DE102014202986B4 - Fitting system for a vehicle seat - Google Patents

Abstract

Fitting system for a vehicle seat (1), in particular for a motor vehicle seat, with a) a shaft (7) extending in an axial direction, b) at least one fitting (10) with a driver (21) for driving or unlocking the fitting (10 ), wherein the shaft (7) is inserted in the axial direction into an opening of the driver (21) and interacts with the driver (21) in a rotationally fixed or driving-coupled manner in the circumferential direction in order to rotate the driver (21), and c) at least a securing means (30), which is firmly connected to the shaft (7) in order to secure the interaction of the shaft (7) and driver (21) in or opposite to the axial direction, the securing means (30) at least partially in an opening (7.2) of the shaft (7), characterized in that the securing means (30) is welded to the shaft (7) by means of an induction welding process, the securing means (30) comprising a pin (34) and a stop (32). , wherein the pin is conical, with the pin (34) being pressed into the opening (7.2).

Description

The invention relates to a fitting system for a vehicle seat with the features of the preamble of claim 1.

A fitting system of this type is from the DE 103 52 630 B4 known. In one of the two fittings, the shaft rests with a bead on the side of the fitting that is oriented towards the center of the seat, while a quick fastener pushed onto the shaft rests on the outside of the fitting. The shaft is thereby secured in the axial direction relative to the fitting against relative movement relative to the fittings.

The DE 10 2010 005 471 A1 discloses a fitting system with a shaft which is secured in the axial direction by means of a quick fastener arranged on the outside of the shaft, which is additionally connected to a driver of a fitting of the fitting system.

From the DE 197 24 554 A1 a motor vehicle seat with a tilt-adjustable backrest is known, which is articulated on both sides via tilt adjustment fittings on the seat frame. The tilt adjustment fittings are coupled to one another by a rigid connecting element, which is designed as a hollow profile and serves to simultaneously adjust both tilt adjustment fittings by means of a drive device arranged on one side of the seat. The connecting element has a widening resting on the inside of one of the tilt adjustment fittings, while a further securing element designed as a pop rivet rests on the outside of this tilt adjustment fitting, so that the connecting element is secured against axial movement in both directions. The head of the pop rivet inserted into the hollow profile rests on the outside of the tilt adjustment fitting. The expansion of the hollow profile on the inside is created by compressing the pop rivet during the riveting process. The length of the pop rivet must be chosen so that the expansion rests on the inside of an eccentric of the tilt adjustment fitting at the end of the compression process.

The DE 33 25 045 C2 discloses a fitting system for a vehicle seat with a shaft extending in an axial direction. A threaded insert is inserted into one end of the shaft and has an axial thread for engaging a fastening screw for fastening an actuator. The thread insert is fixed by impressions in the end of the shaft.

Induction welding is known from other areas of technology. An inductor creates an alternating magnetic field that creates eddy currents in electrically conductive material and these eddy currents heat the material through resistance losses. During an induction welding process, this heat causes either the components to be joined or an additive to melt, thereby creating a cohesive connection. Advantageously, the components to be joined are pressed together during the induction welding process.

An induction welding process for a fluid-tight connection between at least two metal pipes is from the EP 0 764 493 A1 known. The metal tubes are inserted into one another so that parts of the surfaces of the metal tubes touch each other.

The invention is based on the object of improving a fitting system of the type mentioned at the outset, in particular of providing axial securing of the shaft without reshaping the shaft.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a fitting system with the features of claim 1.

The fitting system according to the invention for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, comprises a shaft extending in an axial direction, at least one fitting with a driver for driving or unlocking the fitting, the shaft being inserted in the axial direction into an opening in the driver and cooperates with the driver in a rotationally fixed or driving-coupled manner in the circumferential direction in order to rotate the driver, and at least one securing means which is firmly connected to the shaft in order to secure the interaction of the shaft and driver in or opposite to the axial direction, the securing means is inserted at least in sections into an opening in the shaft.

