FR3072059A1 - DAMPING SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE SEAT. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for damping (30) a vehicle seat, particularly a motor vehicle, said vehicle comprising a chassis (11), said seat being able to slide relative to said chassis (11) in at least an adjustment slide (20) to a locking position, said damping system (30) comprising: - an unlocking module configured to unlock the seat of said lock position in the event of an impact, so as to allow the sliding of the seat relative to the frame (11) in said at least one adjusting slide (20), and - at least one damping module (31) configured to cooperate with both the seat and a module attached to the frame ( 11) of the vehicle, so as to dampen the sliding of the seat in said at least one adjustment slide (20).

Description

DAMPER SYSTEM OF A VEHICLE SEAT.

The invention relates, in general, the field of protection in a vehicle interior and more particularly relates to a damping system of a seat of a motor vehicle, in particular of an autonomous vehicle.

In known manner, current motor vehicles generally include one or more protection device (s), commonly known as airbags, otherwise called airbags. Such a protection device comprises a cushion capable of deploying and inflating almost instantly in the event of an impact, so as to protect one or more occupants of a vehicle.

It is particularly known front protection devices, designated front airbags. Such protective devices are generally fixed inside the steering wheel of the vehicle, in order to protect the driver, and in the dashboard facing the front passenger in order to allow protection of the latter in the event of a frontal impact.

Furthermore, there are many developments relating to the implementation of autonomous driving modes in vehicles. Today, an autonomous vehicle generally comprises, in a known manner, a controlled driving mode and an autonomous driving mode, allowing the driver not to focus his attention on driving. The driver can easily choose the driving mode according to the circumstances and the environment of the vehicle.

When the autonomous driving mode of a vehicle is active, many features make it possible to increase the comfort of the driver and passengers. Systems are known in particular for retracting the steering wheel in the dashboard or even allowing the driver to move his seat back, so as to move away from the dashboard, thus making it possible to free up space for example for his legs.

However, in such configurations, the frontal protection devices may prove to be insufficient, in particular due to the greater distance between the occupants located at the front of the vehicle and the dashboard or the steering wheel. Indeed, the vehicle occupant being at a distance further from the protection device, its travel in the event of a frontal impact is longer to reach the protection device. Such a stroke increases the energy stored by the occupant's body as well as its speed before it comes into contact with the protection device, which has a major drawback.

Also, alternative or complementary protective devices are nowadays more and more studied. As such, document FR 2834947 describes a shock absorbing device associated with a vehicle seat articulated along an axis transverse to the vehicle. Such a damping device comprises two horizontal plates connected by a vertical plate, defining two shear zones. During an impact, the seat is driven forward in rotation around the vertical axis, causing the deformation of the double transverse plate and therefore the shearing of the plates, make it possible to absorb the energy of the occupant and from the headquarters.

However, in order to allow the absorption of the energy generated by the body of the occupant thrown forward during a frontal impact, the damping device described in the document FR 2834947 requires adjustment depending on the weight of the occupant. Indeed, the damping device further comprises a lever driving the double horizontal plate by sliding in the rails of the seat, allowing manual adjustment of the position of the damping device. Such an adjustment has a major drawback since it requires the intervention of an individual for each use. In addition, such a damping device requires the installation of a suitable seat, configured to pivot about an axis, which represents significant costs. Also, the device described in document FR 2834947 cannot be installed on a standard vehicle seat.

The invention therefore aims to at least partially overcome these drawbacks by providing a damping system for a vehicle seat simple to install and inexpensive, allowing to partially absorb the energy stored by a human body when it is thrown forward, for example during a frontal impact. The invention relates in particular to an effective damping system even when the seat has a rear position and can be installed on a standard vehicle seat.

More specifically, to achieve this result, the present invention relates to a damping system of a vehicle seat, in particular of a motor vehicle, said vehicle comprising a chassis, said seat being capable of sliding relative to said chassis in at least one adjustment slide to a locking position, said damping system comprising:

an unlocking module configured to unlock the seat from said locking position in the event of an impact, so as to allow the seat to slide relative to the chassis in said at least one adjustment slide, and

- at least one damping module configured to cooperate both with the seat and a module fixed to the chassis of the vehicle, so as to dampen the sliding of the seat in said at least one adjustment slide.

Such a damping system advantageously makes it possible to free the position of the seat of an occupant, so as to exploit the stroke of the seat to dissipate energy with the damping module. The damping system according to the invention in fact makes it possible to dampen the contact between the body of an occupant and a protection device, of the airbag type, when the occupant's seat is notably distant from the front protection device. shock, for example when driving the vehicle independently.

