CN110901478A

CN110901478A - Seat sliding device

Info

Publication number: CN110901478A
Application number: CN201910864102.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 小笠原贵行; 白木晋; 冈本启晖; 小见山齐; 堀喜久; 兵藤宏昭; 高桥理; 藤井阳一
Original assignee: Toyota Body Seiko Co Ltd
Current assignee: Toyota Textile Seiko Co ltd
Priority date: 2018-09-14
Filing date: 2019-09-12
Publication date: 2020-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 2039-09-12
Also published as: CN115158117A; CN115158117B; CN110901478B

Abstract

The invention provides a seat sliding device which can move an upper guide rail by a simple structure. A seat slide device (2) is provided with: a lower rail (10) that can be attached to a vehicle body; an upper rail (20) movably engaged with the lower rail (10); a drive roller (31); and an actuator (32). The drive roller (31) is attached to the upper rail (20) and is pressed against the lower rail (10) or the vehicle body. An actuator (32) can rotate the drive roller (31). The seat slide device (2) has a simple structure because a drive roller and an actuator are added to a conventional seat slide device having no power.

Description

Seat sliding device

Technical Field

The technology disclosed herein relates to a seat slide device that moves a seat of an automobile by an actuator.

Background

There is known a seat slide device that moves (slides) a seat by an actuator. The seat slide device includes a long lower rail attached to a vehicle body and an upper rail engaged with the lower rail. A seat is mounted on the upper rail. In the seat slide device disclosed in japanese patent application laid-open No. 2004-210113, a lead screw is disposed inside a lower rail. On the other hand, the upper rail includes: a screw nut screwed to the lead screw, and an actuator and a worm wheel (wormgear) for rotating the screw nut. When the screw nut is rotated using the actuator and the worm wheel, the upper rail (i.e., the seat) moves together with the screw nut.

In the seat slide device disclosed in japanese patent application laid-open No. 2004-210113, a louver door is provided that covers an opening of a lower rail so that dust does not adhere to a lead screw. The louver door is in an annular belt shape and is wound between rollers arranged at two ends of the lower guide rail. The upper part of the louvre door extending in parallel between a pair of rollers blocks the opening. The louver door is provided with a hole through which the upper rail protrudes upward from the inside of the lower rail. The louver door moves along with the upper guide rail when the upper guide rail moves.

A seat slide device disclosed in japanese patent application laid-open No. 2018-020665 includes a spherical rotating body that contacts a floor of a vehicle body, and a plurality of actuators that rotate the rotating body in two orthogonal directions. Since the rotating body rotates in both directions, the seat slide device can move two-dimensionally on the floor surface of the vehicle body.

Disclosure of Invention

The moving mechanism of the seat slide device disclosed in japanese patent laid-open No. 2018-020665 is complicated in structure and high in cost. One technique disclosed in the present specification provides a seat slide apparatus capable of moving an upper rail by an actuator with a simple structure.

In the seat slide device disclosed in japanese patent laying-open No. 2004-210113, a complicated mechanism is required in order to prevent dust from adhering to the lead screw. Another technique disclosed in the present specification provides a seat slide device capable of preventing, with a simple configuration, adhesion of dust that may cause a failure of a mechanism for moving an upper rail.

One technique disclosed in the present specification provides a seat slide apparatus having the following structure. The seat slide device includes: a lower rail mountable to a vehicle body; an upper rail that can be attached to the seat and that is engaged with the lower rail so as to be movable (slidable); a roller; and an actuator. The roller is mounted on the upper guide rail. The roller is pressed against the lower rail or the vehicle body. The actuator rotates the roller. The seat slide device is simple in structure because the roller and the actuator need only be added to the conventional seat slide device having no power.

One embodiment of the seat slide device disclosed in the present specification may have the following configuration. The lower rail is disposed in a groove provided in a floor panel of the vehicle body. The roller is pressed against the upper surface of a cover covering a gap between the groove of the bottom panel and the lower rail. The cover may be made of metal, but is preferably made of resin. The friction coefficient of the resin cover is high, and the roller driven by the actuator is pressed against the upper surface of the resin cover having a high friction coefficient, so that the roller is less likely to slip. It is preferable that the cover made of resin has a hanging portion on its lower surface to enter between the groove and the lower rail.

Another embodiment of the seat slide device disclosed in the present specification may have the following configuration. The upper rail is provided with a plurality of rollers. One or more rollers are pressed against one side plate of the lower rail in the short-side direction from the inside of the lower rail, and the remaining rollers are pressed against the other side plate from the inside of the lower rail. An actuator rotates at least one of the plurality of rollers. In the seat slide device of this aspect, first, the driven roller is disposed inside the lower rail, and therefore the size of the entire device may be the same as that of a conventional seat slide device. Secondly, since the rollers are pressed toward the respective side plates from the center side in the short side direction of the lower rail, the frictional force between the rollers and the side plates can be increased. Therefore, the roller is not easily slid.

