Vehicle Seat Longitudinal Adjuster Coupling for Noise and Misalignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing longitudinal adjusters for vehicle seats do not adequately address acoustic requirements, leading to vibration transmission and noise issues.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a flexible coupling mechanism between the spindle and the output shaft of the geared motor, utilizing a hose, claw, or compensating coupling to absorb and damp vibrations, allowing for angular and parallel offsets, thereby reducing vibration transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a rigid coupling is used between the spindle and output shaft, then the mechanical connection is strong and stable, but vibration transmission increases and acoustic properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible coupling is introduced as an intermediary element between the spindle and output shaft. This coupling comprises a flexible element that mechanically connects the two shafts while allowing relative movement and absorbing vibrations, thus mediating between the rigid mechanical connection requirement and the vibration reduction requirement
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling changes the mechanical parameters between spindle and shaft by introducing flexibility and damping characteristics. The flexible element's material properties and geometric parameters are optimized to provide the desired vibration absorption while maintaining torque transmission capability
2Power
If precise alignment between spindle and output shaft is required, then mechanical efficiency is improved, but manufacturing and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling transforms the static alignment requirement into a dynamic solution where the flexible element can adapt its position. The coupling allows angular and parallel offsets while maintaining effective power transmission, enabling dynamic compensation for misalignment rather than requiring precise static alignment
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling parameters (flexibility, damping, geometric configuration) are optimized to maintain high mechanical efficiency even with misalignment. This allows the system to achieve good power transmission without requiring tight alignment tolerances during assembly
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 flexible coupling effectively dampens vibrations and compensates for angular and parallel offsets, improving the acoustic properties of the longitudinal adjuster and reducing noise.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible coupling effectively dampens vibrations and compensates for angular and parallel offsets, improving the acoustic properties of the longitudinal adjuster and reducing noise
Implementation Method 2
the spindle end and the shaft end can move flexibly towards each other or move away from each other or move relative to each other compensating for an angular offset using the flexible coupling
Data Source
AI summary
A longitudinal adjuster may have one pair of rails and a drive device for the pair of rails. The pair of rails has a first rail and a second rail, on which the first rail is guided displaceably. The drive device has a geared motor with an output shaft, a motor, a gear unit, a spindle, and a coupling arrangement for coupling the spindle and the output shaft. The spindle is mounted rotatably about a spindle axis. The coupling arrangement may have a flexible coupling which is connected in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner on the one hand to a spindle end and on the other hand to a shaft end of the output shaft and is designed to damp vibrations and/or to compensate for an offset between the spindle end and the shaft end. A vehicle seat may have