WO2015040016A1

WO2015040016A1 - Seat adjusting device

Info

Publication number: WO2015040016A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/069678
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matthias Fischer; Jochen Hofmann; Cordula RITTER; Udo Riemenschneider
Original assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile Gmbh & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft, Coburg
Priority date: 2013-09-20
Filing date: 2014-09-16
Publication date: 2015-03-26
Also published as: DE102013218993A1

Abstract

The patent application relates to a seat adjusting device for adjusting the position of an assembly (103, 104, 105, 106) of a motor vehicle seat with respect to another seat assembly (102), with at least one seat adjusting element (1) via which the two seat assemblies (102; 103, 104, 105, 106) are coupled to each other, and with a toothing (12) of the seat adjusting element (1), via which the seat adjusting element (1) interacts with a mating toothing (22) of a further adjusting part (2) in order to initiate an adjustment of the position of the one seat assembly (103, 104, 105, 106). The toothing (12) of the seat adjusting element (1) here is composed of a first material which is stronger than a second material, of which a region (11) of the seat adjusting element (1) on the far side of the toothing (12) is composed.

Description

seat adjustment

description

The invention relates to a seat adjustment device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such seat adjustment is used to adjust the position of a seat assembly, such. B. a seat base or especially a seat pan using at least one operatively connected to a drive Sitzverstellelementes. For this purpose, the seat adjustment element is coupled to a respective seat component of two adjacently adjustable seat assemblies and comprises a toothing, by means of which the seat adjustment element can cooperate with a counter toothing of a further, drive-side adjustment part when used as intended.

The seat adjustment element can be, for example, an adjustment lever with which the height and / or the inclination of a seat pan can be adjusted. Such an adjusting lever can be articulated on the one hand, via a first bearing point on a guide rail of a motor vehicle seat and on the other hand, via a second bearing point on a seat pan or a seat pan supporting seat side part, so that by pivoting that lever, the height and / or inclination of the seat pan with respect to the guide rail and thus with respect to the vehicle floor on which that guide rail is guided, can be adjusted. Alternatively, the Sitzverstellelement rotatably on its second bearing point on a seat component, for example, on a connecting the two seat side parts cross tube, be fixed, wherein the cross tube is in turn pivotally mounted in the seat side parts. Furthermore, it is known from DE 10 2010 063 972 A1, set up a provided with a toothing, driven by a gear Sitzverstellelement on a guide rail of a motor vehicle seat and (eg by welding) to attach thereto.

The further adjusting part may be, for example, a drive element which is operated by a motor or manually actuated via an operating lever and thereby acts on the seat adjusting element or more precisely its toothing in order to effect a desired adjustment of a seat assembly. Such Sitzverstelleinrichtungen are well known and are widely used in practice.

To a Sitzverstellelement of the aforementioned type different requirements are made in terms of strength. On the one hand, large forces or torques should be transferable via its toothing in order to be able to adjust the seat occupied by an occupant, wherein, in particular in the case of a seat height adjustment, the entire weight of the occupant must also be lifted. Furthermore, in a crash, the teeth of the Sitzverstellelementes and the associated further Verstellteiles should remain as possible in engagement to prevent decoupling of the corresponding seat adjustment of the associated drive and associated jerky movements of the hereby be adjusted to seat assembly. At the same time the Sitzverstellelement should contribute as possible in a crash case to reduce crash forces, z. B. by targeted deformation of Sitzverstellelementes.

The invention is therefore based on the problem to provide a seat adjustment of the type mentioned, the Sitzverstellelement one hand meets high demands on the strength, but at the same time can selectively reduce crash forces in a crash by deformation.

This problem is inventively achieved by the provision of a seat adjustment with the features of claim 1. Thereafter, it is provided that the toothing of the Sitzverstellelementes (in particular over the entire thickness) consists of a first material which has a greater strength than a second material, from which an area of Sitzverstellelementes outside or away from the toothing (in particular over its entire thickness ) consists.

