MXPA01009574A - A manual adjustment mechanism for a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

A manual adjustment mechanism (10) for adjusting the relative position of a component in a vehicle includes a control device for actuating the mechanism. The manual adjustment mechanism (10) includes an input shaft (12) coupled to the control device and an output shaft (14) operatively coupled to the input shaft (12). A support bracket axially supports the input shaft and the output shaft (14). A drum shaped housing having a cylindrical inner surface is fixedly secured to the support bracket and rotatably receives the input shaft. A coupler is mounted to the input shaft and rotatably disposed within the housing. The coupler includes a pair of spaced apart tube wall planar with and spaced from the inner surface of the housing and a pair of circumferentially opposite tabs projecting between the tube walls. A coiled spring (32) is disposed between the housing and the coupler and compressed against the inner surface of the housing. The coiled spring (32) includes axially and laterally spaced distal end projecting radially between the tube walls of the coupler. The manual adjustment mechanism (10) also includes a cam driver coupled to the output shaft (14). The cam driver includes a pair of circumferentially spaced apart wedge drivers seated between the respective pair of tube walls (64) and capturing the distal ends of the coiled spring between the wedge drivers and the tube walls (64).

Description

A MANUAL ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM FOR A VEHICLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a manual adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of various components in a vehicle. 2. Description of the Prior Art Manual adjustment mechanisms are widely used in automotive vehicles to adjust the position of a variety of components such as reclining seat backrests, articulated seat cushions, head restraints, seat glide guides, window panes , and similar. Many of the adjustment mechanisms commonly comprise a ratchet wheel, or transmitting gear, operatively connected to a ratchet, or toothed sector, to selectively adjust the position of the component connected to the ratchet. This adjustment mechanism, however, has a limited range of adjustability and positioning as imposed by the range of motion between the transmitting gear and the toothed sector. Other manual adjustment mechanisms include a cylindrical drum coupled to the component for positioning the component in response to the infinitely adjustable rotation of the drum. A spring is generally wound around the drum to apply a circumferential friction force on the outer cylindrical surface of the drum to prevent rotation of the latter when the adjustment mechanism is in an unactuated position. A control device is commonly connected to the spiral spring to release the spiral spring of the drum to allow rotation of the drum, and therefore, the positioning of the component. An example of a coiled spring and drum adjusting mechanism is illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 5,163,736. The '736 patent describes an adjustment mechanism for controlling the inclined position of a seat backrest relative to a seat cushion for an automotive seat mounting. A cylindrical drum is rotatably engaged between the seat cushion and the seat back to provide the rotational movement of the seat back. A spring is wound around the cylindrical drum and includes a first free end coupled to the seat cushion and a second free end coupled to a control arm. The control arm engages with the second free end to the spiral, or compresses, the spring around the drum creates a frictional force therebetween to prevent the rotational movement of the seat backrest. The control arm also unwinds, or releases compression of the spiral spring around the drum to allow rotation of the drum and the seat back between a plurality of inclined positions. However, the adjustment mechanism needs to include a securing device coupled between the drum and the spring to compress the spring around the drum in response to the incidental rotation of the seat backrest relative to the seat cushion. That is, the incidental loading forces on the backrest of the seat can result in the "backing pulse" of the drum due to the expiration of the friction forces between the spring and the drum. