Automotive Seat Back Damper with Variable Resistance Profile
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing folding mechanisms for automobile seats lack effective control over the speed of the seat backrest as it moves from the seated position to the folded position, often resulting in excessive speeds due to gravity, which can be disturbing and potentially injurious to occupants.
Innovation Solution
A damper system is introduced between the seat backrest and the seat base, featuring a guide with a profile and a pin that slides along it, providing varying resistance to movement based on the angular position, maximizing resistance at an intermediate position to control the falling motion and reduce speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the seat backrest is allowed to fold freely under gravity, then the folding operation becomes easier, but the speed of the falling motion becomes excessive and potentially dangerous
Solution Approach 1:
A damper device is introduced as an intermediary element between the seat backrest and seat base. This damper includes a piston moving within a cylinder filled with viscous fluid, creating resistance to the falling motion without completely preventing it. The intermediary damper mediates between gravity (which enables easy folding) and safety concerns (which require speed control), allowing controlled folding operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper device changes the parameter of resistance force during the folding process. As the piston moves through different positions in the cylinder, the resistance force varies, providing higher resistance during the dangerous falling phase and lower resistance during controlled phases. This dynamic parameter change allows the system to adapt to different stages of the folding motion.
2Reliability
If resistance is applied to control the falling speed, then safety is improved, but the operation becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The damper acts as an intermediary that provides controlled resistance rather than complete blocking. This intermediary mechanism maintains safety by preventing excessive speeds while still allowing the folding operation to proceed with reasonable ease, as the resistance is tuned to match the operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The damper provides dynamic resistance that adapts to the motion state. The resistance force is not constant but varies during the folding process, being higher when needed for safety and lower when ease of operation is prioritized, creating a balanced system that satisfies both safety and operability requirements.
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 damper system effectively controls the speed of the seat backrest during folding, preventing excessive motion and potential injuries, while allowing for easier operation and safer use of vehicle space by varying resistance to match the seat's angular position, thus enhancing user safety and cargo space utilization.
Implementation Method 1
The pin and the profile being arranged and shaped to create a resistance to movement between the first position and the second position
Implementation Method 2
As the seat backrest passes from the upper most vertical position to the lower folded position, gravity affects the seat backrest, and the seat backrest performs a falling type motion that is assisted by gravity
Data Source
AI summary
A damper is arranged between the seat backrest and the seat base. This damper applies a resistance to seat backrest movement, especially movement from the vertical position to the folded position. The damper includes a pin and profile mounted on the seat backrest and seat base respectively, or vice versa. The pin and profile slide against each other during movement of the seat backrest relative to the seat base. The shape, size, material, and/or the surface characteristics of the pin and profile determine the resistance to movement of the seat backrest. These parameters of the pin and profile can be varied, especially along different portions of the profile to apply the desired resistance at different angular positions of the seat backrest with respect to the seat base.