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GB2179997A - Seat reclining mechanism - Google Patents

Seat reclining mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2179997A
GB2179997A GB08518031A GB8518031A GB2179997A GB 2179997 A GB2179997 A GB 2179997A GB 08518031 A GB08518031 A GB 08518031A GB 8518031 A GB8518031 A GB 8518031A GB 2179997 A GB2179997 A GB 2179997A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
gear
drive
seat
arms
arm
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08518031A
Other versions
GB8518031D0 (en
GB2179997B (en
Inventor
Neil Harrison
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AJC Johnson Controls Ltd
Original Assignee
IHW Engeneering Ltd
AJC Johnson Controls Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by IHW Engeneering Ltd, AJC Johnson Controls Ltd filed Critical IHW Engeneering Ltd
Priority to GB08518031A priority Critical patent/GB2179997B/en
Publication of GB8518031D0 publication Critical patent/GB8518031D0/en
Publication of GB2179997A publication Critical patent/GB2179997A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2179997B publication Critical patent/GB2179997B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/02—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable
    • B60N2/0224—Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
    • B60N2/02246—Electric motors therefor
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/02—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable
    • B60N2/0224—Non-manual adjustments, e.g. with electrical operation
    • B60N2/02246—Electric motors therefor
    • B60N2/02258—Electric motors therefor characterised by the mounting of the electric motor for adjusting the seat
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60N—SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60N2/00—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles
    • B60N2/02—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable
    • B60N2/22—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the back-rest being adjustable
    • B60N2/225—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the back-rest being adjustable by cycloidal or planetary mechanisms
    • B60N2/2251—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the back-rest being adjustable by cycloidal or planetary mechanisms with gears having orbital motion, e.g. sun and planet gears

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chairs For Special Purposes, Such As Reclining Chairs (AREA)