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a manual adjustment mechanism for adjusting the relative position of the component while preventing impulse of the incidental backing of the component against the adjustment mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention relates to a manual adjustment mechanism for adjusting a relative position of a component with a vehicle. The mechanism comprises a bracket or support bracket, a rotatable input shaft supported by the bracket or support bracket to provide a rotary input for adjusting the component, and an output shaft operatively coupled to the input shaft and Can rotate supported by support bracket to provide the rotary output to adjust the component and to receive the rotary input of the component. The mechanism further includes a housing securely secured to the support structure and having a tubular inner surface. A coupler is placed inside the housing and operatively coupled between the input shaft and the output shaft to transfer the rotary input of the input shaft to the rotary output of the output shaft. The coupler has a pair of tube walls spaced at a distance. The mechanism also includes a coiled spring seated between the housing and the coupler and compresses against the inner surface of the housing. The spiral spring has at least one distal tangential end positioned between the walls of the tube. A control device is mounted on the input shaft for rotation of the coupler in engagement with the distal end of the coiled spring to release the spring from the inner surface and transfer the rotary input from the input shaft to the rotary outlet in the Output shaft. The mechanism additionally includes a rotatable camshaft impeller positioned within the coupler to engage the distal end of the coiled spring in response to the rotational entry of the output shaft to compress the coiled spring against the inner surface of the housing and prevent rotation additional output shaft and input shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated when it becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a top view schematic of a manual adjustment mechanism according to the object of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the manual adjustment mechanism; Figure 3 is a rear perspective view of the manual adjustment mechanism mounted to a bracket or support bracket and coupled with a toothed sector; Figure 4 is a partially schematic perspective view of the manual mechanism adjustment; Figure 5 is a partially schematic, perspective view of the manual adjustment mechanism in an actuated position; Figure 6 is a partially schematic perspective view of the manual adjustment mechanism in a locked or secured position; Figure 7 is a partially schematic, perspective view of the manual adjustment mechanism in a non-actuated position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODE Referring to the Figures, where similar numbers indicate corresponding or equal parts in all the various views, a manual adjustment mechanism is generally shown at 10. The manual adjustment mechanism 10 is used to drive, control and / or moving one or more components within an automotive vehicle. For example, the manual adjustment mechanism 10 can be used to adjust the long-to-long position of a vehicle seat assembly, the reclining movement of a seat backrest relative to a seat cushion for a vehicle seat mounting , or adjustment of the lumbar or lateral support of a seat assembly, articulation of the seat cushion, articulation and adjustment of the headrest, or the like. The manual adjustment mechanism 10 can also be used to manually drive a window pane that is movably mounted within a side panel or door panel of a vehicle. The adjustment of such components will be described and illustrated further below. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the manual adjustment mechanism 10 is shown in the schematic views. The manual adjustment mechanism 10 includes an input shaft 12 and output shaft 14 that extend along a longitudinal axis A. The input shaft 12 includes an elongated cylindrical shaft extending between a first end 16 and a second opposite end 18. The output shaft 14 similarly includes an elongated cylindrical shaft extending between a first end 20 and a second opposite end 22. The first end 20 of the output shaft 14 includes a bore or inner diameter 24 of center internal to receive the first end 16 of the input shaft 12. The first end 20 of the output shaft 14 additionally includes a plurality of outer channels 26 extending longitudinally from the first end 20 towards the second end 22. The second end 22 of the output shaft 14 includes a plurality of outer gear teeth 28. The output shaft 14 is rotatably hinged to a bracket or support bracket 30 between the first end 20 and the end second end 22. A coiled spring 32 is positioned around the output shaft 14 between the first end 20 and the bracket or support bracket 30 and is compressible therebetween as will be described further. The manual adjustment mechanism 10 further includes in a general manner the tubular shaped coupler 34 coupled to the input shaft 12 between the first end 16 and the second end 18. More specifically, as best shown in Figure 5, the coupler 34 includes a circular base plate 36 having a central through hole 38 for