Seat Locking Apparatus Reducing Vibrational Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unoccupied vehicle seats in long-haul or heavy goods vehicles vibrate during operation, causing unwanted noise, and existing solutions like pneumatic systems result in metal-to-metal wear by exhausting air, leading to premature wear.
Innovation Solution
A seat assembly locking device with a latching component, receiving component, and activation component that locks the movable seat part to the stationary part in a collapsed state, reducing vibrational noise and wear by engaging a mechanical or electro-mechanical latching mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If pneumatic system exhausts air to lower the movable seat part onto the seat base, then vibrational noise is reduced, but metal-to-metal wear occurs leading to premature wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies prior cushioning by introducing a damping element (such as a rubber bumper or elastomeric cushion) between the movable seat part and the seat base before contact occurs. This cushioning element absorbs the impact energy and prevents direct metal-to-metal contact, thereby eliminating wear while maintaining the vibration reduction benefit of the collapsed position
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the movable seat part is locked to the seat base, then vibrational noise is reduced and wear is prevented, but the seat adjustment flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by designing a locking mechanism that can transition between locked and unlocked states. The mechanism includes a latch component that can be actuated to engage with a receiver, securing the seat in position, and can be released to allow movement. This dynamic capability enables the system to provide both vibration reduction (when locked) and adjustment flexibility (when unlocked)
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism temporarily discards the flexibility of movement when locking is engaged, and recovers it when unlocked. The system selectively engages the locking function only when the seat is in the desired position and vibration reduction is needed, while maintaining full adjustability when the locking mechanism is disengaged
Data Source
AI summary
A locking apparatus for a seat assembly for a vehicle is provides and includes a latching component attached to one of a stationary part or a movable part of a seat assembly, a receiving component disposed on the other of the stationary part or the movable part of a seat assembly, wherein the latching component engages the receiving component, and an activation component that activates the latching component. Upon activation of the locking device, the latching component engages the receiving component thereby locking the movable part to the stationary part in a collapsed state thereby reducing vibrational noise caused by the movable part during operation of the vehicle.