Vehicle Seating Swivel Assembly for Quiet Low-Friction Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current seating assemblies in vehicles lack efficient swivel mechanisms that provide smooth and quiet rotation, which can be a concern for consumer preference and safety, especially as technology evolves to allow for alternative uses during vehicle motion.
Innovation Solution
A seating assembly with a swivel plate and base plate that utilize serrated anchors with low-friction coatings and a motor-driven rotation assembly, allowing for smooth and quiet rotation about a vertical axis, and a swivel assembly with bearings and a retaining bracket for reduced friction and noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a swivel mechanism is added to the seating assembly, then rotational capability is improved, but friction and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
A swivel plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the base plate and the seat assembly. The swivel plate includes a swivel anchor that rotates within a base anchor, serving as a dedicated rotational interface that isolates the friction and noise generation to a specific location while enabling the desired swivel functionality of the entire seating assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The contacting surfaces of the swivel anchor and base anchor are coated with low-friction materials, fundamentally changing the friction parameter of the rotational interface. This parameter change reduces both friction resistance and noise generation during rotation, allowing smooth swivel motion while mitigating the harmful effects typically associated with mechanical rotation.
2Reliability
If serrated anchors are used for the swivel mechanism, then rotational stability is improved, but friction and noise increase
Solution Approach 1:
The serrated surfaces of both the swivel anchor and base anchor are coated with low-friction materials, changing the friction parameter while preserving the geometric interlocking structure. This allows the serrations to provide rotational stability and positioning through their geometric configuration while the coating reduces friction and noise during rotation.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchor system combines the geometric structure of serrated metal surfaces with a low-friction coating material, creating a composite interface. The serrated geometry provides mechanical stability and positioning, while the coating layer reduces friction and noise, achieving both rotational stability and smooth operation.
3Extent of automation
If a motor-driven rotation assembly is added, then automation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The swivel plate serves multiple functions: it provides the structural interface for rotation, houses the bearing mechanism, supports the gear assembly, and accommodates the motor mounting. By making the swivel plate a multi-functional component, the patent reduces the number of separate parts needed for the motor-driven rotation system, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining automation capability.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If bearings and retaining brackets are used in the swivel assembly, then friction is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing and retaining bracket functions are merged into an integrated bearing assembly that is directly mounted to the swivel plate. This consolidation reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the assembly structure while still providing the necessary friction reduction through the bearing mechanism.
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 smooth, quiet, and efficient rotation of the seating assembly, enhancing user experience and potentially allowing for safer alternative uses during vehicle motion as technology advances.
Implementation Method 1
The serrations on the swivel anchor and the serrations on the base anchor are each coated with a material; the material coated onto the serrations on the swivel anchor provides a flat surface to the base-anchor-facing surface, wherein the material coated onto the serrations on the base anchor provides a flat surface to the swivel-anchor-facing surface
Implementation Method 2
The swivel assembly includes a fixed plate that is directly coupled to the base plate, wherein the fixed plate defines a first bearing aperture; a first bearing that defines a protrusion that extends downwardly to engage with the first bearing aperture
Data Source
AI summary
A seating assembly is provided with swivel capabilities. The seating assembly includes a coupling member, a seat, a seatback, and a swivel plate. The seat is pivotably coupled to the coupling member. The seatback is also pivotably coupled to the coupling member. Additionally, the swivel plate is coupled to the coupling member.