FR2909048A1 - Articulation mechanism controlling device for vehicle seat, has control element pivotally mounted around rotation axis and connected to another element by clutches for coupling elements, when former element rotates in angular direction - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (7) has an actuation element pivoted in two opposite angular directions (9, 13) around a rotation axis (Y). A control element (19) is pivotally mounted according to a rotation axis and connected to the actuation element of an articulation mechanism for directly moving the actuation element. A control element (33) is pivotally mounted around the rotation axis and is connected to the control element (19) by spring clutches (24, 38) for coupling the two control elements, when the control element (33) rotates in the angular direction (13).

Description

1 two-way control device for articulation mechanism,

  joint assembly comprising such a device and seat comprising such a hinge assembly.

  The present invention relates to two-way control devices for articulation mechanisms, to articulation assemblies comprising such devices and to seats comprising such articulation assemblies.

  More particularly, the invention relates to a two-way control device for controlling a hinge mechanism comprising an actuating member (central shaft, central cam or the like) pivoting in first and second opposite directions around an axis of rotation. rotation, said control device comprising. a first control member pivotally mounted along the axis of rotation and intended to be connected to the actuating member of the articulation mechanism, to move said actuating member directly, a second control member adapted to move the first control member in the second angular direction. Document FR-A-2 816 260 describes an example of such a control device, which works well but is cumbersome and complex. The present invention is intended to overcome these disadvantages. For this purpose, according to the invention, a control device of the kind in question is characterized in that the second control member is pivotally mounted about the axis of rotation and is connected to said first control member by a clutch. spring adapted to couple the first and second control members only when the second control member rotates in the second angular direction.

