Vehicle Seat Locking System Control Lever Collision Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking systems for vehicle seats often result in collisions between components of the locking device and actuation device when the backrest is folded, leading to potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A locking system with a control lever that can be moved between locked and unlocked positions, allowing for operational connection only when the backrest is in its normal position, and disconnection when folded, preventing collisions by permitting tolerances in all directions and maintaining separate entities for the actuation and locking devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control lever remains operatively connected to the unlocking element during backrest folding, then unlocking function is maintained, but collision between locking device and actuation device components occurs causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The control lever's operational connection to the unlocking element is made dynamic rather than static. The connection is automatically established when the backrest is in normal position and automatically disconnected when folded, allowing the system to adapt its configuration based on operational state. This resolves the contradiction by enabling unlocking function when needed while preventing collision damage when folding occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a control lever as an intermediary element between the actuation device and the locking mechanism. This intermediary can be selectively engaged or disengaged, providing a buffer that prevents direct transmission of movement that would cause collision. The control lever acts as a mediator that can decouple the actuation device from the locking device when folding is detected.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the actuation device and locking device are fixedly connected, then structural stability is improved, but collision damage occurs during backrest folding
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into separate functional units: the actuation device mounted on the vehicle structure and the locking device mounted on the backrest. These segments are connected only through the operatively connected control lever, not through fixed mechanical connection. This segmentation allows independent movement of each unit during folding while maintaining functional connection when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between actuation device and locking device is made dynamic through the control lever mechanism. The connection state changes based on backrest position: engaged during normal operation for structural stability, and disengaged during folding to prevent collision damage. This dynamic connectivity resolves the contradiction between stability and harm prevention.
3Reliability
If tolerances are minimized for precise component alignment, then locking reliability is improved, but collision occurs during folding due to tolerance accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The control lever serves as a tolerance-absorbing intermediary between the actuation device and locking device. By introducing this intermediate element with its own mounting and connection points, the system can accommodate tolerance accumulation without transmitting misalignment forces that would cause collision during folding operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A locking system for a vehicle seat, for locking to a vehicle structure of a vehicle, has a backrest able to be folded from a normal position into a folded position, a locking device located on the backrest, and a catch that can be pivoted between a locking position and an unlocking position and can be pivotally driven by both a manually-pivotable unlocking element and an actuation device arranged on the vehicle structure. When the backrest is in the normal position, a counter element is locked to the locking device by the catch. The actuation device has a control lever that can be moved between a locking position and an unlocking position.