Seat Cushion Frame Weakening Layout for Submarining Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat designs fail to effectively suppress the submarining phenomenon and forward movement of the occupant's pelvic region during a head-on collision, compromising shock absorption and occupant safety.
Innovation Solution
A seat cushion frame with weakened portions, such as holes or notches, at the rear end of the cushion pan, allowing it to deform and absorb shock while preventing the pelvic region from excessive forward movement, combined with reinforcement members and a lifter mechanism to manage deformation and adjust shock absorption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pelvic region is stopped by the tiltable portion provided to the panel section forward of the stopper, then shock absorbing ability is secured, but forward movement of the occupant's pelvic region becomes excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion pan's structural parameters are changed by introducing weakened portions (holes or notches) at specific locations. This allows the cushion pan to deform in a controlled manner during collision, absorbing shock energy while limiting forward movement of the pelvic region. The weakened portions create predetermined deformation zones that change the mechanical response characteristics of the cushion pan.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushion pan is segmented by creating weakened portions that divide it into regions with different structural integrity. This segmentation allows different parts of the cushion pan to deform independently during collision, with the weakened portions acting as hinge points or deformation origins, thereby controlling the overall deformation pattern to achieve both shock absorption and movement limitation.
2Ease of operation
If the cushion pan is made rigid to prevent forward movement, then forward movement of pelvic region is suppressed, but shock absorbing ability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The cushion pan exhibits local quality variations through the strategically placed weakened portions. Most of the cushion pan maintains sufficient rigidity to suppress forward movement, while the localized weakened portions provide controlled deformation zones for shock absorption. This creates a structure with spatially varying mechanical properties optimized for both functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushion pan transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic structure that changes its mechanical properties during collision. The weakened portions allow the cushion pan to deform dynamically, absorbing energy through controlled collapse while maintaining structural integrity in non-deformation zones to continue suppressing forward movement throughout the collision event.
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 secures shock absorption and effectively suppresses submarining, enhancing occupant safety by managing load distribution and deformation to prevent excessive pelvic region movement during collisions.
Implementation Method 1
the cushion pan is deformed (fold-bended) about the weakened portion as a deformation origin by the increase in the load from the buttocks of the occupant imparted to the cushion pan. This enables a shock absorbing ability to be secured
Data Source
AI summary
A seat cushion frame configuring a framework of a seat cushion for an occupant of a vehicle to sit on and including left and right side frames and a cushion pan. The left and right side frames are disposed at left and right side portions of the seat cushion. The cushion pan connects upper end portions of front portions of the left and right side frames together in a seat left-right direction, and is weakened locally at a weakened portion provided at a seat left-right direction center of a rear end portion of the cushion pan.