Vehicle Seat Height Adjuster With Rocker-Mounted Drive Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle seats with electromotive height adjustment devices face challenges in arranging the drive unit on the tunnel side, where space is limited, and require high rigidity and crash stability to support loading forces, especially when a belt attachment point is needed.
Innovation Solution
The output pinion is arranged on the first rocker, and the tooth segment is stationary on the guide track arrangement or seat part, allowing the electromotive drive unit to be connected tightly to the rocker and pivoted with it, providing a space-saving and crash-stable configuration with a compact construction and reduced component count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electromotive drive unit is arranged on the tunnel side of the vehicle seat, then space is saved and crash stability is improved, but the connection between the drive unit and the seat part becomes difficult due to limited construction space
Solution Approach 1:
The drive unit housing is merged with the seat part structure, forming an integrated assembly where the drive unit is arranged within the construction space of the seat part itself. This merging allows the drive unit to be positioned on the tunnel side while maintaining easy connection and assembly, resolving the contradiction between crash stability improvement and manufacturing ease.
2Area of stationary object
If the drive unit is arranged outside the seat part or guide track arrangement, then construction space is available, but the connection tightness and structural compactness are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The drive unit is nested within the construction space of the seat part, specifically arranged in the tunnel side region. This nesting approach allows the drive unit to be positioned within the existing structural envelope, achieving tight connection and compact construction without requiring additional external space, thus resolving the contradiction between construction space availability and connection tightness.
3Area of stationary object
If conventional arrangements are used with the drive unit on the side facing the vehicle door, then sufficient construction space is available, but weight increases and the force path for loading forces becomes longer
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of arranging the drive unit on the conventional side facing the vehicle door, the drive unit is inverted to the tunnel side position. This inversion shortens the force path for loading forces transmitted through the belt attachment point and reduces the overall weight by optimizing the structural layout, resolving the contradiction between construction space availability and weight reduction.
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 arrangement enables a space-saving drive unit placement on the tunnel side while ensuring stiff crash support and weight reduction by shortening the force path for loading forces, enhancing the seat's stability and reducing the number of components.
Implementation Method 1
an output pinion, which engages in a toothing of a tooth segment and can be rotated in respect to the tooth segment for adjusting the seat height
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising a seat part for providing a seat surface for a seat occupant, a guide track arrangement for the longitudinally adjustable arrangement of the vehicle seat in a vehicle and a height adjustment device comprising a plurality of rockers which are pivotably coupled to the seat part and the guide track arrangement and which connect the seat part to the guide track arrangement so as to be adjustable in height, and a electromotive drive unit for driving a first rocker of the plurality of rockers. The drive unit has an output pinion which engages in a toothing of a tooth segment and can be set into rotation with respect to the tooth segment for adjusting the seat height of the seat part relative to the guide track arrangement. To this end, the output pinion is arranged on the first rocker and the tooth segment is arranged stationary on the guide track arrangement or on the seat part.