receiving the input shaft 12 therethrough. The base plate 36 can be fixedly or removably secured to the input shaft 12 between the first end 16 and the second end 18 by a lock or keyhole, welding or any suitable coupling means. The coupler 34 further includes a pair of opposed, spaced-apart tube walls 40, 42 extending axially from the base plate 36 towards the first end 16 of the input shaft 12 to the distal ends 41. The walls 40, 42 of the tube define U-shaped openings or slots 44 therebetween, spaced around the opposite circumferential sides of the base plate 36. The coupler 34 further includes a pair of V-shaped tabs 46, 48 which they project outwardly, or tangentially, from the opposite circumferential sides of the base plate 36. More specifically, one of the tabs 46, 48 projects outward from the circumferential edge of the base plate 36 equidistant between each of the walls 40, 42 of the tube, opposite, and centered in the openings 44. The manual adjustment mechanism 10 also includes a bell-shaped housing, or cap or cap, 50 extending between a first end 52 and a second end 54. The first end 52 is defined by a circular end cap 56 having an inner diameter 58 circular therethrough as best shown in Figure 5. The second end 54 is defined by a cylindrical flange. co 60 having a plurality of nozzles 62 therein. The housing 50 is fixedly secured to the bracket or support bracket 30 by connecting the fasteners, tubular rivets of special shape, or the like through the nozzles 62 and the bracket or support bracket 30. The housing 50 further includes a wall 64 of the cylindrical tube extending between the cap 56 and the rim 60. Referring to Figure 4, the wall 64 of the tube has a wall surface 66 of the inner tube. The coupler 34 is received at the second opposite end 54 of the housing 50 and is encapsulated by the wall 64 of the tube. The second end 18 of the input shaft 12 is received rotatably within the circular inner diameter 58 and extends axially from the first end 52, as best shown in Figure 3. Still referring to Figures 1 and 2, the mechanism of manual adjustment 10 additionally includes an internal spiral spring 70 positioned between the coupler 34 and the surface 66 of the inner tube wall of the housing 50. The inner spiral spring 70 has a first end 72 seated adjacent the first end 52 of the housing 50 and a second opposite end 74 seated adjacent the second end 54 of the housing 50. The inner spiral spring 70 further includes spaced apart the first and second distant ends 76, 78 which extend inward tangentially from the spiral spring. 70 towards the coupler 34. More specifically, the inner spiral spring 70 is preloaded and compressed against the wall surface 66 of the tube i nternal and spaced slightly from walls 40, 42 of coupler tube 34. Distant ends 76, 78 extend inwardly from spiral spring 70 and project into one of slots 44 between tube walls 40, 42 spaced at a distance, as shown in Figures 5-7. Referring specifically to Figure 5, the distal end 76 projects into the slot 44 adjacent the tube wall 40 and the base plate 36. The distal end 78 projects into the slot 44 adjacent the wall 42 of the opposite tube and the distal end 41. Therefore, the distal ends 76, 78 of the inner coil spring 70 are spaced apart laterally as well as axially between the tube walls 40, 42. Still further, the manual adjustment mechanism 10 includes a cam driver 80 coupled to the first end 20 of the output shaft 14. The cam driver 80 includes a cylindrical, hollow base 82 that extends axially from a first end 84 to a second end 86. The inner surface of the hollow base 82 includes a plurality of elongated notches 88 extending to the second end 86 for the sliding of the coupling engaged with the outer channels 26 on the output shaft 14. In other words, the cam driver 80 is able to slide axially along the longitudinal length of the first end 20 of the output shaft 14 which is still engaged and locked from the rotational movement about the axis 14. A pair of wedge drivers 90, 92 opposed axially extended from the outer surface of the base 82 and projected from the first end 84. The wedge drivers 90, 92 are placed on the opposite sides circumferentially of the base 82. Each wedge driver 90, 92 includes edges 94, 96 parallel laterals, interconnected by a V-shaped notch 98. Referring to Figure 2, each wedge driver 90, 92 also includes a top slope surface 100 between the side edge 94 and the tip of the notch 98 and a surface 102 of lower slope between the side edge 96 and the base 82. The cam driver 80 is seated between the walls 40, 42 of the coupler tube 34 and further enclosed by the housing 50. C As shown in Figure 5, the cam driver 80 is positioned so that the tabs 46, 48 are seated within the V-shaped notches 98 of the respective opposing wedge drivers 90, 92 for engagement with these as will be described further.