In the case of a seat adjustment element, which is intentionally moved along an adjustment plane during the adjustment operation or extends at least along the adjustment plane, the thickness at each point is defined as the (local) extent of the seat adjustment element transversely to the adjustment plane.

In this way, on the one hand in the area of the teeth sufficient strength of Sitzverstellelementes be ensured to meet the relevant requirements, especially when interacting with a counter teeth, while on the other hand in a range of Sitzverstellelementes off the teeth in a crash-targeted crash energy corresponding deformation of the said region of the Sitzverstellelementes can be reduced.

Depending on the demands placed on the strength of the Sitzverstellelementes in a particular case, in addition to the teeth still other areas of Sitzverstellelementes made of the first material with greater strength, such as in the toothing transitional edge portion of Sitzverstellelementes and / or at least an area in which a bearing point of the Sitzverstellelementes is formed.

Furthermore, it can be provided that those regions of the seat adjustment element which consist of the first material of greater strength, in particular the toothing, have a greater thickness than the region consisting of the second material of lesser strength.

According to one embodiment of the invention, more than two different materials and / or a plurality of different material thicknesses may be provided for forming the Sitzverstellelementes. Thus, for example, at least one region in which a bearing points of the Sitzverstellelementes is formed, consist of a third material and / or have a thickness which differs both from the thickness of the toothing and from the thickness of the above-mentioned further range of Sitzverstellelementes. The Sitzverstellelement can in particular be made of several parts, in such a way that existing areas of the seat adjustment element are made of different material each by separate components, which in a suitable manner, for. B. cohesively, are interconnected. For example, welding is suitable as a joining technique, both in the form of classic inert gas welding and in the form of laser welding.

As a comparatively stronger material, of which in particular the toothing of the Sitzverstellelementes is suitable, e.g. Tempered and case-hardened steels. And as comparatively easily deformierbareres material, especially for the area away from the teeth of the Sitzverstellelementes, structural steels or micro-alloyed fine steels may be provided about. According to one embodiment of the Sitzverstellelementes, this has two spaced bearing points, which are each formed and provided for a pivotable mounting of the Sitzverstellelementes on a component of a vehicle seat, z. B. in the form of bearing openings. According to another embodiment of the Sitzverstellelementes this has two spaced bearing points, one of which is designed and provided for a pivotable mounting of Sitzverstellelementes on a component of a vehicle seat and the other for a non-rotatable mounting to another component of the seat. Also in this case, the bearings can be designed as openings (or as unilaterally open recesses).

Furthermore, the toothed, with a further adjustment part (in the form of a gear) cooperating Sitzverstellelement can be placed on a guide rail of a motor vehicle seat and (for example by welding) to attach thereto.

The seat adjusting element may in particular be an adjusting lever for a seat height or seat tilt adjustment, which is to be articulated via a first bearing point on a guide rail (seat rail) of a motor vehicle seat to be arranged displaceably with respect to the vehicle floor, and which has a second bearing point on the seat frame, in particular one Seat trough or a seat pan bearing seat side part is articulated (possibly also indirectly, by the Sitzverstellelement rotationally fixed to a cross tube is fixed, which in turn is pivotally connected at its ends with a seat side part in combination).

Further details and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures.

Show it:

1 is a seat base of a motor vehicle seat with a

Seat adjustment device for adjusting the seat height;

Fig. 2 shows a detail of the seat base of Figure 1 in the region of

seat adjuster; Fig. 3 shows a first embodiment of a Sitzverstellelementes for

Seat adjusting device of Figures 1 and 2;

4 shows a second embodiment of the Sitzverstellelementes. 5 shows a third embodiment of the Sitzverstellelementes.

6 shows a fourth embodiment of the Sitzverstellelementes.

7A, 7B show two views of the Sitzverstellelementes of FIG. 3 with a multi-part construction.