According to the invention it is provided that the securing means is welded to the shaft by means of an induction welding process, the securing means comprising a pin and a stop, the pin being conical, the pin being pressed into the opening. This means that the securing means can be connected to the shaft in a high-strength manner using a wide variety of other joining methods. There is no need for any significant reshaping of the shaft, so that the shaft can be made of a material that is not very elastic. Due to the combination of a form-fitting portion of the connection through the insertion of the securing means into the opening and induction welding, the connection is very strong and can, in particular, safely absorb crash loads. Induction welding is in itself known, but has not yet been used in the area of fitting systems. A fitting system according to the invention with an induction welded connection is characterized by short process times during production, because no complex surface pretreatment of the components to be joined is necessary. In addition, notch effects are avoided.

Advantageous embodiments, which can be used individually or in combination with one another, are the subject of the dependent claims.

Preferably, the shaft is designed to be hollow on the inside at least in one end region of the shaft, so that the opening is thereby formed at this end of the shaft. This eliminates the need for an additional manufacturing step for introducing the opening into the shaft. The shaft can be hollow inside in sections or completely over the entire length of the shaft. The shaft can be a drawn, welded or rolled tube. The shaft advantageously has a profiled cross section that differs from a circular cross section.

In a preferred fitting system, the securing means is inserted into the shaft in or against the axial direction. In principle, however, it is also possible to introduce the securing means into the shaft in a different direction, for example in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. To do this, the opening in the shaft must run in the appropriate direction. If the shaft is hollow on the inside, this can be an additional opening.

A particularly high strength of the connection between the shaft and the securing means is achieved by additionally pressing the securing means into the opening. Pressing in is also advantageous or a prerequisite for induction welding.

In a preferred induction welding method for producing an induction welded connection between the shaft and the securing means, an alternating magnetic field generated by an inductor induces eddy currents in the electrically conductive material of the shaft and/or securing means and heats them until they weld together. For this purpose, the shaft and/or the securing means preferably consist of a metal material, in particular a steel material.

A preferred fitting system comprises two fittings which are synchronized by means of a common shaft, the shaft having two ends and both ends of the shaft being secured in mutually opposite axial directions by a securing means. The shaft stands on two outer sides of the seat, each with one end slightly extending beyond a fitting and is secured by means of a securing means in the direction of the center of the seat to prevent the shaft from moving and thus being threaded out of the drivers of the fittings.

In a further preferred fitting system with two fittings it is provided to secure exactly one end of the shaft in the axial direction by a securing means and to secure the other end of the shaft in an opposite axial direction by an operating element connected to the shaft.

The securing means can also have additional clip connecting means which additionally secure the securing means, for example clipping it to the driver of the fitting. This allows a securing element to secure the shaft in both axial directions.

A securing means for the fitting system according to the invention comprises a pin which can be inserted into the opening of the shaft and a stop which can come into contact in an axial direction against a component of the vehicle seat, in particular the fitting, and thereby prevent the shaft from moving secured in an axial direction.

The stop of the securing means is preferably disc-shaped, with the outer diameter of the disc being so large that the stop does not fit through the opening of the driver that receives the shaft.

According to the invention, the pin of the securing means is conical, with a pin diameter decreasing away from the stop. This makes it easier to insert the pin into the opening.

The pin can have a circular cross-section at any point along its axial extent or a cross-section adapted to an inner profile shape of the shaft. In the latter case, the angular position of the locking device must be aligned before inserting the pin into the shaft. The profiling creates additional anti-twist protection between the shaft and the securing means.

The features disclosed in the above description, the claims and the drawing can be important both individually and in combination for the implementation of the invention in its various embodiments.

• 1: eine schematische Darstellung eines Fahrzeugsitzes,
• 2: eine perspektivische Ansicht auf eine Sitzseite des Ausführungsbeispiels vor der Montage des Sicherungsmittels,
• 3: eine perspektivische Ansicht auf eine Welle mit einem gegenüber 2 abgewandelten Querschnitt, und ein Sicherungsmittel vor der Montage des Sicherungsmittels,
• 4: eine weitere perspektivische Ansicht auf die Welle und das Sicherungsmittel aus 3 vor der Montage des Sicherungsmittels und
• 5: eine 4 entsprechende, perspektivische Ansicht auf die Welle und das Sicherungsmittel nach der Montage des Sicherungsmittels.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an advantageous exemplary embodiment shown in the figures. However, the invention is not limited to this embodiment. Show it:

• 1 : a schematic representation of a vehicle seat,
• 2 : a perspective view of a seat side of the exemplary embodiment before the securing means is installed,
• 3 : a perspective view of a wave with one opposite 2 modified cross section, and a securing means before installing the securing means,
• 4 : another perspective view of the shaft and the securing device 3 before installing the securing device and
• 5 : one 4 Corresponding perspective view of the shaft and the securing device after the securing device has been installed.

