Variable Wall Thickness Vehicle Seat Tubing for Load Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional vehicle seat tubing with constant wall thickness experiences uneven load distribution and is heavy, requiring additional assembly steps and prone to decoupling from frame components during stress conditions.
Innovation Solution
The development of tubular bodies with variable wall and outer diameters, allowing for even load distribution and reduced weight, made through processes like cold form drawing, which also prevents decoupling from other frame components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If constant wall thickness tubing is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but load distribution is uneven and weight is higher
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies variable wall thickness tubing where the wall thickness varies along the length of the tube. Specifically, the tubing has a first portion with a first wall thickness and a second portion with a second wall thickness that is greater than the first wall thickness. This local variation in thickness allows the structure to have different properties in different regions, optimizing load distribution while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through processes like extrusion or drawing.
2Ease of manufacture
If constant wall thickness tubing is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but weight is higher
Solution Approach 1:
The variable wall thickness design allows the tubing to have thinner walls in regions experiencing lower stress and thicker walls in regions experiencing higher stress. This optimized distribution of material reduces the overall weight of the tubing while maintaining structural integrity and meeting strength requirements, compared to uniform wall thickness tubing that would require thicker walls throughout to satisfy maximum stress conditions.
3Strength
If variable wall thickness tubing is used, then load distribution is more even and weight is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements variable wall thickness tubing where the wall thickness parameter changes along the length of the tube. The tubing has a first portion with a first wall thickness and a second portion with a second wall thickness that is greater than the first wall thickness. This parameter change is achieved through manufacturing processes such as extrusion or drawing, which can produce the variable thickness profile in a continuous operation, thereby managing manufacturing complexity while achieving superior load distribution.
4Loss of time
If variable wall thickness tubing is used, then assembly time is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The variable wall thickness tubing is designed as a single integrated component with varying thickness along its length, rather than requiring multiple separate tube sections to be assembled. The tubing has a first portion with a first wall thickness and a second portion with a second wall thickness, creating a monolithic structure that eliminates the need for additional assembly steps to join multiple components, thereby reducing assembly time while the manufacturing process handles the complexity of producing the variable thickness profile.
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 tubular bodies with variable dimensions provide consistent stress distribution, reduce assembly time, and enhance structural integrity by distributing loads evenly and preventing decoupling, resulting in a lighter and more efficient seat frame.
Implementation Method 1
the tubular body is made from a cold form drawing process
Data Source
AI summary
Tubular bodies for use in frames for seats of vehicles such as aircraft are described. A tube can include a sidewall that has a variable thickness along the length of the tube. The variable thickness of the sidewalls can result in the tube having a variable inner diameter along the length of the tube. The tube may also include a variable outer diameter.