In Figure 1, the base of a motor vehicle seat is shown. The seat substructure comprises two pairs along a seat longitudinal direction x extending and transversely spaced therefrom guide rails 101, 102. Here, the one guide rail 101 of each pair of guide rails forms a bottom rail (lower rail), which is set on the vehicle floor of a motor vehicle; and the other rail 102 of a respective rail pair forms a seat-side guide rail (upper rail), which carries the associated motor vehicle seat. The seat-side guide rail 102 of the respective pair of rails is longitudinally movably guided on the associated bottom guide rail 101, so that in a known manner by moving the seat-side guide rails 102 with respect to the bottom guide rail 101 along the seat longitudinal direction x the so-called Seat longitudinal position of the seat frame and thus the corresponding motor vehicle seat can be adjusted.

Of the means of the guide rails 101, 102 longitudinally adjustable seat frame is shown in Figure 1, only the so-called seat base shown comprising a seat pan 105 for receiving a seat cushion and both sides of the seat pan 105 arranged side seat portions 103, 104. The seat pan together with a seat cushion to be arranged thereon, a seat for a seat occupant. In order to increase the stability, the two seat side parts 103, 104 are connected to one another via a transverse tube 106, which is in each case pivotally mounted with its two end sections in one of the seat side parts 103, 104.

To adjust the seat height and / or inclination (ie the position / position of the seat base or the seat pan 105 along the vertical vehicle axis z), it is known to connect the seat underframe via pivotally mounted adjusting lever with the seat-side guide rails 102. Regularly at the front and rear ends of a respective seat-side guide rail 102 each such adjusting lever is provided, on the one hand with the guide rail 102 and on the other hand with the seat base, z. B. one of the side parts 103, 104 (indirectly via the cross tube 106), is hingedly connected. For articulated or pivotable articulation of the adjusting lever on the guide rails 102 there may be provided corresponding bearing elements 107 (bearing blocks or lugs), of which two are visible in FIG. Such seat height adjustments are widely described and are widely used in the automotive industry, so that can be dispensed with the presentation of further details here.

To bring about a Sitzhöhen- or seat inclination adjustment, at least one of the adjustment lever is connected to an adjustment drive, so that the corresponding adjustment lever is pivoted by the action of a corresponding adjustment, generated by a drive motor or manually by acting on a corresponding operating lever, the other, not be moved directly driven adjusting lever and overall the desired adjustment of the seat height is achieved. Such an adjusting device 108 recognizable in FIG. 1 is shown in greater detail in the detail according to FIG. The adjustment device 108 comprises a seat adjustment element 1, which in the exemplary embodiment is designed as an adjustment lever and cooperates with an adjustment drive. The adjustment element is pivotably mounted on a bearing-side rail 102 via a first bearing point 14 on the seat-side rail 102. Furthermore, it is rotationally fixed (in the form of a fastening opening) on the cross tube 106 and thus - because of the pivotal mounting of the cross tube 106 in the seat side parts 103, 104 - ultimately pivotally coupled to the seat side parts 103, 104. By pivoting of the Sitzverstellelementes 1 along an adjustment plane xz (which is spanned by the seat longitudinal direction x and the vertical axis z), the position of the seat frame 103, 104, 105, 106 along the vertical vehicle axis z with respect to the associated guide rails 101, 102 adjust, as above already explained with reference to Figure 1. The seat adjustment element 1 in this case additionally has a franking 18, which is penetrated to improve the crash resistance of a seat base side securing element 108 (mushroom head bolt).

In order to actively drive the Sitzverstellelement 1 for the stated purpose, this has a toothing 12, via which an adjusting force in the Sitzverstellelement 1 can be initiated.

To initiate an adjusting force in the Sitzverstellelement 1 via the teeth 12 is a Versteilantrieb, of which here on the output side provided drive element 2 is shown, which cooperates via a toothing 22 with the teeth 12 of the Sitzverstellelementes 1 to this - depending on the actuation direction of the Drive - to pivot along one or the other direction and thereby make a desired adjustment of the seat height or inclination. For actuating the drive element 2, here in the form of a gear, a drive motor or a manually operable drive such. B. be provided a drive lever. It is only important that the drive is suitable for actuating the drive element 2 (in the form of a toothed wheel) so that it acts on the latter via its toothing 22 and the toothing 12 of the seat adjustment element 1 and pivots it.

