Vehicle Seatback Upper Frame Collision Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a vehicle collision, occupants seated behind the front seatback may contact it due to their forward momentum, leading to potential injury as the vehicle decelerates before the occupant, causing them to lean forward and hit the seatback.
Innovation Solution
A seatback system with a lower and upper frame coupled by a hinge, actuated by a cable and spring mechanism that moves the upper frame forward during a collision, allowing the seatback to bend away from the occupant, reducing contact and potential injury.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the seatback remains fixed in position during collision, then the structural integrity and support function is maintained, but the occupant behind contacts the seatback causing injury
Solution Approach 1:
The seatback is transformed from a static structure to a dynamic one that can change position. The upper frame is made movable relative to the lower frame through a hinge mechanism, allowing the seatback to rotate forward during collision to clear the occupant's head path while maintaining structural integrity through the controlled movement mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by detecting collision conditions and automatically actuating the seatback forward before the occupant's head can contact it. The sensor-based control system triggers the actuator to move the seatback out of the harmful path in advance, preventing the injury before it occurs.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the seatback is made movable to avoid occupant contact, then injury risk is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The seatback is segmented into two separate frames: a lower frame that remains stationary and an upper frame that can move forward. This segmentation allows the movable portion to be isolated and controlled independently, reducing the overall complexity compared to making the entire seatback movable while still achieving the safety function.
Solution Approach 2:
A cable acts as an intermediary element connecting the actuator to the upper frame, transmitting the actuation force efficiently. This simple mechanical intermediary reduces complexity by using a basic tension member rather than a complex direct-drive mechanism, while still achieving reliable actuation of the upper frame.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the upper frame is pulled forward by the actuator, then the seatback moves out of the way to prevent contact, but the force required may damage the structure
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge connection between the lower and upper frames provides dynamic movement capability, allowing the upper frame to rotate forward in a controlled manner. This dynamic joint distributes the actuation forces through rotational motion rather than requiring the actuator to overcome the full structural rigidity, reducing the risk of damage while achieving effective seatback movement.
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 mechanism effectively reduces the likelihood of injury to occupants seated behind the seatback by moving it out of the way during a collision, utilizing a control system that detects collisions and occupancy to actuate the seatback adjustment.
Implementation Method 1
an actuator 38 may be triggered to pull the upper frame 34 forward relative to the lower frame 32
Data Source
AI summary
A seatback includes a lower frame, an upper frame, and a hinge coupling the lower and upper frames. An actuator is fixed relative to the lower frame, and a cable extends from the actuator to the upper frame. In the event of a collision, the actuator pulls the cable, and the upper frame moves from an upright position to a bent position relative to the lower frame.