Vehicle Seat Slide Locking with Tilt-Braced Continuous Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat adjustment systems with discontinuous locking mechanisms limit the number of adjustment positions and do not allow for continuous adjustment along the slide length, restricting flexibility and usability.
Innovation Solution
A continuously adjustable locking system for vehicle seats that includes a rail with integral locking members and elastic means, along with an electric actuator and transmission mechanism, enabling the locking members to tilt and unlock, allowing for unlimited sliding positions by reducing the energy required for locking and unlocking to less than 0.1 Joule per slide, facilitating low-power electric actuators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If discontinuous locking mechanisms are used, then the locking security is improved, but the number of adjustment positions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system is divided into multiple independent locking members (first locking member and second locking member) that can independently engage with the rail at different positions. This segmentation allows continuous adjustment along the rail while maintaining secure locking at any position, resolving the contradiction between limited adjustment positions and locking security.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking members are designed to be dynamically adjustable along the continuous rail rather than being fixed at discrete positions. The locking members can tilt and engage at any point along the rail length, enabling continuous adjustment while maintaining reliable locking through the tilt-lock mechanism that engages with the rail surface.
2Stability of the object's composition
If traditional locking mechanisms are used, then the locking stability is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The unlocking mechanism utilizes controlled tilting motion of the locking members rather than traditional high-force mechanical actuation. The tilt-lock design allows the locking members to engage and disengage with minimal force by exploiting the geometry of the rail surface and the tilting action, significantly reducing the energy required for locking and unlocking operations while maintaining stable locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the locking mechanism from high-force engagement to low-force tilt-based engagement. By altering the parameter of engagement force and using the tilting motion parameter instead, the system achieves stable locking with minimal energy consumption, enabling the use of low-power electric actuators.
3Reliability
If high-power actuators are used, then the locking reliability is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces traditional high-power mechanical actuators with low-power electric actuators combined with a tilt-lock mechanism. The mechanical advantage is gained through the tilting geometry of the locking members engaging with the rail, rather than through high-power direct actuation. This substitution reduces system complexity while maintaining locking reliability.
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
Enables continuous and flexible adjustment of vehicle seats with reduced energy consumption, allowing for an unlimited number of adjustment positions while using low-power electric actuators, enhancing user convenience and system efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
elastic means generating restoring forces configured to ensure: a tilting upon locking of the first locking member so as to ensure a bracing of said first locking member on the rail
Implementation Method 2
a first reaction between the first upper friction surface of the rail and the first wall of said first locking member and, on the other hand, a second reaction between the second lower friction surface of the rail and the second wall of said first locking member
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3~5
AI summary
System (1) for locking at least one continuously adjustable slide for a vehicle seat, comprising: - said at least one slide (2), - a locking system by buttressing comprising: -- a rail, fixed relative to the first slide element, -- elastic means generating restoring forces configured to ensure a tilting upon locking of a first locking member so as to ensure a buttressing of said first locking member on the rail (3) and a tilting upon locking of a second locking member (5) ensuring a buttressing of said second locking member on the rail (3) According to this disclosure, an unlocking mechanism comprises an electric actuator (AT) and a transmission (TR) configured to ensure the tilting upon unlocking of the first locking member (4) and the tilting (5) upon unlocking of the second locking member, against the restoring forces of the elastic means.