Vehicle Seat Fitting With Offset Stop Tracks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat fittings with multiple locking elements face challenges in providing sufficient free-pivoting angular range and maintaining structural strength, especially when the number of locking elements is high, as they tend to lock during free-pivoting operations, limiting the angular range and requiring excessive force to hold the eccentric.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a free-pivoting control element with offset stop tracks and lugs, allowing adjacent locking elements to interact with different stop tracks, providing a longer stop track length and symmetrical force ratios, enabling a free-pivoting range greater than 360° divided by the number of locking elements, while maintaining structural integrity and minimizing construction space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If multiple locking elements are provided to ensure greater strength in high-loading seats, then the fitting has greater strength, but the free-pivoting angular range is limited by the angular distance between locking elements
Solution Approach 1:
The locking elements are divided into different groups (first locking elements and second locking elements) that interact with different stop tracks (first stop track and second stop track), allowing each group to operate independently in different angular ranges
Solution Approach 2:
The stop tracks are offset axially and/or radially with respect to each other, creating a three-dimensional arrangement that allows locking elements to access different stop tracks at different angular positions, effectively increasing the available angular range
2Length of moving object
If a single locking element is kept open to provide free-pivoting range, then the angular range is increased, but the eccentric must be held open requiring excessive force
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is segmented across multiple locking elements distributed around the fitting, with each element capable of engaging different stop tracks, eliminating the need to hold a single eccentric open
Solution Approach 2:
The stop tracks are designed with different axial and radial positions, allowing locking elements to engage at different parameters (positions) depending on the angular range required, enabling flexible operation without excessive force
3Length of moving object
If stop tracks are made longer to increase free-pivoting range, then the angular range is increased, but the construction space required increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of extending stop tracks radially outward (increasing construction space), the patent utilizes the axial dimension by offsetting stop tracks axially, allowing longer effective stop track length without increasing radial construction space
Solution Approach 2:
The multiple stop tracks are nested in the axial direction within the same radial envelope, allowing the fitting to accommodate multiple stop tracks of different lengths without proportionally increasing the overall construction space
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
This solution ensures the fitting remains unlocked during free-pivoting operations, providing increased operational comfort and maintaining structural strength by allowing greater free-pivoting angular range and symmetrical force distribution, even with high-loading conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a drivable eccentric mounted for rotating about the axis; at least four locking elements that are radially guided by the first fitting part, and are for being acted upon by the eccentric so that they move radially outward
Implementation Method 2
a disk cam which pulls the locking elements radially inward to unlock the fitting
Data Source
AI summary
A fitting has a first fitting part, a second fitting part which is rotatable about an axis relative to the first fitting part, a drivable eccentric mounted rotatably about the axis, locking elements moved radially outward by the eccentric to interact with the second fitting part to lock the fitting, a disc cam which pulls the locking elements radially inwards to unlock the fitting, and a free-pivoting control element which, in a certain free-pivoting angular range corresponding to a relative angular range of the fitting parts, prevents the fitting from locking. The free-pivoting control element has at least one first stop track, and at least one second stop track which is offset axially and/or radially with respect to the first stop track. The locking elements comprise first locking elements which interact with the first stop track, and second locking elements which interact with the second stop track.