Preferably, said at least one adjustment slide comprises a movable rail fixed to the seat and configured to slide in a fixed rail on the chassis, so as to allow the sliding of the seat in the adjustment slide. Such a slide advantageously allows the integration of the damping system on any existing vehicle seat, without requiring the addition of additional slides.

Advantageously, said seat being able to slide in a first adjustment slide and a second adjustment slide, said damping system comprises two damping modules, a first damping module being configured to cooperate with said first slide adjustment and a second damping module being configured to cooperate with said second adjustment slide, allowing better shock absorption.

Advantageously, said seat being able to slide in a first adjustment slide and a second adjustment slide, each adjustment slide comprising a fixed rail and a movable rail, said at least one damping module is configured for cooperate at the same time with the fixed rail of the first adjustment slide, the movable rail of the first adjustment slide, the fixed rail of the second adjustment slide and the mobile rail of the second adjustment slide, allowing attachment only to the structure of the seat rails.

Preferably, said at least one damping module is a hydraulic cylinder, allowing the use of a known effective device, also making it possible to limit the blows.

Alternatively, the damping module is in the form of wipers or expansive foam for example, allowing the use of any device allowing the damping of the movable rail relative to the fixed rail of the slide.

According to a preferred embodiment, said vehicle comprising at least one protection device, of the airbag type, capable of deploying in the event of an impact, the unlocking module is configured to unlock the seat from the locking position following the detection of a shock causing the deployment of the protection device, so as to authorize the unlocking of the seat only if the protection device is deployed.

The invention also relates to a vehicle seat comprising a damping system as described above.

In addition, the invention relates to an assembly of a first adjustment slide, a second adjustment slide and a vehicle seat as described above, in which said damping system comprises two modules d damping, a first damping module being configured to be fixed to said first adjusting slide and a second damping module being configured to be fixed to said second adjusting slide.

The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one seat as described above. Preferably, all of the vehicle seats include a damping system according to the invention.

The invention finally relates to a method of damping a vehicle seat, in particular a motor vehicle, said vehicle comprising a chassis, said seat being able to slide relative to said chassis in at least one adjustment slide up to in a locking position, said vehicle comprising a damping system fixed to said at least one seat adjustment slide, said method comprising:

- a step of detecting an impact on the vehicle,

- a step of detecting the deployment of a protection device,

a step of unlocking the locking position of said seat,

a step of sliding the seat relative to the chassis in said at least one adjustment slide, and

- a step of damping said shock by said damping system.

Preferably, the shock absorption step of said shock corresponds to a compression step of a hydraulic cylinder.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of the embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, and with reference to the drawings which show:

• Figure 1, a schematic representation of a motor vehicle comprising a seat and a reference frame for defining such a vehicle, • Figure 2, a schematic representation of the seat adjustment slides of Figure 1 and a seat cushioning system of Figure 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, • Figure 3, a close-up view of the cushioning system of Figure 2, and • Figure 4, a block diagram of the steps a depreciation method according to a preferred embodiment.

In what follows, the embodiments described relate more particularly to an installation of the damping system according to the invention in a motor vehicle. However, any installation in a different context, in particular in any type of vehicle, is also covered by the present invention.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a motor vehicle 1 comprises in known manner, one or more protection device (s) making it possible to protect the occupants inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1, in the event of a frontal impact, for example. Such a protective device, also known as an airbag, includes a cushion capable of swelling very quickly with air or gas in the event of an impact.

Referring to Figure 1, such a vehicle 1 extends longitudinally along an X axis, laterally along a Y axis and vertically along a Z axis so as to form an orthogonal coordinate system (X, Y, Z). Also, the front and rear of the vehicle 1 are defined respectively with reference to the directions + X and -X the longitudinal X axis of the vehicle 1.

Such a vehicle 1 further comprises a seat 10, mounted on the fixed structure of the vehicle 1, designated chassis 11, and intended to receive an occupant in the vehicle 1, for example the driver of the vehicle 1. Such a seat 10 is slidably mounted relative to the chassis 11 of the vehicle 1 so as to allow the seat 10 to be moved away from the front of the vehicle 1. For example, the vehicle 1 may comprise an autonomous driving mode, allowing the driver to no longer focus your attention on the road. Also the latter can move away from the steering wheel, so as to benefit from more space.

Indeed, with reference to Figures 2 and 3, such a seat 10 is slidably mounted, preferably on two adjustment slides 20, each comprising a movable rail 21 and a fixed rail 22 and positioned on either side other on the side edges of the seat 10. Such adjustment slides 20 are configured to allow the position of the seat 10 to be adjusted along the longitudinal X axis of the vehicle 1, so as to approach or reverse the seat 10 from the front of the vehicle 1.

