Underfloor Seat Rail Layout for Long-Travel Vehicle Seat Adjustment
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle seat adjustment systems face challenges with limited installation space and visibility of long guide rails, which are unsightly and pose trip hazards, especially with extended adjustment ranges required for autonomous driving.
Innovation Solution
The guide rail and adjusting transmission are positioned below the vehicle floor, while the drive motor is above the floor, with a transmission element extending through an opening, allowing the guide rail to be hidden and the motor to occupy minimal space, thus maintaining aesthetic appeal and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the guide rail is made longer to extend the adjustment range, then the adjustment range is improved, but the guide rail becomes visible and creates trip hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail is moved from a horizontal arrangement (visible in the vehicle interior) to a vertical arrangement (below the floor portion), utilizing the third dimension to resolve the contradiction between extended adjustment range and visibility/trip hazards
2Length of moving object
If the guide rail is made longer to extend the adjustment range, then the adjustment range is improved, but the guide rail collects dirt
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail is repositioned below the floor portion, utilizing vertical space to maintain extended adjustment range while preventing dirt accumulation that would occur with horizontal placement in the vehicle interior
3Volume of moving object
If the drive motor is arranged below the floor portion, then installation space is optimized, but the transmission element becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission element is routed vertically through the floor portion instead of horizontally, simplifying the transmission path while allowing the drive motor to be positioned in the optimal location below the floor
Data Source
AI summary
An assembly of a vehicle comprises a floor assembly arranged stationary in the vehicle, a floor portion and an adjustment apparatus for longitudinal adjustment of a vehicle seat in the vehicle, the adjustment apparatus having a guide rail which is connected to the floor assembly and extends along a longitudinal axis on the floor assembly, an adjustment assembly which is guided on the guide rail along the longitudinal axis and is assigned to the vehicle seat, and a drive device with a drive motor, an adjusting transmission and a transmission element connecting the drive motor to the adjusting transmission. The adjusting transmission can be driven by the drive motor for adjusting the adjustment assembly relative to the guide rail.