Vehicle Seat Anti-Submarining Panel Pivoting Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing anti-submarining devices in vehicle seats require robust actuators to rotate or raise a plate against the pelvic region quickly during rapid deceleration, potentially causing discomfort and may not effectively prevent submarining for all occupant sizes or positions.
Innovation Solution
A seat bottom assembly with a pivot shaft and panel that pivots between a design and open position, featuring a biasing device to urge the panel open and a one-way locking device to prevent reversion, allowing for reduced actuator strength and enhanced occupant protection without abrupt movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a robust actuator is used to rotate or raise the plate quickly during rapid deceleration, then the anti-submarining effect is improved, but the device complexity and potential occupant discomfort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The seat bottom is segmented into a fixed rear portion and a movable front portion (panel). The panel can be pivoted independently from the main seat bottom, allowing the anti-submarining function to be isolated to a small segment rather than requiring movement of the entire seat bottom. This segmentation reduces the moment of inertia and the force required by the actuator.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of raising the entire seat bottom uniformly, only the front portion of the seat bottom (the panel) is raised locally. This localized movement is sufficient to prevent submarining while requiring significantly less actuator force compared to moving the entire seat bottom assembly.
2Reliability
If the plate is positioned in the middle of the seat bottom, then the anti-submarining coverage is improved, but the actuator must be more robust to rotate the plate against the pelvic region
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-submarining panel is extracted from the center of the seat bottom and repositioned to the front edge. This extraction allows the panel to be positioned optimally at the front where it can effectively block submarining movement without requiring rotation against the occupant's pelvic region, thereby reducing the force requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of positioning the movable panel in the middle of the seat bottom as in conventional designs, this invention inverts the approach by positioning it at the front edge. This inverted positioning changes the pivot point and reduces the moment arm, thereby reducing the torque and force required from the actuator.
3Force
If the panel is positioned to cover only a small forward portion of the seat bottom, then the actuator strength requirement is reduced, but the anti-submarining coverage may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is preliminarily positioned at the front edge of the seat bottom in a ready state. During normal operation, the panel remains in the design position providing standard seating. Upon detection of rapid deceleration, the panel is quickly pivoted to the open position to provide anti-submarining coverage. This preliminary positioning allows the small panel to effectively cover the critical gap area between the lap belt and seat bottom.
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 effectively minimizes submarining movement by positioning the panel to oppose forward displacement without the need for a robust actuator, ensuring comfort and protection for a range of occupant sizes and positions during rapid deceleration.
Implementation Method 1
a biasing device operably positioned between the seat bottom frame and the panel to urge the panel to the open position
Implementation Method 2
The panel extends along the longitudinal axis of the vehicle between a front edge and a rear edge and is mounted to the pivot shaft for pivoting movement
Data Source
AI summary
A seat bottom assembly includes a seat bottom frame and an anti-submarining device having a pivot shaft and a panel. The frame extends along a longitudinal axis between a front edge and a rear edge and the pivot shaft is mounted on the frame. The panel extends along the longitudinal axis between a front edge and a rear edge and is mounted to the pivot shaft for pivoting movement between a design position and an open position angularly spaced from the design position. The panel opposes forward displacement of an occupant supported by the frame while in the open position. The rear edge of the panel is spaced forward of a midpoint of the frame such that only a forward portion of the seat bottom assembly between the midpoint and the front edge of the frame opposes forward displacement of the occupant when the panel is in the open position.