Still another embodiment of the seat slide device disclosed in the present specification may have the following configuration. The lower guide rail is provided with: a base plate; a pair of side plates extending upward from both ends in the short side direction of the lower rail of the bottom plate; an upper plate extending from an upper end of each side plate toward a center side in a short side direction of the lower rail; and inner plates extending downward from the end portions of the respective upper plates on the center side (the center side in the lower rail short side direction). The upper rail is provided with a pair of rollers which are abutted with connecting corner parts, and the connecting corner parts are the connecting corner parts of each upper plate and the inner plate connected with the upper plate. The respective diameters of the pair of rollers gradually increase toward the center side (the center side in the short side direction of the lower rail). In the seat slide device of the above aspect, the pair of rollers, the diameters of which gradually increase, are strongly sandwiched between the pair of coupling corners of the lower rail due to the rigidity of the lower rail in the short-side direction. As a result, the frictional force between the roller and the connecting corner portion becomes large, and the roller is less likely to slip.

Other techniques disclosed herein provide a seat slide apparatus having the following structure. The seat slide device is provided with: a lower rail mountable to a vehicle; an upper rail mountable to a seat; and a belt. The belt is disposed along the lower rail. The two ends of the belt are fixed. The upper rail is movably engaged with the lower rail. The upper rail is provided with an actuator for the conveyor belt. The actuator transmits power to the lower surface of the belt. In this seat slide device, since the upper rail (seat) is moved by transmitting power to the lower surface of the belt to which dust is less likely to adhere, a trouble due to adhesion of dust is less likely to occur.

The actuator may be provided with a drive roller or a drive gear that contacts the lower surface of the belt. In the former case, the belt is preferably a friction belt that transmits power by friction between the lower surface and the drive roller. In the latter case, a toothed belt having teeth engaging with the drive gear on a lower surface is preferable. Toothed belts are also known as toothed belts (Cogged Belt).

The belt may be disposed inside the lower rail. Dust is less likely to adhere to the base plate than the belt is exposed to the vehicle body. In addition, the strap is not visible to the rider, so that the appearance is good.

Alternatively, the upper portion of the lower rail may be open in the longitudinal direction of the rail, and the tape may cover the opening. The belt for moving the upper rail (seat) also serves as a cover for preventing dust from entering the inside of the lower rail. In the case of a toothed belt, the teeth of the belt may be fitted into the openings of the lower rail. The toothed belt is not easily detached from the opening.

An example of the actuator of the upper rail is as follows. The actuator is provided with: a pair of guides disposed at both ends of the upper rail in the rail longitudinal direction and contacting the upper surface of the belt blocking the opening; and a drive roller disposed between the pair of guides and abutting against a lower surface of the belt separated from the opening or a drive gear engaged with teeth of the lower surface. The upper rail can be moved by a simple mechanism.

Details and further improvements of the technology disclosed in the present specification will be described in the following "detailed description of preferred embodiments".

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a side view of a seat slide apparatus of a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the seat slide device cut by a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the rail.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the seat slide apparatus of the second embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a seat slide apparatus of a third embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a seat slide apparatus of a fourth embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a seat slide apparatus of a fifth embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a seat slide apparatus of a sixth embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a seat slide apparatus of a seventh embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a seat slide apparatus of an eighth embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a schematic plan view of a seat slide device of an eighth embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a side view of a seat slide apparatus of the ninth embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the seat slide device cut by a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the rail.

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view along line XIII-XIII of fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of a seat slide apparatus of the tenth embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line XV-XV of fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of a seat slide apparatus of the eleventh embodiment.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII of fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a sectional view taken along line XVIII-XVIII of fig. 16.

Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the seat slide apparatus of the eleventh embodiment taken along the XZ plane.

Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the seat slide device of the twelfth embodiment taken along the XZ plane.

Fig. 21 is a sectional view of the seat slide device of the thirteenth embodiment cut in front of the upper rail.

Detailed Description

(first embodiment) a seat slide device 2 of a first embodiment is explained with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a side view of a seat slide 2 mounted on a vehicle. The seat slide device 2 is constituted by a lower rail 10 and an upper rail 20. The lower rail 10 is a long strip. The upper rail 20 is movably (slidably) mounted in the longitudinal direction thereof with respect to the lower rail 10. The lower rail 10 is fixed to a floor 90 of the vehicle body. The upper rail 20 is mounted on a lower portion of a seat cushion 81 of the seat 80. The upper rail 20 is attached to a lower portion of the seat cushion 81 by a frame not shown. The seat slide devices 2 are respectively installed on the left and right of the lower portion of the seat cushion 81. The X direction of the coordinate system in the figure corresponds to the rail longitudinal direction of the lower rail 10 and the upper rail 20. The Y direction corresponds to the short side direction of the guide rail. The + Z direction of the coordinate system in the figure indicates the upward direction.

A drive roller 31 driven by an actuator is mounted on the upper rail 20. The illustration of the actuator is omitted in fig. 1. The drive roller 31 is in contact with the bottom plate 90. The upper rail 20 can move relative to the lower rail 10 by a drive roller 31 driven by an actuator. That is, the seat slide device 2 can electrically move (slide) the seat.

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the seat slide device 2. The cross section of fig. 2 shows a cross section obtained by cutting the lower rail 10 and the upper rail 20 along a plane perpendicular to the rail longitudinal direction (X direction). Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the upper rail 20 cut forward of an actuator 30 described later. Further, although a lock mechanism for fixing the upper rail 20 to the lower rail 10 is provided in the upper rail 20, the lock mechanism is not shown. The lock mechanism is the same as that provided in the conventional seat slide device, and therefore, description thereof is omitted.