Abstract

A seat reclining mechanism comprises a first arm (1) for connection to a seat back and a second arm (2) for connection to a seat cushion, the arms being pivotally linked by a self-locking gear drive (3) having a drive shaft (4) rotation of which causes relative pivoting of the first and second arms, and an electric drive unit (5) for the gear drive, said unit comprising an electric motor (7) driving a planetary gear arrangement (10, 14, 15, 16) mounted around and in driving engagement with the drive shaft. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Seat reclining mechanism This invention relates to a seat reclining mechanism suitable, for example, for use with a motorvehicle seat.
Typical seat reclining mechanisms are disclosed in our Patent Specifications Nos. 1528357 and 1586 869. These mechanisms have arms connectableto the seat back or squab and the seat cushion, and linked by a planetary gear drive operable by a drive shaftcarrying a hand-wheel. Whilethe operation of the mechanisms disclosed is entirelysatisfactory, some users may find that manipulation ofthe handwheel located on the pivot axis of the seat is inconvenient.
The present invention provides a mechanism having an electric drive unit which permits adjustment of the inclination of the seat back by the operation of a conveniently placed switch.
Accordingly, the invention provides a seat reclining mechanism, comprising a firstarm forconnec- tion to a seat back and a second arm forconnectionto aseatcushion,the arms being pivotallylinkedbya self-locking gear drive having a drive shaft, rotation of which causes relative pivoting of the first and second arms, and an electric drive unitforthe gear drive, said unit comprising an electric motor driving a planetary gear arrangement mounted around and in driving engagementwiththedriveshaft.
Preferably, the electric motor drives the sun gear of the planetary gear arrangement which drives planetary gears in engagement with a fixed annulusgear, drive passing to the drive shaft via the cage, which is fixed thereto. The motor suitably drives the planetary gear arrangement via a worm gear, and limit switches may be provided to stop or reverse the motor at the limits of movement of the two arms.
Reference is made to the drawings, in which: Figure lisa partially cut-away side elevation of the mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure2 is an end elevation ofthe mechanism shown in Figure 1,withtheplanetarygeararrange- mentofthedriveunitsectionedon linex-x;and Figure 3 is a view similarto Figure 2 of a second embodiment according to the present invention.
The mechanism shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a first arm 1 which can be fixed to the frame of the seat back or squab and a second arm 2 which can be attached to the side frame of the seat cushion. The arms 1 and 2 are pivotally linked by a planetarygear drive 3 (Figure 2), which is not shown in detail, but which is suitably of the type disclosed in our Patent Specification No. 1 586869. The gear drive 3 has a drive shaft 4 of square section extending therefrom, which conventionally is used to mount a handwheel.
An electric drive unit5 is mounted on the first arm 1 and around the shaft 4 by means of a mounting bracket 6. The unit 5 comprises an electric motor7 attached to the bracket 6 driving, via a flexible shaft8 carrying aworm gear9,a planetarygeararrange mentwhich engages and turnstheshaft4.
The planetary gear arrangement includes a sun gear 10which rotates freely on a tubular shaft 11 whichsurroundsthedriveshaft4and is integrally formed with the casing 12 of the arrangement. A pinion gear 13 is integ rally formed with the sun gear 10 and so also rotates aboutthe shaft 11. The pinion gear 13 is engaged with and driven by the worm gear 9. The sun gear 10 engages three planet gears 14 freely rotatably mounted on stub-axles forming part of a gear carrier 15. The gear carrier has at its centre a squareaperturewhich engages the drive shaft 4 so that rotation of the carrier 15 turns the drive shaft 4.
The planet gears 14 engage a fixed annulus gear 16 on the inside of the casing 12. The carrier 15 is thereby rotationally mounted with respect to the annulus gear 16 by the planet gears 14which enables high rotational loadingsto be applied tothe carrier without deflecting it from its axis of rotation.
Rotation of the pinion gear 13 causes rotation of theplanetgears 14which arethusdriven aroundthe annulus 16,therebyturning the cage 15 to drive the gear drive 3 via the shaft 4, and so altering the relative angular positions ofthe arms 1 and 2. The overall reduction ratio of the gear arrangement is typically 180:1.
The mounting bracket 6 may suitably carry limit switches engaged by stops on the second arm 2 to cause the motor to stop or reverse at the limits of movement of the arms. The mounting bracket 6 aiso readily permits the electric drive unit to be installed on an existing seat with suitably, previously manually operated, reclining mechanism.
The above construction enables high speed low torque electric motors to be used which are generally of a compact size. Typically such motors operate at about 450 r.p.m.
A second embodiment is illustrated in Figure 3 wherein parts corresponding to those in the embodiment of Figure 1 have been designated by the same reference numerals.
In the second embodiment a facility is provided whereby the motor 7 may be controlled to move the arms 1,2 to predetermined positions.
Accordingly, an annular gear30 is provided which includes teeth 31 which mesh with an additional ring of teeth 32 formed on the planet gears 14.Thean- nular gear30 is provided with a carbon strip (notvisible) which co-operates with electrical contacts 34to thereby define a variable resistance.
The variable resistance in use forms part of an electrical control circuit (not shown) for the motor 7 and is used to operate the motor until a desired resist ance value is achieved. It will be appreciated thatthe contacts may be provided on the gear 30 and the carbon strip on the housing.
The gearing ratio between the planet gears 14 and gear 30 is chosen to move the gear30through a desired arc (typically 270 ) for a 90 sweep of the arms 1, 2.
1. A seat reclining mechanism, comprising a first arm for connection to a seat back and a second arm for connection to a seat cushion, the arms being
