Vehicle Seat Pumping Device Return Spring Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat pumping devices face manufacturing complexity and noise issues due to the design of return springs with increased center diameters, and integration of return and clutch elastic members leads to slip phenomena.
Innovation Solution
A pumping device with a ring-shaped return spring and separate stoppers on a cylindrical front housing, where the spring's diameter changes with lever rotation, and a clutch spring with a ring-shaped main body and pressurization portions to prevent slip and noise, simplifying manufacturing and ensuring reliable operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the return spring has two pole portions formed at one side with increased center diameter to prevent separation, then separation prevention is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases and noise is generated due to collision with other components
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing the center diameter of the return spring to prevent separation, the patent inverts the approach by decreasing the center diameter and using a separate prevention member (protrusion and groove structure) to achieve separation prevention. This resolves the contradiction by achieving the same reliability goal without the manufacturing complexity and noise issues caused by increased diameter.
2Reliability
If the return spring has increased center diameter to prevent separation, then separation prevention is improved, but noise is generated due to collision between the return spring and other components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by decreasing rather than increasing the center diameter of the return spring. This eliminates the collision with surrounding components that causes noise, while separation prevention is achieved through the protrusion-groove mechanism instead.
3Device complexity
If the first elastic member for returning the lever is integrated with the second elastic member for returning the clutch unit, then device complexity is reduced, but slip phenomenon occurs when the first elastic member is separated by external force
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the elastic member system into two separate components: the first elastic member (return spring) for returning the lever and the second elastic member (clutch spring) for returning the clutch unit. This segmentation prevents the slip phenomenon that occurs when the first elastic member is separated by external force, while maintaining manageable device complexity through functional separation.
4Reliability
If the first elastic member is separated from the second elastic member, then slip phenomenon is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements segmentation by separating the first elastic member (return spring) and second elastic member (clutch spring) into distinct functional units. This segmentation prevents slip phenomena while managing complexity through clear functional differentiation and compact arrangement within the housing.
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
Simplifies manufacturing processes, reduces noise, and prevents slip phenomena by decoupling return and clutch elastic functions, ensuring reliable operation of the vehicle seat height adjustment mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a diameter of a return spring having a ring shape is decreased when operating force of a user is input thereto and the diameter of the return spring is increased when the operating force is released therefrom
Implementation Method 2
a return spring having a main body portion configured of a ring-shaped leaf spring
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a pumping device for a vehicle seat including a clutch portion transferring rotational force input from a handle lever to a link means, a brake portion fixing the link means, a cylindrical front housing accommodating the clutch portion and the brake portion therein and having a pair of stoppers formed on an outer side surface thereof so as to be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined interval, a lever bracket having a pair of bracket legs provided radially outwardly with respect to the respective stoppers, the lever bracket being rotatably arranged on the outer side surface of the front housing so as to connect the handle lever to the clutch portion, and a return spring having a main body portion configured of a ring-shaped leaf spring and a pair of bending portions formed by bending both end portions of the main body portion.