Angle adjusting device and seat having the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat angle adjusting devices have low precision and require increasing the number of sliders to achieve higher precision, which increases cost and weight without significant precision improvement.
Innovation Solution
An angle adjusting device with a ratchet and multiple sliders, where the sliders are arranged in groups with angular deflections, allowing for stepless angle adjustment and high precision by ensuring the outer teeth of different sliders engage with the inner teeth at different phases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple slider groups with phase differences are provided to improve adjustment precision, then the adjustment precision is improved, but the number of sliders increases which increases device complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the slider system into multiple groups (first slider group, second slider group, third slider group) with different phase angles (0°, 120°, 240°). Each group contains sliders that can independently engage with the ratchet teeth at different angular positions, enabling fine-grained control of the adjustment precision without requiring every possible slider to be present simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Different slider groups are assigned different phase angles and engagement characteristics. The first slider group engages at 0°, the second at 120°, and the third at 240°, creating local variations in engagement quality around the ratchet circumference. This allows the system to achieve high precision at any angular position by selecting the appropriate slider group for that local region.
2Measurement precision
If the number of sliders is increased to achieve higher adjustment precision, then the adjustment precision is improved, but the weight of the angle adjusting device increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing a complete set of sliders at all possible phases (which would maximize precision but also maximize weight), the patent segments the slider system into three strategically positioned groups at 120° intervals. This segmentation achieves high precision for all angular positions while using only one-third of the potential slider count, thereby significantly reducing weight.
Solution Approach 2:
Each slider group serves multiple functions: the first slider group handles 0° positions, the second handles 120° positions, and the third handles 240° positions. By designing the groups to be identical in structure but different in phase angle, the patent achieves universal coverage of all angular positions with a replicated modular structure, optimizing the weight-performance ratio.
3Device complexity
If all sliders remain in the same phase for simple structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the adjustment precision is limited to pitch increments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetric phase angle relationships between slider groups (0°, 120°, 240°) to break the symmetry of conventional same-phase slider arrangements. This asymmetric configuration allows sliders from different groups to engage with ratchet teeth at different angular positions, enabling adjustment precision finer than the basic pitch increment while maintaining a relatively simple modular structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of keeping all sliders in the same phase (conventional approach) or providing every possible phase position (maximum precision approach), the patent inverts the problem by using a limited set of phase angles (120° apart) that collectively cover all possible engagement positions. This inversion of the traditional thinking achieves high precision without the expected increase in complexity.
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 device achieves high precision and stepless angle adjustment, securing the ratchet at any angle by ensuring that the outer teeth of different sliders engage with the inner teeth in various states, thereby improving user comfort and reducing the need for multiple slider groups.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member arranged between the sliding groove plate and the wedge, the contact surface of the wedge in contact with the slider and the contact surface of the wedge in contact with the elastic member are both self-locking surfaces
Implementation Method 2
the contact surface of the wedge in contact with the slider and the contact surface of the wedge in contact with the elastic member are both self-locking surfaces
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5a
AI summary
An angle adjusting device is provided, which includes a ratchet, multiple sliders, an expansion and retraction mechanism, and a sliding groove plate. The ratchet is provided with n inner teeth; and m slider groups consisting of the multiple sliders include one base slider group and m-1 deflecting slider groups, where the outer teeth of the deflecting slider groups have an angular deflection about a central shaft of the ratchet with respect to the outer teeth of the base slider group, and the angular deflection is (Z+k / m)360 / n degrees, and 1≤ k≤m-1, and the expansion and retraction mechanism is capable of simultaneously push the multiple sliders to extend in radial directions. The outer teeth of different sliders can simultaneously abut against or be engaged with the inner teeth at different phases, thus achieving the stable securing and stepless adjusting of the ratchet position.