Vehicle Seat Mounting with Elastomeric Isolation Against Impact Forces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle seats rigidly mounted to the chassis transfer impact forces directly to occupants, posing a risk of injury, especially during high-speed driving over uneven surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat mounting system using polymer sleeves and brackets to isolate the seat from impact forces, incorporating elastomeric members and clamp assemblies to prevent direct contact between the seat and the chassis, thereby reducing force transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the seat is rigidly mounted to the chassis, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the transmission of impact forces to occupants increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces polymer sleeves as intermediary elements between the metal brackets and the chassis bars. These sleeves act as a mediator that connects the structural mounting system while simultaneously dampening impact forces. The polymer material absorbs and dissipates vibration and shock energy, preventing direct transmission of harmful forces to the seat and occupants while maintaining the structural connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting system combines different materials with complementary properties: metal brackets provide structural strength and rigidity, while polymer sleeves provide vibration damping and impact absorption. This composite approach allows the system to simultaneously achieve both structural integrity and impact force reduction, resolving the contradiction between strength and harmful force transmission.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If polymer sleeves are introduced to dampen vibrations, then the transmission of impact forces is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into distinct functional segments: metal brackets for structural attachment, polymer sleeves for vibration dampening, and clamp assemblies for secure mounting. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function and enables modular assembly, making the complex system more manageable and easier to manufacture despite the increased number of parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer sleeves are inserted within the metal brackets, creating a nested structure where the sleeve is contained within the bracket housing. The clamp assemblies then secure this nested combination to the chassis bars. This nesting approach consolidates multiple components into a compact integrated assembly, reducing the overall spatial footprint and simplifying the assembly process despite the increased component count.
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 system effectively dampens vibrations and isolates the seat from vertical impact forces, preventing slippage and reducing the risk of injury to occupants.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomeric sleeve configured for being disposed about a mounting bar of a motor vehicle seat mounting bar assembly
Implementation Method 2
The system effectively dampens vibrations and isolates the seat from vertical impact forces
Implementation Method 3
a first pinch clamp bracket comprised of two halves configured for being rigidly fixed around the bar and compressing the disc against a medial side, a lateral side or both the medial side and the lateral side of a bracket assembly
Data Source
AI summary
A seat mounting system including a first horizontal bar coupled to a bottom of a seat and a second horizontal bar coupled to a back of the seat, the first and second bars being secured within an automobile chassis. The seat is coupled to each of the first and second bars by two mounting assemblies, each assembly including an elastomeric sleeve disposed about a bar, a first bracket portion attached to the seat and a second bracket portion attached to the first bracket portion and arranged to compress the sleeve between the bar and the first and second bracket portions. A pinch clamp assembly is attached to the bar immediately adjacent to the mounting assembly for preventing sliding of the assembly along the bar, the pinch clamp assembly including a bushing disposed on the bar and pressed against the mounting assembly by a pinch clamp bracket fixed to the bar.