Seat Rail Locking Structure With Upward Pin Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seat rail locking devices for vehicles often interfere with the floor panel, particularly in electric vehicles where the floor space is used for battery mounting, due to the lock pin moving in a directly downward direction.
Innovation Solution
The seat rail locking device employs a method where the lock pin moves in an upward direction to lock the seat rail, eliminating interference with the floor panel and allowing for flexible battery mounting structures. This is achieved through a lock pin guide with a spring backing part and a track lever connected to the lock pin, enabling easy assembly and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lock pin moves in a directly downward direction to lock the seat rail, then the locking function is achieved, but the floor panel is interfered with and battery mounting space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional locking direction by making the lock pin move upward instead of downward to engage with the locking hole. This inversion allows the lock pin to clear the floor panel and battery mounting area, solving the space conflict while maintaining the locking function. The locking hole is positioned on the fixed rail such that upward movement of the lock pin achieves engagement without interfering with the floor panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimensional approach by introducing a vertical clearance dimension between the lock pin and the floor panel. By positioning the locking mechanism such that the lock pin operates in a plane above the floor panel, the invention creates a three-dimensional solution that separates the locking operation from the floor panel space, thereby preserving battery mounting volume.
2Device complexity
If the lock pin moves in a directly downward direction, then the locking structure is simple, but the assembly process is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-positioning the lock pin within the movable rail assembly during manufacturing, rather than requiring field assembly. The lock pin is preliminarily fixed in its housing, and the entire assembly is then mounted to the seat rail, reducing on-site assembly steps and potential errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a lock pin housing as an intermediary component that simplifies the assembly process. The housing pre-positions and protects the lock pin, spring, and related components, allowing the entire locking mechanism to be assembled as a single unit before installation. This intermediary structure meditates between the complex internal components and the simple external installation interface.
3Volume of moving object
If the lock pin moves in an upward direction, then the battery mounting space is increased, but the locking mechanism requires additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into the lock pin housing, which simultaneously serves as a guide for the lock pin, a housing for the spring, a support for the track lever, and a structural connector to the movable rail. By combining these functions into a single integrated component, the invention avoids the need for separate guide structures, spring housings, and mounting brackets, thereby offsetting the added complexity of the upward movement mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock pin housing is designed as a multi-functional component that performs guiding, supporting, spring housing, and structural connection functions. This universal component approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate parts, making the increased functionality manageable through component integration rather than proliferation of separate elements.
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 prevents interference with the floor panel, enhances assembly efficiency by allowing easy insertion and rotation of the lock pin guide, and provides a flexible battery mounting space, improving overall system functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a spring 23 inserted between a bottom surface of the support plate 21 and a circumferential part 22-1 of the lock pin 22 to be compressible
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides a seat rail locking device for a vehicle, which may apply a method of moving a lock pin (160) in an upward direction to lock a seat rail by moving away from a conventional seat rail locking method of moving the lock pin in a directly downward direction to pass through a floor panel, thereby not causing the interference with the floor panel at all to flexibly apply a battery mounting structure to the floor panel, improving an assembling property as an operator may easily assemble a lock pin guide (150) configured to guide the lock pin (160) to move in upward and downward directions to a movable rail (120) in only an insertion and rotation operation.