Vehicle Seat Rotation Catching Unit with Progressive Spring Stiffness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle seat rotating devices lack effective mechanisms to prevent the seat part carrier from tearing apart from the base component during crashes while also minimizing noise and maximizing natural frequency.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a catching unit with an insertion element and a receiving element, where the receiving element features spring elements that maintain constant stiffness initially but significantly increase with deformation, providing enhanced crash protection, reduced noise, and increased natural frequency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rigid connection elements are used to prevent detachment during crashes, then crash protection is improved, but noise increases and natural frequency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrash protectionVSAvoidnoise
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the connection system by using spring elements with specific stiffness characteristics. The spring elements are designed to have low stiffness during normal operation (reducing noise and increasing natural frequency) and high stiffness during crash events (providing crash protection). This parameter change allows the system to adapt its mechanical properties based on the operational state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic behavior into the connection system through spring elements that can deform and absorb energy. Unlike rigid connections, the spring elements dynamically respond to applied forces, allowing the system to adapt to different loading conditions. The spring elements remain elastic during normal vibration but provide progressive resistance during crash events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If rigid connection elements are used to prevent detachment during crashes, then crash protection is improved, but natural frequency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecrash protectionVSAvoidnatural frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the connection system by using spring elements with specific stiffness characteristics. The spring elements are designed to have low stiffness during normal operation (reducing noise and increasing natural frequency) and high stiffness during crash events (providing crash protection). This parameter change allows the system to adapt its mechanical properties based on the operational state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic behavior into the connection system through spring elements that can deform and absorb energy. Unlike rigid connections, the spring elements dynamically respond to applied forces, allowing the system to adapt to different loading conditions. The spring elements remain elastic during normal vibration but provide progressive resistance during crash events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If spring elements with constant stiffness are used, then ease of insertion is improved, but crash protection is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of insertionVSAvoidcrash protection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the connection system by using spring elements with specific stiffness characteristics. The spring elements are designed to have low stiffness during normal operation (reducing noise and increasing natural frequency) and high stiffness during crash events (providing crash protection). This parameter change allows the system to adapt its mechanical properties based on the operational state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic behavior into the connection system through spring elements that can deform and absorb energy. Unlike rigid connections, the spring elements dynamically respond to applied forces, allowing the system to adapt to different loading conditions. The spring elements remain elastic during normal vibration but provide progressive resistance during crash events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 prevents the seat part carrier from detaching during crashes, reduces noise, and enhances the natural frequency of the vehicle seat by utilizing spring elements that provide minimal resistance initially but increase stiffness with deformation, effectively dampening vibrations.

Implementation Method 1

the receiving element (26) has at least one spring element (40) which undergoes a deformation through contact with the inserted insertion element (24)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2892757B1Vehicle seat with a rotation device
Publication Date: 2018.10.10 ADIENT LUXEMBOURG HLDG SARL
  • EP2892757B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2892757B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2892757B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a vehicle seat (1) with a turning device (10), comprising a base part (14), a seat part support (16) rotatable relative to the base part about an axis of rotation (12) and at least one catching device (20) for preventing the seat part support (16) from being ripped out of the base part (14) in the event of a crash. The catching device (20) comprises an insertion element (24) and a receiving element (26) into which the insertion element (24) can be inserted, and the receiving element (26) has at least one spring element (40) which undergoes a deformation by contact with the inserted insertion element (24), wherein the spring element (40) is designed such that,when the insertion element (24) is inserted, the spring resistance of the spring element is approximately the same as when the insertion element (24) is not inserted, and that the spring resistance of the spring element increases upon a further deformation by the insertion element (24).