Seat Slide Lever Connection Spring for Rattle and Noise Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seat sliding devices experience rattling and abnormal noise due to high spring constant and short protrusion length of tubular springs used to connect slide and release levers, which limits the effectiveness of noise reduction.
Innovation Solution
A seat sliding device with a slide lever and release lever connection using a connection spring member formed of worked wire material, featuring a bent end, two wire parts, protruding engagement parts, and a front lock part, allowing for easy and secure connection while absorbing impacts and reducing noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a tubular spring with inwardly raised pieces and outwardly raised pieces is used to connect the slide lever and release lever, then the slide lever is easily attached and the elasticity reduces rattling, but the protrusion length is short resulting in high spring constant and insufficient noise reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the spring constant parameter by transitioning from a tubular spring with short protrusions to a wire-type spring with longer effective length. This parameter change allows the spring to provide sufficient elasticity for noise reduction while maintaining easy attachment through the same engagement hole mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a simpler wire-type spring structure instead of a complex tubular spring with multiple raised pieces. This simpler structure achieves the same functional goals with fewer components and manufacturing steps, effectively replacing the over-engineered tubular spring solution
2Reliability
If rivet caulking is used to connect the slide lever and release lever, then the connection is secure, but a specialized tool is required and backlash may occur at the fastened part
Solution Approach 1:
The spring member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the connecting function to join the slide lever and release lever, and simultaneously provides the elastic damping function to reduce rattling. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate fastening operations and specialized tools while maintaining secure connection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the connecting function and the noise reduction function into a single spring member component. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate rivets or fasteners and their associated tools, while the backlash issue is resolved by the elastic nature of the spring connection
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 enables easy and secure connection of slide and release levers with reduced rattling and noise, utilizing the elasticity of the connection spring member to absorb impacts effectively.
Implementation Method 1
the elasticity of the tubular spring reduces the rattling of the connection part... the elasticity of the connection spring member to absorb impacts effectively
Data Source
AI summary
A connecting end part of a slide lever has a tubular shape, and a front end part of a release lever is inserted in the connecting end part with a connection spring member therebetween. The connection spring member has a bent end located forward and wire parts extending rearward from the bent end. Protruding engagement parts are formed in the wire parts. The wire parts are placed inside the front end part, and the protruding engagement parts are made to protrude from engagement protrusion holes of the release lever, and then the tubular connecting end part of the slide lever is fitted on the outer side of the front end part. The protruding engagement parts engage with engagement holes of the slide lever, and its front lock part presses the inner surface of the connecting end part.