Vehicle Seat Fitting Collar Groove Forming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for producing vehicle seat fittings with a large support surface are inadequate, as they result in creases and material displacement, leading to insufficient support and reduced quality.

Innovation Solution

A fitting with a collar that undergoes radial material displacement and additional axial compression, featuring a groove formed by a bead tool to enhance the support surface without reducing the inner diameter, which strengthens the collar and improves material distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If known collaring methods are used to produce a large support surface, then the support surface area is increased, but the quality deteriorates due to creases and material drawing in

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport surface areaVSAvoidsupport surface quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is pre-formed with a drawn collar configuration before the final forming operation. This preliminary structure allows for better material control during subsequent forming, preventing creases and material drawing in while achieving the required support surface area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the forming parameters by using specific tool geometries (forming tools with tailored profiles) and controlling material flow during the collaring process. This allows achieving a large support surface without the quality defects associated with conventional methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the collar wall thickness is increased to improve support surface quality, then the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesupport surface qualityVSAvoidcollar manufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of simply increasing wall thickness, the invention optimizes the forming parameters including tool geometry, forming sequence, and material flow control. This achieves high support surface quality while maintaining efficient manufacturing through a controlled multi-step process rather than brute-force thickness increase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 provides a high-quality support surface that prevents material folding and creases, ensuring adequate support and stability for the driver component, while maintaining the inner diameter of the collar.

Implementation Method 1

the free end of the collar with a radial material displacement, optionally with an additional axial compression

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadial material displacement: Deformation

Implementation Method 2

the free end of the collar with a radial material displacement, optionally with an additional axial compression

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAxial compression: Compression

Data Source

PatentEP2675656B1Fitting for a vehicle seat and method for producing same
Publication Date: 2019.01.16 ADIENT LUXEMBOURG HLDG SARL
  • EP2675656B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2675656B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP2675656B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a fitting (10) for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, comprising a first fitting part (11) and a second fitting part (12), which are rotatable relative to one another and which are in geared connection with one another by means of a ring gear (17) and a gear wheel (16) which meshes with the ring gear (17), and comprising a cam (27, 27) which is driven by a driver (21) and revolves in the circumferential direction in order to drive a relative rolling movement of the gear wheel (16) and the ring gear (17), wherein the driver (21) is mounted with a clearance in a and/or the cam (27, 27) on a collar (19) of the second fitting part (12), and wherein the collar (19) has a flange (19b) on the free end thereof, wherein the end face of said flange forms an axial support surface (19f) for the driver (21), and the flange (19b) comprises a groove (19g) in the support surface (19f).