Vehicle Seat Resetting Device with Segmented Spring and Linkage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat resetting devices are either bulky, expensive, or have limited variability, and often subject spring elements to alternating loads that reduce their useful life, failing to provide efficient and compact support for adjustable seat components like backrests and seat substructures.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat assembly with a resetting device featuring a spring element that is dynamically loaded via a force transmission element, allowing the spring to be tensioned and rotated about an axis of rotation, providing a resetting torque for power-assisted adjustment of seat components into a neutral position, and featuring a flexible traction means like a cable or chain wound on a winding element with varying diameter and toothing for controlled force transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a resetting device with spring element is provided to support resetting of adjustable seat components, then the resetting function is improved, but the device becomes bulky and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The resetting device is divided into separate functional components: a spring element (torsion spring) mounted on the first seat component, and a separate force transmission element (linkage mechanism) that connects the spring to the second seat component. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A force transmission element acts as an intermediary between the spring element and the second seat component. This intermediary mechanism transmits the resetting force from the spring to the adjustable component, enabling the spring to be positioned away from the pivot axis while still providing effective resetting action.
2Force
If the spring element is mounted directly near the pivot axis for efficient force transmission, then the resetting force is maximized, but the device has limited variability and installation flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The solution moves the spring element mounting location from the immediate pivot axis area to another dimension - mounted on the first seat component at a distance from the pivot axis. The force transmission element bridges this spatial gap, allowing the spring to be positioned where it does not interfere with pivot axis mechanisms while still providing effective resetting force through the transmission linkage.
3Ease of operation
If the spring element is subjected to alternating loads during adjustment, then the resetting function works in both directions, but the useful life of the spring element is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the spring element directly resist alternating loads in both adjustment directions, the invention inverts the approach: the spring element provides resetting force in one direction, while the force transmission element's mechanical linkage geometry manages the bidirectional adjustment. The spring is pre-loaded to provide resetting force, and the linkage mechanism translates this unidirectional spring force into bidirectional adjustment capability without subjecting the spring to alternating compression and tension cycles.
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 solution enhances the useful life of the spring element by ensuring it is dynamically loaded, providing a resetting force that varies with adjustment, allowing for efficient and compact support of seat components, and enabling smooth operation across a range of adjustments without the need for direct installation near pivot axes.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element which is tensioned when the second seat component is adjusted with respect to its neutral position, so that via the tensioned spring element a resetting force is provided for transferring the second seat component into its neutral position
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat assembly, comprising a first seat component and a second seat component, is provided. The second seat component is adjustable relative to the first seat component—preferably about a pivot axis—and a resetting device is provided, by means of which a resetting force is exerted on the second seat component in direction of a neutral position, when the second seat component is adjusted with respect to the neutral position. The resetting device at least includes the following:—a spring element in which a portion is rotated about an axis of rotation, when the second seat component is adjusted with respect to its neutral position, and the spring element thereby is tensioned, so that via the tensioned spring element at least a part of the resetting force is provided, and—a force transmission element.