Deployable Seat Armrest with Swing Bar for Lateral Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicles often lack a reaction surface alongside seats during impacts, which can lead to inadequate lateral support for occupants, as existing components may not effectively control occupant kinematics without additional support.
Innovation Solution
A seat system with a rotatable armrest and swing bar mechanism, actuated by a pyrotechnic system and drive belt, that deploys to provide additional lateral support by rotating the swing bar downward when the armrest is deployed, enhancing the control of occupant kinematics during impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a traditional seat structure is used without additional components, then the device complexity is low, but the lateral support capability during impacts is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The seat structure is segmented into multiple functional components: a deployable armrest assembly and a swing bar assembly. The armrest can rotate between stowed and deployed positions, while the swing bar can rotate between retracted and extended positions. This segmentation allows the system to provide lateral support only when needed during impacts, maintaining simplicity during normal operation while enhancing safety when required.
Solution Approach 2:
The armrest and swing bar are designed as dynamic components that can change their configuration and position. The armrest rotates about a first axis to deploy laterally, and the swing bar rotates about a second axis to extend downward. This dynamic capability allows the structure to adapt to impact conditions and provide lateral support on-demand, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and safety enhancement.
2Reliability
If the swing bar is extended downward to provide lateral support, then the occupant kinematics control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The swing bar assembly is nested within or integrated with the armrest structure. The swing bar rotates relative to the armrest about a second axis, allowing it to extend downward independently while being compactly stored when not in use. This nesting approach minimizes the space required and reduces overall structural complexity while maintaining the reliability of occupant kinematics control during impacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The pyrotechnic actuator is pre-positioned and pre-charged to rapidly deploy the armrest and swing bar assemblies during impact events. This preliminary preparation allows the system to transition from a compact state to a supportive state almost instantaneously, ensuring reliable occupant kinematics control without requiring complex real-time actuation systems.
3Strength
If additional components like armrest and swing bar are added, then the lateral support is enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The armrest assembly serves multiple functions: it acts as a structural support element, a deployable lateral restraint, and a mounting structure for the swing bar assembly. The swing bar similarly provides both structural integration and active lateral support functionality. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining enhanced lateral support capability.
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 deployment of the armrest and swing bar mechanism effectively increases the likelihood of controlling occupant kinematics by providing additional lateral support, even in the absence of other reaction surfaces, thereby enhancing occupant safety during vehicle impacts.
Implementation Method 1
a pyrotechnic actuator supported by the seatback and engaged with the armrest. The pyrotechnic actuator may be configured to rotate the armrest to the deployed position
Implementation Method 2
A drive belt is indexed with the armrest and the swing bar to rotate the swing bar to the downward position when the armrest rotates to the deployed position
Data Source
AI summary
A seat includes a seatback and an armrest supported by the seatback. The armrest is rotatable relative to the seatback to a deployed position. A swing bar is supported by the armrest and is rotatable relative to the armrest to a downward position. The swing bar in the downward position is elongated downwardly from the armrest. A drive belt is indexed with the armrest and the swing bar to rotate the swing bar to the downward position when the armrests rotates to the deployed position.