Vehicle Seat Adjustment via Collision Force Actuation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle seat adjustment systems are not fast enough to move occupants into a safe position during collisions, especially when they are in a reclined position, which can compromise the effectiveness of safety systems like seat belts and airbags, and these systems are complex and costly.

Innovation Solution

A method that detects imminent collisions and uses the collision force to adjust the vehicle seat from a reclined to a pre-determinable safety position through passive mechanical means, such as mechanical linkages or force deformation elements, actuated by the seat belt and occupant, eliminating the need for active components like pyrotechnic devices or electrical motors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If active means (pyrotechnic devices, electrical motors) are used to adjust the seat position during collision, then the seat can be moved into a safety position, but the system becomes complicated and expensive with multiple parts requiring space and time to install

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat position adjustment reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful collision force into a beneficial actuating force that automatically adjusts the seat to a safe position. The collision force, which would otherwise be purely harmful, is harnessed to drive the mechanical adjustment means, eliminating the need for complex active systems while ensuring reliable seat repositioning during the critical collision moment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The seat adjustment system becomes self-actuating by using the collision force itself to trigger the adjustment mechanism. The system serves itself by automatically converting the collision event into the driving force needed for seat repositioning, without requiring external power sources, control systems, or additional active components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Speed

If active means are used to move the seat during collision, then the seat position can be adjusted, but the response time may be insufficient for the seat to reach the appropriate position before the collision impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat adjustment speedVSAvoidtiming of safety system activation

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The collision force is converted into the driving force for seat adjustment, ensuring that the seat begins moving precisely when the collision occurs. This eliminates response time delays associated with active systems that need to detect and then actuate, as the harmful collision force directly becomes the beneficial driving force for immediate seat repositioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Ease of operation

If occupants adjust the seat to a more reclined position for comfort, then comfort is improved, but the seat is no longer in the optimal range for safety systems to work properly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseat comfort adjustmentVSAvoidsafety system effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The seat position system transitions from a static post-collision adjustment to a dynamic response that occurs during the collision itself. The mechanical adjustment means allows the seat to dynamically reposition during the collision event, automatically restoring the optimal safety position regardless of the initial reclined comfort position, thereby maintaining both comfort flexibility and safety effectiveness.

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

This solution ensures the seat is adjusted quickly and effectively into a safety position, enhancing the protection offered by safety systems without the complexity and cost of active systems, while minimizing stress on occupants and preventing submarining under the seat belt.

Implementation Method 1

adjusting the position of the vehicle seat from the reclined position to the pre-determinable safety position by means of a seat adjustment means associated with the vehicle seat, the seat adjustment means being actuated by a collision force generated by the imminent or ongoing frontal or semi-frontal collision

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCollision force: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentUS10974627B2Method for adjusting a position of a vehicle seat

Publication Date: 2021.04.13 VOLVO CAR CORP

AI summary

A method for adjusting a position of a vehicle seat from a reclined position to a pre-determinable safety position. The method includes detecting an imminent or ongoing frontal or semi-frontal collision, pretensioning a seat belt associated with the vehicle seat, the seat belt being directly or indirectly attached to a backrest of the vehicle seat, and adjusting the position of the vehicle seat from the reclined position to the pre-determinable safety position by means of a seat adjustment means associated with the vehicle seat, the seat adjustment means being actuated by a collision force generated by the imminent or ongoing frontal or semi-frontal collision and applied via a seat occupant and/or the seat belt to the vehicle seat. The present invention also relates to an occupant safety arrangement for a vehicle seat.