FR3082794A1 - ADJUSTABLE DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE AND VEHICLE SEAT COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

Adjustable device for a motor vehicle comprising two elements mounted movable relative to one another, lockable by a locking device which controlled by an electric actuator (22) controlled by at least one control circuit (100) on actuation of a control member (40) by a user. The control circuit supplies the actuator from a power supply (A) so as to act on the locking device in a first direction to unlock the locking device when the control member actuates the control circuit. The control circuit further comprises a capacitive device (C) which is charged by the control circuit from the power supply when the control member is actuated, and which discharges to relock the locking device by the actuator when the control member ceases to operate the control circuit.

Description

The present description relates to an adjustable device for a motor vehicle and to a vehicle seat comprising such a device.

More particularly, the present description relates to an adjustable device for a vehicle seat, comprising:

a first element and a second element mounted to move relative to each other, a locking device mounted to move between a locking position, in which the second element is immobilized relative to the first element, and an unlocking position, wherein said locking device (36; 24) allows the second element to move relative to the first element,

an electrical actuation device controlled by at least one control circuit which can be actuated by at least one control member, said control circuit being adapted to electrically supply the actuation device from an electrical supply so as to acting on the locking device in a first direction to cause the locking device to move into the unlocking position when the control member actuates said control circuit.

STATE OF THE ART

The document ER3024079A1 describes a seat comprising an adjustable device of the aforementioned type. When ordered by the user, a locking member is unlocked by the electric actuator by bandaging a return spring and then returns to the locked position under the effect of the single return spring.

The bandage of the return spring consumes a relatively large amount of electrical energy on each actuation, and this bandage requires the use of a powerful electric motor.

OBJECTS

The present description aims in particular to overcome these drawbacks.

To this end, according to the present description:

the adjustable device also comprises a capacitive device for storing electrical energy, the control circuit is adapted to charge the capacitive device from the power supply and isolate the capacitive device from the actuation device when the control member actuates said control circuit, and the control circuit is adapted for, when the control member ceases to actuate said control circuit:

energize the actuating device by the capacitive device and operate the actuating device on the locking device in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to cause the locking device to move into the locking position, and isolate the capacitive device of the power supply.

Thus, one can avoid the use of a return spring of the actuating device, or at the very least reduce the force of this spring, so that the electrical energy consumed on each actuation is greatly reduced (for example, the '' from 30 to 50%) and the electric power of the motor or other electric actuator of the actuating device is reduced, and therefore its weight and its bulk.

In particular embodiments, one can optionally have recourse to one and / or the other of the following provisions:

the capacitive device comprises at least one capacitor;

the capacitive device comprises several capacitors;

the capacitive device has a capacity of at least 100 microfarads;

the actuating device comprises an output member in mechanical connection with the locking device and an elastic return member which resiliently biases the output member towards a rest position corresponding to the locking position of the locking device: in this case, the elastic return member is only provided for safety in addition to the capacitive device and can be clearly undersized compared to the return springs of the prior art;

the actuation device comprises a direct current electric motor and the electrical supply is adapted to deliver a direct current;

the capacitive device comprises first and second terminals, the electric motor comprises first and second terminals and the power supply comprises first and second terminals, and the control circuit comprises:

a first circuit connecting the first and second terminals of the electrical supply to the first and second terminals of the electric motor, the first circuit comprising a first switch, a second circuit comprising:

a first branch connecting the first terminal of the capacitive device to the first terminal of the power supply, the first branch comprising a second switch, a second branch connecting the second terminal of the capacitive device to the second terminal of the power supply, the second branch comprising a third switch, a third circuit comprising:

a third branch connecting the second terminal of the capacitive device to the first terminal of the electric motor, the third branch comprising a fourth switch, a fourth branch connecting the first terminal of the capacitive device to the second terminal of the electric motor, the fourth branch comprising a fifth switch, the first, second, third, fourth and fifth switches being all controlled by the controller so that the fourth and fifth switches are closed and the first, second and third switches are open when the controller is not not actuated and so that the fourth and fifth switches are open and the first, second and third switches are closed when the control member is actuated;

the first, second, third, fourth and fifth switches are switches all mechanically coupled with the control member, said control member being resiliently biased towards a rest position and movable into an active position when it is actuated.

Furthermore, the present description also relates to a vehicle seat comprising an adjustable device as defined above.

In such a vehicle seat, the first and second elements can be: either first and second slide profiles mounted to slide relative to one another, the locking device being adapted to selectively allow and prohibit the first and second sliding profiles relative to each other;

either a seat and a backrest, the backrest being pivotally mounted relative to the seat, the locking device being adapted to selectively allow and prevent the backrest from pivoting relative to the seat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages will appear during the following description of an embodiment, given by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

- Figure 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle seat,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a displacement mechanism, of the locking device and of the seat actuation device of FIG. 1,

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views showing the detail III of FIG. 2,

- Figure 5 is a diagram of an electrical circuit for controlling the seat of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

Unless specified otherwise, the expressions approximately, substantially, approximately, of the order of, etc. mean that a slight variation from the nominal value considered is possible, in particular by a small percentage, in particular to within 10%.