Such an embodiment of an adjusting device 108 for a motor vehicle seat with a seat adjustment element 1 and an associated (motor or manually operable) drive element 2 is also already known. The special here lies in the configuration of the seat adjustment element 1 itself. On the one hand, this must have sufficient strength to be able to absorb and transmit the forces occurring in the adjustment operation, in particular even if the associated vehicle seat is occupied by an occupant. Furthermore, the seat adjustment element 1 should remain in engagement with the associated drive element 2 via the toothings 12, 22 in a crash as well. On the other hand, it is desirable if crash energy generated in a crash case can be at least partially reduced by targeted deformation of the Sitzverstellelementes 1. For this purpose, suitable embodiments of the Sitzverstellelementes 1 will be described below with reference to Figures 3 to 6 and 7A and 7B.

FIG. 3 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the seat adjustment element 1 from FIGS. 1 and 2. Thereafter, this comprises a basic body 10 in which the two bearing points 14, 16 (in the form of a bearing opening 14 and a fastening opening 16) are formed, as well as a further example here Clearance 18. The base body 10 and thus in particular a region 1 1 between the two bearing points 14, 16 consists of a material which can be deformed in a crash case, thereby reducing crash energy. In particular, structural steels and micro-alloyed fine steels are suitable as materials for this purpose. In contrast, the teeth 12 of the Sitzverstellelementes 1 consists of a relatively stronger material, such as temper or hardened steel. Hereby, the large adjusting forces can be absorbed and forwarded, which can act on the toothing 12 during operation of the seat adjusting device 108, as explained with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 shows a further development of the seat adjustment element 1 from FIG. 3, according to which, in addition to the toothing 12, an edge section 13 of the seat adjustment element 1 adjoining the toothing also consists of the first, comparatively stronger material.

Furthermore, it is clear from the perspective illustration according to FIG. 4 that both the toothing 12 (together with the adjoining edge section 13) and the base body 10 of the seat adjustment element 1 each extend over their entire thickness d1 or d2 from the first, more rigid or second, less solid (more easily deformable) material. It can also be seen from FIG. 4 that the seat adjustment element 1 on the toothing 12 has a greater thickness d1 than in the base body 10 with the smaller thickness d2. Also, by a different thickness of the toothing 12 on the one hand and the base body 10 on the other hand, in particular of the area 1 1 between the two bearing points 14, 16, it can be achieved that the seat adjustment element 1 in the toothing 12 has a greater strength than in the main body 10, in particular in the range 1 1 between the two bearing points 14, 16.

In FIG. 4, weld seams N can also be recognized on the edge of the main body 10, which adjoins the toothing 12, via which a component forming the main body 10 is connected to the further component forming the toothing 12.

According to the further embodiment of the seat adjustment element 1 from FIGS. 3 and 4 shown in FIG. 5, a region 15 of the seat adjustment element 1 consists of the comparatively stronger, first material in which a bearing 14 (in the form of a bearing opening) of the seat adjustment element 1 is formed.

In general, in addition to the toothing 12, any further regions of the seat adjustment element 1 may consist of the comparatively stronger, first material. It is important that beyond an area 1 1 of Sitzverstellelementes 1 is present, which consists of the other, relatively less solid and thus easily deformable second material, in particular a range 1 1 between the two bearing points 14, 16. The areas of Sitzverstellelementes 1, which consist of different materials, ie the teeth 12 and optionally adjacent thereto areas 13, 15 on the one hand and the body 10 on the other hand, in particular the area 1 1 between the two bearings 14, 16, (two) formed separate separate components which are connected to create the Sitzverstellelements 1 in a suitable manner, as example has already been explained with reference to FIG 4. That is, a first component forms the regions 12 (and possibly 13, 15) of the Sitzverstellelementes 1, which consist of the first, relatively stronger material, and a further component forms the regions 10 (in particular the intermediate region 1 1) of Sitzverstellelementes 1, which consist of the relatively less solid and therefore more deformable in a crash case material. The connection between the components to create a uniform Sitzverstellelementes example, cohesively, in particular by Welding done. As a welding process, both classic inert gas welding and laser welding are considered. Thus, the embodiments of a Sitzverstellelementes shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 may be prepared, for example, that a first, the teeth 12 and optionally adjacent thereto areas 13, 15 of a first, solid material forming component and a second base body 10th , In particular, the intermediate region 1 1, forming component of a relatively less strong second material with their edges set to form an I-shock together and then welded.

