Straddled Vehicle Seat Opening Mechanism With Variable Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Straddled vehicles face challenges in reducing the operating force for opening the seat while ensuring user-friendliness and securing ample storage capacity, as existing solutions often result in excessively fast seat opening and limited storage due to damper size and space constraints.
Innovation Solution
A straddled vehicle design incorporating a tension coil spring and an elastic member that adjusts damping force according to the seat's opening degree, providing an urging force for easy opening and increasing damping force as the seat approaches full opening, allowing for appropriate speed control and ample storage capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a damper is used to apply damping force to the seat, then the seat opening speed can be controlled, but the storage box capacity is reduced due to the damper size and space requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the damping function with the existing opening/closing mechanism by utilizing the tension coil spring structure. The elastic member is integrated around the coil portion of the tension spring, merging two functions (urging force generation and damping) into a single integrated component, thereby eliminating the need for a separate damper and preserving storage box capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension coil spring serves multiple functions: it provides the urging force to open the seat and simultaneously generates damping force through the elastic member. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate components, reducing space requirements and maintaining ample storage capacity while achieving both speed control and force assistance.
2Speed
If a large damping force is applied throughout the entire opening process, then the seat opening speed is controlled, but the operating force required to open the seat increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic damping force that varies with the seat opening degree. The elastic member is positioned such that it contacts the coil portion only when the seat approaches full opening. This dynamic engagement ensures that damping force is applied only when needed (at the end of opening to control speed), while maintaining low operating force during the initial opening phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The tension coil spring is pre-configured to provide urging force from the closed position, enabling the seat to open easily without requiring large operating force. The damping action is prepared in advance through the elastic member's positioning, which will engage automatically when the seat reaches a specific opening degree, providing speed control only when necessary.
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 the operating force for opening the seat, adjusts the speed of opening based on the degree of opening, and ensures ample storage capacity by using a simple mechanism that combines a tension coil spring and elastic member, enhancing user-friendliness and storage capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
The tension coil spring includes a coil portion and assists the driver in opening the seat. The tension coil spring is disposed so as to contract as the seat moves toward the fully-opened position.
Implementation Method 2
The elastic member is provided on an outer periphery of the coil portion. At least before the seat reaches the fully-opened position, the outer periphery of the coil portion and an inner periphery of the elastic member come into contact with each other.
Data Source
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AI summary
The opening/closing mechanism (22) includes a tension coil spring (61) and an elastic member (62). The tension coil spring (61) includes a coil portion (63) and assists the driver in opening the seat (6). The elastic member (62) is provided on the outer periphery of the coil portion (63). The tension coil spring (61) is disposed so as to contract as the seat (6) moves toward the fully-opened position. The outer periphery (63) of the coil portion and the inner periphery of the elastic member (62) come into contact with each other at least before the seat (6) reaches the fully-opened position.