Vehicle Seat Crosspiece Reinforcement with Nested Over-Crosspiece
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle front seat cross members lack effective reinforcement to efficiently transmit side impact forces to the vehicle's underbody, compromising passenger safety during side impacts.
Innovation Solution
A rigid over-crosspiece, shaped like a 'U' section with non-parallel sides, is fixed between a side member and a central tunnel using inflatable inserts to reinforce the seat cross member, ensuring effective force transmission and absorption during side impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a traditional seat cross member is used, then the device complexity is low, but the strength and energy absorption capability during side impact are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The over-crosspiece is positioned inside the U-shaped cross member, with its open end facing downward, creating a nested configuration where the reinforcement element is contained within the existing structure. This nesting approach provides strengthening without adding external complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The solution combines the original cross member with an additional over-crosspiece element to create a composite structural system. The two components work together to provide enhanced strength and energy absorption while maintaining relatively simple individual component designs
2Loss of energy
If reinforcing members are added to the cross member, then the energy absorption capability improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcement system is divided into separate components: the original cross member and the additional over-crosspiece. This segmentation allows each part to be manufactured independently using standard processes, then assembled together to achieve the desired energy absorption characteristics
3Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid over-crosspiece is added to reinforce the seat cross member, then the rigidity increases, but the device complexity and assembly difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The over-crosspiece fits within the U-shaped cross member configuration, creating a nested arrangement that provides rigidity enhancement while maintaining a compact integrated appearance. The nested structure naturally guides alignment during assembly
Solution Approach 2:
The over-crosspiece is positioned to be substantially coplanar with the cross member, creating an equipotential arrangement where both elements lie in the same plane. This positioning simplifies assembly by eliminating complex angular alignments while maintaining structural rigidity
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 enhances the structural rigidity and energy absorption of the vehicle's underbody during side impacts, improving passenger safety without additional costs, as it maintains the cross member's geometry and absorbs energy effectively, while being easy to assemble and integrate.
Implementation Method 1
the over-sleeper is fixed to the sleeper by means of inflatable inserts
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The device has a rigid sub-crosspiece (4) fixed at the top of a front passenger seat crosspiece (1) over the length of the seat crosspiece by bumped inserts (10, 11) so as to reinforce the seat crosspiece during a lateral impact on a motor vehicle. Each of the seat crosspiece and the sub-crosspiece is a beam having a U-section with an open part turned downwards. The inserts are placed on inner faces of side walls (4c, 4d) of the sub-crosspiece. An independent claim is also included for a method for mounting a reinforcing device on a front seat crosspiece of a vehicle such as motor vehicle.