Vehicle Seat Rail Locking Mechanism with Nested Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing longitudinal adjusters for vehicle seats lack efficient protection against overloading and have a bulky actuation mechanism, which compromises the safety and compactness of the assembly.
Innovation Solution
The longitudinal adjuster features a force transmission element that extends into the second seat rail, allowing the unlocking mechanism to be fully enclosed within the rail profile, with a shaft and lever arms that pivot to release the rail lock, minimizing space and providing overload protection through a spring mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the unlocking mechanism is arranged outside the rail profile, then the actuation space is sufficient, but the assembly becomes bulky and protection is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The unlocking mechanism is nested within the rail profile cavity, with the force transmission element extending into the second seat rail. The lever arm and unlocking unit are arranged inside the rail profile, effectively hiding the actuation mechanism within the existing structure rather than adding external bulk.
2Ease of operation
If the force transmission element is mounted outside the second seat rail, then the actuation mechanism is accessible, but the required space increases and protection is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The force transmission element is positioned in a different spatial dimension by extending into the depth of the second seat rail rather than being mounted on the external surface. This utilizes the internal volume of the rail profile to accommodate the actuation mechanism, reducing the external footprint while maintaining operational accessibility through the rail's internal geometry.
3Ease of manufacture
If the unlocking unit is arranged outside the rail profile, then the components are easily accessible, but the assembly becomes less compact and protected
Solution Approach 1:
The unlocking unit is merged with the rail profile structure by arranging it within the internal cavity of the second seat rail. The force transmission element serves dual purposes as both a structural connector and an actuation component, reducing the number of separate external components needed while maintaining manufacturing accessibility through the rail's internal geometry.
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
This design enhances safety by preventing damage from overloading and reduces the required space for actuation, ensuring the assembly is protected and compact.
Implementation Method 1
an overload safety device is provided between the force transmission element and the actuating arrangement, which protects against overloading in a direction opposite to the normal actuating direction for unlocking
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
In a longitudinal adjustor for a vehicle seat having a first seat rail (5) and a second seat rail (8) which engage around one another to form a rail profile and can be moved relative to one another in the longitudinal direction, and a rail locking means (10) which can lock the seat rails (5, 8) to one another and which is arranged at least for the most part within the rail profile formed by the seat rails (5, 8), an activation arrangement (11) is provided for activating an unlocking unit (30), wherein the unlocking unit (30) is arranged at least for the most part within the rail profile formed by the seat rails (5, 8), wherein a force-transmitting element (35) is provided which connects the activation arrangement (11) to the unlocking unit (30), there is provision that the force-transmitting element (35) is inserted by one end from the side into the second seat rail (8), extends into the rail profile of the second seat rail (8) or through the latter and interacts with the unlocking unit (30) within the second seat rail (8), wherein a positively locking connection is provided between the force-transmitting element (35) and the unlocking unit (30), and that the force-transmitting element (35) serves simultaneously for mounting the activation arrangement (11) in a pivotable fashion.