Vehicle Seat Motor Mount with Non-Metallic Adapters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle seat adjustment devices face challenges in acoustic optimization of interfaces between the motor mount and seat rails, vibration decoupling, and efficient assembly and transportation due to reliance on screw connections and metallic materials.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle seat adjustment device featuring a motor mount made of metallic material with adapters made of non-metallic materials, such as plastic, for vibration decoupling and acoustic optimization, and a method for assembling the device using adapters with pins and bearing bushes for secure and compact assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the motor mount and adapters are both made of metallic material, then structural strength is improved, but metallic noise and vibration increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidmetallic noise
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining metallic motor mount with non-metallic adapters made of plastic or polymer materials. This composite construction allows the motor mount to provide structural strength while the non-metallic adapters reduce metallic noise and vibration at the interface between the motor mount and seat rails.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If screw connections are used to fasten the motor mount to seat rails, then connection reliability is improved, but assembly complexity and transportation efficiency worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional screw connection mechanical system with a clip-based fastening system. The clips engage with corresponding features on the seat rails to secure the motor mount, eliminating the need for screws and simplifying both assembly and transportation while maintaining connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the motor mount is directly fastened to seat rails, then structural rigidity is improved, but acoustic performance and vibration decoupling worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural rigidityVSAvoidvibration
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces non-metallic adapters as intermediary elements between the motor mount and seat rails. These adapters serve as mediators that maintain the structural connection while providing acoustic optimization and vibration decoupling, thus protecting the system from harmful vibrations while preserving structural rigidity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution effectively reduces metallic noise, provides vibration decoupling, and allows for a compact and testable assembly of seat rails with the motor mount, improving the adjustment device's acoustic and structural performance while enabling efficient assembly and transportation.

Implementation Method 1

the motor mount being mounted on both sides by means of bearing bushes or fingers on an adapter... provides vibration decoupling between an electric motor and the seat rails

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration decoupling: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP3515754B1Adjusting device for a vehicle seat, and method for assembling an adjusting device
Publication Date: 2022.09.07 KEIPER SEATING MECHANISMS CO LTD
  • EP3515754B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3515754B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4d
  • EP3515754B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6d

AI summary

The invention relates to an adjusting device (100, 200) for a vehicle seat, comprising a first adjustable assembly (20), a second adjustable assembly (22), and an electric motor (24). The electric motor (24) is operatively connected both to an adjustment gearing (32) of the first adjustable assembly (20) as well as to an adjustment gearing (32) of the second adjustable assembly (22) by means of at least one output shaft (36). A motor support (110, 210) is provided which receives the electric motor (24), and the motor support (110, 210) is secured to the two adjustable assemblies (20, 22) by means of a respective adapter (120, 220). The motor support (110, 210) is made of a metal material as a single piece, and the adapters (120, 220) are made of a non-metal material. The invention additionally relates to a method for assembling an adjusting device (100, 200) according to the invention. The adapters (120, 220) are first secured to the respective paired adjustable assembly (20, 22), and the engine support (110, 210) is connected to the adapters (120, 220) in an additional method step.