Seat Rail Cable Cassette With Deflecting Rollers for Tension Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat longitudinal adjustment devices for vehicles face challenges in reliably guiding and protecting long connecting cables, which can become slack, rattle, or twist, leading to potential breaks due to external influences and vibrations, especially during long adjustment travels.
Innovation Solution
A cable deflecting apparatus, specifically a cable cassette, is introduced, featuring two rotatably mounted deflecting rollers within a housing that automatically adapts cable length to adjustment travel, holding the cable under tension and securely guiding it through the rail profile, reducing vibrations and preventing contact with other components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a long connecting cable is used for long adjustment travels, then the cable can reach the full adjustment range, but the cable becomes slack, rattles, and twists leading to potential breaks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cable deflecting apparatus as an intermediary device between the power supply and the adjustment unit. This apparatus includes deflecting rollers that guide and tension the connecting cable, preventing it from becoming slack or twisting during long adjustment travels, thereby maintaining cable reliability while enabling full adjustment range.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of cable management by transitioning from a static cable routing to a dynamic system with movable deflecting rollers. These rollers can be positioned to maintain optimal cable tension and routing geometry, preventing harmful slack and twisting while accommodating the full adjustment travel range.
2Use of energy by moving object
If sliding contacts are used in rail profiles, then power can be supplied to the rail runner, but the cable management becomes complex and space-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cable management system into distinct functional components: a cable deflecting apparatus with deflecting rollers, a housing, and cable routing paths. This segmentation allows for simplified, modular cable management that is easier to implement and maintain compared to complex sliding contact systems, while still enabling power supply to the moving rail runner.
3Quantity of substance
If a cable coiling apparatus with a roll body is used, then the cable can be managed in a compact form, but the structure requires significant space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of cable tensioning and guiding from the bulky coiling apparatus concept. Instead of using a large roll body to coil the cable, the invention uses a simplified system with deflecting rollers that guide the cable along a controlled path, maintaining cable organization in a much more compact form factor suitable for vehicle seat applications.
4Use of energy by moving object
If the connecting cable is routed through the rail profile, then power can be supplied during adjustment, but the cable is exposed to external influences and vibrations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the connecting cable is routed through a housing that contains the deflecting rollers. This nested arrangement protects the cable from external influences and vibrations while still allowing it to be fed through the rail profile for power supply during adjustment movements.
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 ensures a low-friction, wear-free, and space-saving cable management system that prevents cable slack, rattling, and breakage, maintaining cable tension both during operation and non-operation, while minimizing structural space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
enables relatively low-friction and wear-free guidance
Data Source
AI summary
A cable cassette for a seat longitudinal adjustment apparatus may have at least a housing and two rotatably mounted deflecting rollers. One of the deflecting rollers may be held such that it is guided for longitudinal movement in the housing relative to the other, stationary deflecting roller. A first free end of the connecting cable of the cable bundle is held in a fixed position via a first cassette outlet and the connecting cable or the cable bundle is guided and deflected around the movable deflecting roller and led from the movable deflecting roller to the other, stationary deflecting roller and is deflected around said stationary deflecting roller. A second free end of the connecting cable or of the cable bundle is movably mounted. A seat longitudinal adjustment apparatus may have the cable cassette.