First, the shape of the lower rail 10 will be described with reference to fig. 2. The lower rail 10 is received in a rail groove 91 provided in a bottom panel (floor) 90. The lower rail 10 includes a floor panel 3 attached to the vehicle body, a pair of outer vertical plates 4, a pair of upper plates 5, and a pair of inner vertical plates 6. A pair of outer vertical plates 4 extend upward from both ends of the bottom plate 3 in the rail short side direction (Y direction in the drawing). The pair of upper plates 5 extend laterally from the upper ends of the outer vertical plates 4 toward the center in the rail short side direction. The pair of inner vertical plates 6 extend downward from the inner ends of the upper plates 5. The pair of inner vertical plates 6 face each other. Between the pair of inner vertical plates 6, the lower rail 10 opens upward. The upper surface of the lower rail 10 is elongated in the rail longitudinal direction.

The upper rail 20 will be explained. The lower body portion 22 of the upper rail 20 is located inside the lower rail 10 and supports the driven roller 23. The driven roller 23 contacts the bottom plate 3 of the lower rail 10 to smoothly move the upper rail 20. The upper rail 20 is movable (slidable) in the longitudinal direction of the lower rail 10. The upper body portion 21 of the upper rail 20 is exposed to the upper side than the lower rail 10. A frame (not shown) is attached to the main body upper portion 21, and a seat cushion 81 (see fig. 1) is fixed to the frame. The upper body portion 21 and the lower body portion 22 are connected through an opening of the lower rail 10. In other words, a part (body lower portion 22) of the upper rail 20 is positioned inside the lower rail 10, and the remaining part (body upper portion 21) protrudes upward from the lower rail 10 through the opening of the lower rail 10.

An actuator 30 is fixed to the upper body portion 21 of the upper rail 20, and a drive roller 31 is fixed to an output shaft of the actuator 30. The actuator 30 is constituted by a motor and a gear train. The drive shaft of the motor is coupled to the input shaft of the gear train, and the output shaft of the gear train (the output shaft of the actuator 30) is coupled to the drive roller 31. The gear train decelerates and transmits the rotation of the motor to the drive roller 31. The drive roller 31 is pressed against the upper surface 90a of the bottom panel 90. The drive roller 31 is rotated by the actuator 30. As described above, the upper rail 20 can be moved in the longitudinal direction thereof with respect to the lower rail 10 by the actuator 30 and the drive roller 31. Rubber is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the driving roller 31 that contacts the bottom plate 90, and the driving roller 31 can rotate relative to the bottom plate 90 without slipping.

As described above, the seat slide device 2 of the first embodiment has a simple configuration in which the actuator 30 and the drive roller 31 are added only to the conventional seat slide device having no actuator.

(second embodiment) fig. 3 shows a sectional view of a seat slide device 2a of a second embodiment. The cross-sectional view of fig. 3 shows a cross-section of the lower rail 10 and the upper rail 20 cut along a plane orthogonal to the rail longitudinal direction (X direction of the coordinate system in the drawing) as in the cross-sectional view of fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the upper rail 20 cut in front of the actuator 30, as in fig. 2.

The upper rail 20 of the seat slide apparatus 2a according to the second embodiment also includes an actuator 30 and a drive roller 31, as in the seat slide apparatus 2 according to the first embodiment. The drive roller 31 is coupled to an output shaft of the actuator 30. Unlike the seat slide device 2 of the first embodiment, the drive roller 31 is not pressed against the upper surface 90a of the bottom plate 90, but is pressed against the upper plate 5 of the lower rail 10. The upper rail 20 of the seat slide apparatus 2a of the second embodiment can also be electrically moved in the longitudinal direction thereof with respect to the lower rail 10 by the actuator 30 and the drive roller 31.

(third embodiment) fig. 4 shows a sectional view of a seat slide device 2b of a third embodiment. The cross-sectional view of fig. 4 also shows a cross-section obtained by cutting the lower rail 10 and the upper rail 20 along a plane orthogonal to the rail longitudinal direction (X direction of the coordinate system in the drawing) as in the cross-sectional views of fig. 2 and 3.

An actuator 30 and a drive roller 31 are also mounted on the upper rail 20 of the seat slide apparatus 2b of the third embodiment. However, in the case of the third embodiment, the actuator 30 is mounted on the upper rail 20 via the frame 29 fixed to the body upper portion 21 of the upper rail 20. As described above, the seat cushion is attached to the frame 29 (see fig. 1). A driving roller 31 is coupled to an output shaft of the actuator 30, and the driving roller 31 is pressed against the upper surface of the bottom plate 90. The seat slide device 2b of the third embodiment can also electrically move the upper rail 20 in the longitudinal direction thereof with respect to the lower rail 10 by the actuator 30 and the drive roller 31.

(fourth embodiment) fig. 5 shows a sectional view of a seat slide device 2c of a fourth embodiment. The seat slide device 2c of the fifth embodiment includes a pair of T-shaped beads 93.

