Vehicle Seat Height Linkage With Integrated Gear Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional height-adjustable vehicle seats require a large number of parts, including a link rod and sector gear, which increases costs and weight.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat design that uses a four-bar linkage mechanism with input and output gears to pivot the front links, eliminating the need for a link rod and sector gear, and incorporates a gear support wall to prevent gear disengagement, reducing the overall number of parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional height-adjustment mechanism with link rod and sector gear is used, then the seat height can be adjusted, but the number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sector gear function into the front link by directly forming the gear on the link body, eliminating the need for a separate sector gear component. The input gear is also integrated into the operation unit, combining multiple functions into fewer parts while maintaining the height adjustment capability through the four-bar linkage mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the link rod from the mechanism by directly connecting the front link to the output gear, allowing the front link to pivot directly without requiring an intermediate link rod. This simplifies the structure while preserving the mechanical advantage and adjustment functionality.
2Ease of operation
If more parts are used in the height-adjustment mechanism, then the adjustment function is achieved, but the weight of the seat increases
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the sector gear function into the front link and combining the input gear with the operation unit, the patent reduces the total number of components. This consolidation directly reduces the overall weight of the seat while maintaining the height adjustment function through the simplified four-bar linkage mechanism.
3Reliability
If conventional components are used, then the mechanism is reliable, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces manufacturing costs by consolidating multiple components into fewer integrated parts. The sector gear is formed directly on the front link, and the input gear is integrated into the operation unit, reducing the number of parts that need to be manufactured, assembled, and quality-checked, while maintaining reliability through the robust four-bar linkage design.
4Reliability
If a link rod is used to connect front and rear links, then the mechanism functions properly, but the number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the link rod from the mechanism by establishing a direct connection between the front link and the output gear. The front link pivots directly on the output gear, eliminating the need for an intermediate link rod while maintaining proper mechanical function and force transmission in the four-bar linkage system.
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 configuration reduces the number of parts and weight, lowers manufacturing costs, and stabilizes the seat height adjustment, while preventing gear disengagement without additional components.
Implementation Method 1
the front links include an input gear configured to engage with the output gear, such that rotation of the output gear causes the front links to pivot
Implementation Method 2
a link support member disposed under the side frames and configured to support the rear links and the front links in a manner that renders the links pivotable, thereby forming a four-bar linkage with the side frames, the rear links and the front links
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat with a height adjustable seat bottom, comprises side frames (30) which constitute the seat bottom, front links (5) and rear links (6) pivotally connected to the side frames (30), slide rails (4) disposed under the side frames (30) to form a four-bar linkage with the side frames (30), the front links (5) and the rear links (6), and an operation unit (7) including an operation knob (71 B) configured to be operated to make a rotational motion which actuates the four-bar linkage for adjustment of a height of the seat bottom. The operation unit (7) includes a pinion gear (73) configured to be rotatable coaxially with the operation knob (71B) provided at one of the pair of side frames (30), and the front links (5) include a sector gear portion (51) configured to engage with the pinion gear (73), such that rotation of the pinion gear (73) causes the front links (5) to pivot.