Seat Adjuster Automatic Engagement Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat adjusters for vehicle seats do not provide sufficient convenience for quickly folding the seatback forward manually and then automatically returning it to the seated position, as they require manual intervention to re-engage the mechanical connection for electrical adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A seat adjuster with a rotation mechanism, drive device, engagement target member, and engagement member that allows the seatback to be automatically adjusted by rotating the engagement member into a locked state for electrical adjustment, enabling quick folding and automatic return to the seated position without manual re-engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the mechanical connection between the seatback and the electric recliner is released to fold the seatback forward manually, then the seatback can be quickly folded forward, but manual intervention is required to re-engage the mechanical connection for electrical adjustment later
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement member is configured to automatically engage with the engagement target portion when the seatback is rotated to a predetermined angle range. The elastic member provides automatic engagement force without requiring manual intervention, allowing the system to serve itself by automatically re-establishing the mechanical connection after manual folding
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional purely mechanical engagement system with a hybrid system that uses elastic force (spring mechanism) to automatically drive the engagement member into the engagement target portion. This substitution of automatic elastic engagement for manual mechanical engagement eliminates the need for user intervention to re-engage the connection
2Ease of operation
If the engagement member is always engaged with the engagement target portion, then electrical adjustment is maintained, but the seatback cannot be quickly folded forward manually
Solution Approach 1:
The engagement member is designed to dynamically transition between engaged and disengaged states based on the seatback's rotation angle. During normal use, the engagement member remains engaged for electrical adjustment. When the seatback is manually folded forward beyond a certain angle, the engagement member automatically disengages, allowing quick folding without maintaining constant mechanical connection
3Device complexity
If manual intervention is required to re-engage the mechanical connection, then the system structure can be simpler, but the operation process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member is pre-loaded to store engagement force in advance. When the seatback rotation brings the engagement target portion into the engagement position, the pre-stored elastic force automatically drives the engagement member into the target portion without requiring real-time manual intervention or complex control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member acts as an intermediary between the engagement member and the engagement target portion, providing the necessary engagement force automatically. This intermediary mechanism eliminates the need for direct manual operation to re-engage the connection, reducing both system complexity and re-engagement time
Data Source
AI summary
A seat adjuster for a vehicle seat is provided. The seat adjuster comprises a rotation mechanism that comprises a rotation part, a rotation drive device that rotates the rotation part, an engagement target member that is configured to be rotated integrally with the rotation part and comprises engagement target portions formed along a rotational direction of the engagement target member, and an engagement member that is configured so that, when one of the engagement target portions is located in a specified engageable position, the engagement member is moved in a direction closer to the engagement target member to be engageable with the one of the engagement target portions located in the specified engageable position.