The pair of T-shaped insertion strips 93 are provided to close a gap between the inner surface 94 of the rail groove 91 provided in the base plate 90 and the lower rail 10. The T-shaped fillet 93 includes: a flat portion 93b covering the upper surface of the bottom panel 90 and the upper plate 5 of the lower rail 10; and a hanging portion 93a extending downward from the center of the lower surface of the flat portion 93b in the rail short side direction. The hanging portion 93a is inserted into a gap between the inner surface 94 of the rail groove 91 and the lower rail 10. In other words, the T-shaped molding 93 enters the gap between the rail groove 91 and the lower rail 10, and covers both sides of the gap (the bottom panel 90 and the upper panel 5 of the lower rail 10). The T-shaped insertion strip 93 is made of a resin having high flexibility.

In the seat slide device 2c of the fourth embodiment, the drive roller 31 is pressed against the upper surface of the T-shaped molding 93. As described above, the T-shaped insertion strip 93 is made of a resin having high flexibility, and has a high surface friction coefficient. Therefore, the drive roller 31 is less likely to slide relative to the T-shaped molding 93. The seat slide device 2c of the fourth embodiment has an advantage that the driving roller 31 is not easily slid. Further, since the T-shaped molding 93 includes the hanging portion 93a inserted into the gap between the rail groove 91 and the lower rail 10, there is an advantage that the T-shaped molding 93 is less likely to be displaced even if the driving roller 31 moves on the upper surface.

The T-shaped molding 93 is an example of a cover that covers the gap between the rail groove 91 and the lower rail 10. Although not superior to the advantage obtained when the T-shaped molding 93 is used, the drive roller 31 may be moved on a cover that covers the gap between the rail groove 91 and the lower rail 10 instead of the T-shaped molding 93. The cover is preferably made of resin, but may be made of a material other than metal.

(fifth embodiment) fig. 6 shows a sectional view of a seat slide device 2d of a fifth embodiment. In the seat slide device 2d, the lower rail 10 is fixed to the upper surface of the flat bottom plate 90, and the outer vertical plate 4 is exposed. The driving roller 31 is pressed from the outside against the outer vertical plate 4 exposed from the lower rail 10.

(sixth embodiment) fig. 7 shows a sectional view of a seat slide device 2e of a sixth embodiment. In the seat slide device 2e, the drive roller 31 is pressed against the inner vertical plate 6 of the lower rail 10. In fig. 7, an actuator for driving the driving roller 31 is not shown. In the seat slide device 2e of the sixth embodiment, since the drive roller 31 is located inside the lower rail 10, an increase in the volume of the entire device is suppressed.

(seventh embodiment) fig. 8 shows a sectional view of a seat slide device 2f of a seventh embodiment. The structural features of the lower rail 10 are described again. The lower rail 10 includes a bottom plate 3, a pair of outer vertical plates 4, a pair of upper plates 5, and a pair of inner vertical plates 6. The pair of outer vertical plates 4 extend upward from both ends of the bottom plate 3 in the rail short side direction. The pair of upper plates 5 extend from the upper ends of the outer vertical plates 4 toward the center side in the rail short side direction of the lower rail 10. The pair of inner vertical plates 6 extend downward from the center-side end of each upper plate 5 in the rail short side direction.

The upper rail 20 of the seat slide device 2f is provided with a pair of driving rollers 131. The pair of driving rollers 131 is also coupled to the output shaft of the actuator 30. The pair of driving rollers 131 respectively abut against the connecting corner 8 between the upper plate 5 and the inner vertical plate 6 of the lower rail 10. The diameter of the drive roller 131 gradually increases from the outer side of the short side direction of the lower rail 10 toward the center side. In other words, the drive roller 131 has a tapered shape that expands radially from the outer side in the short-side direction of the guide rail toward the center side.

Further, a spring 33 is provided between the upper portion of the actuator 30 and the upper body portion 21 of the upper rail 20. The spring 33 presses the actuator 30 downward. The spring 33 presses the drive roller 131 against the lower rail 10 by the actuator 30.

In the seat slide device 2f of the seventh embodiment, the drive roller 131, which gradually increases in diameter toward the center side in the rail short side direction of the lower rail 10, is pressed against the coupling corner 8 of the lower rail 10. By this pressing force, a load toward the outside of the rail is generated at the pair of connecting corners 8, and the pair of connecting corners 8 deform outward in the short-side direction of the rail. The restoring force to the deformation causes the pair of coupling corners 8 to act toward the center side in the rail short side direction. The restoring force strongly acts on the tapered surface of the tapered drive roller 131. The driving roller 131 is less likely to slip by the restoring force acting on the driving roller 131. The drive roller 131 of the seat slide apparatus 2f of the seventh embodiment becomes significantly less likely to slide with respect to the lower rail 10.

(eighth embodiment) fig. 9 shows a sectional view of a seat slide device 2g of an eighth embodiment. In the seat slide device 2g, the drive roller 31 is pressed against the outer vertical plate 4 from the inside of the lower rail 10. In fig. 9, an actuator for driving the driving roller 31 is not shown. In the seat slide device 2g of the eighth embodiment, since the drive roller 31 is located inside the lower rail 10, an increase in the volume of the entire device is suppressed.