For the sake of clarity, only the elements useful for understanding the described embodiments have been shown and will be detailed.

In the following description, when referring to qualifiers of absolute position, such as the terms 'forward', 'back', 'up', 'down', 'left', 'right', etc., or relative, such as the terms 'above', 'below', 'upper', 'lower', etc., or to qualifiers for orientation, reference is made to a seat in a normal position for use of that -this in the ordinary direction of progression of the vehicle.

In the present case, in the description which follows, the term “locking device” should be interpreted in a broad sense to qualify a device adapted to perform an action intended to selectively make immobile or to make mobile, a first element with respect to a second element, whatever the relative initial position of the first and second elements.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a seat 1, in particular a vehicle seat 1 having a backrest 12 and a seat 14. The seat 14 is mounted on the floor 16 of the vehicle by slides 30, so that the longitudinal position of the seat is adjustable in the longitudinal direction X, by displacement in the two opposite directions XI, X2.

Each slide 30 includes a first profile 32 secured to the floor and a second profile 34 secured to the seat, slidably mounted relative to each other in the longitudinal direction X.

The slide 30 further comprises a locking device 36, known per se. The locking device 36 is mounted movable between a locking position and an unlocking position. In the locking position, the locking device 36 locks the position of the second profile 34 relative to the first profile 32, thus preventing any relative movement along the longitudinal axis X of the second profile 34 relative to the first profile 32. In the position unlocking, the locking device 36 allows the second profile 34 to move relative to the first profile 32. The locking device 36 can be resiliently biased towards the locking position. The locking device 36 can be unlocked by an electrical actuating device 20, itself controlled by a control member 40 such as a button or the like.

Furthermore, the backrest 12 can be pivotally mounted relative to the seat 14 about a transverse horizontal axis of rotation Yl, by means of at least one articulation mechanism 24, also known per se, which also constitutes a locking device. This articulation mechanism 24 can also be mounted movably between a locking position where it immobilizes the backrest 12 and an unlocking position where it allows an adjustment of the inclination of the backrest 12 by pivoting around the axis of rotation Yl. The articulation mechanism 24 can be resiliently biased towards the locking position and possibly unlockable by the actuation device 20, for example upon actuation of a second control member 42 such as a button or the like. The articulation mechanism 24 can be connected to the actuation device 20 for example by a cable 25, or the like.

The locking device 36 of the slide 30 and the articulation mechanism 24 (or any two locking devices in a vehicle seat) can be controlled by the same actuating device 20, for example as taught in the document FR3024079 mentioned above . Alternatively, the actuating device 20 could only control the locking device 36 of the slide 30 or the articulation mechanism 24, or another locking device.

In general, the following description, although relating to the particular case of a locking device 36 for a slide and a hinge mechanism 24 for the backrest, can be transposed mutatis mutandis to one or two locking devices allowing to selectively block or unblock first and second elements with respect to one another, in particular in a vehicle seat.

The actuating device 20 can for example be integral with the movable profile 34 of the slide 30.

The actuation device 20 comprises an electric actuator such as a direct current electric motor 22, as shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 to 4, in an embodiment corresponding to the teaching of the document FR3024079 mentioned above.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the electric motor 22 may include an actuating rod 58 movable in rotation, connected by a reversible mechanical transmission 60 to a transmission member which itself is connected to the locking device 36 and to the articulation mechanism 24. Said transmission member may for example be a cam 44 rotatably mounted on the movable profile 34 of the slide 30 around a transverse axis of rotation Y2 parallel to the aforementioned axis Y1. The cam 44 can be connected by a transverse shaft 44a to a similar cam 44 on the opposite side of the seat 1.

In the absence of actuation of the above-mentioned buttons 40, 42, the cam 44 is in a rest position such as that shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, where it does not interfere with the locking device 36 of the slide 30 and the articulation mechanism 24. Maintaining the cam in the rest position can be obtained by a return spring 66 which is similar in design to that described in the aforementioned document FR3024079, but much less powerful (for example, the stiffness of the spring 66 may be two to three times less than that of the return spring described in the document FR3024079, for reasons which will be explained below). The spring 66 can possibly be eliminated altogether.

When the button 40 is actuated by the seat user, the electric motor rotates the actuating rod 58 in a direction of rotation S1 and drives the cam 44 in rotation in a direction W1, so that the cam 44 acts by its profile 48 on an unlocking lever 78 pivotally mounted on the movable profile 34 of the slide 30, which unlocking lever 78 presses on an unlocking pin 80 belonging to the locking device 36 of the slide 30, which unlocks the device locking 36 and allows the adjustment of the longitudinal position of the seat 14.