Referring to Figure 3, the manual adjustment mechanism 10 is assembled between the housing 50 and the bracket or support bracket 30. The gear teeth 28 at the second end 22 of the output shaft 14 are arranged for coupling coincident with a toothed rack 104 adjacent to the support bracket 30. Therefore, rotation of the output shaft 14 will translate the toothed rack 104 either rotatably about a pivot or pivot center 106, as shown, or linearly. It should be appreciated that the second end 22 of the output shaft 14 can be coupled to any device or component for rotational movement along the output shaft 14. Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, the manual adjustment mechanism 10 also includes a control device 110 for actuating and rotating the input shaft 12 both in the clockwise direction and in the counterclockwise direction. The control device 110 includes a cylindrical drum 112, hollow to fit or enclose the housing 50. The drum 112 is fixedly secured to the second end 18 of the input shaft 12. An external spiral spring 114 is tensioned around the outer cylindrical surface of the drum 112. The outer coil spring 114 includes opposed distal or distal ends 116, 118 that extend tangentially from the spiral spring 114. The first and second return plates 120, 122 are rotatably coupled to the end of the housing 50 for coupling the respective distant ends 116, 118 of the spiral spring 114. A return spring 124 is also coupled to the end of the housing and operatively coupled to each of the return plates 120, 122 biasing the plates 120. , 122 in relation to each other. Drum 112 and spiral spring 114 are covered by a tubular guard cover 126 which includes a window 128 for receiving and allowing movement of return plates 120, 122 therebetween. Finally, a drive handle 130 is coupled to the second end 18 of the input shaft 12 and operatively coupled between the ends 116, 118 distant from the coil spring 114 to rotate the drum 112 both in the clockwise direction of the hands. clock as counterclockwise. The rotation of the drum 112 forces the rotation of the input shaft 12 and the actuation of the manual adjustment mechanism 10 as will be described further below. Additionally, the description and operation of the control device 110 is fully described in the co-pending PCT application of the serial applicant no. CA99 / 00962, filed on October 13, 1999, which is incorporated herein as a reference. Referring now to Figures 4-7, the operation of the manual adjustment mechanism 10 will be described further. First, the manual adjustment mechanism 10 is shown in a non-driven position in Figures 4 and 5. The housing 50 is shown schematically, and therefore, displaced from the inner spiral spring cover 70, to the coupler 34 and the impeller of cams 80. In the non-driven position, the inner coil spring 70 is compressed against the inner surface 66 of the housing 50. The coupler 34 is seated within the housing 50 so that the distal ends 76, 78 of the coiled spring 70 they are positioned within one of the slots 44 between the walls 40, 42 of the coupler tube 34 and on opposite sides of the associated tabs 46, 48. The cam driver 10 is seated within the coupler 34 so that the wedge drivers 90, 92 are positioned within the respective slots 44 between the walls 40, 42 of the coupler tube 34. Additionally, the tabs 46, 48 are seated within the V-shaped notches 98 of the respective wedge drivers 90, 92. As shown best in Figure 5, the distal end 76 of the spiral spring 70 is positioned between the tube wall 40 and the side edge 94 of the wedge driver 90, 92 and the distal end 78 is positioned between the tube wall 42 and the lateral edge 96 of the impeller of wedge 90, 92. A gap or opening is created between the walls 40, 42 of the tube and the adjacent side edges 94, 96 of the associated wedge driver 90, 92 to allow movement of the distal or distal ends 76, 78 this. In the non-driven position, the input shaft 12, and therefore the output shaft 14, are prevented from rotating in either the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction . That is, the distal ends 76, 78 of the spiral spring 70 buttress with the tube walls 40, 42 and the wedge drivers 90, 92. Since the spiral spring 70 is compressed and frictionally retained against the inner surface 66 of the housing 50, the distal ends 76, 78 prevent the coupler 34 and the cam driver 80 from being free to rotate within the housing 50. Therefore, the compression, or friction, between the coil spring 70 