Vehicle Seat Drive Friction Ring for Reducer Play Masking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Motorized training devices for vehicle seats often exhibit a noticeable functional game due to the reducer's operation, which can be distracting during location changes such as when a occupant sits or leaves the seat, and existing solutions fail to effectively mask this game.
Innovation Solution
A motorized training device with an actuator housing containing a reducer, an output organ with a friction ring that includes a skirt in contact with an inner level, creating a friction brake effect, which masks the reducer's game by requiring a torque above a predetermined threshold to turn the output organ, thus minimizing noticeable movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a reducer with functional clearance is used to achieve high reduction ratio, then the seat raising movement can operate in all circumstances, but noticeable gear play occurs when load polarity changes
Solution Approach 1:
A friction ring is introduced as an intermediary element between the output pinion and the inner bearing. This friction ring creates a friction brake that masks the functional clearance of the reducer, preventing noticeable gear play while maintaining operational reliability. The friction ring acts as a mediator that absorbs the clearance effect through frictional resistance.
2Ease of operation
If a friction brake is applied to mask reducer play, then gear play is reduced, but additional friction elements increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The friction ring is merged with the existing actuator housing structure. The inner bearing is integrated into the housing, and the friction ring is positioned between the output pinion and the bearing, combining multiple functions (support, friction braking, and clearance masking) into a unified structure rather than adding separate independent components.
3Ease of operation
If a torque threshold is required to overcome friction brake, then functional clearance is masked, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The friction coefficient and normal force parameters of the friction brake are optimized to achieve the desired torque threshold for masking clearance while minimizing energy consumption. By adjusting these parameters, the system requires sufficient torque to mask the functional clearance during normal operation, but the energy penalty is minimized through proper parameter selection.
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 effectively masks the reducer's game by ensuring the output organ only turns when a sufficient torque is applied, providing a smoother operation and reducing the noticeable functional game, with a braking torque of at least 3 N.m, thus enhancing user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a friction ring mounted around said output member and integral in rotation with said output member, the friction ring comprising a skirt, the actuator housing comprising an inner bearing for receiving said skirt, the skirt being in contact with at least said inner bearing to form a friction brake between said output member forming a rotating part and said inner bearing forming a fixed part
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 4A~6
AI summary
Motorized drive device for vehicle seat having a seat in particular with a riser, the device comprising an actuator (13) and an actuator housing (10) containing a reducer (8), an output member (3), mounted for rotation about an axis (A1), the output member comprising a peripheral rim (2), a friction ring (4) mounted around the output member and rotationally fixed to the output member, the friction ring comprising a skirt (5), the actuator housing comprising an inner bearing (1) optionally provided with a plurality of internal radial projections (1a) to receive the skirt, the skirt coming into contact at least against the inner bearing to generate continuous friction between the output member forming a rotating part and the inner bearing forming a fixed part.