Fig. 10 shows a schematic plan view of the seat slide device 2 g. Fig. 10 is a view of the seat slide device 2g as viewed from the + Z direction of the coordinate system in the figure. In fig. 10, the upper rail 20 is drawn with an imaginary line. Since the actuator 30, the driving roller 31, and the second driven roller 39 are hidden in the upper rail 20, they are drawn with dotted lines.

As shown in fig. 10, the seat slide device 2g includes two second driven rollers 39 in addition to the driving roller 31. The drive roller 31 is pressed against the one outer vertical plate 4 of the lower rail 10 from the center side in the rail short side direction of the lower rail 10, and the two second driven rollers 39 are pressed against the other outer vertical plate 4 from the center side in the rail short side direction of the lower rail 10. The seat slide device 2g includes a plurality of rollers (a driving roller 31 and a second driven roller 39), one of which (the driving roller 31) is pressed against the one outer vertical plate 4 from the center side of the lower rail 10, and the remaining rollers (the second driven rollers 39) are pressed against the other outer vertical plate 4 from the center side of the lower rail 10. That is, in the seat slide device 2g, the plurality of rollers are dispersedly pressed from the center side of the lower rail in the rail short side direction to both outer sides. With this configuration, the drive roller 31 is strongly pressed against the outer vertical plate 4 of the lower rail 10, and therefore the drive roller 31 is less likely to slide with respect to the lower rail 10.

The seat slide device 2g may include two or more drive rollers. That is, the seat slide device includes a plurality of rollers, one or more of which are pressed against one side plate from the inside of the lower rail, and the remaining rollers are pressed against the other side plate from the inside of the lower rail. One or several of the plurality of rollers are driven by an actuator.

Attention points related to the techniques explained in the embodiments are explained. The motor provided in the actuator 30 is an electric motor. That is, the

seat slide devices

2, 2a to 2g of the embodiment can electrically move the upper rail (i.e., the seat). In addition, a switch to activate the actuator is provided on the seat. A switch to activate the actuator may also be provided in the driver's seat.

The

seat slide devices

2 and 2a to 2g of the embodiments can electrically move the upper rail 20 (i.e., the seat) with a simple configuration.

(ninth embodiment) a seat slide device 2h of a ninth embodiment is explained with reference to the drawings. Fig. 11 shows a side view of the seat slide device 2h mounted on the automobile. The seat slide device 2 is constituted by a lower rail 10 and an upper rail 20. The upper rail 20 is slidably (slidably) mounted with respect to the lower rail 10. The lower rail 10 is fixed to a floor panel 90 of the vehicle. The upper rail 20 is mounted on a lower portion of a seat cushion 81 of the seat 80. The seat slide devices 2 are respectively installed on the left and right of the lower portion of the seat cushion 81. As will be described in detail later, the upper rail 20 is provided with an actuator. The actuator is not shown in fig. 11. The upper rail 20 can be moved relative to the lower rail 10 by an actuator. That is, the seat slide device 2 can electrically move (slide) the seat.

Fig. 12 shows a sectional view of the seat slide device 2 h. The cross section of fig. 2 shows a cross section obtained by cutting the lower rail 10 and the upper rail 20 along a plane perpendicular to the rail longitudinal direction (X direction). Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the upper rail 20 cut forward of an actuator 30 described later. Fig. 13 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in fig. 12. Fig. 13 corresponds to a section cut across the plane of the actuator 30. Fig. 12 corresponds to a sectional view taken along line XII-XII in fig. 13. The seat slide devices 2h in fig. 12 and 13 are attached to the left and right of the lower portion of the seat cushion 81, respectively. In fig. 12, portions other than the cross section of a belt 40 (described later) are shown in gray to assist understanding.

The upper rail 20 is provided with a lock mechanism for fixing the upper rail 20 to the lower rail 10, but the lock mechanism is not shown. The lock mechanism is the same as that provided in the conventional seat slide device, and therefore, description thereof is omitted.

The basic structures of the lower rail 10 and the upper rail 20 of the seat slide apparatus 2h are the same as those of the seat slide apparatus 2, and therefore detailed description is omitted.

A belt 40 is disposed beside the lower rail 10 in the short-side direction. As shown in fig. 13, the belt 40 extends in the longitudinal direction of the lower rail 10, and both ends are fixed to the auxiliary plate 7 by bolts 99. The auxiliary plate 7 is connected to the bottom plate 3 of the lower rail 10, bent upward along one outer vertical plate 4, and bent outward in the short side direction (Y direction) of the lower rail 10 at substantially the same height as the upper plate 5. The tape 40 is placed on the auxiliary plate 7. Between the belt 40 and the auxiliary plate 7, a T-shaped molding 92b is sandwiched.

The belt 40 is a toothed belt, and the belt 40 is arranged such that the teeth 41 are located on the lower surface side. The teeth 41 engage with a drive gear 32 described later. The belt 40 is made of resin or rubber.

The pair of T-shaped

beads

92a, 92b are provided to block the opening of the lower rail 10. The T-shaped molding 92a is fixed by being sandwiched between the rail groove 91 and the outer vertical plate 4. The T-shaped molding 92b is sandwiched and fixed between the outer vertical plate 4 and the auxiliary plate 7. One T-shaped molding 92b is largely expanded toward the outer side of the lower rail 10 in the rail short side direction. The T-shaped fillet 92b extends to the underside of the belt 40. The T-shaped

molding

92a, 92b is made of a soft resin.

