Vehicle Seat Height Adjuster Rocker Arm Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vehicle seat height adjusters fail to effectively manage deformation during rear-end collisions, leading to increased risk of whiplash injuries and insufficient clearance between the occupant's head and the vehicle's B-pillar.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat with a height adjuster featuring a rocker arm with an angled cross-section and an opening between flanges, allowing targeted deformation to maintain head clearance and adjust rigidity for both frontal and rear collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rocker arm has a solid angled cross section without openings, then the strength for frontal impacts is sufficient, but the deformation behavior during rear-end collisions is insufficient leading to increased whiplash injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The rocker arm's cross section is segmented by introducing openings between the flanges, dividing the solid structure into separate regions. This segmentation allows controlled deformation zones while maintaining overall structural integrity, enabling the rocker to deform predictably during rear-end collisions without compromising frontal impact strength
Solution Approach 2:
The openings are positioned specifically in certain regions of the rocker arm cross section rather than uniformly throughout. This local modification creates zones with different deformation characteristics - areas with openings allow controlled deformation for rear-end collision protection, while solid regions maintain strength for frontal impacts
2Length of moving object
If the rocker arm is designed to deform easily during rear-end collisions, then head clearance is maintained, but the strength for frontal impacts may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The rocker arm features non-uniform cross-sectional geometry with openings located at specific positions along its length. This creates local deformation zones that allow controlled movement to maintain head clearance during rear-end collisions, while other solid regions preserve the necessary strength for frontal impact resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The rocker arm is designed with dynamic deformation characteristics - the openings enable the structure to deform in a controlled manner during rear-end collisions, allowing the arm to move and maintain clearance. The same structure maintains its strength integrity for frontal impacts where different deformation behavior is required
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 enhances deformation behavior during rear-end collisions, ensuring adequate clearance between the occupant's head and the B-pillar, while maintaining sufficient strength for frontal impacts by adjusting rigidity post-deformation.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one rocker between the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation having at least in sections a region with an angled cross section, the angled cross section having a first flange and a second flange
Implementation Method 2
a height adjuster for adjusting a distance between the base and the seat cushion, in particular in a vertical direction, the height adjuster having at least one rocker which rotates about a first axis of rotation relative to the base
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle seat (1), in particular a motor vehicle seat, comprising a base (3), a seat cushion (50), and a height adjuster (20) for adjusting the distance between the base (3) and the seat cushion (50), in particular in a vertical direction (Z). The height adjuster (20) has at least one rocker (100, 200) which can be rotated about a first rotational axis (D1) relative to the base (3) and which extends in the direction of a second rotational axis (D2) that is offset to the first rotational axis (D1) in a parallel manner. The at least one rocker (100, 200) has a region with an angled cross-section at least in some sections between the first rotational axis (D1) and the second rotational axis (D2). The angled cross-section has a first flange (104, 204) and a second flange (106, 206), and an opening (110, 210) is arranged at least in some sections between the first flange (104, 204) and the second flange (106, 206).