With these provisions, the control device can be made more compact and simpler thanks to the fact that the first and second control members are pivotally mounted about the same axis and thanks to the spring clutch. In various embodiments of the control device according to the invention, one can optionally also resort to one and / or the other of the following provisions. The spring clutch comprises a helical clutch spring cooperating by interlocking with an annular clutch surface connected to the first control member, the clutch spring comprising a first end connected to the second control member and a second end connected (directly or not) to a support, and said clutch spring is adapted to couple the first and second control members only when the second control member rotates in the second angular direction relative to the support; The clutch surface is an outer peripheral surface belonging to the first control member, which is in the form of a central shaft, the clutch spring surrounds said clutch surface, and said clutch spring is arranged to be tightened around the clutch surface when the second control member rotates in the second angular direction relative to the support; the second end of the clutch spring is connected to the support by means of a return spring which is adapted to elastically bias the clutch spring and the first and second control members in the first angular direction when the first and second control members are coupled by the spring clutch and rotate together in the second angular direction; - The return spring has a first end connected to the second end of the clutch spring and a second end connected to the support; the second end of the clutch spring is in simple support on the first end of the return spring in the second angular direction; - The second end of the clutch spring is secured to the first end of the return spring; - The return spring is formed in one piece with the clutch spring; The return spring has a greater stiffness than the clutch spring; the first control member is in the form of a central shaft, the clutch spring and the return spring are arranged around said first control member, and the return spring surrounds said first control member with a sufficient clearance not to block said first control member when the first and second control members rotate together with the clutch spring in the second angular direction; - The return spring is surrounded by the support and the first control member is pivotally mounted in the support; - The clutch spring is surrounded by the second control member which cooperates by interlocking with the support; - The control device further comprises a pulley connected to the second control device and for receiving a control cable; The pulley is connected to the second control member by a ratchet connection allowing relative rotation of the pulley around the second control member only in the first angular direction; the pulley comprises a central recess in which the second control member is engaged, said pulley comprising at least one key projecting inwards into said recess, said key being engaged in a peripheral groove managed in the second member; control and extending in a radial plane with respect to the axis of rotation; 5 - said peripheral groove communicates with an axial groove formed in the second control member and adapted to allow axial engagement of the pulley on the second control member; the pulley comprises at least one elastic tongue extending inwardly from a base to a free end in said recess, said elastic tongue being inclined in the second angular direction from its base towards its free end, and free end of said elastic tongue being in abutment against a peripheral toothing formed around the second control member. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a hinge assembly comprising: a control device as defined above, a hinge mechanism which comprises: first and second flanges pivotally mounted one to the other; relative to each other about the axis of rotation, and an actuator pivoting in the first and second angular directions about said axis of rotation to selectively permit relative pivoting between the first and second flanges, actuation being secured to the first control member. Eventually, the support can be secured to the first flange. Finally, the invention also relates to a vehicle seat comprising first and second seat elements pivotally mounted relative to one another and controlled by a hinge assembly as defined above, the first and second flanges of the hinge mechanism being respectively connected to the first and second seat elements. In various embodiments of the seat according to the invention, one or more of the following arrangements may optionally be used: the first control member is integral with a handle; - The seat further comprises a device 10 for manual operation connected to the second control member by a cable and adapted to move said second control member in the second angular direction; - The cable is partially wrapped around the pulley; - The cable has substantially no clearance. Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of two of its embodiments, given by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings. . In the drawings: - Figure 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle seat according to one embodiment of the invention; - Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a hinge assembly equipping the seat of the figure; 1 and comprising an articulation mechanism associated with a control device; FIG. 3 is an axial sectional view of the articulation assembly of FIG. 2, in a first embodiment of the control device; FIGS. 4 and 5 are exploded perspective views of the control device of FIG. 3, seen respectively in two opposite directions; FIGS. 6 and 7 are end views of the control device of FIGS. 4 and 5, seen respectively along the direction VI of Figure 4 and 2909048 6 in the direction VII of Figure 5, - Figure 6a is an enlarged detail view of Figure 6, - Figures 8 to 10 are sectional views of the device control of Figure 3 in the rest position, r 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3, in a second embodiment of the control device, and FIGS. are exploded perspective views of the control device of Figure 11, seen in two opposite directions. In the different figures, the same references denote identical or similar elements. FIG. 1 shows a seat 1 of a motor vehicle, for example a front seat, which comprises a seat 2 mounted on the floor 3 of the vehicle, for example by means of slides 4, and a backrest 5 pivotally mounted on the seat seat 2 around a transverse horizontal axis Y. The backrest 5 is mounted on the seat 2 by means of at least one hinge mechanism 6 with two directions of control.

This articulation mechanism 6 is controlled, by means of a control device 7: either by the actuation of a handle 8 or other manual actuating device, in a first angular direction 9, for example to allow an angular adjustment of the backrest to optimize the comfort of the user, - either by a handle 10 (or other manual actuating device) at the top of the backrest 5, which is connected to the control device 7 for example by a cable 11, so that an actuation of the handle 10 in the direction of the arrow 12 actuates the articulation mechanism 6 in an angular direction 13 opposite to the aforementioned direction 9, for example to allow a folding of the seat 5 forward.

This forward folding can be done either to a horizontal position or to an inclined position to facilitate access to the rear seats of the vehicle, particularly if it is a vehicle with three doors (in the latter case, folding the backrest 5 10 forward is generally accompanied by an unlocking of the slides 4 to allow a sliding of the seat 2 forward). As shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, the articulation mechanism 6 may comprise, for example, first and second flanges 14, 15, which are connected to one another, to the frame 5a of the backrest 5, and other than the frame 2a of the seat 2 (more generally, the first and second flanges 14, 15 of the hinge mechanism could be connected to first and second seat members pivotally mounted relative to the seat other, these first and second seat elements may be different if necessary from the backrest and seat). The first and second flanges 14, 15 are pivotally mounted relative to each other and can be interconnected for example by means of a crimped crown 17, or the like. The hinge mechanism 6 is controlled by an actuating member displaceable either in the angular direction 9 or in the angular direction 13.

