Seat Drive Device Clutch Control for Motor Overload Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat drive devices with a single drive motor face overload and reduced operation speed when multiple position adjustment mechanisms are simultaneously actuated, as they are designed to operate one mechanism at a time.
Innovation Solution
The seat drive device incorporates a mechanism with a single drive motor, operation members, clutch mechanisms, and transmission members to selectively connect and disconnect the output shafts of the clutch mechanisms, preventing simultaneous operation of multiple position adjustment mechanisms by restricting the movement of one operation member when another is in use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single drive motor is used to actuate multiple position adjustment mechanisms, then device complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but the drive motor becomes overloaded and operation speed decreases when multiple mechanisms are simultaneously operated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of clutch mechanisms that can selectively connect or disconnect between the drive motor and different position adjustment mechanisms. This allows the system to adapt its power distribution dynamically, ensuring that only one mechanism receives motor power at a time, thereby preventing overload while maintaining the benefit of using a single drive motor
2Device complexity
If a single drive motor is used to actuate multiple position adjustment mechanisms, then device complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but operation speed decreases when multiple mechanisms are simultaneously operated
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic clutch mechanisms enable rapid switching between different position adjustment mechanisms, ensuring that the drive motor's full power is directed to one mechanism at a time. This maintains high operation speed for each individual adjustment while keeping the overall system simple with a single motor
3Adaptability or versatility
If clutch mechanisms are provided in each path for distributing motor output, then selective actuation of position adjustment mechanisms is enabled, but the system allows simultaneous operation which causes motor overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces operation restricting portions as intermediary elements that mediate between the operation members and the clutch mechanisms. These restricting portions prevent conflicting operations by blocking the activation of one operation member when another is already engaged, thereby maintaining selective actuation capability while preventing simultaneous operation and motor overload
Data Source
AI summary
A seat drive device includes a first operation restricting portion provided to a first transmission member and restricting a second operation member from being operated to move from an original position to an adjustment position in a state where a first operation member has been operated to move from an original position to an adjustment position and the first transmission member has been operated to move in response thereto, and a second operation restricting portion provided to a second transmission member and restricting the first operation member from being operated to move from the original position to the adjustment position in a state where the second operation member has been operated to move from the original position to the adjustment position and the second transmission member has been operated to move in response thereto.