Compact Seat Adjustment Locking Lever Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat adjustment devices for motor vehicles require a large installation space due to the design of additional locking means, which is not compact and fails to reliably prevent adjustment during vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A compact adjustment device with an additional locking means featuring a rotatable locking lever with an offset actuating section relative to the ratchet pawl, allowing for a small radial extension and a transmission ratio that enables unlocking with minimal movement, ensuring secure holding against vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the additional locking means is designed with a large distance between the rotational axis of the locking levers and the teeth of the gearwheel to achieve self-locking, then the reliability of preventing adjustment during vibrations is improved, but the installation space required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking lever is designed with an offset actuating section arranged offset relative to the ratchet pawl in the circumferential direction, transforming the spatial arrangement from a radial dimension problem to a circumferential dimension solution. This allows the locking mechanism to achieve reliable self-locking while maintaining a compact radial profile, effectively resolving the contradiction between reliability and installation space.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the locking mechanism by introducing an offset arrangement between the actuating section and the ratchet pawl. This parameter change creates a transmission ratio that allows small actuating movements to produce larger ratchet pawl movements, achieving reliable locking with compact dimensions.
2Reliability
If the distance between the rotational axis of the locking levers and the teeth of the gearwheel is increased to ensure reliable locking, then the reliability of securing against vibrations is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking lever integrates multiple functions into a single component: it provides self-locking through the ratchet pawl engagement with gearwheel teeth, enables actuation through the offset actuating section, and achieves motion transformation through its rotational movement. This merging of functions reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable vibration resistance.
3Area of stationary object
If the actuating section is arranged offset relative to the ratchet pawl in the circumferential direction to achieve compact design, then the installation space is reduced, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The offset arrangement between the actuating section and ratchet pawl creates a mechanical transmission ratio that amplifies the actuating movement. This parameter change allows the use of standard manufacturing tolerances while achieving the desired compact design, as the mechanical leverage compensates for minor dimensional variations.
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 compact design effectively prevents unintended adjustment movements during vibrations, ensuring secure holding with minimal rotational movement required for unlocking, thus maintaining the locked position even under torque.
Implementation Method 1
a rotatable locking lever (25), which comprises an actuating section (28) for unlocking and a ratchet pawl (26), wherein the rotatable locking lever (25) has an actuating section (28) for unlocking, which is arranged offset in the circumferential direction of a locking element relative to a ratchet pawl (26) of the locking lever
Implementation Method 2
an additional locking means for securing the first sprag freewheel against a rotation with at least one locking lever (25), which is rotatably mounted about a rotational axis
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustment device, in particular for adjusting motor vehicle seats, has: a) a rotatably mounted drive element; b) a rotatably mounted output element; c) a first sprag freewheel, by means of which the output element can be blocked steplessly in different positions in both adjustment directions, and which can be released via a release element; d) a second sprag freewheel, which is coupled to the first sprag freewheel via the release element and by means of which the output element can be blocked steplessly in different positions in both adjustment directions; e) an actuating element for releasing the second sprag freewheel; and f) an additional locking means for securing the first sprag freewheel against rotation with at least one rotatably mounted locking lever.