In order to allow the position of the seat 10 to be adjusted, the movable rail 21, preferably fixed to a metallic structure of the seat 10, is configured to slide in the fixed rail 22, fixed to the chassis 11 of the vehicle 1, up to 'at a locking position. For this, such an adjustment slide 20 comprises in known manner a handle configured to release the movable rail 21 and allow the sliding of the seat 10 from front to back. The operation of such an adjustment slide 20 is known per se and will not be described in more detail in this document.

In this example, the seat 10 slides on two adjustment slides 20, however it goes without saying that the vehicle 1 could include a different number, in particular a single adjustment slide 20. Similarly, the seat 10 could also be mounted on a single slide, only configured to lock the seat 10 in a single position, without providing an adjustment function.

Finally, the example presented in this document describes a single seat 10 slidably mounted on one or more slide (s) of adjustment 20, and in this case has a driver seat 10, however it goes without saying that the all of the seats 10 of the vehicle 1 could be slidably mounted and that the invention could be incorporated into any seat 10 of the vehicle 1.

When the seat 10 is distant from the steering wheel, in the event of a frontal impact also triggering the deployment of a protection device, the occupant of the seat 10, projected forward, undergoes a greater stroke, increasing the energy released on impact with the protective device. Also, the vehicle 1 also comprises a damping system 30 configured to absorb the travel of the seat 10 and of the occupant and thus absorb the shock during contact of the occupant with the protection device.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, such a damping system 30 comprises two damping modules 31 (of which only one is shown in Figure 3) and an unlocking module (not shown) of the position of the seat 10. The example presented in this document comprises two damping modules 31, however it goes without saying that the damping system 30 according to the invention could comprise a different number, in particular a single damping module 31.

Still with reference to FIG. 3, a damping module 31 is preferably in the form of a hydraulic damper, or hydraulic cylinder, configured to cooperate both with the seat 10 and with a module fixed to the chassis 11. In this example, the damping module 31 is configured to cooperate with both the fixed rail 22 and the movable rail 21 of the adjustment slide 20. Preferably even, such a damping module 31 is fixed at a first end at a first point on the movable rail 21 and at a second end at a second point on the fixed rail 22.

Preferably, the seat 10 being mounted on two adjustment slides 20, each damping module 31 cooperates with a different adjustment slide 20. In other words, a first damping module 31 is preferably fixed at a first point to the movable rail 21 of a first adjustment slide 20 and at a second point to the fixed rail 22 of this same first adjustment slide 20 and a second damping module 31 is fixed at a first point to the movable rail 21 of a second adjustment slide 20 and at a second point to the fixed rail 22 of this same second adjustment slide 20.

Alternatively, the damping system 30 could comprise a single damping module 31 fixed to the two adjustment slides 20, that is to say fixed both at a first point to the movable rail 21 of the first adjustment slide 20, at a second point on the fixed rail 22 of the first adjustment slide 20, at a third point on the movable rail 21 of the second adjustment slide 20 and at a fourth point on the fixed rail 22 of the second adjustment slide 20.

Alternatively again, the damping module 31 could be fixed at a point in the seat 10 and at a point in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1, for example on the floor of the vehicle 1, such a seat 10 being movable in relation to the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1.

Similarly, the damping module 31 is in this document in the form of a hydraulic cylinder, however it goes without saying that the damping module 31 could be in a different form, for example in the form of expansive foam or any device ensuring friction between the movable rail 21 and the fixed rail 22. The damping module 31 is then in contact both with the movable rail 21 and with the fixed rail 22.

As described above, the damping system 30 further comprises a module for unlocking the position of the locked seat 10. Such an unlocking module is configured to unlock the movable rail 21, initially blocked in the fixed rail 22, upon detection of an impact also causing the deployment of the vehicle protection device 1. For this, the unlocking module comprises by example a speed sensor, configured to detect an abrupt change in the speed of vehicle 1, thus detecting a significant shock capable of triggering an airbag. Such a sensor can be in a different form and can alternatively be directly integrated into the dashboard of vehicle 1 or even into a main computer of vehicle 1.

If such a shock is detected, the unlocking module is configured to automatically release the seat 10. For example, the adjustment slide 20 may be in the form of a self-locking ratchet slide , in which the locking hook is released automatically upon detection of an impact.

The unlocking module thus advantageously makes it possible to release the seat 10, thereby allowing it to slide forwards in the event of a significant frontal impact and therefore in the event of projection of the seat 10 and its occupant towards the device towards a device. protection deployed. The sliding of the seat 10 thus allows the actuation of the damping module 31, so as to brake the stroke of the seat 10 while absorbing part of the energy generated by the rapid projection of the body of the occupant forward of the vehicle

1.