The same applies to the embodiment of a Sitzverstellelementes 1 shown in Figure 6, which differs from that shown in Figure 5 in that the interface between the existing of the first firmer material areas 12, 13, 15 and the existing of a relatively less solid material Main body 10, which contains in particular the intermediate region 1 1, is rectilinear. As a result, the juxtaposition of the corresponding components, which consist of the first or second material, to form an I-shock and their subsequent connection by welding, in particular laser welding, simplified.

The seat adjustment element 1 shown in FIG. 6 can be manufactured according to the so-called Taylored blanks method. In this case, first of all, a board consisting partly of the first and partly of the second material (in particular of two different types of steels) is provided, the areas of the first and second materials abutting one another along a (straight-line) interface and being welded there. From this we then punched out the seat adjustment 1.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show a further development of the seat adjustment element 1 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, in which the latter is composed of a total of three components which have been connected to form the seat adjustment element 1. A first component is formed by the toothing 12, which consists of a first, relatively solid material. A second component is formed by the main body 10 of the Sitzverstellelementes 1 and in particular comprises a region 1 1 between the two bearing points 14, 16 of the Sitzverstellelementes. This second component consists of a less solid material compared to the first component. The main body 10 of the Sitzverstellelementes 1 forming the second component also has a smaller material thickness d2 than the first component with the material thickness d1.

The first component forming the toothing 12 and the second component forming the base body 10 of the seat adjustment element 1 can be put together to form an I-joint and can be applied via weld seams 3 (fillet welds), e.g. by MAG welding, be connected to each other. Between these two components of the Sitzverstellelementes 1 also a franking 18 is formed, via which the Sitzverstellelement 1 can be additionally engaged behind to improve the crash resistance by means of a bolt, as described with reference to FIG 2.

In the present case, the base body 10 comprises only one (executed in the embodiment for a rotationally fixed fixing as a fastening opening) bearing point 16 of two bearing points 14, 16 of the Sitzverstellelementes. 1 The other bearing 14 is presently integrated into a material region 15, which forms an independent third component of the Sitzverstellelementes 1. This is e.g. created in the manner of a lap joint to the body 10 of the Sitzverstellelementes 1 and connected to the lap joint on more welds 4 (fillet welds) with this. The bearing member 14 containing additional component in this case has a greater thickness d3 than the main body 10 of the adjusting element 1 with the thickness d2. As a result, a greater stability of the Sitzverstellelementes in the region of that bearing 14 is achieved. Depending on the stability requirements, the material (and the thickness) of that further, third component of Sitzverstellelementes 1 can be chosen freely. Thus, about the same material can be used for this as for the main body 10 or another material.

Claims

claims

1. seat adjustment device for adjusting the position of an assembly (103, 104, 105, 106) of a motor vehicle seat with respect to another seat assembly (102), with at least one Sitzverstellelement (1) through which the two seat assemblies (102, 103, 104, 105, 106) are coupled together, and a toothing (12) of the Sitzverstellelementes (1), via which the Sitzverstellelement (1) with a counter toothing (22) of another adjustment part (2) cooperates to adjust the position of a seat assembly (103, 104, 105, 106), characterized in that the toothing (12) of the Sitzverstellelementes (1) consists of a first material which has a greater strength than a second material from which a

Region (1 1) of the Sitzverstellelementes (1) away from the toothing (12).