In the example shown, this actuating member is in the form of an actuating shaft 18, but could possibly be of any other form (the actuating member in question could in particular be constituted by a central control cam 35 internal to the hinge mechanism 6).

Examples of articulation mechanisms 6 whose actuating member is movable in two opposite angular directions are given in particular in documents FR-A-2,836,874 and FR-A-2,873,633.

The control device 7, clearly visible in Figures 3 to 5, comprises a first control member 19 which may for example be in the form of a hollow metal central shaft. The first control member 19 comprises a head 10 which is relatively remote from the articulation mechanism 6 and a cylindrical body 21, centered on the axis of rotation Y, which extends along the axis Y from the head 20 to the near the first flange 14 of the articulation mechanism.

The body 21 of the first control member has an outer diameter smaller than that of the head 20. The body 21 of the first control member internally delimits a cylindrical housing 22 in which the central shaft 18 of the mechanism 20 is press fitted. articulation, so as to secure the first control member with said central shaft 18. Where appropriate, the central shaft 18 may comprise outer splines, as shown in the drawings, to facilitate the attachment of the first control member 25 19 on the central shaft 18. The head 20 of the first control member may comprise an inner housing 23, for example of square shape, which can communicate if necessary with the housing 22 mentioned above. This housing 23 makes it possible to secure the handle 8 mentioned above with the head 20 of the first control member. The body 21 of the first control member 19 has a cylindrical outer surface 24 which is pivotally mounted in an inner bearing 25 of a rigid support 26 in the form of a sleeve, which is secured to the first flange 14 of the mechanism of FIG. joint. For this purpose, the support 26 may optionally include recesses 27 formed in its end face 28 which is disposed in contact with the first flange 14, said first flange 14 having nubs 29 nested in said recesses 27. The support 26 has an annular side wall 30 which surrounds the outer surface 24 of the first control member. This side wall 30 has a first section 31 which extends from the bearing 25 towards the head 20 of the first control member, leaving a free annular space around the body of said first control member and then a second section 32 which extends from the first section to the head 20 of the first control member and which has an enlarged inner diameter relative to the first section 31. The support 26 may be made for example of molded plastic or molded light alloy. The control device 7 further comprises a second control member 33, which may also be made of molded plastic and which has a general shape of a cylindrical sleeve centered on the axis of rotation Y. The second control device 33 comprises a bearing 34 which is pivotally mounted on the outer surface 24 of the first control member, in the vicinity of an end face 35 which is oriented opposite the articulation mechanism 6 and which bears axially against the enlarged head 20 of said first control member. Starting from the bearing 34, the second control member extends axially towards the articulation mechanism 6 by a lateral wall 36 which is fitted around the lateral wall 30 of the support 26. In addition, the second control member 33 comprises also, inside the side wall 36, an inner annular wall 37 which extends axially towards the hinge mechanism 6 about the body 21 of the first control member, and at a distance from the surface This annular wall 37 is disposed inside the second section 32 of the side wall of the support 26, and has a notch 37a (see Figures 3, 5 and 8). Between the wall 37 and the outer surface 24 of the body of the first control member is a clutch spring 38 which, in the example shown here, is in the form of a helical metal spring surrounding the outer surface. 24 with a very small clearance. The clutch spring 38 has a first end 39 extending axially parallel to the axis of rotation Y and housed in an axial groove 4C formed in the bearing 34 of the second control member. so that said first end 39 is secured in rotation with the second control member 33 (see Figures 4 and 10). The clutch spring 38 also has a second end 41 which extends radially with respect to the Y axis in the notch 37a of the wall 37. The control device 7 also comprises a return spring 42 of upper diameter (and possibly upper stiffness) to the clutch spring 38, 25 which is housed inside the first section 31 of the side wall of the support 26. The return spring 42 may for example be under the A metal helical spring having a first end 43 extends parallel to the Y axis by crossing the second end 41 of the clutch spring. Said second end 41 of the clutch spring is adapted to abut against the first end 43 of the return spring in the second angular direction 13. The return spring 42 also has a second end 44 which extends axially parallel to the Y axis and which enters an axial groove 45 formed in the bearing 25 of the support 26 (see Figures 5, 7 and 9). As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the second control member 33 comprises, in the vicinity of the head 20 of the first control member, a peripheral toothing 46 around which is engaged a pulley 47, which may for example be molded into plastic material. The pulley 47 has a peripheral groove 48 in which the cable 11 is wound, the end of the cable 11 being secured to the pulley 47, for example by means of a pin 49 fixed to said end of the cable 11 and engaged in a notch 50 formed at the periphery of the pulley 47.