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Seat reclining mechanism This invention relates to a seat reclining mechanism suitable, for example, for use with a motorvehicle seat. Typical seat reclining mechanisms are disclosed in our Patent Specifications Nos. 1528357 and 1586 869. These mechanisms have arms connectableto the seat back or squab and the seat cushion, and linked by a planetary gear drive operable by a drive shaftcarrying a hand-wheel. Whilethe operation of the mechanisms disclosed is entirelysatisfactory, some users may find that manipulation ofthe handwheel located on the pivot axis of the seat is inconvenient. The present invention provides a mechanism having an electric drive unit which permits adjustment of the inclination of the seat back by the operation of a conveniently placed switch. Accordingly, the invention provides a seat reclining mechanism, comprising a firstarm forconnec- tion to a seat back and a second arm forconnectionto aseatcushion,the arms being pivotallylinkedbya self-locking gear drive having a drive shaft, rotation of which causes relative pivoting of the first and second arms, and an electric drive unitforthe gear drive, said unit comprising an electric motor driving a planetary gear arrangement mounted around and in driving engagementwiththedriveshaft. Preferably, the electric motor drives the sun gear of the planetary gear arrangement which drives planetary gears in engagement with a fixed annulusgear, drive passing to the drive shaft via the cage, which is fixed thereto. The motor suitably drives the planetary gear arrangement via a worm gear, and limit switches may be provided to stop or reverse the motor at the limits of movement of the two arms. Reference is made to the drawings, in which: Figure lisa partially cut-away side elevation of the mechanism according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure2 is an end elevation ofthe mechanism shown in Figure 1,withtheplanetarygeararrange- mentofthedriveunitsectionedon linex-x;and Figure 3 is a view similarto Figure 2 of a second embodiment according to the present invention. The mechanism shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a first arm 1 which can be fixed to the frame of the seat back or squab and a second arm 2 which can be attached to the side frame of the seat cushion. The arms 1 and 2 are pivotally linked by a planetarygear drive 3 (Figure 2), which is not shown in detail, but which is suitably of the type disclosed in our Patent Specification No. 1 586869. The gear drive 3 has a drive shaft 4 of square section extending therefrom, which conventionally is used to mount a handwheel. An electric drive unit5 is mounted on the first arm 1 and around the shaft 4 by means of a mounting bracket 6. The unit 5 comprises an electric motor7 attached to the bracket 6 driving, via a flexible shaft8 carrying aworm gear9,a planetarygeararrange mentwhich engages and turnstheshaft4. The planetary gear arrangement includes a sun gear 10which rotates freely on a tubular shaft 11 whichsurroundsthedriveshaft4and is integrally formed with the casing 12 of the arrangement. A pinion gear 13 is integ rally formed with the sun gear 10 and so also rotates aboutthe shaft 11. The pinion gear 13 is engaged with and driven by the worm gear 9. The sun gear 10 engages three planet gears 14 freely rotatably mounted on stub-axles forming part of a gear carrier 15. The gear carrier has at its centre a squareaperturewhich engages the drive shaft 4 so that rotation of the carrier 15 turns the drive shaft 4. The planet gears 14 engage a fixed annulus gear 16 on the inside of the casing 12. The carrier 15 is thereby rotationally mounted with respect to the annulus gear 16 by the planet gears 14which enables high rotational loadingsto be applied tothe carrier without deflecting it from its axis of rotation. Rotation of the pinion gear 13 causes rotation of theplanetgears 14which arethusdriven aroundthe annulus 16,therebyturning the cage 15 to drive the gear drive 3 via the shaft 4, and so altering the relative angular positions ofthe arms 1 and 2. The overall reduction ratio of the gear arrangement is typically 180:1. The mounting bracket 6 may suitably carry limit switches engaged by stops on the second arm 2 to cause the motor to stop or reverse at the limits of movement of the arms. The mounting bracket 6 aiso readily permits the electric drive unit to be installed on an existing seat with suitably, previously manually operated, reclining mechanism. The above construction enables high speed low torque electric motors to be used which are generally of a compact size. Typically such motors operate at about 450 r.p.m. A second embodiment is illustrated in Figure 3 wherein parts corresponding to those in the embodiment of Figure 1 have been designated by the same reference numerals. In the second embodiment a facility is provided whereby the motor 7 may be controlled to move the arms 1,2 to predetermined positions. Accordingly, an annular gear30 is provided which includes teeth 31 which mesh with an additional ring of teeth 32 formed on the planet gears 14.Thean- nular gear30 is provided with a carbon strip (notvisible) which co-operates with electrical contacts 34to thereby define a variable resistance. The variable resistance in use forms part of an electrical control circuit (not shown) for the motor 7 and is used to operate the motor until a desired resist ance value is achieved. It will be appreciated thatthe contacts may be provided on the gear 30 and the carbon strip on the housing. The gearing ratio between the planet gears 14 and gear 30 is chosen to move the gear30through a desired arc (typically 270 ) for a 90 sweep of the arms 1, 2. CLAIMS
1. A seat reclining mechanism, comprising a first arm for connection to a seat back and a second arm for connection to a seat cushion, the arms being pivotally linked by a self-locking gear drive having a drive shaft rotation of which causes relative pivoting ofthefirstand second arms, and an electric drive unit for the gear drive, said unit comprising an electric motor driving a planetary gear arrangement mounted around and in driving engagement with the drive shaft.
2. Aseat reclining mechanism according to Claim 1, wherein the electric motor drives the sun gear of the planetary gear arrangement which drives planetart gears in engagement with a fixed annulusgear, drive passing to the drive shaft via the cage, which is fixed thereto.
3. A seat reclining mechanism according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the electric motor drives the planetary gear arrangement via a worm gear.
4. A seat reclining mechanism according to Claim 1,2 or 3, comprising electrical limit switches oper able atthe limits of movement ofthe armsto stop or reverse the electric motor.
5. A seat reclining mechanism according to any preceding claim, comprising a mounting bracket sec urable to the first or second arm,the bracket carrying the electric motor and the planetary gear arrangement.
6. A seat reclining mechanism, substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in,the drawings.
GB08518031A 1985-07-17 1985-07-17 Seat reclining mechanism Expired GB2179997B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08518031A GB2179997B (en) 1985-07-17 1985-07-17 Seat reclining mechanism

