Vehicle Seat Fitting With Intermediate Ring To Reduce Friction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat fittings face issues with high friction coefficients between metal components, leading to unfavorable wear and noise, and require complex assembly processes that demand high load-bearing connections and sliding planes, which are not efficiently addressed by prior art.
Innovation Solution
A fitting design featuring a second fitting part with an inwardly offset step and cylindrical bearing surface, supported by an intermediate ring connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the clasping ring, which reduces friction and noise by allowing radial prestressing and direct support during crashes while maintaining a radial gap in normal operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If metal fitting parts are mounted directly on one another with a sliding plane, then assembly is simplified, but the coefficient of friction is high leading to unfavorable wear and noise
Solution Approach 1:
A plastic intermediate ring is introduced between the metal fitting parts to serve as a mediator. This intermediate ring eliminates direct metal-to-metal contact, thereby reducing friction and wear while maintaining the sliding plane functionality for simplified assembly.
2Ease of manufacture
If a sliding plane is provided between fitting parts, then assembly is easier, but high loads during operation require strong load-bearing connections
Solution Approach 1:
The plastic intermediate ring acts as an intermediary that distributes loads effectively. It provides a sliding plane for easy assembly while its material properties allow it to handle high operational loads without requiring excessively strong metal-to-metal connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The fitting combines metal and plastic materials to create a composite structure. The metal parts provide structural strength and load-bearing capacity, while the plastic intermediate ring provides low-friction sliding surfaces, achieving both ease of assembly and operational strength.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the bearing surface is positioned on the outer circumference, then radial support is provided, but crash safety is reduced compared to direct support
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing surface is shifted from the outer circumference to an inward offset position on the second fitting part. This dimensional repositioning allows the clasping ring to engage directly with the fitting part in crash scenarios, improving safety while the inward offset position provides adequate radial support during normal operation.
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 reduces wear and noise, enhances crash safety by providing direct support during impacts, and maintains efficient operation with reduced contact in normal conditions, ensuring the fitting remains centered and stable.
Implementation Method 1
This results in an unfavorable coefficient of friction for the material pairing metal-metal
Implementation Method 2
enhances crash safety by providing direct support during impacts
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a fitting (1) for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, having a first fitting part (11), a second fitting part (12) which is mounted on the first fitting part (11), and which is rotatable relative to said first part about a central axis (A), a peripheral clamping ring (21) which has a substantially L-shaped cross section, and which is connected to the first fitting part (11) and extends over the second fitting part (12) for axially securing same, and an intermediate ring (31) which has a substantially L-shaped cross section, and which is arranged between the peripheral clamping ring (21) and the second fitting part (12), wherein, a ledge (12a) is formed on the second fitting part (12), which ledge is radially inwardly offset with respect to the maximum outer diameter, and has an end surface (12c) which extends outward in the radial direction, and a cylindrical supporting surface (12b), the supporting surface (12b) has a diameter which is smaller than the maximum outer diameter of the second fitting part (12), and the cylindrical supporting surface (12b) directly or indirectly supports the peripheral clamping ring (21).