The pulley 47 has a central recess 51 engaged around the toothing 46 of the second control member. In addition, the pulley 47 has at least one pawl formed by an elastic tongue 52 molded integrally with said pulley and projecting into the recess 51 (see FIGS. 4, 5, 6, 6a, 10). Each tongue 52 cooperates with the toothing 46 to allow rotation of the pulley 47 on the second control member 33 in the first angular direction 9 but not in the second angular direction 13, by pawl effect. In the example considered here, the pulley 47 comprises six resilient tongues 52 angularly distributed around the second control member 33. As shown in more detail in FIG. 6a, to ensure the ratchet effect, each elastic tongue 52 can for example extending obliquely in the second angular direction 13 from its base to its free end, and each tooth of the toothing 46 may advantageously comprise: a stop face 46a receiving the free end 35 of the tongue 52 and forming a stop for this free end when the pulley 47 pivots in the second angular direction 13, - and a cam face 46b on which the free end of the tongue 52 slides flexibly when the pulley 47 is moved in the first angular direction 9. The stop face 46a can for example form an angle a less than 45 with the radial direction R passing through the top of the tooth, while the cam face 46b forms a n r3 angle greater than 45 with the direction R (a 10 may for example be of the order of 30 and r3 of the order of 60). Furthermore, the pulley 47 comprises at least one key 53 engaged in a peripheral groove 54 of the second control member (in this case, two keys 53 engaged in two grooves 54). To facilitate the engagement of the pulley 47 on the second control member 33, by simple axial engagement parallel to the axis Y, each groove 54 communicates with an axial groove 55 formed in the pulley 47, which opens outwards. opposite to the articulation mechanism 6. Each axial groove 55 is arranged in correspondence with the corresponding key 53: during assembly of the control device, the pulley 47 can thus be put in place by axial engagement with the second member. 33, by driving the keys 53 axially into the corresponding grooves 55, then pivoting the pulley 47 in the first angular direction 9 so that the keys 53 are each inside one of the grooves 54. In the example considered here, each groove 54 communicates, at its two ends, with two axial grooves 55 the axial groove 55 which is located at the end of the throat 54 in the groove. The first angular direction 9 serves only for the eventual disassembly of the pulley 47. During the aforementioned rotational movement of the pulley 47 in the first angular direction 9, the cable 11 is partially wound in the groove 48 of the pulley, which 5 makes it possible to catch any possible clearance of the cable 11. The device which has just been described operates as follows. When a user wants to adjust the angular position of the seat back 5 so as to improve his comfort, he actuates the handle 8 in the angular direction 9. In this case, the movement of the handle 8 is transmitted directly. to the central shaft 18 of the hinge mechanism 6, and said hinge mechanism is unlocked to allow the aforementioned angular adjustment. During the pivoting of the handle 8 with the first control member 19 and the central shaft 18, the outer surface 24 of the first control member slides inside the clutch spring 38, which remains stationary. After adjusting the backrest 5, the user releases the handle 8 which returns to its initial position by means of one or more springs contained in the articulation mechanism 6. When the user wants to fold back the file 5 for example to access the rear seats of a vehicle with three doors, it actuates the handle 10 located at the top of the backrest, which tends the cable 11 and rotates the pulley 47 in the angular direction 13 opposite the direction 9 mentioned above . The elastic tongues 52 of the pulley 47 then cooperate with the toothing 46 to drive the second control member 33 in the second angular direction 13. The first end 39 of the clutch spring 38 is also driven in the first angular direction 13 of the its engagement in the axial groove 40 of the second control member 33. In addition, the second end 41 of the clutch spring 38 is held substantially stationary by pressing on the first end 43 of the return spring 42, so that the clutch spring 38 tightens around the outer surface 24 of the first control member and thus couples the first control member 19 with the second control member 33. The first control member 19 is therefore in turn driven in the second angular direction 13 with the central shaft 18 of the articulation mechanism 6. While the first control member 19 is driven into the second In the angular direction 13, the return spring 42 is tensioned in turn, thereby allowing this movement to continue while keeping the clutch spring 38 clamped to the outer surface 24 of the first control member. At the end of this actuation, the hinge mechanism 6 is unlocked and can allow for example a folding of the backrest 5 with the front. When the user releases the handle 10, and if appropriate, after the backrest 5 has been returned to the starting position, the clutch spring 38 is released, so that the first control member 19 and the central shaft 18 can return to their initial position under the action of one or more springs internal to the articulation mechanism 6, while the second control member 33 can return to its initial position under the effect of the return spring 42. The second Embodiment of the invention, which is shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, is similar to the first embodiment described above, both in its structure and operation and will not be described again here in detail. This second embodiment differs from the first embodiment previously described only in that the first actuator has a reduced diameter end 21a opposite the head and the clutch spring 38 and the return spring 42 are formed in one piece, in a single winding of elastic wire 57. The clutch spring 38 is here constituted by the portion of the winding 57 situated opposite the portion of large diameter of the body 21 of the first control member, while the return spring 42 is constituted by the portion of the coil 57 located opposite the end 21a of reduced diameter. The second end 58a of the clutch spring 38 is here constituted by the last turn of said spring 38 away from its first end 39, while the first end 58b of the return spring 42 is here constituted by the following turn of In this embodiment, the inner wall 37 of the second control member is omitted.

