Vehicle Seat Longitudinal Adjuster Guide Sleeve
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing longitudinal adjusters for vehicle seats often experience unintentional unlocking and high contact noise due to direct metallic contact between guide pins and rails, which complicates assembly and usage.
Innovation Solution
A longitudinal adjuster design featuring a guide sleeve that houses the guide pin, utilizing a bayonet catch for secure connection and reducing direct contact, along with anti-twist devices and a plastic guide sleeve to minimize noise and prevent sticking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a guide pin directly contacts the metallic upper rail, then the structure is simple and assembly is easy, but contact noise increases and unintentional unlocking may occur
Solution Approach 1:
A guide sleeve is introduced as an intermediary component between the guide pin and the upper rail. The guide pin extends into the guide sleeve, which is received in an opening of the upper rail. This intermediary element reduces direct metallic contact, thereby minimizing contact noise and preventing unintentional unlocking while maintaining structural simplicity through easy bayonet connection.
2Reliability
If the guide pin is freely movable in the upper rail, then assembly is simple, but unintentional unlocking occurs due to lateral forces
Solution Approach 1:
The guide sleeve serves as a mediating structure that guides the guide pin while preventing excessive lateral movement. The guide pin extends into the guide sleeve, which is received in an opening of the upper rail, providing controlled guidance that prevents unintentional unlocking without requiring complex constraint mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The bayonet catch connection replaces complex mechanical fastening systems. The guide sleeve can be quickly connected to and disconnected from the upper rail via a simple bayonet-style twisting motion, providing reliable guidance and locking without requiring multiple fasteners or complex assembly procedures.
3Reliability
If a secure connection method is used for the guide sleeve, then unintentional unlocking is prevented, but assembly becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
A bayonet catch connection is used to replace traditional fastening methods such as screws or clips. The guide sleeve features a bayonet catch that engages with a corresponding feature on the upper rail, allowing for quick assembly through a simple insert-and-twist motion while providing secure, reliable connection that prevents unintentional disconnection during use.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A longitudinal adjuster (10) for a vehicle seat (1), having at least one pair of rails (12) which is formed from a lower seat rail (14a) and an upper seat rail (14b), wherein the seat rails of the pair of seat rails mutually engage around each other and are movable relative to each other in the longitudinal direction (x) and are lockable to each other by means of a locking device (16), wherein the locking device has at least one latching plate (18) which is movable in the vertical direction (z), wherein the latching plate has a guide pin (20) protruding in the vertical direction, wherein the upper seat rail has an opening (22) aligned with the guide pin, wherein a guide sleeve (24) extending into the cavity formed between the seat rails is accommodated in the opening, and the guide pin is guided by means of the guide sleeve, wherein the upper seat rail and the guide sleeve are connectable by means of a bayonet catch.