Vehicle Seat Component Joining With a Grooved Drive Stud
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional connecting techniques for vehicle components, such as welding and bonding, are inefficient and costly when connecting components made from different materials like aluminum and steel, particularly in hybrid and sandwich components, which require rapid and cost-effective solutions.
Innovation Solution
A nail-shaped pin, specifically a grooved drive stud, is used to connect components by being driven through congruent openings, providing a mechanically stable, positive and non-positive connection without deforming the components and allowing for the use of different materials and geometries, reducing production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional connecting techniques (welding and bonding) are used, then strong connections are achieved, but production costs increase and manufacturing complexity increases for hybrid components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the connection function from complex material-based joining (welding/bonding) and concentrates it into a simple mechanical fastening element (nail-shaped pin). This removes the need for complex welding equipment, bonding agents, and associated process controls, significantly simplifying manufacturing while maintaining connection strength across different materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The nail-shaped pin acts as an intermediary element that mediates the connection between dissimilar materials (aluminum and steel). Instead of directly joining incompatible materials through welding or bonding, the pin provides a universal mechanical interface that works with both materials, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost.
2Productivity
If conventional connecting techniques are used for hybrid components, then material strength is maintained, but production time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex thermal-mechanical systems (welding) and chemical systems (bonding) with a pure mechanical fastening system. The nail-shaped pin can be rapidly inserted through both aluminum and steel components using simple mechanical force, dramatically increasing production speed while maintaining adequate connection strength for vehicle seat applications.
3Weight of moving object
If components are connected using material-based techniques, then strong bonds are achieved, but weight increases due to additional materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for additional connection materials (welding consumables, bonding agents, primers) and relies solely on the mechanical fastening provided by the nail-shaped pin. This extraction of material dependencies reduces the total weight of the assembled components while maintaining adequate connection strength.
4Manufacturing precision
If conventional connecting techniques are used, then reliable connections are achieved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connection system is segmented into distinct functional elements: the nail-shaped pin and the openings in each component. This segmentation allows each element to be optimized independently - the pin provides mechanical retention while the openings provide alignment and access. The design tolerates moderate variations in opening alignment while maintaining reliable connections, reducing manufacturing precision requirements compared to welding or bonding.
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 grooved drive stud enables rapid, cost-effective, and deformation-free connection of various components, enhancing mechanical stability and reducing material damage, while allowing for the use of diverse materials, thus optimizing vehicle safety and weight reduction.
Implementation Method 1
the grooved drive stud is driven through the first and second components
Data Source
AI summary
An arrangement of components, in particular for a vehicle seat, includes a first component and a second component which are interconnected by a connector. The connector includes a nail-shaped pin that has a grooved drive stud.