizes the stopper's function to limit the forward and backward rotation angle of the seatback to a predetermined range using fewer parts, thus reducing the weight and production cost of a reclining device.