Vehicle Seat Swivel Locking With Elongated-Hole Swing Lever
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seat swiveling devices in vehicles face challenges in easily engaging the teeth of the swing lever with the holes of the upper base without gaps, requiring high accuracy and precise positioning.
Innovation Solution
A seat swiveling device with a swing lever that includes an elongated hole for the pivot shaft and a locating lug guided along a guide hole with recessed portions, allowing for easy engagement and disengagement by pivoting the swing lever, facilitating contact between the locating lug and recessed portions without gaps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the shaft hole in the lock plate is made as a perfect circle with diameter corresponding to the pivot shaft, then the teeth can be engaged with the hole, but the engagement requires high accuracy and precise positioning making operation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the circular shaft hole to an elongated hole with asymmetric geometry. The elongated hole has a first end and a second end with different positions relative to the pivot shaft, creating an asymmetric shape that guides the swing lever into proper engagement. This asymmetric design eliminates the need for high precision positioning while ensuring accurate tooth-to-hole engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the geometric parameters of the shaft hole from a circular shape with fixed diameter to an elongated shape with variable dimensions. The elongated hole has a major axis and minor axis with specific length ratios, and its position is optimized so that the center of the elongated hole is offset from the pivot shaft center. This parameter change allows the swing lever to self-align during operation.
2Manufacturing precision
If the teeth and holes are precisely positioned relative to each other, then gap-free engagement is achieved, but the positioning requires high manufacturing accuracy increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The elongated hole's asymmetric geometry serves as a built-in positioning mechanism. The specific orientation and dimensions of the elongated hole guide the swing lever's locating lug into the correct position automatically, eliminating the need for complex external positioning systems. The asymmetric shape ensures that only one specific orientation of the swing lever allows engagement, achieving precise positioning through geometry alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The elongated hole acts as an intermediary element between the swing lever and the stationary base. Instead of requiring direct precise positioning between teeth and holes, the elongated hole mediates the engagement process by providing a guiding path for the locating lug, which then guides the teeth into proper alignment with the holes.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the swing lever is rigidly fixed to the movable base, then positioning is stable, but the swing lever cannot move relative to the pivot shaft reducing adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the connection between the swing lever and movable base dynamic rather than rigid. The swing lever is allowed to pivot relative to the movable base through the elongated hole, which provides a range of motion. This dynamic connection allows the swing lever to adapt to different positions while maintaining stable engagement through the guide hole and recessed portion mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The swing lever is nested within the movable base structure, with the elongated hole providing a guided path for the locating lug. This nested arrangement allows relative movement while maintaining a compact structure. The swing lever can pivot within the constraints of the elongated hole, providing both stability and flexibility.
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 easy operation for snug contact between the swing lever's teeth and holes, ensuring precise positioning and smooth pivoting of the vehicle seat assembly, even with tolerances, by allowing the swing lever to move relative to the pivot shaft and guide hole.
Implementation Method 1
a swing lever (31) which is pivoted about a second pivot shaft (26) provided on the movable base (21)
Implementation Method 2
The guide hole (15) has a recessed portion (17, 18) with which the locating lug (34) is engaged by pivoting the swing lever (31) thereby to fix the movable base (21) to the stationary base (11) at a predetermined position
Implementation Method 3
The swing lever (31) has an elongated hole (36) in which the second pivot shaft (26) is inserted and a locating lug (34) which is guided along the guide hole (15). The swing lever (31) is movable relative to the second pivot shaft (26) in accordance with the shape of the elongated hole (36)
Data Source
AI summary
A seat swiveling device of a vehicle comprises a stationary base, a movable base, a vehicle seat assembly and a swing lever. The movable base has a second pivot shaft for supporting the swing lever so that the swing lever is pivoted. The stationary base has a guide hole for defining a range in which the movable base is pivotable. The swing lever has an elongated hole in which the second pivot shaft is inserted and a locating lug which is guided along the guide hole. The guide hole has a recessed portion with which the locating lug is engaged by pivoting the swing lever thereby to fix the movable base to the stationary base at a predetermined position. The swing lever is movable relative to the second pivot shaft in accordance with the shape of the elongated hole.