A vehicle seat 1 for a motor vehicle has a seat part 3 and a backrest 4 whose inclination can be adjusted relative to the seat part 3. To adjust the inclination of the backrest 4, a shaft 7 is rotated manually, for example by means of a handwheel 5, or by motor, for example by means of an electric motor, which is arranged horizontally in the transition area between the seat part 3 and the backrest 4. On both sides of the vehicle seat 1, the shaft 7 engages in a rotationally fixed manner in a fitting 10 and thereby couples their locking state. The shaft 7 defines the directional information used in a cylindrical coordinate system, in particular the terms axial and radial. The shaft 7 and the two fittings 10 are components of a fitting system for adjusting the inclination of the backrest 4.

Each fitting 10 has a first fitting part 11 and a second fitting part 12, which can be rotated relative to one another. When the fitting 10 is installed, one of the two fitting parts 11 and 12 is assigned to the backrest 4 and connected to its structure, while the other of the two fitting parts 11 and 12 is assigned to the seat part 3 and is firmly connected to its structure. The relative rotation of the two fitting parts 11 and 12 causes the inclination of the backrest 4 to be adjusted.

A driver 21 is rotatably mounted in the center of the fitting 10. The driver 21 is centrally provided with a hole for receiving the shaft 7 in a rotationally fixed manner. A profile of the bore is designed to match a profile of the shaft 7, in this case a splined shaft profile.

To form the spline shaft profile, the shaft 7 in the in 2 illustrated embodiment has an annular basic cross section, from which three teeth 7.1 protrude radially outwards. The shaft is hollow on the inside and has an opening 7.2 extending in the axial direction. The opening 7.2 has a round basic cross section, which is interrupted in three places by the teeth 7.1 extending radially outwards. Such a spline profile is, for example, from DE 10 2006 041 917 B3 known. The teeth 7.1 engage positively in corresponding receptacles of the driver 21 in the circumferential direction of the shaft 7. In the axial direction, however, the teeth 7.1 do not prevent a relative movement to the driver 21.

In one in the 3 until 5 In the illustrated modification of the exemplary embodiment, the shaft 7 comprises four teeth 7.1 distributed over the circumference of the cross section and passes through a correspondingly modified driver 21. The remaining components of the modification of the exemplary embodiment and their functions are preferably unchanged.

The shaft 7 and the driver 21 are preferably coupled to one another in a rotationally fixed manner. However, a free travel can also be provided in the circumferential direction, so that the shaft 7 and the driver 21 are coupled for driving. With regard to the further internal structure of the fitting 10, two basic types are conceivable.

According to a first basic type, the fitting 10 is designed as a gear fitting, in which the first fitting part 11 and the second fitting part 12 are connected to one another by means of a gear for adjustment and locking, more precisely by means of a - in the present case self-locking - eccentric epicyclic gear, as for example in the DE 44 36 101 A1 or the DE 10 2009 053 250 A1 is described.

To form the gear, an externally toothed gear is formed on the second fitting part 12 and an internally toothed ring gear is formed on the first fitting part 11, which mesh with one another. The diameter of the tip circle of the external teeth of the gear is smaller by at least one tooth height than the diameter of the root circle of the internal teeth of the ring gear. A corresponding difference in the number of teeth of the gear and the gear rim of at least one tooth enables a rolling movement of the gear rim on the gear. One of the two fitting parts 11 and 12 has a collar, which preferably serves as a bearing for the driver 21. Two wedge segments (with their curved inner surfaces) are supported on the collar, which (with their curved External surfaces and preferably by means of a plain bearing bush) store the other of the two fitting parts 11 and 12. The driver 21 has a driver segment with play between the narrow sides of the wedge segments. The mutually facing broad sides of the wedge segments each receive an end finger of a spring, which pushes the wedge segments apart in the circumferential direction.

