Snowmobile Adjustable Seat Assembly with Angled Rails
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Solution Overview
Problem
Snowmobiles are manufactured in limited sizes and configurations, failing to accommodate various user sizes and riding styles, requiring multiple snowmobiles for different riding purposes.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable seat system for snowmobiles, where the seat slides along angled rails with locking pins and an optional air spring mechanism, allowing users to adjust the seat position for different riding styles and user sizes by actuating cables and levers or varying air pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If snowmobiles are manufactured in limited sizes and configurations, then manufacturing cost and complexity are reduced, but adaptability to different user sizes and riding styles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seat is designed with sliding capability along angled rails, allowing it to move dynamically between multiple fixed positions. This dynamic adjustment mechanism enables a single snowmobile to adapt to different rider sizes and riding styles without requiring multiple different snowmobile models, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and user adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The seat position is adjusted by changing its location along the angled rails, modifying the geometric parameters of the seating position. This parameter change allows the same snowmobile to accommodate various user preferences and riding styles while maintaining a standardized manufacturing process
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple snowmobiles are owned to accommodate different riding styles, then adaptability improves, but cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable seat mechanism provides multi-functionality by enabling a single snowmobile to serve multiple riding purposes (trail touring, aggressive riding, hill climbing) through seat position adjustment. This universal design eliminates the need for multiple specialized snowmobiles, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining versatility
3Device complexity
If the seat is fixed in position, then structural simplicity is maintained, but comfort for different riding styles deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The seat adjustment system is segmented into discrete positioning points along the angled rails, with locking pins securing the seat at each position. This segmentation provides structured adjustability without requiring continuous complex mechanisms, balancing structural simplicity with riding comfort for different styles
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 comfortable and aggressive riding positions by adjusting the seat's angle and height, improving handling and accommodating diverse riders, reducing the need for multiple snowmobiles.
Implementation Method 1
an air spring mounts between the seat and vehicle chassis. The user varies the amount of air within the air spring to adjust the position of the seat along the rails
Implementation Method 2
Springs urge the locking pins into engagement with the registration surfaces when tension is not applied to the cables
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat is slidably mounts to rails secured to a vehicle chassis. The rails extend downwardly and away from the steering shaft of the vehicle at a substantial slope. Grooves formed in the rails receive posts secured to the seat to slidably mount the seat. A plurality of registration surfaces, such as a row of apertures, are secured to the rails and engage one or more locking pins. The locking pins are actuated by cables extending to a lever positioned near the edge of the seat. Springs urge the locking pins into engagement with the registration surfaces when tension is not applied to the cables. In an alternative embodiment, an air spring mounts between the seat and vehicle chassis. The amount of air within the air spring controls the position of the seat along the rails.