Reclining Vehicle Seat Assembly With Gas-Spring Easy Entry Pivot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat assemblies face challenges in efficiently transitioning from a standard seating configuration to an easy entry configuration, often requiring larger and more expensive actuators or increased manual effort.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat assembly design featuring a squab frame, slideway, connecting rod, and a gas spring linear actuator, where the squab frame pivots about a transverse axis, supported by the gas spring, to facilitate easy entry configuration, allowing for a smaller slideway actuator or reduced manual effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a traditional actuator system is used to move the seat assembly into easy entry configuration, then the seat can be repositioned, but the actuator becomes larger and more expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the actuation function into two parts: a slideway actuator that provides initial longitudinal movement, and a gas spring that provides the pivoting motion. This segmentation allows each component to be smaller and less complex than a single actuator would need to be to perform both functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting rod acts as an intermediary mechanism that transfers motion from the slideway actuator to the squab frame pivot point. It converts longitudinal movement into rotational motion, enabling the gas spring to efficiently assist the pivoting action without requiring a large actuator.
2Ease of operation
If manual effort is used to move the seat assembly into easy entry configuration, then no additional actuators are needed, but the effort required by the individual increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas spring acts as a counterweight mechanism that provides upward and outward force to assist the heavy seat assembly during pivoting. This counteracts the gravitational force and inertia of the seat, significantly reducing the manual effort needed to achieve the easy entry configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static locked position to a dynamic assisted-movement state. The gas spring is designed to provide variable force during the pivoting motion, delivering maximum assistance when needed and automatically adjusting as the seat reaches its target position.
3Ease of operation
If the squab frame pivots about a transverse axis near the front end, then easy entry configuration is achieved, but the mechanism requires precise coordination of multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot point is deliberately positioned asymmetrically near the front end of the seat rather than at the center. This asymmetric placement creates a mechanical advantage that amplifies the effect of the gas spring force and allows the connecting rod to efficiently convert longitudinal motion into rotation about the desired axis.
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 design enables efficient pivoting of the squab frame into an easy entry configuration, reducing the size and cost of the slideway actuator and minimizing the effort required for manual operation.
Implementation Method 1
a linear actuator, preferably a cylinder, more preferably a gas spring
Data Source
AI summary
In a vehicle seat assembly, a squab frame is pivotable relative to a movable element of a slideway. A connecting rod, connected to a fixed element of the slideway, is guided in translation relative to the squab frame. A stop limits the translation of the connecting rod. The length of travel of the slideway, the connecting rod and the stop are shaped so that an extension of the slideway while the connecting rod is in contact with the stop, causes the squab frame to rotate, supported by the action of a linear actuator mounted between the movable element of the slideway and the squab frame.