Vehicle Seat Locking Unit With Adapter for Lateral Load Strength
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat locking devices lack the combination of lightweight, cost-effectiveness, and high strength, particularly in transverse directions, which is essential for withstanding lateral loads without buckling.
Innovation Solution
A locking unit comprising a housing with a rotary latch and securing elements, supported by an adapter arrangement that reinforces the locking device, allowing forces to be dissipated into the seat structure, and featuring a lightweight material for the housing and a metal adapter for enhanced strength, with an actuating device for unlocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a locking device is made lightweight using lightweight materials for the housing, then the weight is reduced and cost is decreased, but the strength particularly in transverse direction is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device combines lightweight housing material (plastic or aluminum) with a metal adapter arrangement that provides structural reinforcement. The metal adapter serves as a composite structural element that compensates for the lower strength of the lightweight housing material, achieving both weight reduction and sufficient strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking device is divided into functionally separate components: the housing (providing basic structure and lightweight construction), the metal adapter arrangement (providing transverse strength and load-bearing capacity), and the locking mechanism (rotary latch and securing elements). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function.
2Ease of manufacture
If the housing is made from lightweight material to reduce weight and cost, then manufacturing cost decreases, but the load-bearing capacity particularly against lateral loads is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The solution uses a composite construction combining lightweight housing material with a metal adapter arrangement. The metal adapter provides the necessary load-bearing capacity for withstanding lateral loads, while the lightweight housing material reduces manufacturing cost and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal adapter arrangement acts as an intermediary component between the lightweight housing and the seat structure. It transfers and distributes lateral loads from the locking mechanism through the housing to the seat structure, protecting the lightweight housing from excessive stress while maintaining overall load-bearing capacity.
3Strength
If a metal adapter arrangement is added to reinforce the locking device, then the strength and load-bearing capacity are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is segmented into distinct functional modules: the housing containing the locking mechanism, and the separate metal adapter arrangement for structural reinforcement. This modular segmentation allows the adapter to be optimized purely for strength without complicating the locking mechanism design.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal adapter arrangement serves as an intermediary structural element that simplifies the overall design by handling all load-bearing functions externally, allowing the housing and locking mechanism to be designed independently for their primary functions without complex reinforcement integration.
Data Source
AI summary
A locking unit for a vehicle seat may have a housing and a locking device, arranged at least partially in the housing, for detachably locking a mating element. The locking device may have a baseplate, a first bearing bolt, a second bearing bolt, a rotary latch with a receptacle for securing the mating element and at least one securing element for securing a closed position of the rotary latch. The at least one securing element is pivotably mounted on the second bearing bolt. The housing may have a first housing part with a bottom, and a second housing part with a bottom. The bottom of the first housing part has at least one projection, which is formed in the direction of the rotary latch and/or the at least one securing element. An adapter arrangement for attachment of the locking unit to a vehicle seat is also provided.