On the upper rail 20, an actuator 30 is provided. The actuator 30 winds the belt 40 disposed along the lower rail 10, and a drive gear 32 for transmitting power is provided on the lower surface of the belt 40. The actuator 30 includes two

guide rollers

31a and 31 b. The two

guide rollers

31a and 31b contact the upper surface of the belt 40 placed on the auxiliary plate 7. A drive gear 32 is disposed between the two

guide rollers

31a and 31 b. The belt 40 having passed through one guide roller 31a is pulled away from the auxiliary plate 7 and wound on the upper side of the drive gear 32. The drive gear 32 engages with the teeth 41 on the lower surface of the belt 40. The belt 40 having passed the upper side of the drive gear 32 passes below the other guide roller 31b and is again placed on the auxiliary plate 7.

The drive gear 32 is rotated by a motor 35. As the drive gear 32 rotates, power is transmitted to the belt 40. Power is transmitted to the teeth 41 of the lower surface of the belt 40. As described above, both ends of the belt 40 are fixed to the auxiliary plate 7. Therefore, the upper rail 20 moves in the rail longitudinal direction by the power transmitted by the belt 40. That is, the seat slide device 2 can electrically move the seat. The drive gear 32 and the

guide rollers

31a and 31b are covered with a cover 61.

In the seat slide apparatus 2h, the drive gear 32 transmits power to the lower surface of the belt 40. The teeth 41 of the belt 40 are provided on the lower surface of the belt 40. Therefore, dust is less likely to adhere to the teeth 41. Since dust is less likely to adhere to the teeth 41 for transmitting power, a problem is less likely to occur in the mechanism for electrically moving the seat. Further, since the teeth 41 are provided on the lower surface side of the belt 40, the vehicle occupant cannot see the teeth 41, and the appearance is good.

Further, since the belt 40 is placed on the auxiliary plate 7 attached to the bottom plate 3 of the lower rail 10, it can be attached to the bottom plate 90 together with the lower rail 10. The operation of mounting the seat slide apparatus 2 including the belt 40 on the vehicle becomes easy.

(tenth embodiment) a seat slide device 2i according to a tenth embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 14 and 15. Fig. 14 shows a cross section of the seat slide device 2i cut at the center in the rail short side direction (Y direction in the figure). Fig. 15 shows a cross section along the XV-XV line of fig. 14. Fig. 14 corresponds to a cross section along the XIV-XIV line of fig. 15. The seat slide device 2i includes an upper rail 120 and a lower rail 110. In fig. 14 and 15, a lock mechanism for fixing upper rail 120 to lower rail 110 is also not shown.

In the seat slide device 2i, the belt 40 is disposed inside the lower rail 110. The belt 40 is disposed such that the teeth 41 are located on the lower side. The belt 40 is placed on the base plate 3. Both ends of the belt 40 are fixed to the lower rail 110 by bolts 99.

The components of the actuator 130 of the upper rail 120 other than the motor 35 are equipped inside the main body of the upper rail 120. The actuator 130 includes a pair of

guide rollers

31a and 31b, a drive gear 32a, a driven gear 32b, and sub-rollers 33a and 33b, in addition to the motor 35. The

guide rollers

31a and 31b contact the upper surface of the belt 40 placed on the base plate 3. The belt 40 having passed through the guide roller 31a is pulled off the bottom plate 3 and wound on the upper side of the drive gear 32 a. The teeth 41 provided on the lower surface of the belt 40 engage with the drive gear 32 a. The belt 40 is sandwiched between the drive gear 32a and the sub-roller 33a and does not come off the drive gear 32 a. The drive gear 32a is rotated by a motor 35. When the driving gear 32a rotates, power is transmitted to the lower surface of the belt 40. Since both ends of the belt 40 are fixed to the lower rail 110, the upper rail 120 is moved by the driving force of the motor 35. That is, the seat is moved in an electric manner.

The belt 40 having passed between the driving gear 32a and the sub roller 33a passes between the driven gear 32b and the sub roller 33b, passes under the guide roller 31b, and returns to the bottom plate 3.

In the seat slide apparatus 2i of the tenth embodiment, the actuator 130 (the drive gear 32a) also transmits power to the lower surface of the belt 40. Since the teeth 41 are provided on the lower surface of the belt 40, dust is less likely to adhere to the teeth 41. Therefore, a problem is less likely to occur in the mechanism for moving the upper rail 120 (seat). In the seat slide device 2i, the belt 40 is disposed in the lower rail 110 and passes through the inside of the upper rail 120. Therefore, the belt 40 is not visible from the periphery, and the seat slide device 2i is good in appearance.

(eleventh embodiment) a seat slide device 2j according to an eleventh embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 16 to 19. Fig. 16 shows a perspective view of the seat slide device 2 j. Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII of fig. 16, and fig. 18 is a sectional view taken along line XVIII-XVIII of fig. 16. Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the seat slide device 2j cut at the center in the short-side direction. Fig. 19 is a sectional view of the seat slide device 2j cut by the XZ plane of the coordinate system in the figure.