The wedge segments (and the spring) define an eccentric, which presses the gear into the ring gear at an engagement point in an extension of the direction of eccentricity. When driven by the (multiple) rotating shaft 7, a torque is first transmitted to the driver 21 and then by means of the driver segment to the eccentric defined in this way, which slides along the plain bearing bushing, shifting the direction of the eccentricity and thus shifting the point of engagement of the Gear in the ring gear, which appears as a wobbling rolling movement, i.e. as a relative rotation with superimposed wobbling movement. The inclination of the backrest 4 can be continuously adjusted between several positions of use thanks to this drive of the fittings 10.

Optionally, a third fitting part is provided, which on the one hand is firmly connected to the structure of the backrest 4 and on the other hand is pivotally mounted relative to the fitting part 11 or 12 that is not assigned to the seat part 3 and is releasably locked with it. This design allows the backrest 4 to pivot freely to facilitate access to a rear row of seats without changing the set inclination of the backrest 4. Such a fitting is, for example, from the DE 10 2012 012 852 A1 known.

According to a second basic type, the fitting 10 is designed as a locking fitting, in which the first fitting part 11 and the second fitting part 12 can be locked together, as is the case, for example, in DE 10 2006 015 560 B3 or the DE 10 2011 108 976 A1 is described. The second fitting part 12 has guide segments which, in pairs, each guide a bolt laterally in the radial direction with straight guide surfaces. The bolts are provided at their radially outer end with teeth which can engage with a ring gear of the first fitting part 11 designed as a ring gear. When the ring gear and the bolts work together, the fitting 10 is locked. The guide segments are preferably each with a curved bearing surface on the ring gear of the first fitting part 11, whereby the two fitting parts 11 and 12 support one another. An eccentric, which is arranged in the installation space defined between the fitting parts 11 and 12, sits on the driver 21 in a rotationally fixed manner or at least coupled to the driver. A spring arrangement acts on the eccentric, which acts on the radially movable latches and biases them so that they are pressed radially outwards to fall into the ring gear. A control disk, which is preferably seated in a rotationally fixed manner on the eccentric or on the driver 21, cooperates with the latches in order to bring the latches back against the force of the spring arrangement when the driver 21 - and the eccentric and the control disk driven by it - rotate by a few degrees , ie to pull radially inwards from the ring gear, whereby the fitting 10 is unlocked and the two fitting parts 11 and 12 can be rotated relative to one another. The inclination of the backrest 4 can thereby be adjusted between several positions of use suitable for sitting.

Instead of a handwheel 5, in a fitting system comprising locking fittings, an operating lever is usually provided which is connected to the shaft 7 in a rotationally fixed manner.

Regardless of the basic type of fitting 10 used, the end of the shaft 7 protruding from the driver 21 is secured by a securing means 30 against undesirable axial displacement in the direction of the driver 21. A displacement of the end of the shaft 7 relative to the fitting 10 - and thus to the driver 21 - in one direction, namely in the direction of the seat center of the vehicle seat 1, is positively prevented by the securing means 30 in that the securing means 30 is attached to the fitting 10, in particular whose driver 21 rests or comes into contact under load. Both ends of the shaft 7 are preferably secured accordingly with a securing means 30, so that the shaft 7 is fixed in both directions. It is also possible for one end of the shaft 7 to be secured in an axial direction by means of a securing means 30 and the second end of the shaft to be secured in the axially opposite direction by means of the handwheel 5 connected to the shaft 7 or a lever connected to the shaft 7.

For reasons of tolerance compensation in the axial direction, some air can be provided between one or both securing means 30 and the respective associated fitting 10, so that the shaft 7 is floating in the axial direction in the two fittings 10 and is therefore slightly in the axial direction relative to the Fittings 10 can move.

