Vehicle Seat Gearbox Bracket Reinforcement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle seat adjustment mechanisms face challenges in withstanding significant forces during collisions, often requiring additional reinforcement or high-strength materials to dissipate forces effectively, which can increase costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

The use of a reinforcement bracket with a U-shaped opening configuration, formed from materials like steel or reinforced plastics, that integrates with a gearbox and spindle system to provide structural support and force dissipation, potentially using progressive stamping techniques for work-hardening to enhance strength without increasing material costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If additional reinforcement or high-strength materials are used to dissipate forces during collisions, then the vehicle seat's ability to withstand collision forces is improved, but the cost and structural complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision force resistanceVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket is divided into multiple walls (first inner wall, second inner wall, bottom wall, first top wall, second top wall, first vertical wall) that work together to provide reinforcement. This segmentation allows the structure to dissipate collision forces through controlled deformation of individual wall sections while maintaining overall structural integrity, avoiding the need for uniformly high-strength materials throughout the entire bracket.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforcement bracket provides localized strengthening at critical areas where collision forces are transmitted to the gearbox. The multi-wall configuration concentrates reinforcement where needed rather than requiring high-strength materials throughout the entire bracket structure, thereby reducing overall material costs while maintaining collision resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Strength

If high-strength materials are used to dissipate forces during collisions, then the vehicle seat's ability to withstand collision forces is improved, but the material cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision force resistanceVSAvoidmaterial cost
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket structure is segmented into multiple walls that can deform independently during collision. This allows the use of standard-strength materials in non-critical areas while providing enhanced force dissipation through the multi-wall configuration, reducing the need for expensive high-strength materials throughout the entire bracket.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The reinforcement bracket uses a three-dimensional multi-wall configuration (with walls extending in different directions and planes) to provide strength and force dissipation. This dimensional approach allows standard materials to achieve collision resistance that would otherwise require expensive high-strength materials, as the geometric configuration provides mechanical advantage and force distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This configuration enhances the vehicle seat's ability to withstand high forces during collisions by effectively dissipating energy through controlled deformation, potentially reducing the need for expensive high-strength materials while maintaining structural integrity and cost-effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

dissipate forces effectively

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Implementation Method 2

withstand significant forces during collisions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnergy absorption: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS11420536B2Vehicle seat gearbox bracket
Publication Date: 2022.08.23 BROSE FAHRZEUGTEILE GMBH & CO KG
  • US11420536B2 patent drawing
  • US11420536B2 patent drawing
  • US11420536B2 patent drawing

AI summary

The vehicle seat may include a fixed portion, a moveable portion, a gearbox, and a reinforcement bracket. The gearbox may be fixed to either the fixed portion or the moveable portion and may be configured to move the moveable portion with respect to the fixed portion. The reinforcement bracket may include a first end portion, a second end portion, and a medial portion that may extend therebetween. The first end portion may define a first U-shaped opening, the second end portion may form a second U-shaped opening, and the medial portion may form a third U-shaped opening that may receive the gearbox.