Vehicle Seat Blower Bracket Assembly to Reduce Weight and Air Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle seat designs with air conditioning functions require separate dedicated parts for fixing the blower, leading to increased complexity and weight, as well as potential air leakage issues between the duct and the blower.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle seat design where the blower is fixed to the seat back frame using a bracket and a cover member, eliminating the need for dedicated weld nuts and allowing for a simpler structure, reduced weight, and minimized air leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the blower is directly fixed to the seat back frame using bolts, then the blower can be securely attached, but it requires separate dedicated parts (weld nuts) to be welded to the seat back frame, increasing device complexity and weight
Solution Approach 1:
A bracket is introduced as an intermediary component between the blower and the seat back frame. The bracket includes a holding portion that engages with the blower and a fixing portion that attaches to the seat back frame, eliminating the need for dedicated weld nuts on the frame itself. This mediator component simplifies the overall structure while maintaining secure attachment.
2Strength
If dedicated weld nuts are provided for the seat with air conditioner, then the blower can be fixed, but the seat back frame becomes unsuitable for common use in seats without air conditioners, reducing adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is segmented into a separate bracket component rather than being integrated into the seat back frame. This allows the frame to remain universal and the air conditioning components (blower, duct) to be added or removed by attaching or detaching the bracket assembly, enabling the same frame to be used for both seats with and without air conditioning.
3Productivity
If the duct is directly connected to the blower outlet, then air can flow freely, but air leakage occurs between the duct and the blower, reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible sealing member (such as a gasket or O-ring) is placed at the interface between the duct and the blower outlet. This flexible element creates an airtight seal that prevents air leakage while allowing for slight misalignments and maintaining good air flow efficiency through the connection.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components (bracket, cover member, blower, duct) are assembled together, then the air conditioning function is achieved, but assembly complexity increases, worsening ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket and cover member are designed to be pre-assembled or integrated into a single assembly unit that is then attached to the seat back frame as one component. The blower is positioned within the cover member, and the duct connects to the blower through the bracket assembly. This merging of components reduces the number of separate assembly steps and simplifies manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle seat according to the present invention includes: a seat back frame constituting a framework of a seat back; a blower disposed in the seat back; a bracket to which the blower is fixed; and a cover member provided on the rear side of the seat back frame. Herein, the bracket is fixed to the cover member with the seat back frame being held between the bracket and the cover member.