CA2627183A1 - Seat track locking mechanism - Google Patents

Seat track locking mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
CA2627183A1
CA2627183A1 CA002627183A CA2627183A CA2627183A1 CA 2627183 A1 CA2627183 A1 CA 2627183A1 CA 002627183 A CA002627183 A CA 002627183A CA 2627183 A CA2627183 A CA 2627183A CA 2627183 A1 CA2627183 A1 CA 2627183A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
rack
linkage
clock nut
clock
nut
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
CA002627183A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2627183C (en
Inventor
Keith Michael Ferguson
Othar P. Kennedy
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.)
AMI Industries Inc
Original Assignee
AMI Industries Inc
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 AMI Industries Inc filed Critical AMI Industries Inc
Publication of CA2627183A1 publication Critical patent/CA2627183A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2627183C publication Critical patent/CA2627183C/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64DEQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
    • B64D11/00Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
    • B64D11/06Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats
    • B64D11/0639Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats with features for adjustment or converting of seats
    • B64D11/064Adjustable inclination or position of seats
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64DEQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENTS OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
    • B64D11/00Passenger or crew accommodation; Flight-deck installations not otherwise provided for
    • B64D11/06Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02TCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T50/00Aeronautics or air transport
    • Y02T50/40Weight reduction

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Transmission Devices (AREA)
  • Seats For Vehicles (AREA)

Abstract

An apparatus for adjusting the position of a seat comprises a rack and a clock nut that grips the rack. The rack comprises a threaded rod, while the clock nut comprises a short cylindrical body that is drilled and threaded along its diameter with internal threads corresponding to the thread diameter and pitch of the rack. Circumferential reliefs are then formed in the threaded bore to enable the clock nut to be "clocked" from a position in which the threads of the clock nut engage the threads of the rack to a second position in which the threads of the clock nut disengage the threads of the rack. A pair of linkages are provided to rotate the clock nut between the engaged and disengaged positions and to transmit loads from the clock nut. Because the clock nut engages multiple teeth of the rack simultaneously, the seat track locking mechanism of the present invention is capable of extremely fine position adjustment without sacrificing ruggedness and because of the design of the linkages, the seat track locking mechanism locks bi-directionally and with little or no backlash.

Claims (18)

1. Apparatus for adjusting the position of a seat mounted to a vehicle comprising:

a rack, said rack comprising an elongate member having a longitudinal axis and a lateral surface, the lateral surface having a plurality of external teeth formed therein;

a clock nut, said clock nut comprising a pair of jaws and a flange extending between said pair of jaws so that each one of said pair of jaws is fixed relative to the other one of said pair of jaws, each one of said pair of jaws having internal teeth corresponding to the external teeth of said rack, each one of said pair of jaws being displaced axially from each other and on opposite sides of the lateral surface of said rack, said clock nut being rotatable about an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of said rack from a first position in which the internal teeth of said pair of jaws engage said external teeth of said rack to a second position in which said internal teeth of said pair of jaws disengage the external teeth of said rack;
and a linkage capable of rotating said clock nut from said first position to said second position.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the external teeth of said rack and the internal teeth of said pair of jaws comprise helical screw threads.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the internal teeth of said pair of jaws share a continuous fixed helical pitch.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said clock nut comprises a body having a first bore therethrough adapted to receive said rack, wherein said pair of jaws comprise at least a portion of the interior surface of said first bore, said first bore further comprising at least one relief formed therein adjacent said internal teeth for allowing said clock nut to move from said first position to said second position.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:

said clock nut further comprises a second bore intersecting and interrupting said first bore.
6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said linkage comprises a first toggle linkage that moves from a first position in which a the first toggle linkage is in a slightly over-center position with a knee of the first toggle linkage adjacent a limit stop, to a second position in which the first toggle linkage is in an opposite-side substantially over-center position with the knee of the first toggle linkage displaced from the limit stop as said clock nut moves from said first position to said second position.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

said linkage comprises a second toggle linkage that moves from a first position in which said second toggle linkage is in a slightly past bottom-dead-center position with a knee of the second toggle linkage adjacent a limit stop to a second position in which the second toggle linkage is in an opposite-side substantially before bottom-dead-center position with the knee of the second toggle linkage displaced from the limit stop as said clock nut moves from said first position to said second position.
8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

said first toggle linkage comprises a compression link, said compression link having at least one pivot having a predetermined clearance; and said second toggle linkage comprises a tension link that slidingly engages a pillow block attached to a pivoting linkage, said tension link further including a stop for preventing said tension link from withdrawing from said pillow block, whereby a force moving said clock nut in a first linear direction is reacted by loading said tension link in tension prior to said predetermined clearance being taken up by movement of said clock nut, and whereby a force moving said clock nut in an opposite linear direction is reacted solely by loading said compression link in compression with said tension link sliding through said pillow block.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein:

said stop is threaded to said tension link for adjusting the effective length of said link.
10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said rack is operatively attached to the vehicle and said clock nut is mounted to the seat.
11. Apparatus for adjusting the position of a seat mounted to a vehicle comprising:

