Vehicle Seat Locking Device with Prestressed Clamping Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking devices for vehicle seats lack effective mechanisms to prevent unintended backrest pivoting during use and fail to securely maintain the backrest position, especially in crash scenarios and when seat cushioning is excessive.
Innovation Solution
A locking device with a prestressed clamping element and a catch element that reinforces the latch, coupled via a slotted pin guide, allowing the clamping element to pivot away from the latch only after free travel, ensuring secure locking and unlocking, and featuring a release element mounted inside a bearing bush to prevent accidental activation due to friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the clamping element is mounted directly on the bearing bush, then the locking mechanism is simpler, but the clamping element may be inadvertently carried along during rotation due to friction
Solution Approach 1:
A mounting element is introduced as an intermediary component between the bearing bush and the clamping element. This mounting element has a first interaction region with the bearing bush and a second interaction region with the clamping element, allowing the clamping element to be securely mounted while preventing inadvertent carrying along during rotation due to friction
2Reliability
If the release element is mounted inside the bearing bush, then accidental activation due to friction is prevented, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The release element is nested inside the bearing bush, with the release element mounted within the internal space of the bearing bush. This nested arrangement prevents accidental activation due to friction while maintaining a compact structure
3Reliability
If the clamping element is securely coupled to prevent free travel, then locking reliability is improved, but the ability to pivot away during crash is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling between the catch element and clamping element allows for dynamic response: under normal conditions the elements remain securely coupled to maintain locking reliability, but during a crash the coupling can be broken to allow the clamping element to pivot away, providing adaptability to different operational conditions
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 secure locking and unlocking mechanisms that prevent unintended backrest pivoting, maintain the backrest position effectively, and remain unaffected during crashes, while allowing for easy manual operation to adjust the backrest inclination and facilitate easy entry functions in vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a tension spring (38) acting on the clamping element (36), in order to prestress said clamping element (36) against the latch (24)
Implementation Method 2
The mounting of the release element according to the invention inside the bearing bush and the clamping element on the outside on the bearing bush has the advantage that, at the start of the rotation of the release element, the clamping element is not already inadvertently carried along, for example due to friction
Data Source
AI summary
A locking device, in particular for a vehicle seat, includes a latch (24) and a counter element that interacts for locking. A bearing bush (30), a release element (32) that is rotationally mounted inside the bearing bush (30) and a catch element (34) for reinforcing the latch (24) in the event of a crash are provided with the catch element (34) being mounted in a rotationally secure manner on the release element (32) or being embodied as one piece with the release element. A tightening element (36), for securing the locked latch (24) during normal operation, is arranged in an axial manner adjacent to said catch element (34) and is mounted in a pivotable manner and is prestressed in such a manner that it is pivotably mounted on the outside on the bearing bush (30).