In the seat slide device 2j, the belt 40 is disposed so as to close the opening W of the lower rail 210. The opening W is a space between the pair of inner vertical plates 6. In other words, the lower rail 210 has an opening W elongated in the rail longitudinal direction on the upper surface thereof. As shown in fig. 17, the lower body portion 22 and the upper body portion 21 of the upper rail 220 are connected through an opening W. The lower body portion 22 located inside the lower rail 210 is a portion supporting the driven roller 23. As shown in fig. 16, both ends of the belt 40 are fixed to the front end 11a and the rear end 11b of the lower rail 110 by bolts 99. In fig. 18, portions other than the cross section of the belt 40 are indicated in gray to assist understanding. The belt 40 is a toothed belt provided with teeth 41 on the lower surface. The width of the teeth 41 is narrower than the width of the belt 40, and the teeth 41 are fitted into the opening W of the lower rail 210.

An actuator 230 provided on the upper rail 220 is provided in the upper body portion 21 of the upper rail 220 in addition to the motor 35. The actuator 230 includes a pair of

guide rollers

31a and 31b, a drive gear 32a, a driven gear 32b, and sub-rollers 33a and 33b, and the motor 35 and the sub-rollers 33a and 33b are not shown in fig. 16.

The

guide rollers

31a and 31b are disposed at both ends of the upper body 21 of the upper rail 220 in the rail longitudinal direction. The lower ends of the

guide rollers

31a, 31b are in contact with the upper surface of the belt 40. In fig. 19, when the upper rail 220 moves to the left side in the drawing, the belt passing through the guide roller 31a in the traveling direction is pulled up from the opening W of the lower rail 210 and is caught on the upper surface of the drive gear 32a inside the main body upper portion 21. The teeth 41 of the belt 40 engage with the drive gear 32 a. When the driving gear 32a is rotated by the motor 35, power thereof is transmitted to the lower surface of the belt 40. Since both ends of the belt 40 are fixed to the lower rail 210, the upper rail 220 is moved by the power of the motor 35. That is, the upper rail 220 (seat) is electrically moved.

The belt 40 passing between the driving gear 32a and the sub-roller 33a passes between the driven gear 32b and the sub-roller 33 b. The belt 40 passes under the guide roller 31b on the rear side in the traveling direction of the upper rail 220, and returns to the opening W again.

In the seat slide device 2j, since the belt 40 blocks the opening W of the lower rail 210, dust is less likely to enter the inside of the lower rail 210. Further, the opening W of the lower rail 210 is not visible, and therefore, the appearance is good. Further, since the teeth 41 for transmitting power are provided on the lower surface of the belt 40, dust is less likely to adhere to the teeth 41. When the upper rail 220 moves, the tape 40 that closes the opening W is pulled up from the opening W, passes through the inside of the body upper portion 21 of the upper rail 220, and returns to the opening W again on the rear side in the traveling direction. The belt 40 blocks the opening W of the lower rail 210 without interfering with the movement of the upper rail 220.

(twelfth embodiment) a seat slide device 2k according to a twelfth embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 20. Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view of the seat slide device 2k taken along the XZ plane of the coordinate system shown in the drawing. In fig. 20, a lock mechanism for fixing upper rail 220 to lower rail 210 is also not shown.

In the seat slide device 2k, the driven gear 36 engaged with the belt 40 is supported by the cam 37. The cam 37 has one end rotatably supported by the body upper portion 21 of the upper rail 220 and the other end to which the driven gear 36 is attached. The driven gear 36 is supported by the cam 37 so as to be swingable up and down. A spring 38 is attached to the cam 37. One end of the spring 38 is fixed to the cam 37, and the other end is fixed to the body upper portion 21 above the cam 37. The cam 37 (i.e., the driven gear 36) is biased upward by a spring 38. Since the belt 40 is wound around the driven gear 36, the belt 40 is tensioned in the longitudinal direction thereof by the urging force of the spring 38. By applying tension in the longitudinal direction to the tape 40, the tape 40 blocking the opening W is prevented from loosening. The seat slide device 2k according to the twelfth embodiment is similar in structure to the seat slide device 2j according to the eleventh embodiment except for the provision of a driven gear 36, a cam 37, and a spring 38. The driven gear 36, the cam 37, and the spring 38 are mechanisms for applying tension in the longitudinal direction to the belt 40.

(thirteenth embodiment) a seat slide device 2l of a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 21. Fig. 21 is a sectional view of the seat slide device 2l cut in front of the upper rail 320. That is, fig. 21 shows a cross section of the lower rail 310 and a front surface of the upper rail 320. In the seat slide apparatus 2l, a flat friction belt 140 is employed instead of the toothed belt. The lower surface of the friction belt 140 is a power transmission surface. In fig. 21, portions other than the cross section of the friction belt 140 are shown in gray to assist understanding.

On the other hand, in the lower rail 310, a concave portion 9 is provided along the rail longitudinal direction at a connecting portion between the upper plate 5 and the inner vertical plate 6. The friction belt 140 is fitted into a pair of left and right recesses 9 positioned in the width direction of the opening W. The friction belt 140 is fitted into the recess of the lower rail 310, and is not easily detached from the opening W.

