Vehicle Seat Coupling Mechanism for Manual Easy-Entry Override
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat adjusting devices become complex and less efficient when an electric drive motor fails, making it difficult to adjust the seat into an easy-entry position for comfortable entry and exit.
Innovation Solution
An adjusting device with a pivot lever, drive element, and coupling element that allows for manual decoupling of the drive element from the pivot lever, enabling the seat to be adjusted into an easy-entry position without additional mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an additional manual unlocking mechanism is provided for the backrest, then easy entry and exit is enabled on drive failure, but the construction of the vehicle seat becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The existing drive mechanism is designed to serve dual purposes: normal electric adjustment and manual adjustment via the coupling element. By making the coupling element disengageable, the same mechanical structure enables both powered operation and manual override, eliminating the need for separate manual unlocking mechanisms for the backrest.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element is designed to be manually operable by the user without requiring additional tools or mechanisms. The user can directly manipulate the coupling element to disengage it from the drive sprocket, enabling manual adjustment of the seat and backrest, thereby making the system self-sufficient even when the electric drive fails.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the coupling element is made disengageable for manual adjustment, then adjustment is possible on drive failure, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The drive mechanism is segmented into separable components: the drive sprocket, the coupling element, and the pivot lever. The coupling element acts as a detachable connector that can be easily engaged or disengaged from the drive sprocket. This segmentation allows the system to switch between powered and manual operation without requiring entirely separate mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while achieving versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow it to transition between engaged and disengaged states. Its movable design enables it to adapt to different operational modes (electric drive or manual adjustment) as needed, providing flexibility without permanently increasing structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
It is provided an adjusting device for a vehicle seat, comprising: a pivot lever pivotable about a pivot axis for adjustably mounting a seat part of the vehicle seat on a base of the vehicle seat, a drive element and a coupling element, which is movably mounted between a coupling position in which the coupling element builds up a coupling between the drive element and the pivot lever for pivoting the pivot lever about the pivot axis, and a decoupling position in which the coupling of the pivot lever with the drive element via the coupling element is released.