Vehicle Seat System with Link Arm and Track Arrangement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional slouch seats in vehicles often cause 'shirt shear' due to relative movement between the seatback and occupant, leading to discomfort during recline adjustments, and lack a robust and simple adjustment mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat system with a linear locking device using torsional springs and bushings to provide infinite adjustment, combined with a horizontally or vertically mounted track arrangement and a link arm for kinematic motion, ensuring synchronized movement of the seatbase and backrest without shirt shear, and featuring a low-profile design for compactness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the backrest rotates rearward about a pivot fitting at the bottom of the backrest, then the recline function is achieved, but relative motion between the seatback surface and the back of the occupant causes shirt shear
Solution Approach 1:
The backrest is divided into two separate frames: a fixed frame attached to the vehicle and a moving frame that can shift relative to the fixed frame. This segmentation allows the backrest to achieve recline motion while maintaining surface stability relative to the occupant, eliminating shirt shear caused by single-pivot rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The backrest system transitions from a static single-pivot rotation to a dynamic two-frame configuration where the moving frame can shift position relative to the fixed frame. This dynamic adjustment enables the backrest to maintain optimal contact with the occupant's back during recline, preventing harmful relative motion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional slouch seat configuration is used, then the backrest can recline, but the movement generates relative motion with respect to the seat occupant causing discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The seat system is segmented into distinct functional components: a fixed frame for structural support, a moving frame for recline adjustment, and a link arm mechanism for coordinated motion. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component to eliminate harmful relative motion while maintaining recline adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
A link arm mechanism acts as an intermediary between the seat base and backrest, coordinating their movements to ensure synchronized adjustment. This intermediary component translates the recline motion into coordinated movement of both seat base and backrest, preventing harmful relative motion between the backrest and occupant.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the backrest and seat base move independently during recline, then adjustment flexibility is achieved, but synchronization between components is lost causing shirt shear
Solution Approach 1:
The moving frame of the backrest and the seat base are mechanically merged through the link arm mechanism, creating a coupled system where movements of one component automatically coordinate with the other. This merging ensures synchronized adjustment while preserving the flexibility needed for comfortable recline positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The link arm mechanism provides mechanical feedback between the seat base and backrest movements. As one component moves, the link arm transmits the motion to the other component, creating a self-coordinating system that maintains synchronization without requiring external control systems.
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 system allows for a comfortable, fluid recline motion without shirt shear, offering robust, stable, and simple adjustment with low effort, and no need for return springs, maintaining a consistent track position through ball bearings and straws.
Implementation Method 1
A vehicle seat system with a linear locking device using torsional springs and bushings to provide infinite adjustment
Implementation Method 2
maintaining a consistent track position through ball bearings and straws
Data Source
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AI summary
A vehicle seat system includes a vehicle seat having a seat base, a backrest, a seat base track arrangement, a backrest track arrangement having a backrest fixed track and a backrest moveable track that is moveable along the backrest fixed track, a link arm, a seat base pivot connection between the link arm and the seat base and a link arm and backrest pivot connection between the link arm and the backrest and the backrest movable track. The seat base track arrangement includes a seat base fixed track and a seat base moveable track that is moveable along the seat base fixed track. The seat base fixed track is connected to a vehicle seat support and the seat base moveable track is connected to the seat base. The backrest fixed track is connected to a vehicle backrest support. At least one locking device is connected to the vehicle seat. A release/lock mechanism is connected to the locking device for releasing and locking the at least one locking device.