Vehicle Seat Lock Spring With Offset Windings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing springs for vehicle seat locking devices face challenges in minimizing installation space requirements while maintaining effective pretensioning, as they either require significant radial space or axial space, limiting their versatility.
Innovation Solution
A leg spring design with varying winding diameters, where adjacent windings are offset by a pitch smaller than the cross-sectional diameter, allowing for reduced axial dimension and efficient use of space by having windings come into abutment, effectively combining the advantages of leg and spiral springs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a leg spring with constant winding diameter is used, then the spring provides effective pretensioning in the circumferential direction, but the axial dimension and installation space become larger
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the winding diameter of different windings along the spring. Specifically, at least one winding has a different winding diameter than the others, creating local variations in the spring structure. This allows different sections of the spring to contribute differently to the overall function, enabling reduced axial dimension while maintaining the necessary pretensioning force through optimized stress distribution.
2Length of stationary object
If a spiral spring with continuously changing winding diameter is used, then the axial installation space is reduced, but the radial installation space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than continuously varying the winding diameter like a spiral spring, the patent applies local quality by having discrete windings with specific different diameters. This approach achieves compact axial dimension similar to spiral springs while avoiding the increased radial space requirement, as the diameter changes occur at specific locations rather than continuously throughout the spring structure.
3Length of stationary object
If the pitch between adjacent windings is reduced below the cross-sectional diameter, then the axial dimension and installation space are minimized, but the manufacturing precision and winding complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by varying the winding diameter parameter of different windings along the spring. This allows the pitch between adjacent windings to be reduced below the cross-sectional diameter without compromising manufacturability, as the different winding diameters create natural spacing variations that facilitate precise winding placement while minimizing the overall axial dimension.
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
This design reduces the overall axial dimension and installation space requirement, enabling compact and efficient pretensioning in locking devices, particularly in vehicle seats, by allowing windings to be arranged more densely and reducing the pitch to half or a fraction of the cross-sectional diameter.
Implementation Method 1
a spring, in particular for a locking device of a vehicle seat, which is constructed from a spring wire
Data Source
AI summary
A spring (10), for a locking device of a vehicle seat, is designed as a yoke spring defining an axis (A) and made of a spring wire. A cross section diameter (q) has one leg (10a) on each of both ends of the spring wire. The two legs (10a) can pivot relative to each other in a circumferential direction of the axis (A), thereby transitioning the spring (10) from a relaxed state into a tensioned state. At least one first winding (10b) is provided between the legs (10a) that is wound completely around the axis (A) and having a winding diameter (di) in the relaxed state. At least one adjacent second winding (10b) is provided between the legs (10a) and disposed offset along by the axis (A) by a pitch (h), wherein the second winding (10b) may optionally be wound not fully about the axis (A). The second winding (10b) has a winding diameter (d2) in the relaxed state. The pitch (h) is less than the cross section diameter (q).