Composite Housing Structure for Vehicle Seat Pumping Mechanisms
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pumping devices for vehicle seats are restricted by their metal composition, limiting shape flexibility and increasing production costs, which hinders design innovation and mass production.
Innovation Solution
A pumping device with a plastic housing and a metal housing cover, coupled through bending and fitting methods, allowing for increased shape freedom and efficient manufacturing, featuring a clutch device, brake device, and lever mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the housing is made of metal material, then the strength and durability are improved, but the degree of freedom of shape in manufacturing is reduced and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is made of plastic material while the housing cover is made of metal material, creating a composite structure that combines the manufacturing flexibility and weight advantages of plastic with the strength and durability advantages of metal. This resolves the contradiction by distributing different material properties to different components of the same assembly.
2Ease of manufacture
If the housing is made of plastic material, then the degree of freedom of shape in manufacturing is increased, but the strength and durability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The housing cover is made of metal material to provide the necessary strength and durability, while the housing body is made of plastic for manufacturing flexibility. The coupling mechanism between these two materials creates a composite structure that achieves both manufacturing ease and structural strength.
3Strength
If conventional metal-based design is used, then the structural strength is maintained, but the production cost increases and design innovation is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling between the housing and housing cover is achieved through bending and fitting methods rather than traditional metal fastening systems. The bending parts of the metal housing cover are bent toward the housing to achieve coupling, replacing complex mechanical fastening systems with simpler deformation-based joining, which reduces production cost and improves mass production efficiency.
4Shape
If additional elements or post-processing is added to compensate for shape restrictions, then the shape flexibility is improved, but the product cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By using plastic for the housing and metal for the housing cover, the design achieves high shape flexibility without requiring additional compensating elements or post-processing. The plastic housing can be molded into complex shapes directly, eliminating the need for additional shape-compensating components that would increase production cost.
Data Source
AI summary
A pumping device for a vehicle seat is proposed. The pumping device includes: a housing made of plastic, including a bottom surface having a through hole, a side wall arranged along an outer circumferential surface of the bottom surface, and an open upper surface, with a clutch device and a brake device, and a lever being connected to the housing at an outside of the bottom surface through the through hole so that the housing is configured to transmit drive force from the lever to the clutch device; and a housing cover made of metal, including a first side surface covering the open upper surface of the housing, a plurality of bending parts at an edge thereof such that the bending parts are bent toward the housing to achieve coupling between the housing cover and the housing, and a second side surface coupled to a seat frame.