Seatback Main Pivot Assembly With Bushing Spacer and Lateral Load Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing main pivot assemblies for seat back systems lack effective mechanisms to maintain desired spacing between sectors and absorb lateral forces, leading to potential misalignment and compression issues during pivoting and inertial movements.
Innovation Solution
A seat assembly with a pair of spaced apart lower sectors and an upper sector, incorporating a bushing and collar spacer system that utilizes male and female bushing subassemblies made of powderized metal for interference fit and a spring washer to absorb lateral forces, maintaining spacing and preventing inward compression, along with an inertial latch for controlled pivoting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional pivot assembly is used between support plates, then the seatback can pivot, but the spacing between sectors is not maintained and lateral forces are not absorbed
Solution Approach 1:
A collar spacer is introduced as an intermediary component between the upper and lower sectors to maintain the desired spacing. The collar spacer fits over the pivot pin and prevents the sectors from moving too close together, thereby maintaining proper spacing without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot assembly is segmented into multiple functional components: the collar spacer for spacing maintenance, the spring washer for lateral force absorption, and the pivot pin for rotation. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, improving reliability while keeping the overall structure manageable.
2Strength
If rigid connection between sectors is used, then structural strength is improved, but lateral forces cause misalignment and compression
Solution Approach 1:
A spring washer is installed between the upper and lower sectors to provide beforehand cushioning against lateral forces. The spring washer compresses when lateral forces are applied, absorbing the energy and preventing the rigid connection from transmitting these forces directly, which would cause misalignment and compression issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between sectors transitions from purely rigid to semi-compliant by introducing the spring washer. This changes the mechanical parameters of the connection, allowing it to maintain strength while accommodating lateral movements through elastic deformation, thereby preserving alignment stability.
3Ease of manufacture
If simple pivot connection is used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but spacing control and force absorption are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot assembly is divided into separate, easily manufactured components: a standard pivot pin, a collar spacer, and a spring washer. Each component can be manufactured independently using conventional processes, and then assembled together to achieve the complex functions of spacing maintenance and lateral force absorption without requiring sophisticated manufacturing techniques.
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 effectively maintains sector spacing, absorbs lateral forces, and provides controlled pivoting motion, preventing misalignment and inward compression, ensuring stable and secure operation during inertial movements.
Implementation Method 1
A lateral force absorbing spring washer is dimensioned to slide over an outer surface of the open cylinder portion of the female bushing subassembly and to compress against an inside of the female perimeter lip during assembly of the male/female bushing subassemblies
Implementation Method 2
Each of the bushing subassemblies are further constructed of a powderized metal, such as which can be cold headed or similarly formed and is intended to deformably accommodate an interference fit with each other
Data Source
AI summary
A seat assembly including a pair of spaced apart lower sectors, each exhibiting an annular extending inner surface defining first and second aligning apertures, and an upper sector interposed between the spaced apart lower sectors and exhibiting a further annular extending inner surface defining a further aperture positioned between the aligning apertures of the lower sectors and defining a pivot point of the upper sector. A bushing and collar spacer are incorporated into the pivot point to maintain a desired spacing between the upper and lower sectors. A bushing exhibits male and female subassemblies, each further exhibiting an outer annular projecting perimeter lip such that the male bushing is installed through the aligning apertures in the upper and lower sector plates from the exterior side of a first selected lower sector, whereas the female bushing is installed from an exterior side of the other lower sector.