Vehicle Seat Rail Clutch Drum for Quick Stop and Position Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing power-driven seat rails for vehicles lack a separate control device, making it difficult to quickly move or stop the vehicle seat.

Innovation Solution

A clutch drum mechanism is introduced to transmit power to a spur gear via a pinion pin, allowing the spur gear to move along a rack gear while rotating, and a disengagement operation restricts power transmission to prevent unwanted movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a clutch drum mechanism is added to enable quick movement and stopping of the seat, then the control precision and responsiveness are improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol responsivenessVSAvoidmechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The clutch drum is nested within the existing power-driven seat rail mechanism, with the pinion pin integrated into the clutch drum structure. The elastic member is nested between the clutch drum and spur gear. This nesting approach enables quick control without significantly increasing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The clutch drum is designed to be movable relative to the spur gear, transitioning between engaged and disengaged states. The elastic member provides dynamic force to maintain engagement or allow disengagement, enabling the system to adapt its control state based on operational needs for quick movement or stopping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Power

If the clutch drum is positioned close to the spur gear for efficient power transmission, then the power transmission efficiency is improved, but the risk of unintended engagement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transmission efficiencyVSAvoidengagement control reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic member acts as an intermediary between the clutch drum and spur gear, maintaining a controlled interval between them. This intermediary element ensures that the clutch drum remains close enough for efficient power transmission when engaged, while preventing unintended engagement through the buffering effect of the elastic member.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Speed

If the elastic member maintains a small interval between the clutch drum and spur gear, then the response speed is improved, but the risk of impact and wear increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speedVSAvoidcomponent durability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic member provides beforehand cushioning between the clutch drum and spur gear. It maintains a small interval for quick response while being designed to absorb impact forces, preventing direct hard contact between the gear components and reducing wear, thus protecting component durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

Enables precise control over the movement of the seat rail, allowing quick adjustment and stopping, enhancing user convenience and control.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic member coupled to the at least one portion of the outer-diameter portion of the pinion pin and disposed between the spur gear and the clutch drum to maintain an interval between the spur gear and the clutch drum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4699857A1Apparatus for moving seat rail for vehicle
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 HYUNDAI TRANSYS INC
  • EP4699857A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4699857A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4699857A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An apparatus for moving a seat rail for a vehicle includes a spur gear having a first engagement portion provided on one surface of the spur gear, a pinion pin having one side outer-diameter portion rotatably coupled to an inner-diameter portion of the spur gear, a clutch drum positioned at an interval from the first engagement portion and positioned to be opposite to the spur gear, the clutch drum having a second engagement portion provided on one surface of the clutch drum and configured to engage with the first engagement portion, and an elastic member provided between the spur gear and the clutch drum.