Sealed Seat Switch Assembly with Flat Spring Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seat switch assemblies have exposed switch contacts that are susceptible to contamination and water damage, and can become stuck in an activated position, leading to safety issues and inefficient deactivation of vehicles when the operator is not properly seated.
Innovation Solution
A seat switch assembly with a base, flat spring, and actuating member, where the switch is completely enclosed within a chamber, and the flat spring is designed to pivotally engage and disengage with the actuating member to activate and deactivate the ignition circuit, ensuring a fail-safe mechanism and protection from contaminants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If switch contacts are exposed to enable actuation, then the switch can be activated by the actuating member, but the switch contacts are susceptible to contamination and water damage
Solution Approach 1:
The switch contacts are nested within a sealed housing that contains the actuating member. The actuating member passes through a sealed opening in the housing, allowing mechanical actuation while maintaining the sealed environment that protects contacts from contamination and water damage.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealed housing acts as an intermediary between the actuating member and the switch contacts. The housing transmits the actuating force through a sealed opening while preventing direct exposure of the contacts to external contaminants and moisture.
2Ease of operation
If the actuating member is engaged to activate the switch, then the vehicle ignition circuit is activated, but the assembly may become stuck in an activated position if the spring loses elasticity or the actuating member is snagged
Solution Approach 1:
A return spring is pre-configured in the assembly to automatically reset the actuating member to its neutral position. This spring provides a fail-safe mechanism that ensures deactivation even if the actuating member becomes snagged or the primary spring loses elasticity, as the return spring will push the actuating member back to disengage the switch contacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The assembly uses a periodic reset mechanism where the return spring continuously applies force to return the actuating member to its neutral position. This creates a cyclical actuation-reset pattern that prevents the system from remaining stuck in an activated state.
3Ease of operation
If a conventional switch assembly is used, then the switch can be activated, but the mounting profile is higher than desired
Solution Approach 1:
The housing, actuating member, and return spring are merged into a single integrated assembly. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate mounting components and reduces the overall mounting profile while maintaining full switch functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating member is designed to actuate the switch contacts in a direction perpendicular to the mounting surface. This dimensional change allows the switch to be activated without increasing the mounting profile in the vertical direction, as the actuation occurs laterally through the sealed opening.
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 provides a reliable and safe seat switch assembly that is resistant to contamination, has a lower mounting profile, and ensures fail-safe deactivation of vehicles by maintaining the switch contacts within the assembly, preventing accidental activation and ensuring the vehicle is deactivated when the operator is not seated.
Implementation Method 1
A coil spring may be positioned between the second cover and the base
Implementation Method 2
an actuating member may be stuck in an activated position, such as if a spring member loses elasticity
Implementation Method 3
The elongated beam bows in the first direction when engaged by the actuating member, thereby causing the post to rotate or otherwise deflect in the second direction into the switch
Data Source
AI summary
A switch assembly includes a base, a flat spring, a switch, and an actuating member. The base includes a central channel. The flat spring may be pivotally secured to a portion of the base. The switch is proximate the flat spring, and is configured to selectively open and close a circuit, such as an ignition circuit of a vehicle. The actuating member is positioned through the central channel and abuts the flat spring. The actuating member is configured to be engaged toward the flat spring in order to activate the switch, wherein movement of the actuating member in a first direction causes the flat spring to move in a second direction into the switch to activate the switch. The first direction may be perpendicular to the second direction.