Vehicle Seat Adjustment Device Support Member Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat adjustment devices face challenges in providing strong, reliable support for the gearing during large loads, such as in a vehicle crash, while also being easy to manufacture and assemble, and maintaining flexibility to avoid unwanted noise and stiffness changes.
Innovation Solution
The adjustment device incorporates support members with a transversely extending support face, featuring a welding section and a tab that engages with an opening, providing a twofold connection to the guide rail, which enhances stability during crashes without altering stiffness characteristics during normal operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the gearing is supported by means of one or multiple support members (bracket or plate member), then the gearing is reliably held in place with respect to the guide rail even under large loads, but the manufacturing and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is segmented into a base portion attached to the guide rail and a support portion extending toward the gearing. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently - the base for attachment strength and the support for load bearing - while simplifying the overall manufacturing process compared to a monolithic complex bracket structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member is pre-assembled with the guide rail using a simplified attachment mechanism before the final assembly with the gearing. This preliminary action ensures proper positioning and alignment are established early, reducing the need for complex adjustment mechanisms and simplifying the overall assembly process.
2Strength
If the support member is strongly connected to the guide rail to withstand crash loads, then the reliability under large loads improves, but the flexibility during normal operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The support member exhibits local quality by having a rigid base portion for strong connection to the guide rail at the attachment point, while the support portion has appropriate flexibility to allow thermal expansion and minor misalignments. This localized differentiation of mechanical properties enables the connection to be strong where needed while maintaining overall system flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to behave rigidly under normal operating conditions providing stable support, while under extreme loads such as crashes it can undergo controlled deformation to absorb energy. This dynamic behavior enables the structure to adapt its mechanical properties based on the magnitude of applied loads.
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 ensures reliable support during crashes and maintains flexibility and noise reduction during normal operation by providing a strong, easy-to-manufacture, and assemble adjustment mechanism for vehicle seats.
Implementation Method 1
a welding section via which the first edge is fixed to the base or the first leg by welding
Implementation Method 2
a tab protruding from said first edge and engaging with an opening of said base or said first leg
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustment device for adjusting a longitudinal position of a vehicle seat, comprises: a first guide rail; a spindle fixed to the first guide rail and extending along a longitudinal axis; a second guide rail being linearly movable along the longitudinal axis with respect to the first guide rail, the second guide rail having a base and a first leg extending from the base; and a gearing fixed to the second guide rail and having a housing, the gearing being in operative connection with the spindle to move the second guide rail relative to the first guide rail. At least one support member is arranged on the second guide rail, the at least one support member having a support face extending transversely to the longitudinal axis and facing the housing of the gearing for supporting the gearing with respect to the second guide rail. The support face comprises a first edge facing the base or the first leg and having a welding section via which the first edge is fixed to the base or the first leg by welding, a tab protruding from said first edge and engaging with an opening of said base or said first leg.