The securing means 30 comprises a circular, disc-shaped stop 32, which in the present case is rotationally symmetrical. When the fitting system is installed, the stop is 32 rotationally symmetrical to a central axis of the shaft 7, hereinafter referred to as axis A, which extends in its longitudinal direction.

The stop 32 has an outer diameter that is larger than the smallest possible diameter of a circle enclosed by the teeth 7.1 of the shaft 7. Preferably, the outer diameter of the stop 32 is larger than twice the distance between the axis A and the outer contour of a tooth 7.1. The tooth 7.1 that extends furthest radially outwards in the radial direction is decisive if the shaft has 7 teeth 7.1 of different geometry.

The stop 32 is adjoined in the axial direction by a pin 34, which in the present case is rotationally symmetrical and, in the assembled state, rotationally symmetrical to the axis A. The pin 34 has the shape of a truncated cone, so that a first end of the pin 34 has a larger outside diameter than a second end of the pin 34. The first end of the pin 34 is connected to the stop 32. The second end of the pin 34 faces away from the stop 32.

The outer diameter of the first end of the pin 34 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the basic cross section of the opening 7.2. The outside diameter of the second end of the pin 34 is slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the basic cross section of the opening 7.2.

The shape of the securing means 30 resembles a stopper, such as is known, for example, as a closure for bottles.

The securing means 30, which forms another component of the fitting system, is axially attached to the shaft 7 after the fitting system has been installed. For this purpose, the pin 34 of the stop is inserted into the opening 7.2 of the shaft 7, preferably inserted to such an extent that the stop 32 rests on the end of the shaft 7 facing the stop 32. Due to the diameter ratios described above, the pin 34 is secured in the shaft 7 by means of a press fit, which facilitates an induction welding connection between the shaft 7 and the pin 34.

In addition to the previously described press fit between the pin 34 and the shaft 7, the securing means 30 is cohesively connected to the shaft 7 by means of induction welding. The induction welded connection is created by targeted pressing and supplying current during the insertion of the pin 34 and/or after the pin 34 has been inserted into the opening 7.2.

The design of the securing means 30 is independent of the number of teeth 7.1 of the shaft 7.

The features disclosed in the above description, the claims and the drawing can be important both individually and in combination for the implementation of the invention in its various embodiments.

Reference symbol list

1

Vehicle seat

3

Seat part

4

rest

5

Handwheel

7

Wave

7.1

Tooth

7.2

opening

10

fitting

11

first fitting part

12

second fitting part

21

taker

30

security means

32

attack

34

Cones

A

axis

Claims (5)

Fitting system for a vehicle seat (1), in particular for a motor vehicle seat, with a) a shaft (7) extending in an axial direction, b) at least one fitting (10) with a driver (21) for driving or unlocking the fitting ( 10), wherein the shaft (7) is inserted in the axial direction into an opening of the driver (21) and cooperates with the driver (21) in a rotationally fixed or driving-coupled manner in the circumferential direction in order to rotate the driver (21), and c ) at least one securing means (30), which is firmly connected to the shaft (7) in order to ensure the interaction of the shaft (7) and driver (21) in or opposite to the axial direction, the securing means (30) being at least partially in an opening (7.2) of the shaft (7) is inserted, characterized in that the securing means (30) is welded to the shaft (7) by means of an induction welding process, the securing means (30) having a pin (34) and a stop (32 ) includes, whereby the pin is conical, with the pin (34) being pressed into the opening (7.2). fitting system Claim 1 , characterized in that the shaft (7) is hollow on the inside at least in one end region of the shaft (7) and thereby the opening (7.2) is formed at this end of the shaft (7). fitting system Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the securing means (30) is inserted into the shaft (7) in or against the axial direction. Fitting system according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the fitting system comprises two fittings (10) which are synchronized by means of the shaft (7), both ends of the shaft (7), each in opposite axial directions, being secured by a securing means (30). Fitting system according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the fitting system comprises two fittings (10) which are synchronized by means of the shaft (7), exactly one end of the shaft (7) being secured in the axial direction by a securing means (30) and the other end of the Shaft (7) is secured in an opposite axial direction by an operating element (5) connected to the shaft (7).

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