Rotatable Seat Mounting Unit with Overlapping Load Path Member
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Solution Overview
Problem
In autonomous vehicles, vehicle seats installed with a rotary structure face challenges in absorbing collision loads effectively due to disconnection from the floor's load path, compromising both rotation and collision absorption functions.
Innovation Solution
A seat mounting unit with a floor panel featuring a load path member partially cut and divided, allowing a rotatable seat mounting part to integrate with the load path member, providing a rotational function while maintaining joint stiffness and effective collision load absorption through overlapping side surfaces and a bearing system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a rotary structure is added to enable seat rotation, then the seat can rotate to face different directions, but the collision load path is disconnected and collision absorption capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a load path member as an intermediary component that connects the seat mounting part to the floor panel. This mediator transfers collision loads from the seat mounting part through the load path member to the floor panel, resolving the disconnection problem caused by the rotary structure while maintaining rotation functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the load path into separate segments: the load path member and the floor panel, connected through the seat mounting part. This segmentation allows the rotary structure to rotate freely while the load path segments remain intact and functional for collision load transmission.
2Ease of operation
If the load path member is cut and divided to accommodate the rotary structure, then the seat can be rotatably mounted, but the continuity of the load path is interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves the load path discontinuity by extending the load path member in the height direction (vertical dimension) to overlap with the seat mounting part. This dimensional transition allows the load path to bypass the rotary structure horizontally while maintaining continuity vertically, enabling both rotation and load path stability.
3Strength
If the side surface portion of the seat mounting part overlaps the load path member, then joint stiffness and collision absorption are improved, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the seat mounting part with the load path member by having their side surfaces overlap and work together as an integrated load-bearing structure. This combining approach enhances joint stiffness and collision absorption while avoiding the need for additional separate components, thus limiting the increase in structural 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
Enables the seat to rotate and absorb impact during collisions in autonomous vehicles without compromising the vehicle's stability, ensuring both rotational functionality and collision safety by distributing loads through multiple paths.
Implementation Method 1
A bearing may be disposed between the top plate and the bottom plate of the seat mounting part
Data Source
AI summary
A seat mounting unit for a vehicle is provided. The unit includes a floor panel that has a panel shape forming a floor surface of the vehicle and includes a load path member protruding from the floor surface and extending in a predetermined direction. The load path member is partially cut and divided through cut portions and a seat mounting part is positioned at the cut portions of the load path member, rotatably installed on the floor panel. The seat mounting part has a side surface portion with a predetermined height and the side surface portion overlaps a side surface of a cut end portion of the load path member in a height direction.