When the button 42 is actuated by the seat user from the rest position, the electric motor 22 rotates the actuating rod 58 in a direction of rotation S2 opposite to the direction SI and drives the cam 44 in rotation in a direction W2 opposite to the direction W1, so that the cam 44 pulls on the cable 25 which is attached to it, as described in the document ER3024079, which unlocks the articulation mechanism 24 and allows the backrest tilt adjustment 12 .

When the user stops pressing the button 40 or 42, the cam 44 is brought back to the rest position by a rotation of the motor 22 in the opposite direction to the movement caused by pressing the button 40 or 42, so that the locking device 36 or the articulation mechanism 24 relocks under the effect of its internal return spring (s). This rotation is obtained by the electric operation of the electric motor 22 thanks to the presence of at least one capacitive electric energy storage device, if necessary assisted by the return spring 66.

As shown in FIG. 5, the seat 1 comprises at least one control circuit 100 controlling the motor 22 as a function of the actuation of the control members 40, 42. In the example of FIG. 5, the control circuit 100 is specific to the control member 40 and a similar control circuit can be associated with the control member 42. Optionally, the seat 1 could comprise a single control circuit 100 common to the two control members. Of course, as explained above, the actuating device could control a single locking device and be controlled by a single control member, in which case there would also be only one control circuit 100. In the following , we will describe the particular case of the control circuit 100 associated with the control member 40, which controls the locking device 36 of the slide 30; the other cases mentioned above are similar.

The control circuit 100 is supplied by an electrical supply A of the vehicle, generally a DC supply.

When the control member 40 is actuated for example by pressing the user according to arrow 40b, the control circuit 100 supplies the electric motor 22 with the supply A to rotate the electric motor 22 in the direction SI, from so as to unlock the locking device 36. At the same time, the control circuit 100 charges the capacitive device C from the supply A and isolates said capacitive device C from the electric motor 22.

When the control member 40 ceases to be actuated, it returns to the rest position under the effect of a spring 40a and cuts the electrical supply A of the electric motor 22 and isolates the capacitive device C from said electrical supply A At the same time, said control circuit 100 supplies the electric motor 22 by the capacitive device C with a polarity opposite to that of the electric supply A, so that the electric motor 22 rotates in the direction S2.

In the particular embodiment of FIG. 5, these functions are provided by the wiring of the control circuit 100. As a variant, these functions could be provided by a logic unit belonging to the control circuit 100.

In the particular embodiment of FIG. 5, the capacitive device C comprises first and second terminals Cl, C2, the electric motor 22 comprises first and second terminals 22a, 22b and the power supply A comprises first and second terminals A1, A2, and the control circuit 100 comprises:

a first circuit 101, 102 connecting the terminals Al, A2 of the electrical supply A to the terminals 22a, 22b of the electric motor 22, the first circuit 101, 102 comprising a first switch 103,

- a second circuit 104, 105 comprising:

a first branch 104 connecting the terminal C1 of the capacitive device to the terminal 22a of the electric motor, the first branch 104 comprising a second switch 106,

a second branch 105 connecting the second terminal C2 of the capacitive device to the first terminal 22b of the electric motor, the second branch 105 comprising a third switch 107,

- a third circuit 108, 109 comprising:

a third branch 108 connecting the terminal C2 of the capacitive device to the terminal 22a of the electric motor, the third branch 108 comprising a fourth switch 110,

a fourth branch 109 connecting the terminal C1 of the capacitive device to the terminal 22b of the electric motor, the fourth branch 109 comprising a fifth switch 111.

The first, second, third, fourth and fifth switches 103, 106, 107, 110, 111 are all mechanically coupled with the control member 40 so that the fourth and fifth switches 110, 111 are closed and the first, second and third switches 103, 106, 107 are open when the control member 40 is in the rest position and so that the fourth and fifth switches 110, 111 are open and the first, second and third switches 103, 106, 107 are closed when the the control member 40 is actuated.

More generally, the switches 103, 106, 107, 110, 111 can be switches of any type, including not only switches proper but also for example relays or transistors. In these latter cases, the mechanical coupling with the control member 40 can be replaced by an electrical control of the switches by the control member 40.

In this way, the capacitive device C is charged when the control member 40 is actuated and it discharges into the electric motor 22 by causing it to return to the rest position when the control member 40 is released.

The capacitive device C can comprise at least one capacitor, for example several capacitors. When there are several capacitors, they can be mounted in parallel so that the device remains functional even in the event of a capacitor failure, or in series to increase the input voltage of the capacitive device C.

Capacitive device C can have a capacity of at least 100 microfarads. The capacity of the capacitive device C is preferably adapted to correspond to the energy necessary for the electric motor 22 to return the cam 44 to the rest position when the control member 40 is released.