and the housing 50 must be reduced so that for the input shaft 12 the coupler 34 rotates and the cam pulse 80 rotates the output shaft 14. Referring to Figure 5 again, to operate the manual adjustment mechanism 10 the handle 130 is turn either clockwise or counterclockwise. The control device 110 drives the input shaft 12 to rotate in the clockwise direction or in the counterclockwise equivalent direction. For the purposes illustrated only, the drive will be described with the handle 130 and thus the input shaft 12 rotates in the counterclockwise direction as shown. The input shaft 12 is coupled to the coupler 34 to force the coupler 34 to also rotate in the same direction. When the coupler 34 rotates, the tab 46 cam-rises the sloping surface of the V-shaped notch 88 in the wedge driver 92 against the compression force of the coil spring 32. The distal end 76 of the spiral spring 70 also it is camped along the upper slope surface 100 in the wedge driver 92 while the distal end 78 is camped along the lower slope surface 102 in the wedge driver 92. The coupler 34 will therefore continue to rotate until the wall 40 of the tube engages the distal end 76 of the spiral spring 70 and catches the distal end 76 between the wall 40 of the tube and the slope surface 100. The other distal end 78 engages the side edge 96 of the wedge driver. 92 to retain the distal end 78 against it. As the coupler 34 continues to rotate, the distal end 76 of the spiral spring 70 is stretched to wind the spiral spring 70, or to tighten the spiral spring 70. The winding of the spiral spring 70 reduces its outer diameter to thereby reduce its compression or friction against the inner surface 66 of the housing 50. The spiral spring 70 is now free to rotate with the coupler 34 inside the housing 50. The wedge driver 92 of the cam driver 80 is captured between the distal ends 76, 78 of the spiral spring 70 and thus is forced to rotate with the coupler 34. Since the cam driver 80 is rotatably coupled to the output shaft 14, the output shaft 14 rotates with the housing 50 and the shaft entrance 12 drives or drives the toothed rack 104 or other component. When the handle 130 is returned to its initial position by the control device 110, the manual adjustment mechanism 10 returns to its non-driven position to prevent additional rotation of the input and output shafts 12, 14. The manual adjustment mechanism 10 operates in the same, but in the opposite direction, when the handle 130 is rotated in the clockwise direction. Finally, the manual adjustment mechanism 10 is also operable from the non-driven position to a locked position to prevent incidental rotation, or operation of the backrest, of the output shaft 14 by movement of the toothed sector 104 or other component in any direction. Referring to Figure 6, when a rotational force in the clockwise direction, for example, is exerted on the output shaft 14, the output shaft 14 pushes the cam driver 80 to rotate slightly. The tab 46 is carried along the inclined surface of the V-shaped notch 98 against the biasing force or deflection of the compression spring 32 to the position shown in Figure 6. The distal end 78 of the spiral spring 70 simultaneously it is camped along the lower slope surface 1Q2 until it engages with the lateral edge 96 of the wedge driver 92. The wedge driver 92 and the cam driver 80 are pressed on the distal end 78 to unwind, or expanding, the spiral spring 70 against the inner surface 66 of the housing 50. The increased frictional resistance between the spiral spring 70 and the housing 50 prevents further rotation of the cam driver 80, and therefore, of the coupler 34 within of the housing 50. With the cam driver 80 and the coupler 34 blocked or secured by the spring 70, the input shaft 12 and the output shaft 14 are prevented from rotating by the drive of the respald or the output shaft 14. The manual adjustment mechanism 10 operates in the same, but opposite direction, until the counterclockwise rotation of the output shaft 14. The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it will be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is proposed to be in the nature of the words of the description rather than the limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention can be practiced differently from how it was specifically described.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention, having described the invention as above, it is claimed as property what is contained in the following.

