Vehicle Seat Locking Unit Integrating Drive and Rocker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seats have separate and independently controllable drive units for power-operated adjustment and locking mechanisms, which are space-consuming and complex, lacking integration that would allow for seamless transition between power-operated and manual adjustment, especially in emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat design with a locking unit that connects the drive unit and rocker component operatively, allowing for power-operated adjustment in the locking position and decoupling in the release position, enabling manual adjustment without drive unit force transmission, providing a releasable mechanical coupling for independent operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate and independently controllable drive units and locking mechanisms are used for power-operated adjustment and manual folding, then reliability is improved (access is possible even in case of power failure), but device complexity and space consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the locking unit with the drive unit to form an integrated assembly. The locking unit is disposed in the drive unit housing and shares common structural elements, such as the housing and mounting points. This merging allows the system to maintain separate functional paths (power-operated when locked, manual when unlocked) while reducing overall complexity and space consumption compared to completely separate systems.
2Device complexity
If a locking unit is integrated into the drive unit, then device complexity is reduced and space is saved, but the ability to independently operate manual folding may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Within the integrated drive unit, the locking unit and drive mechanism are segmented into distinct functional components. The locking unit includes a locking element that can engage with a locking surface on the rocker component, creating a mechanically separable connection. This segmentation within integration allows the locking mechanism to independently control the coupling between the drive unit and rocker component, preserving operational independence while maintaining structural compactness.
3Ease of operation
If the operative connection between drive unit and rocker component can be separated via locking unit, then ease of operation is improved (manual adjustment possible), but device complexity increases due to additional locking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The locking unit serves multiple functions: it enables manual folding by allowing decoupling of the drive unit from the rocker component, and it maintains power-operated adjustment capability when engaged. The same locking mechanism structure is used both to secure the power-driven connection and to release it for manual operation, eliminating the need for separate mechanisms and reducing overall complexity despite the enhanced operational versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat, with a seat part which is adjustable in relation to a vehicle floor, on which the vehicle seat is arranged, by external actuation via at least one pivotably mounted rocker component and with the aid of a drive unit operatively connected to the rocker component, and, for access to a vehicle region located behind the vehicle seat is foldable from a use position into an adjustment position, wherein at least on locking unit is provided which, in a locking position, blocks the seat part against folding from a use position into the adjustment position and, in a release position, permits folding of the seat part from the use position into the adjustment position. The operative connection between the drive unit and the rocker component is separable here via the locking unit in the release position thereof.