Vehicle Seat Horizontal Suspension with Deformable Element
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle seats with horizontal suspension devices face challenges in achieving optimal spring characteristics due to large construction size and limited adjustability, which can result in insufficient spring excursion and increased risk of end stop strikes during vehicle inclination.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat with a horizontal suspension device featuring a deformable suspension element and a bearing and deformation device, allowing for adjustable coupling points and spring characteristics through a coupling device that includes a zero position correction and spring characteristic adaptation unit, enabling displacement and adjustment of coupling points to maintain optimal spring excursion and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional horizontal suspension devices use large suspension elements oriented in the direction to be sprung, then the desired spring characteristic can be achieved, but the device becomes very large in construction and requires excessive installation space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by orienting the suspension element transversely to the suspension direction rather than parallel to it. The suspension element is arranged between two mutually facing contact faces of a receiving space, creating a transverse orientation that reduces the longitudinal construction size while maintaining suspension functionality through the bearing and deformation device mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a deformable suspension element that can be bent or deformed by the bearing and deformation device. This flexible element allows the suspension characteristic to be achieved without requiring a large rigid structure, enabling compact construction while maintaining the desired spring behavior through controlled deformation
2Length of stationary object
If smaller suspension elements are used to reduce construction size, then installation space is reduced, but the desired spring characteristic cannot be achieved or is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the suspension element by introducing the bearing and deformation device that actively deforms the element. This allows a smaller suspension element to achieve the same spring characteristic as a larger element would provide in conventional designs, through controlled deformation and force application mechanisms
3Device complexity
If the spring characteristic of suspension elements is fixed, then the design is simplified, but the spring characteristic cannot be optimized or adjusted for different conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamics by making the suspension element deformable rather than fixed. The bearing and deformation device enable the suspension element to change its characteristics through active deformation, allowing the spring characteristic to be adapted to different conditions while maintaining a relatively simple overall design structure
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 functionality and comfort of vehicle seats by allowing for significant zero position correction and spring characteristic adjustment, reducing the risk of end stop strikes and improving passenger support during vehicle inclinations.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable suspension element as a first coupling element and a bearing and deformation device as a further coupling element for this purpose, the deformable suspension element being arranged between two mutually facing contact faces of a receiving space of the bearing and deformation device
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat comprising a seat part extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction (X) and in the vehicle transverse direction (Y) and including a backrest part is provided. The vehicle seat includes a seat substructure for suspending and/or damping at least the seat part with respect to the body of a vehicle. The seat substructure comprises at least one horizontal suspension device that includes a body-side lower part and a seat-part-side upper part displaceable with respect thereto. A coupling device is arranged interactively between the seat-part-side upper part and the body-side lower part, and includes a deformable suspension element as a first coupling element and a bearing and deformation device as a further coupling element.