Seat Runner Bracket Welding Layout for Spatter-Protected Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The attachment of brackets to movable profiles in vehicle seat runners is complicated by difficult access to weld zones and the generation of spatter that impairs the operation and service life of the runners.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat runner design with a bracket welded to the movable profile, where the bracket's inner surface is positioned to form a ridge with the movable profile's outer surface, allowing easy access for welding and protection against spatter, using a configuration that includes a contact portion and a receiving portion for the seat frame, with weld points formed between these elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the bracket is welded to the movable profile using conventional welding methods, then the attachment strength is improved, but the weld zone accessibility deteriorates and spatter generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The welding operation is moved from a lateral approach (through the wings) to a vertical approach (from above the upper wall). The welding gun accesses the weld zone from the top side of the movable profile, passing through or over the upper wall to reach the contact portion of the bracket. This dimensional change in welding approach dramatically improves accessibility while maintaining weld quality.
2Reliability
If conventional welding is used to attach the bracket, then the attachment reliability is improved, but spatter is generated that impairs the runner operation and service life
Solution Approach 1:
The upper wall of the movable profile, which defines the welding approach direction, becomes a protective shield that catches and contains the welding spatter. The spatter that would otherwise contaminate the ball bearing elements is redirected by the upper wall geometry, preventing damage to the runner's sliding surfaces while the welding process maintains its reliability.
3Ease of manufacture
If the bracket is positioned to allow welding from the side, then the attachment is achieved, but the weld zone is difficult to access and spatter reaches the ball bearing elements
Solution Approach 1:
The upper wall of the movable profile acts as an intermediary protective element between the welding operation and the ball bearing elements. It serves dual purposes: defining the optimal welding approach direction from above and simultaneously shielding the underlying ball bearing components from spatter contamination during the welding process.
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 enables simple, reproducible, and robust attachment of brackets, reducing spatter impact and improving the operation and service life of the runners.
Implementation Method 1
at least one bracket (30) extending in the elevation direction (Z), welded to the movable profile (25), and comprising i) a contact portion (65) comprising an inner surface (70)
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat runner that includes: a fixed profile, extending in a longitudinal direction; a movable profile, slidably mounted in the longitudinal direction on the fixed profile, having an upper wall bordered by two wings, each wing having an inner surface facing the upper wall and an outer surface opposite the inner surface in a transverse direction; and a bracket extending in an elevation direction, welded to the movable profile. The bracket is attached to the movable profile by at least one weld point formed between a receiving portion of the seat and the movable profile from an upper edge of a contact portion, on the side of an inner surface of the contact portion.