Vehicle Seat Longitudinal Adjuster Spring Torque Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing longitudinal adjusters for vehicle seats require significant construction space and installation height, limiting the clearance for seat height adjustment and potentially causing rattling noises due to protruding spring elements.
Innovation Solution
A longitudinal adjuster design featuring a transmission rod with a spring element that acts on the actuating device to maintain the locking devices in an inoperative position without vertical protrusion, utilizing a spring-elastic wire or yoke spring to secure the handle and transmission rod, reducing the overall height and minimizing noise through multiple contact points and torque distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring element is used to maintain the locking devices in an inoperative position, then the locking reliability is improved, but the installation height increases due to vertical protrusion
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element is configured to act horizontally or at an angle rather than vertically, changing the dimension of spring force application. This allows the spring to maintain the locking devices in the inoperative position without increasing the vertical installation height, as the spring force is applied in a different spatial dimension.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring element is integrated within the existing structure of the longitudinal adjuster, nested between other components such as the rails and locking devices. This nesting arrangement allows the spring to function without adding external vertical protrusion, as it is contained within the existing structural envelope.
2Length of stationary object
If the spring element does not protrude vertically, then the installation height is reduced, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: maintaining the locking devices in the inoperative position, providing a return force after actuation, and integrating structurally with the existing components. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in structural complexity despite the non-protruding configuration.
3Volume of stationary object
If the spring element is integrated within the locking device structure, then the construction space is reduced, but the ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element is designed as a separate, modular component that can be independently manufactured and then assembled into the longitudinal adjuster. This segmentation allows for simpler manufacturing of the spring itself using standard spring-making processes, while the integration within the overall structure achieves the space reduction goal. The modular approach balances construction space reduction with manufacturing ease.
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
This design reduces the required construction space and installation height, providing more clearance for seat height adjustment while minimizing rattling noises by ensuring the spring element does not protrude vertically and securely supports the actuating device.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element which acts on the actuating device with a spring force in the direction of an inoperative position or passive position
Data Source
AI summary
A longitudinal adjuster (10) for a vehicle seat (1), has pairs of rails (12a, 12b) including a lower rail (14a) and an upper rail (14b) that are movable in a longitudinal direction (x) relative to one another and can be locked together by a locking device (16). An actuating device (18) has a transmission rod (22) arranged between the two locking devices. A hand grip (20), connected to the transmission rod, is provided for joint actuation of the two locking devices. The transmission rod is operatively connected to the two locking devices. A spring element (30), which applies a spring force to the actuating device toward a rest position or passive position, does not project beyond the locking device in the vertical direction (z). The spring element applies a torque to the transmission rod along the longitudinal extent thereof relative to the longitudinal direction (x).