Vehicle Seat Blower Mounting Structure Against Vibration Unlocking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Blowers mounted on vehicle seats can become unlocked from their mounting members due to vibration during vehicle travel, as the center of gravity deviates from the rotation center, leading to unintended rotation.
Innovation Solution
A blower mounting structure with a blower mounting member and locking portion, where the blower's center of gravity is positioned to create a rotational force that locks it in one direction, preventing unlocking by aligning the lock portion with the projection and elongated hole configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the blower is mounted with the center of gravity aligned at the rotation center, then the mounting structure is simple and symmetric, but the blower may rotate unintentionally due to vibration during vehicle traveling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by deliberately offsetting the blower's center of gravity from the rotation center. This creates an asymmetric weight distribution that generates a unidirectional rotational force (moment) to maintain the locked position. The asymmetric positioning of the center of gravity relative to the rotation axis is the core mechanism that prevents unintended rotation during vibration.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the blower is designed to rotate and lock in one direction, then secure mounting is achieved, but the locking mechanism becomes more complex requiring additional locking portions and elongated holes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamics by allowing the blower to rotate during the mounting process itself. The rotation is not just a positioning adjustment but an integral part of the locking mechanism activation. As the blower rotates into its final position, the locking portion engages with the projection through the elongated hole, dynamically transitioning from an unlocked to locked state through the rotation motion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of vibration-induced rotation into a beneficial self-locking mechanism. The same vibrational forces that could cause unintended rotation are harnessed to reinforce the locked position, as the offset center of gravity creates a restoring moment that pushes the blower back into the locked position if disturbed.
3Reliability
If the center of gravity is offset to prevent rotation, then a rotational force is generated to maintain lock, but the blower experiences additional mechanical stress from the constant rotational moment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the center of gravity offset from the rotation center during the design phase. This preliminary asymmetric configuration ensures that the beneficial rotational moment is always present to maintain the locked position, proactively preventing unintended rotation before vibration or other disturbances can occur during vehicle operation.
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
Prevents the blower from being unintentionally unlocked from the mounting member during vehicle vibration, ensuring secure attachment and facilitating easy assembly by using alignment marks for fitting.
Implementation Method 1
a center of gravity of the blower is set at a position at which a rotational force in the one direction about the axis acts on the blower
Data Source
AI summary
In a blower mounting structure for a vehicle seat, a blower mounting member disposed in a seat back is provided with a blower mounting hole and a protrusion. A blower is mounted to the blower mounting member by being subjected to rotation in one direction about an axis of the blower mounting hole in a state of being fitted into the blower mounting hole, and has a lock portion locked to the projection by the rotation. The center of gravity of the blower is set at a position at which a rotational force in one direction about the axis acts on the blower.