Vehicle Seat Sliding Rail Support Structure for Rear-End Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle sliding rails face issues with reduced rigidity and stability, particularly when the upper rail is unsupported at its rear end, leading to shaking and noise during vehicle movement, especially in vehicles with limited space for longer retainers.
Innovation Solution
A novel sliding rail design incorporating an extending or fixed supporting structure on the retainer to provide additional support to the upper rail, enhancing rigidity and stability by ensuring continuous support even when the upper rail is at its rearmost position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a short retainer is used to facilitate third row passenger entry, then ease of operation is improved, but rigidity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting function is segmented into two parts: the retainer for movement control and the additional supporting structure for rigidity enhancement. This allows the retainer to remain short while the supporting structure provides the necessary structural support independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution adds a new structural element (additional supporting structure) in a different dimensional approach rather than extending the retainer length. This supporting structure extends from the lower rail to provide longitudinal support to the upper rail, addressing rigidity without affecting retainer length.
2Weight of moving object
If high-strength steel is used to make the sliding rail thinner and lighter, then weight is reduced, but rigidity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The solution combines high-strength steel (for weight reduction) with an additional supporting structure (for rigidity enhancement). This composite approach allows the rail to maintain both lightweight properties and sufficient rigidity through the combined structural system.
Solution Approach 2:
The supporting function is separated from the rail body itself and provided by an additional independent supporting structure. This allows the rail to remain thin and light while the separate structure provides the necessary rigidity support.
3Device complexity
If the retainer movement stroke is half of the sliding rail movement stroke, then device complexity is reduced, but stability deteriorates when upper rail is at rearmost position
Solution Approach 1:
The additional supporting structure acts as an intermediary element that provides continuous support to the upper rail. It mediates between the retainer's limited movement stroke and the upper rail's full movement stroke, ensuring stability at all positions without complicating the retainer 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
The design effectively improves the modal performance and stability of the sliding rail, reducing shaking and noise, and maintaining smooth operation under bumping and shaking conditions.
Implementation Method 1
balls are lined between the seat and the sliding rail to reduce friction, and the balls are arranged in a retainer
Implementation Method 2
one section of extending supporting structure is designed on the original retainer, or a fixed supporting structure is mounted at a rear section of the sliding groove of the lower rail
Data Source
Figure 1~4a
Figure 4b~5c
Figure 6a~6c
AI summary
The present invention relates to a sliding rail for a vehicle seat, and in particular to a sliding rail having an enhanced rigidity modulus. The sliding rail includes an upper rail assembly, a lower rail assembly, and retainers. The upper rail assembly is slidably arranged in a sliding groove in the lower rail assembly through a pair of retainers. First raised ribs and/or steel ball clamping grooves are arranged at intervals on surfaces, in contact with the upper rail assembly and the lower rail assembly, of the retainers. A steel ball is mounted in the steel ball clamping groove. A supporting structure extending backwards in a length direction of the retainers is arranged at a rear end of each of the retainers. When the upper rail assembly slides backwards to the farthest stroke, the supporting structure provides longitudinal auxiliary support for a mid-rear section of the upper rail assembly, the supporting structure is in contact with the lower rail assembly, and a gap is reserved between the supporting structure and the upper rail assembly. According to the present invention, the supporting structure can provide support for the whole upper rail, and can effectively improve the modal of the sliding rail, in particular under bumpy vibration working conditions, thereby improving the overall rigidity of the sliding rail and facilitating reduction of the noise generated by the sliding rail in a vehicle.