When the rest position is not defined by a straight stop, as in the example considered here, the return spring 66 ensures that the cam 44 returns exactly to the rest position. The exact return to the rest position could also be ensured differently, for example by means of a position sensor integrated or not in the electric motor 22 or by dimensioning the capacity of the capacitive device C, which can be provided so that the energy delivered to the electric motor 22 is insufficient to unlock the articulation mechanism 24 (or other locking device).

Claims (10)

1. Adjustable device for motor vehicle, comprising: a first element (32; 14) and a second element (34; 12) mounted movable relative to each other, a locking device (36; 24) mounted movable between a locking position, in which the second element (34; 12) is immobilized relative to the first element (32; 14), and an unlocking position, in which said locking device (36; 24) allows the second element (34; 12) to move relative to the first element (32; 14), - an electric actuation device (20) controlled by at least one control circuit (100) which is actuable by at least one control member (40; 42), said control circuit (100) being adapted to supply electric power the actuating device (20) from a power supply (A) so as to act on the locking device (36; 24) in a first direction to cause movement of the locking device (36; 24) in the unlocking position when the control member (40; 42) actuates said control circuit (100), characterized in that it further comprises a capacitive device (C) for storing electrical energy, in that the control circuit (100) is adapted to charge the capacitive device (C) from the power supply and isolate the capacitive device (C) from the actuating device (20) when the control member (40; 42) operates said comm circuit ande, and in that the control circuit (100) is adapted for, when the control member (40; 42) ceases to operate said control circuit: supply the actuating device (20) with the capacitive device (C) and operate the actuating device (20) on the locking device (36; 24) in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, to drive displacement of the locking device (36) in the locking position, and isolating the capacitive device (C) from the power supply (A). 2. Adjustable device according to claim 1, wherein the capacitive device (C) comprises at least one capacitor. 3. Adjustable device according to claim 2, wherein the capacitive device (C) comprises several capacitors. 4. Adjustable device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the capacitive device (C) has a capacity of at least 100 microfarads. 5. Adjustable device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the actuating device (20) comprises an outlet member (44) in mechanical connection with the locking device (36; 24) and an elastic return member. (66) which resiliently biases the outlet member (44) towards a rest position corresponding to the locking position of the locking device (36). 6. Adjustable device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the actuating device (20) comprises an electric motor (22) with direct current and the electric supply (A) is adapted to deliver direct current. 7. Adjustable device according to claim 6, in which the capacitive device (C) comprises first and second terminals (C1, C2), the electric motor (22) comprises first and second terminals (22a, 22b) and the power supply electrical (A) comprises first and second terminals (Al, A2), and the control circuit (100) comprises: a first circuit (101, 102) connecting the first and second terminals (Al, A2) of the electrical supply (A) to the first and second terminals (22a, 22b) of the electric motor, the first circuit (101, 102) comprising a first switch (103), a second circuit (104, 105) comprising: a first branch (104) connecting the first terminal (Cl) of the capacitive device to the first terminal (Ala) of the power supply, the first branch (104) comprising a second switch (106), a second branch (105) connecting the second terminal (C2) of the capacitive device at the second terminal (A2) of the power supply, the second branch (105) comprising a third switch (107), a third circuit (108, 109) comprising: a third branch (108) connecting the second terminal (C2) of the capacitive device to the first terminal (22a) of the electric motor, the third branch (108) comprising a fourth switch (110), a fourth branch (109) connecting the first terminal (Cl) of the capacitive device at the second terminal (22b) of the electric motor, the fourth branch (109) comprising a fifth switch (111), the first, second, third, fourth and fifth switches (103, 106, 107, 110, 111) being controlled by the control member (40, 42) so that the fourth and fifth switches (110, 111) are closed and the first, second and third switches (103, 106, 107) are open when the the control member (40, 42) is not actuated and so that the fourth and fifth switches (110, 111) are open and the first, second and third switches (103, 106, 107) are closed when the member control (40, 42) is ac tioned. 8. Adjustable device according to claim 7, wherein the first, second, third, fourth and fifth switches (103, 106, 107, 110, 111) are switches all mechanically coupled with the control member (40, 42) , said control member (40, 42) being resiliently biased towards a rest position and movable in an active position when it is actuated. 9. Vehicle seat comprising an adjustable device according to any one of the preceding claims. 10. Vehicle seat according to claim 9, in which the first and second elements are: either of the first and second profiles (32, 34) of slideways mounted sliding relative to each other, the locking device (36) being adapted to selectively allow and prohibit the first and second profiles (32, 34) from slide relative to each other; either a seat (14) and a backrest (12), the backrest (12) being pivotally mounted relative to the seat (14), the locking device (24) being adapted to selectively allow and prohibit the backrest (12) pivot relative to the seat (14).