Vehicle Seat Recliner Socket-Collar Design for Low-Friction Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat recliners face issues with load concentration on the collar part of the first gear, leading to deformation and increased friction due to non-uniform surface roughness and gaps causing reduced responsiveness and engagement performance.
Innovation Solution
A recliner design featuring first and second coupling portions on the socket to disperse the load, with polished contact surfaces to minimize friction and improve responsiveness, allowing simultaneous motion of the wedge cam with motor operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the thickness of the collar part is increased to prevent deformation, then the strength and rigidity of the collar part are improved, but the friction of the wedge cams increases due to non-uniform surface roughness and scratches formed during manufacturing
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the collar part into two separate components: the collar part itself and the socket. The socket is assembled onto the collar part, with the coupling portion of the socket providing the load-bearing function. This segmentation allows the socket to bear the load without requiring increased thickness of the collar part, thereby avoiding the formation of scratches and non-uniform surface roughness that would increase friction.
Solution Approach 2:
The socket acts as an intermediary component between the wedge cams and the collar part. The coupling portion of the socket contacts the outer diameter portion of the collar part, distributing the load from the wedge cams across the socket-collars interface rather than concentrating it on the collar part alone. This intermediary structure prevents deformation while maintaining smooth surfaces that minimize friction.
2Ease of manufacture
If a gap is provided in the contact portion between the wedge cam and socket to compensate for dimension tolerance, then the ease of assembly is improved, but the responsiveness of the seatback deteriorates due to time delay in wedge rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies the geometric parameters of the coupling portion, specifically making the outer diameter of the coupling portion slightly larger than the inner diameter of the collar part. This parameter change creates an interference fit or tight clearance fit that eliminates gaps while still allowing for tolerance compensation through precise manufacturing controls, thereby maintaining responsiveness without assembly difficulties.
3Reliability
If the collar part is made thicker to prevent deformation, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional manufacturing processes required for thicker components
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the load-bearing function from the structural support function by introducing a separate socket component. The socket handles the load-bearing requirement through its coupling portion design, while the collar part maintains its original thickness for structural support. This segmentation eliminates the need for thicker collar parts and complex manufacturing processes associated with thick-walled components.
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 disperses load, minimizes friction, and enhances responsiveness by optimizing surface roughness and ensuring smooth operation of the wedge cam, maintaining engagement performance and reducing deformation of the collar part.
Implementation Method 1
The pair of wedge cams 103 is elastically supported by two opposite bent ends 109a of the spring 109
Implementation Method 2
When a motor M is operated by an operation of a switch SW and a shaft 104 connected to the motor M rotates, the first gear 101 is rotated by a rotation of the socket 105 connected to the shaft 104 and rotations of the wedge cams 103
Data Source
AI summary
A recliner for a vehicle seat includes a first gear having a collar part at a center thereof, a second gear being internally in contact with the first gear and configured to eccentrically engage with the first gear, a socket including a first coupling portion having an outer diameter portion coupled to be in contact with an inner diameter portion of the collar part, and a second coupling portion having an inner diameter portion coupled to surround an outer diameter portion of the collar part while being in contact with the outer diameter portion of the collar part, and a pair of wedge cams disposed between the socket and the second gear and configured to restrain or release the socket and the second gear.