Stepped Vehicle Floor Structure for Pedal Reach and Seat Sliding
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle body structures face challenges in improving pedal operability and boarding/alighting efficiency due to the difficulty in incorporating lifting/lowering mechanisms for floor adjustments and the slow sliding speed of power seats, which hinder quick and smooth transitions for occupants.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves positioning the front floor panel higher than the rear floor panel to reduce the angle between the lower leg and the floor, incorporating a connection panel that slopes downward for easier sliding of the front seat, and using a manual unlocking mechanism for the slide mechanism to enhance pedal operability and boarding/alighting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a floor position adjuster is provided to raise the heel position for improved pedal operability, then pedal operability is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase due to lifting/lowering mechanisms and lock mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the geometric parameter of the floor panel by positioning the front floor panel at a higher position than the rear floor panel, creating a stepped configuration. This geometric parameter change directly achieves the heel elevation needed for improved pedal operability without requiring any lifting/lowering mechanisms or lock mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing a mechanism to actively lift and lower the floor panel for heel elevation, the invention inverts the approach by fixing the floor panel in a stepped configuration where the front is inherently higher than the rear. This passive geometric arrangement achieves the same operational benefit without the complex active mechanisms
2Ease of operation
If the sliding amount of the power seat is increased to achieve better boarding/alighting, then boarding/alighting space is improved, but the sliding speed decreases and the occupant has to wait for the seat to move
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables the front seat to utilize the occupant's own body movement (stretching the leg forward onto the connection panel) as the driving force for sliding the seat rearward. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for a power sliding mechanism, allowing the seat to move quickly regardless of sliding distance, thus resolving the contradiction between boarding/alighting quality and sliding speed
Solution Approach 2:
The connection panel serves as an intermediary element that transfers the force from the occupant's leg stretching action to the front seat, causing the seat to slide rearward. This mechanical intermediary allows the occupant's simple leg movement to effectively move the seat over a large distance without requiring a complex power sliding system
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The vehicle body structure (1A) includes a front floor panel (30), a rear floor panel (31) positioned lower than the front floor panel (30), and a connection panel (35) extending from a rear portion of the front floor panel (30) to a front portion of the rear floor panel (31)and inclined or curved so as to be positioned downward toward a rear side. At least the front portion of the connection panel (35) is positioned at the front of the front portion of the front seat (8).