Claims (10)

1. CLAIMS 1. A manual adjustment mechanism for adjusting a relative position of a component with a vehicle, the mechanism is characterized in that it comprises: a bracket or support bracket; an input shaft rotatably supported by the bracket or support bracket to provide the rotatable input for adjusting the component; an output shaft operatively coupled to the input shaft and rotatably supported by the support bracket to provide the rotatable output to adjust the component and to receive the rotatable input of the component; a housing secured to the support bracket, the housing has a tubular internal surface; a coupler positioned within the housing and operatively coupled between the input shaft and the output shaft to transfer the rotatable input of the input shaft to the rotary output of the output shaft, the coupler has a pair of tube walls spaced apart; a spiral spring seated between the housing and the coupler and compressed against the inner surface of the housing, the spiral spring has at least one distal or distal, tangential end positioned between the walls of the tube; a control device mounted on the input shaft to rotate the coupler in engagement with the distal end of the coiled spring to release the spring from the inner surface and transfer the rotatable input from the input shaft to the rotary output on the output shaft; and a cam driver rotatably positioned within the coupler to engage the distal end of the coil spring in response to the rotatable entry of the output shaft to compress the coil spring against the inner surface of the housing and prevent rotation of the shaft. output and the input axis.
2. 2. A manual adjustment mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that the cam driver includes a wedge driver seated between the tube walls spaced apart for rotational movement therebetween.
3. A manual adjustment mechanism as described in claim 2, characterized in that the wedge driver includes at least one side edge for coupling the distal end of the coil spring between the wedge driver and one of the walls of the tube.
4. 4. A manual adjustment mechanism as described in claim 3, characterized in that the wedge driver includes opposite lateral edges and the spiral spring includes a pair of distal or distal ends extending between the walls of the tube adjacent to the legs. opposite side edges of the wedge driver for coupling with it in the rotation of the output shaft, in a clockwise and counterclockwise direction.
5. 5. A manual adjustment mechanism as described in claim 4, characterized in that the wedge driver includes a V-shaped notch interconnecting the opposite side edges.
6. 6. A manual adjustment mechanism as described in claim 5, characterized in that the coupler includes a tongue projecting between the walls of the tube spaced apart and seated within the V-shaped groove.
7. 7. A mechanism for manual adjustment as described in claim 6, characterized in that it further includes a biasing element of the compressed spring between the bracket or support bracket and the cam driver to retain the tongue within the V-shaped groove.
8. 8. A manual adjustment mechanism as described in claim 7, characterized in that the cam driver includes a cylindrical base coupled to the output shaft and the wedge driver extends from the base.
9. A manual adjustment mechanism as described in claim 8, characterized in that the wedge driver includes a top slope surface extending between one of the side edges and the V-shaped notch and a lower slope surface which extends between the other side edges and the base.
10. 10. A manual adjustment mechanism as described in claim 9characterized in that the output shaft has a plurality of channels and the base of the cam driver includes a plurality of notches meshed with the channels to provide the sliding movement of the cam driver along the axis of the output shaft. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A manual adjustment mechanism (10) for adjusting the relative position of a component in a vehicle includes a control device for operating the mechanism. The manual adjustment mechanism (10) includes an input shaft (12) coupled to the control device and an output shaft (14) operatively coupled to the input shaft (12). A support bracket axially supports the input shaft and the output shaft (14). A drum-shaped housing having a cylindrical internal surface is fixedly secured to the bracket or support bracket and rotatably receives the input shaft. A coupler is mounted to the input shaft and is rotatably positioned within the housing. The coupler includes a pair of spaced-apart tube walls, flat with and spaced from the inner surface of the housing and a pair of circumferentially opposed tabs projecting between the walls of the tube. A coiled spring (32) is placed between the housing and the coupler and compressed against the inner surface of the • housing. The coiled spring (32) includes axially and laterally spaced apart distal ends projecting radially between the walls of the coupler tube. The manual adjustment mechanism (10) also includes a cam driver coupled to the output shaft (14). The cam driver includes a pair of wedge drives circumferentially spaced apart, seated between the respective pair of walls (64) of the tube and capturing the distal ends of the spiral spring between the wedge drives and the walls (64) of the tube.