The seat slide device 2l includes an actuator 330. The actuator 330 includes a drive roller 52 instead of the drive gear 32a of the seat slide apparatus 2k according to the eleventh embodiment. The actuator 330 includes the pair of

guide rollers

31a and 31b, the motor 35, and the sub-roller 53, similarly to the actuator 230. The pair of

guide rollers

31a and 31b are disposed at both ends of the upper body portion 21 of the upper rail 320 in the rail longitudinal direction. The guide roller 31a is disposed at the front end of the main body upper portion 21, and the guide roller 31b is not visible in fig. 21 but disposed at the rear end of the main body upper portion 21. The lower ends of the

guide rollers

31a, 31b are in contact with the upper surface of the friction belt 140. The front guide roller 31a contacts the upper surface of the friction belt 140 fitted to the lower rail 310. When the upper rail 320 moves forward (in the + X direction of the coordinate system in the figure), the friction belt 140 passing through the guide roller 31a in the traveling direction is pulled up from the opening W of the lower rail 310 and is hung on the upper surface of the drive roller 52 inside the main body upper portion 21. The friction belt 140 having passed through the driving roller 52 passes under the guide roller 31b at the rear end and is fitted into the opening W again.

The friction belt 140 is sandwiched between the driving roller 52 and the sub-roller 53. The drive roller 52 is rotated by the motor 35. When the driving roller 52 is rotated by the motor 35, its dynamic frictional force is transmitted to the lower surface of the belt 140. Since both ends of the friction belt 140 are fixed to the lower rail 310, the upper rail 320 is moved by the power of the motor 35. That is, the upper rail 320 (seat) is electrically moved. In the seat slide device 2l, since the power transmission surface of the friction belt 140 is the lower surface, dust is less likely to adhere to the power transmission surface. Therefore, the frictional force between the driving roller 52 and the friction belt 140 is not easily reduced.

Attention points related to the techniques explained in the embodiments are explained. The seat slide devices 2h to 2l according to the ninth to thirteenth embodiments can prevent adhesion of dust that may cause a failure of the mechanism for moving the upper rail, with a simple configuration.

The belt 40 and the friction belt 140 are made of soft resin or rubber. The tape 40 may be made of a plurality of small pieces, and adjacent small pieces may be swingably connected.

The

guide rollers

31a and 31b of the embodiment correspond to an example of a pair of guides. The guide may also be a pin that slides relative to the belt instead of a roller that rotates with the movement of the belt.

Specific examples of the present invention have been described above in detail, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes to the specific examples illustrated above. The technical elements described in the present specification and drawings exhibit technical usefulness by themselves or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology exemplified in the present specification or the drawings can achieve a plurality of objects at the same time, and has technical usefulness in itself to achieve one of the objects.

Claims

1. A seat slide device is characterized by comprising:

a lower rail mountable to a vehicle body;

an upper rail that is attachable to a seat and movably engaged with the lower rail;

a roller mounted to the upper rail and pressed against the lower rail or the vehicle body; and

an actuator that rotates the roller.

2. The seat slide of claim 1,

the lower rail is disposed in a groove provided in a floor panel of the vehicle body,

the roller is pressed against an upper surface of a cover that covers a gap between the groove and the lower rail.

3. The seat slide of claim 1,

the upper rail is provided with a plurality of rollers,

one or more of the rollers are pressed against a side plate on one side in the short-side direction of the lower rail from the inside of the lower rail, and the remaining rollers are pressed against a side plate on the other side in the short-side direction from the inside of the lower rail,

the actuator rotates at least one of the plurality of rollers.

4. The seat slide of claim 1,

the lower guide rail includes:

a base plate;

a pair of side plates extending upward from both ends of the bottom plate in the short-side direction of the lower rail;

an upper plate extending from an upper end of each of the side plates toward a center side in a short side direction of the lower rail; and

an inner plate extending downward from the center-side end portion of each upper plate,

the upper rail is provided with a pair of rollers abutting against a coupling corner portion of each of the upper plates and the inner plate connected to the upper plate,

the respective diameters of the pair of rollers gradually increase toward the center side.

5. A seat slide device is characterized by comprising:

a lower rail mountable to a vehicle;

a belt disposed along a longitudinal direction of the lower rail and having both ends fixed; and

an upper rail that is attachable to a seat, movably engaged with the lower rail, and provided with an actuator that conveys the belt,

the actuator transmits power to a lower surface of the belt.

6. The seat slide of claim 5,

the actuator includes a drive roller that contacts a lower surface of the belt.

7. The seat slide of claim 6,

the belt is a toothed belt, with the teeth facing downwards,

the actuator includes a drive gear that engages with the teeth.

8. The seat slide apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7,

the belt is disposed inside the lower rail.

9. The seat slide of claim 5,

the lower rail has an opening elongated in the direction of the long side of the rail,

the band covers the opening.

10. The seat slide of claim 9,

the actuator is provided with:

a pair of guides disposed at both ends of the upper rail in the rail longitudinal direction and contacting an upper surface of the belt that closes the opening; and

a driving roller or a driving gear disposed between the pair of guides and contacting a lower surface of the belt away from the opening.

11. The seat slide apparatus according to claim 9 or 10,

the band is fitted to the opening.

12. The seat slide of claim 11,

the belt is a toothed belt, the teeth engaging the openings.

13. The seat slide apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 12,

the upper rail includes a mechanism for applying a tension in a longitudinal direction to the belt.