Vehicle Seat Slide Rail With Dual-Nut Collision Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat sliding apparatuses in vehicles face issues with operational reliability due to dust accumulation on lead screws, restricted space usage, and increased risk of accidental seat movement during collisions, which are not adequately addressed by existing solutions.
Innovation Solution
A dual nut structure is implemented, where a plastic nut drives the seat and a steel nut prevents separation from the rail, with a power transmission belt system and toothed parts designed to engage and disengage based on impact conditions, reducing noise and enhancing rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a metal nut is used to prevent seat separation during collision, then reliability is improved, but noise is increased due to friction between the nut and lead screw
Solution Approach 1:
The nut is divided into two distinct components: a first nut made of plastic material that engages with the lead screw during normal operation, and a second nut made of metal material that engages with the lead screw only during collision events. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without the adverse effects of the other material type.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between the first nut and second nut based on operational conditions. During normal sliding operation, the plastic first nut engages with the lead screw to minimize noise. During collision events, the metal second nut engages with the lead screw to prevent seat separation. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between noise reduction and collision protection.
2Reliability
If the lead screw is installed at a higher position to accommodate the seat sliding apparatus, then the apparatus can function properly, but the minimum seat height is restricted and interior space utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the lead screw from a horizontal configuration to a vertical configuration, changing the dimensional orientation of the seat sliding apparatus. This vertical arrangement allows the apparatus to occupy less horizontal interior space while maintaining full sliding functionality, thereby resolving the contradiction between proper apparatus function and interior space utilization.
3Device complexity
If a single nut structure is used to drive the seat, then device complexity is reduced, but the seat may be unintentionally slid during collision
Solution Approach 1:
The single nut structure is segmented into two specialized nuts: a first plastic nut for normal driving operation and a second metal nut for collision protection. This segmentation enables the system to achieve both low complexity during normal operation and high reliability during collisions, as each nut is optimized for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The dual nut structure acts as an intermediary safety mechanism between the driving motor and the seat. The first nut handles normal driving forces, while the second nut serves as a collision intermediary that engages to prevent unwanted seat movement during impact events, thereby maintaining system simplicity while enhancing safety.
Data Source
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AI summary
A seat sliding apparatus for a vehicle is provided. The seat sliding apparatus may include a lead screw configured to define a first toothed part on an outer circumferential surface thereof, and disposed in forward and rearward directions of a vehicle, a worm gear rotated by a driving motor, a transmission gear assembly engaged with the worm gear to be rotated, a power transmission belt engaged with the transmission gear assembly, and a nut unit including a first nut configured such that a second toothed part engaged with the first toothed part is defined on an inner circumferential surface thereof, and a second nut configured to come into contact with the power transmission belt.