Vehicle Seat Rail Memory Mechanism for Forward Entry Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing forwardly movable vehicle seats have complex mechanisms to manage excess length created by forward movement, which complicate assembly and require additional space for components.
Innovation Solution
A simplified mechanical system using a pull means that remains proximal to the rails, loaded in the direction of forces, and a peripheral cam to control the seat back's position, allowing the seat back to remain inclined during movement and ensuring it returns to the initial position efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complicated device is used to allow the rotary drum to continue rotating and take up excess length during forward movement, then the excess length can be managed, but the device complexity increases and assembly becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the excess length management function from a complex multi-component device and implements it through a simple rotary drum that rotates freely on its axis. The rotary drum is disconnected from the detent rim, allowing it to independently take up excess length without requiring complicated coupling mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a limit stop that restricts the rotary drum's rotation, the patent inverts the approach by allowing the rotary drum to rotate freely in both directions. The excess length is taken up passively through the drum's rotation rather than through an active limiting mechanism.
2Volume of moving object
If the pull means deflects transversely to accommodate excess length, then space is needed for deflection, but the pull means can remain proximal to the rails if guided in the longitudinal direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the dimension of pull means guidance from transverse deflection to longitudinal movement. The pull means is guided within the longitudinal direction of the rails, allowing it to accommodate excess length by moving along the length of the rails rather than requiring lateral space for deflection.
3Reliability
If the seat back is locked in the forwardly tilted position, then the seat can be moved forward, but the seat back cannot return to the normal position without a release mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service release mechanism where the peripheral cam automatically releases the seat back at the end of the forward movement path. The cam's geometry causes it to disengage from the limit stop when the seat reaches the forward position, allowing the seat back to return to normal without requiring manual intervention or a complex release mechanism.
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 solution reduces component complexity, saves space, and facilitates assembly by maintaining the seat back in an inclined position during movement, ensuring it returns to the normal position only when the peripheral cam is released, thus simplifying the memory mechanism and enhancing mechanical control.
Implementation Method 1
a flat spiral spring associated with said rotary drum
Data Source
AI summary
The forwardly movable vehicle seat has an underframe including a longitudinal adjusting device that has two pairs of rails, two catch devices and one actuation lever for actuating the catch devices. The vehicle seat further has a seat pan that is carried by the underframe. The seat pan includes a seat back that is pivotal about a seat back axis and on which there is disposed a release lever. In the actuation state, the seat back is unlocked for tilting, the actuation lever being actuated and the catch device unlocked when the seat back is tilted forward so that the seat can be brought from an initial position to a forwardly moved position. There is provided a memory mechanism that ensures that the seat, when being moved back from its forwardly moved position, resumes its initial position.