Seat adjusting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the toothing (12) of the Sitzverstellelementes (1) over the entire thickness (d1) of the toothing (12) consists of the first material and that the region (1 1) away from the toothing (12) over its entire thickness (d2) consists of the second material.

Seat adjusting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in addition to the toothing (12) at least one further region (13, 15) of the Sitzverstellelementes (1) consists of the first material with greater strength.

4. Seat adjustment device according to claim 3, characterized in that the toothing (12) and the at least one further of the first material existing area (13, 15) form a uniform, contiguous material area.

Seat adjusting device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that an edge portion (13) of the Sitzverstellelementes (1) consists of the first material with greater strength.

Seat adjusting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Sitzverstellelement (1) has at least one bearing point (14), via which it is pivotable on one of the modules to be adjusted (102).

Seat adjustment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Sitzverstellelement (1) at least one bearing point (16) via which it is rotationally fixed to a component (105) of the components to be adjusted (103, 104, 105, 106) is set.

Seat adjustment device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the Sitzverstellelement (1) is fixedly placed on one of the assemblies to be adjusted (102).

Seat adjusting device according to one of claims 3 to 5 and claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a region (15) of the Sitzverstellelementes (1), which comprises a bearing point (14, 16), consists of the first material with greater strength.

Seat adjustment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Sitzverstellelement (1) on the toothing (12) has a different thickness (d1) than in a region (1 1) away from the toothing (12). Seat adjusting device according to claim 10, characterized in that the Sitzverstellelement (1) in the toothing (12) has a thickness (d1) which is larger is as the thickness (d2) of the Sitzverstellelementes (1) in the area (1 1) away from the toothing (12).

Seat adjusting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Sitzverstellelement (1) has more than two areas, which differ from each other in terms of their material and / or in terms of their thickness (d1, d2, d3).

Seat adjusting device according to claim 6 or 7 and claim 12, characterized in that the Sitzverstellelement (1) at least one bearing point (14) with respect to the material and / or in terms of the thickness (d3) of both the toothing (12) and of the Region (1 1) apart from the toothing (12).

Seat adjusting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Sitzverstellelement (1) consists of a plurality of components which are interconnected to form the Sitzverstellelementes (1).

Seat adjusting device according to claim 14, characterized in that regions of the seat adjustment element (1), which consist of different material, are formed by different, interconnected components.

Seat adjusting device according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the components from which the Sitzverstellelement (1) is formed, are materially interconnected.

Seat adjusting device according to claim 16, characterized in that the components are joined together by welding.

18. seat adjustment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that as the first material of greater strength an insert or a tempering steel is provided.

19. Seat adjustment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a mild steel or a micro-alloyed fine steel is provided as a second material of lesser strength.

Seat adjusting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Sitzverstellelement (1) is a stamped part, punched out of a board comprising a first material region of the material of greater strength and, adjacent thereto, a second material region of the material of lesser strength.

Seat adjustment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is in the further adjustment part (2) of the seat adjustment, which cooperates via a counter-toothing (22) with the toothing (12) of the Sitzverstellelementes (1), is a drive element, via which the seat adjustment member (1) is operable to move along the adjustment plane (xz).

Seat adjustment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Sitzverstellelement (1) is pivoted when used according to an adjustment along (xz) and transverse to that Verstellbene (xz) at each point a certain thickness (d1, d2, d3).

23. Seat adjustment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Sitzverstellelement (1) has two spaced bearing points (14, 16).

24. Seat adjustment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Sitzverstellelement (1) is designed as an adjusting lever.

25. Seat adjustment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Sitzverstellelement (1) for adjusting the height and / or inclination of a seat frame (103, 104, 105, 106) is formed and provided. Seat adjusting device according to claim 23 and 25, characterized in that the Sitzverstellelement (1) via its bearing points (14, 16) intended to connect on the one hand with a guide rail (102) of a motor vehicle seat and on the other hand with the seat base (103, 104, 105, 106) is.