Claims (24)

  A two-way control device for controlling a hinge mechanism (6) comprising an actuator (: L8) pivoting in first and second opposite directions (9, 13) about an axis of rotation (Y ), said control device comprising; - a first control member (19) pivotally mounted along the axis of rotation (Y) and intended to be connected to the actuating member (18) of the articulation mechanism, for directly moving said actuating member; - A second control member (33) adapted to move the first control member (19) in the second angular direction, characterized in that the second control member (33) is pivotally mounted about the axis of rotation (Y ) and is connected to said first control member (19) by a spring clutch (38, 24) adapted to couple the first and second control members (19, 33) only when the second control member (33) rotates in the second angular direction (13).   The control device according to claim 1, wherein the spring clutch (38, 24) comprises a helical clutch spring (38) operatively interlocking with an annular clutch surface (24) bonded to the first member of the clutch. control (19), the clutch spring (38) comprising a first end (39) connected to the second control member (33) and a second end (41, 58a) connected to a support (26), and said spring clutch (38) is adapted to couple the first and second control members (19, 33) only when the second control member (33) rotates in the second angular direction (13) relative to the support (26).   The control device according to claim 2, wherein the clutch surface (24) is an outer peripheral surface belonging to the first control member (19), which is in the form of a central shaft, the a clutch spring (38) surrounds said clutch surface (24), and said clutch spring (38) is arranged to be tightened around the clutch surface (24) when the second clutch member (33) ) rotates in the second angular direction (13) relative to the support.   4. Control device according to any one of claims 2 and 3, wherein the second end (41, 58) of the clutch spring (42) is connected to the support (26) via a spring for biasing the clutch spring (38) and the first and second control members (19, 33) in the first angular direction (9) 15 resiliently when the first and second control members ( 19, 33) are coupled by the spring clutch (38, 24) and rotate together in the second angular direction (13).   The control device according to claim 4, wherein the return spring (42) has a first end (43, 58b) connected to the second end (41, 58a) of the clutch spring and a second end (44, 58a) of the clutch spring. ) connected to the support (26).   6. Control device according to claim 5, wherein the second end (41) of the clutch spring (38) is in simple support on the first end (43) of the return spring in the second angular direction (13). .   7. Control device according to claim 5, wherein the second end (58a) of the clutch spring (38) is integral with the first end (58b) of the return spring (42).   8. Control device according to claim 7, wherein the return spring (42) is formed integrally with the clutch spring (38). 35   9. Control device according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the resscrt 2909048 18 (42) has a stiffness greater than the clutch spring (38).   10. Control device according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the first control member (19) is in the form of a central shaft, the clutch spring (38) and the spring of return (42) are arranged around said first control member (19), and the return spring (42) surrounds said first control member (19) with sufficient clearance not to block said first control member (19) when the first and second control members rotate together with the clutch spring in the second angular direction (13).   The control device according to claim 10, wherein the return spring (42) is surrounded by the support (26) and the first control member (19) is pivotally mounted in the support (26).   12. Control device according to any one of claims 10 and 11, wherein the clutch spring (38) is surrounded by the second control member (33) which cooperates by interlocking with the support (26). .   13. Control device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a pulley (47) connected to the second control device (33) and 25 for receiving a control cable (11).   A control device according to claim 13, wherein the pulley (47) is connected to the second control member (33) by a ratchet connection (52,46) permitting relative rotation of the pulley (47) around the second control member (33) only in the first angular direction (9).   A control device according to claim 14, wherein the pulley (47) has a central recess (51) into which the second control member (33) is engaged, said pulley (47) having at least one key (53). ) projecting inwardly into said recess, said key (53) being engaged in a peripheral groove (54) operated in the second control member (33) and extending in a radial plane with respect to the rotation axis (Y). 5   16. Control device according to claim 15, wherein said peripheral groove (54) communicates with an axial groove (55) formed in the second control member (33) and adapted to allow axial engagement of the pulley (47) on the second control member (33).   A control device according to any one of claims 15 to 16, wherein the pulley (47) has at least one resilient tongue (52) extending inwardly from a base to a free end end said recess (51), said elastic tongue (52) being inclined in the second angular direction (13) from its base towards its free end, and: the free end of said elastic tongue being in abutment against a peripheral toothing (46) formed around the second control member (33).   18. An articulation assembly comprising: - a control device (7) according to any one of the preceding claims, - a hinge mechanism (6) which comprises: • mounted first and second flanges (14, 15) pivoting relative to one another about the axis of rotation (Y), and an actuating member (18) pivoting in the first and second angular directions (9, 13) about said axis of rotation for selectively allowing relative pivoting between the first and second flanges (14, 15), said actuating member (18) being integral with the first control member (19).   19. Articulation assembly according to claim 18, comprising a control device (7) according to claim 2 and wherein the support (26) is integral with the first flange (14).   Vehicle seat comprising first and second seat members (5, 2) pivotally mounted relative to each other and controlled by a hinge assembly (6, 7) according to any one of the preceding claims. 18 and 19, the first and second flanges (14, 15) of the hinge mechanism being respectively connected to the first and second seat elements (5, 2). 10   21. Seat according to claim 20, wherein the first control member (19) is integral with a handle (8).   Seat according to claim 20 or claim 21, further comprising a manual actuating device (10) connected to the second control member (33) by a cable (11) and adapted to move said second control member into the second angular direction (13).   Seat according to claim 22, comprising a control device (7) according to any one of claims 13 to 17 and wherein the cable is partially wound around the pulley (47),   Seat according to claim 23, comprising a control device (7) according to any one of claims 14 to 17 and wherein the cable (11) has substantially no clearance.