Vehicle Seat Hinge Locking With Rolling Elements and Toothed Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat hinges for angular adjustment are complex and costly, lacking in mechanical strength and precision, particularly in retaining the position of seat elements during impacts.
Innovation Solution
A hinge design featuring a base toothed portion with regularly spaced teeth, rolling elements radially movable between locking and unlocking positions, control cams biased by springs, and a control hub to manage the rolling elements' positions, eliminating the need for toothed bushes and simplifying the design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional toothed bushes are used for angular adjustment, then the hinge can provide locking positions, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional toothed bushes from the hinge structure and replaces them with rolling elements that engage directly with teeth on the rotating element. This extraction of the intermediate toothed bush component simplifies the overall structure while maintaining the locking function through direct engagement between rolling elements and teeth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the functions of the toothed bush and the locking mechanism into a single integrated system where rolling elements directly engage with teeth on the rotating element. This merging eliminates the need for separate toothed bushes and reduces the number of components while maintaining reliable position retention.
2Ease of operation
If traditional hinge designs are used, then the structure can provide angular adjustment, but the manufacturing cost and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses simple rolling elements (balls or rollers) instead of complex toothed bushes, making the hinge easier and cheaper to manufacture. The rolling elements are simple spherical or cylindrical components that can be produced cost-effectively compared to precision-machined toothed bushes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the locking mechanism by using rolling elements with specific diameter ratios relative to the tooth pitch. The rolling element diameter is designed to be between 0.8 and 1.2 times the tooth pitch, optimizing both manufacturing ease and functional performance.
3Reliability
If traditional locking mechanisms are used, then the hinge can retain position, but the mechanical strength during impacts is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a control cam mechanism that preliminarily positions the rolling elements into the tooth spaces before impact occurs. The cam, biased by a spring, ensures that rolling elements are already engaged with the teeth in normal operating conditions, providing pre-established mechanical strength for impact resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a dynamic control mechanism where the cam can move the rolling elements between engaged and disengaged positions. During impact, the spring-biased cam automatically ensures maximum engagement of rolling elements with teeth, dynamically adjusting the locking strength based on operational conditions.
4Measurement precision
If multiple rolling elements are used for precise adjustment, then the positioning precision improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the locking function into multiple rolling elements distributed around the circumference of the rotating element. Each rolling element can engage with adjacent teeth independently, allowing precise angular positioning through the selective engagement of different rolling elements with different tooth pairs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the rolling elements to serve multiple functions: they provide precise positioning when engaged with teeth, act as bearings for smooth rotation, and can be simultaneously controlled by the cam mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate positioning and bearing components.
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 provides precise adjustment and high mechanical strength retention of seat elements with reduced weight and cost, ensuring effective angular adjustment and impact resistance.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of sets of rolling elements, each comprising at least one rolling element, distributed around the hinge axis, each rolling element of each set being radially movable between at least one locking position, in which the rolling element is at least partially engaged in the space between two successive teeth, bearing against the opposite faces of the two successive teeth
Implementation Method 2
each of the control cams being biased to return by a respective spring
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge comprising a first and a second plate intended to be connected respectively to a first and to a second vehicle seat element, the first plate comprising a base toothed portion with N teeth, a plurality of sets of rolling elements, each radially movable between at least one locking position, in which the rolling element is at least partially engaged in a space between two teeth, and an unlocking position in which the rolling element is disengaged from the space, a plurality of movable cams, each cooperating with the rolling elements of a different set, so as to cause the rolling elements to transition from their unlocking position to a locking position, and vice versa, and a control hub, able to move the cams.