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08518031A GB2179997B (en) 1985-07-17 1985-07-17 Seat reclining mechanism

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8518031D0 GB8518031D0 (en) 1985-08-21
GB2179997A true GB2179997A (en) 1987-03-18
GB2179997B GB2179997B (en) 1988-11-23

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08518031A Expired GB2179997B (en) 1985-07-17 1985-07-17 Seat reclining mechanism

Country Status (1)

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Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3900219A1 (en) * 1988-01-05 1989-07-13 Imasen Denki Seisakusho Inuyam Vehicle seat
US4880274A (en) * 1987-07-31 1989-11-14 Ikeda Bussan Co., Ltd. Power reclining device of seat
US5435624A (en) * 1993-10-12 1995-07-25 Ford Motor Company Powered vehicle seat
DE19527483A1 (en) * 1994-07-29 1996-02-01 Aisin Seiki Electric drive arrangement for rake adjustment of motor vehicle seat
US6296306B1 (en) * 1999-07-08 2001-10-02 Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. Vehicle seat
US20200278009A1 (en) * 2019-02-28 2020-09-03 Lear Corporation Gear assembly
CN114013349A (en) * 2021-11-13 2022-02-08 长春富晟汽车技术研发有限公司 Electric quick folding mechanism for automobile seat backrest

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1528357A (en) * 1975-02-07 1978-10-11 Ihw Eng Ltd Seat reclining mechanism
GB2048367A (en) * 1979-03-06 1980-12-10 Nissan Motor Seat reclining device

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1528357A (en) * 1975-02-07 1978-10-11 Ihw Eng Ltd Seat reclining mechanism
GB1586869A (en) * 1975-02-07 1981-03-25 Ihw Eng Ltd Seat reclining mechanisms
GB2048367A (en) * 1979-03-06 1980-12-10 Nissan Motor Seat reclining device

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4880274A (en) * 1987-07-31 1989-11-14 Ikeda Bussan Co., Ltd. Power reclining device of seat
DE3900219A1 (en) * 1988-01-05 1989-07-13 Imasen Denki Seisakusho Inuyam Vehicle seat
DE3900219C2 (en) * 1988-01-05 1999-07-29 Imasen Denki Seisakusho Inuyam Vehicle seat with motorized adjustment of the backrest and the seat rail
US5435624A (en) * 1993-10-12 1995-07-25 Ford Motor Company Powered vehicle seat
DE19527483A1 (en) * 1994-07-29 1996-02-01 Aisin Seiki Electric drive arrangement for rake adjustment of motor vehicle seat
DE19527483B4 (en) * 1994-07-29 2006-07-06 Aisin Seiki K.K., Kariya Motorized recliner of a vehicle seat
US6296306B1 (en) * 1999-07-08 2001-10-02 Breed Automotive Technology, Inc. Vehicle seat
US20200278009A1 (en) * 2019-02-28 2020-09-03 Lear Corporation Gear assembly
US10830310B2 (en) * 2019-02-28 2020-11-10 Lear Corporation Gear assembly
CN114013349A (en) * 2021-11-13 2022-02-08 长春富晟汽车技术研发有限公司 Electric quick folding mechanism for automobile seat backrest

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8518031D0 (en) 1985-08-21
GB2179997B (en) 1988-11-23

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 19980717