Vehicle Seat Height Drive Actuator Gap Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat height adjustment drives suffer from excessive idling due to unwanted relative movement between the actuator and the driven part when torque is not applied, leading to delayed reaction to user input.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a means, such as a spring or frictional connection, between the actuator and the driven part to reduce or prevent relative movement, utilizing form-fitting and/or force-fitting mechanisms like indentations and bulges for positive or non-positive locking, which are effective only when the drive part is not actuated, thereby minimizing the gap and enhancing responsiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional adjustment drive without additional means is used, then the device complexity remains low, but excessive idling occurs due to unwanted relative movement between actuator and driven part
Solution Approach 1:
A means (15) is introduced as an intermediary element between the actuator (3) and the driven part (11). This means includes form-fitting means (15.1) that interact with corresponding features on the actuator to reduce relative movement and minimize the gap, thereby improving adjustment responsiveness without requiring a complete redesign of the drive system
2Reliability
If form-fitting means are added to reduce relative movement, then adjustment responsiveness improves, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of modifying the entire actuator or driven part, the form-fitting means (15.1) are localized to specific interaction points on the means (15). This localized approach allows the majority of components to remain simple and easy to manufacture, while only small specific features are added to achieve the gap-minimizing function
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 reduces idling and enhances the quickness of the adjustment response to user input, improving the comfort of the seat occupant by minimizing the gap between the actuator and the driven part, allowing for faster and more precise height adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
The means for reducing the relative movement between the actuator and the driven part is preferably a spring means
Implementation Method 2
a frictional connection means, which acts between the actuator and the driven part
Data Source
Figure 1~2b
Figure 3a~6
Figure 7~8
AI summary
The present invention relates to an adjusting drive (1), in particular a height-adjusting drive, for a vehicle seat and having a drive part (2) that is connected to a lever and having an output part (11) that is connected to an adjuster, for example the height adjuster, for the vehicle seat, an actuator (3) being arranged between the drive part and the output part. The actuator is rotatably driven by the drive part (2) and, in turn, rotatably drives the output part (11).