A method of damping a seat 10 of the vehicle 1 in the event of an impact will now be described, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and with reference to FIG. 4.

The method comprises a first step E1 of detecting a shock from the vehicle 1, for example by a speed sensor integrated into the damping system 30, followed by a step E2 of detecting the triggering of a device for protection, airbag type. The position of the seat 10 is then unlocked, in a step E3, by means of the unlocking module, thereby releasing the seat 10 and allowing it to slide, in a step E4, relative to the chassis 11 of the vehicle 1, forwards. of the vehicle 1. The movable rail 21 is then authorized to slide in the fixed rail 22, causing the activation of the damping module 31, in this example by causing the compression of the hydraulic cylinder, allowing in a step E5 the damping of the shock felt by the occupant of the seat 10 when the latter comes into contact with the protection device.

The seat 10 then arrives at the end of the race with energy dissipated by means of the damping module 31, allowing both the occupant of the vehicle 1 to be closer to the protection device, including the airbag was also deployed following the detection of the shock, and coming into contact with the protection device with less energy, causing a less significant impact on the protection device.

Such a method advantageously makes it possible to limit a significant shock between an occupant and a protection device, when such an occupant is far from the vehicle dashboard, in particular when the vehicle is in autonomous driving mode. The damping system thus absorbs part of the energy stored by the occupant's body when it is projected towards the front of the vehicle over a longer distance. The damping system then provides additional protection to the occupants of the vehicle in the event of a frontal impact.

Claims (9)

1. damping system (30) of a seat (10) of a vehicle (1), in particular of a motor vehicle (1), said vehicle (1) comprising a chassis (11), said seat (10) being capable of sliding relative to said chassis (11) in at least one adjustment slide (20) to a locked position, said damping system (30) comprising: - an unlocking module configured to unlock the seat (10) from said locking position in the event of an impact, so as to allow the seat (10) to slide relative to the chassis (11) in said at least one adjustment slide ( 20), and - At least one damping module (31) configured to cooperate both with the seat (10) and a module fixed to the chassis (11) of the vehicle (1), so as to dampen the sliding of the seat (10) in said at least one adjustment slide (20). 2. Damping system (30) according to the preceding claim, said seat (10) being able to slide in a first adjusting slide (20) and a second adjusting slide (20), said damping system (30) comprises two damping modules (31), a first damping module (31) being configured to cooperate with said first adjustment slide (20) and a second damping module (31) being configured to cooperate with said second slide adjustment (20). 3. damping system (30) according to one of the preceding claims, said seat (10) being able to slide in a first adjustment slide (20) and a second adjustment slide (20), each adjustment slide ( 20) comprising a fixed rail (22) and a movable rail (21), said at least one damping module (31) is configured to cooperate both with the fixed rail (22) of the first adjustment slide (20 ), the movable rail (21) of the first adjustment slide (20), the fixed rail (22) of the second adjustment slide (20) and the movable rail (21) of the second adjustment slide (20). 4. Damping system (30) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one damping module (31) is a hydraulic cylinder. 5. Damping system (30) according to one of the preceding claims, in which said vehicle (1) comprising at least one protection device, of the airbag type, capable of deploying in the event of an impact, the unlocking module is configured to unlock the seat (10) from the locking position following the detection of an impact causing the deployment of the protection device. 6. Seat (10) of vehicle (1) comprising a damping system (30) according to one of the preceding claims. 7. Set of a first adjustment slide (20), a second adjustment slide (20) and a seat (10) of a vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said damping system ( 30) comprises two damping modules (31), a first damping module (31) being configured to be fixed to said first adjustment slide (20) and a second damping module (31) being configured to be fixed to said second adjustment slide (20). 8. Motor vehicle (1) comprising at least one seat (10) according to claim 6. 9. Method for damping a seat (10) of a vehicle (1), in particular of a motor vehicle (1), said vehicle (1) comprising a chassis (11), said seat (10) being capable of sliding relative to to said chassis (11) in at least one adjustment slide (20) to a locked position, said vehicle (1) comprising a damping system (30) fixed to said at least one adjustment slide (20) of the seat (10), said method comprising: a step (E1) of detecting an impact on the vehicle (1), a step (E2) of detecting the deployment of a protection device, a step (E3) of unlocking the locking position of said seat (10), a step (E4) of sliding the seat (10) relative to the chassis (11) in said at least one adjustment slide (20), and a step (E5) of damping said shock by said damping system ( 30).