Vehicle Seat Locking Mechanism for Impact Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automotive vehicle seats with adjustment mechanisms experience relative movement during impacts, counteracting safety devices like seat belts and airbags, and the increased mass of complex seats exacerbates this issue, especially when seats have integrated seat belts, leading to increased loads and occupant risk.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat with locking means that engages between adjustable components to restrict movement during impacts, activated by deceleration or seat belt forces, using resilient biasing and mechanisms like teeth and pawls, and optionally controlled by electronic systems, to lock components relative to each other and prevent movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If adjustment mechanisms are provided to enable seat position and rake adjustments, then ease of operation is improved, but relative movement during impact increases reducing safety
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means transitions from a static locked state during normal operation to a dynamic unlocked state during impact conditions, and back to locked state after impact. This dynamic behavior allows the system to adapt between normal adjustment needs and impact safety requirements, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and safety reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking means is pre-configured to automatically engage and prevent relative movement between seat components when impact conditions are detected, counteracting the harmful effect of compliance in adjustment mechanisms before it can compromise occupant safety during the impact event.
2Adaptability or versatility
If seat mass is increased to provide more complex adjustments and integrated seat belts, then adaptability is improved, but forces generated during impact increase exacerbating the problem
Solution Approach 1:
The seat is divided into multiple components (squab, cushion, rails) with individual locking means between them, allowing each component to be independently secured during impact. This segmentation prevents the cumulative force generation that would occur if the entire complex seat moved as a single mass, thereby reducing the overall impact force transmitted to the vehicle structure.
3Ease of operation
If integrated seat belts are mounted on the seat rather than directly to the vehicle, then ease of operation is improved, but load on the seat increases generating further movement
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means dynamically engages to create a rigid connection between seat components when impact conditions are detected, preventing the seat from moving relative to the vehicle structure. This dynamic stiffening allows the integrated seat belt to effectively transfer restraint forces to the vehicle structure without causing excessive seat movement, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and impact load management.
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
The locking mechanism reduces occupant movement relative to the vehicle during impacts, enhancing safety by stabilizing the seat and allowing controlled release post-impact for easier access.
Implementation Method 1
The locking means may be resiliently biased against engagement, for example by a spring.
Implementation Method 2
a resilient means (17) arranged to bias the locking means (15) against engagement
Implementation Method 3
a component of the locking means is arranged to move from a first position to a second position as a result of inertial forces acting on the mass of the component resulting from deceleration of the vehicle in an impact
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat including at least two components connected, directly or indirectly, by an adjustment mechanism. A locking means is provided, arranged to lock the two components relative to each other when predetermined conditions are experienced, to restrict relative movement of the two components. The locking means may be arranged to engage when a vehicle in which the seat is mounted is involved in an impact. The locking means reduces the amount of relative movement of seat components owing to compliance in seat adjustment mechanism in the event of a vehicle impact.