a rack, said rack comprising an elongate member having a longitudinal axis and a lateral surface, the lateral surface having a plurality of external teeth formed therein;

a clock nut, said clock nut comprising a body having a first bore therethrough adapted to receive said rack, said first bore having an interior surface, at least a portion of the interior surface of said first bore having internal teeth corresponding to the external teeth of said rack, said first bore further comprising at least one relief formed therein adjacent said internal teeth, said clock nut further comprising a second bore intersecting said first bore;
said clock nut being rotatable about an axis intersecting said first bore from a first position in which the internal teeth of said first bore engage the external teeth of said rack to a second position in which the internal teeth of said first bore disengage the external teeth of said rack; and a linkage capable of rotating said clock nut from said first position to said second position.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

said linkage comprises a first toggle linkage that moves from a first position in which said first toggle linkage is in a slightly over-center position with a knee of the first toggle linkage adjacent a limit stop to a second position in which the first toggle linkage is in an opposite-side substantially over-center position with the knee of the toggle displaced from the limit stop as said clock nut moves from said first position to said second position.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

said linkage comprises a second toggle linkage that moves from a first position in which the second toggle linkage is in a slightly past bottom-dead-center position with a knee of the second toggle linkage adjacent a limit stop to a second position in which the second toggle linkage is in an opposite-side substantially before bottom-dead-center position with the knee of the second toggle linkage displaced from the limit stop as said clock nut moves from said first position to said second position.
14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

said linkage comprises a link having a threaded end for adjusting the length of said link.
15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

said rack is operatively attached to the vehicle and said clock nut is mounted to the seat.
16. Apparatus for adjusting the position of a seat mounted to a vehicle comprising:

a rack, said rack comprising an elongate member having a longitudinal axis and a lateral surface having a first and a second side, the lateral surface having a plurality of external teeth formed therein;

a clock nut, said clock nut comprising a first jaw, a second jaw and a flange extending between said first and second jaws so that said first jaw is fixed relative to said second jaw, said first and second jaws each having internal teeth adapted to engage the external teeth of said rack, said first jaw positioned adjacent the first side of said rack and said second jaw positioned adjacent the second side of said rack, said first jaw being displaced axially along the longitudinal axis of said rack from said second jaw, said clock nut adapted to rotate about an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of said rack from a closed position in which the internal teeth of said first and second jaws engage said external teeth of said rack to an open position in which said internal teeth of said first and second jaws disengage the external teeth of said rack; and a load-responsive linkage adapted to rotate said clock nut from said open position to said closed position and hold said clock nut in said closed position with a torque that increases with load, said linkage comprising a first linkage attached to said clock nut on the first side of said rack and said second linkage attached to said clock nut on the second side of said rack, said first linkage applying a force to said clock nut in a first direction relative to the longitudinal axis of said rack and said second linkage applying a force to said clock nut in a second, substantially opposite, direction to rotate said clock nut from said open position to said closed position, said first and second linkages cooperating to generate a first torque couple between said clock nut and said first linkage when a load is applied to said rack in a first direction and to generate a second torque couple between said clock nut and said second linkage when a load is applied to said rack in a second, opposite direction, said first and second torque couple both rotating said clock nut toward said closed position.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

said first linkage comprises a toggle, said toggle having at least one pivot having a clearance in the second direction, whereby a load applied to the rack in the second direction causes the clock nut to take up less than all of the clearance, thereby allowing the load to be reacted solely by the second linkage.
18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

said second linkage comprises a crank and connecting rod linkage with the connecting rod engaging the crank through a pillow block, whereby a load applied to the rack in the first direction causes the clock nut to push the connecting rod through the pillow block, thereby allowing the load to be reacted solely by the first linkage.
CA2627183A 2007-03-26 2008-03-25 Seat track locking mechanism Expired - Fee Related CA2627183C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US90813307P 2007-03-26 2007-03-26
US60/908,133 2007-03-26

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2627183A1 true CA2627183A1 (en) 2008-09-26
CA2627183C CA2627183C (en) 2011-11-01

Family

ID=39539712

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2627183A Expired - Fee Related CA2627183C (en) 2007-03-26 2008-03-25 Seat track locking mechanism

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US7887020B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1975063B1 (en)
CA (1) CA2627183C (en)

Families Citing this family (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1866178B8 (en) 2005-03-23 2018-04-18 Milsco Manufacturing, a unit of Jason Incorporated Seat mount with integrated adjustment
US9216673B2 (en) 2008-03-05 2015-12-22 Milsco Manufacturing Company, A Unit Of Jason Incorporated Low profile seat position adjustment system
JP5291397B2 (en) * 2008-06-24 2013-09-18 シロキ工業株式会社 Power sliding device for vehicle seat
US9353808B2 (en) * 2014-08-18 2016-05-31 Ami Industries, Inc. Bi-directional clutch lock
US9987951B2 (en) 2015-09-23 2018-06-05 Faurecia Automotive Seating, Llc Lock for vehicle seat foundation
US10099577B2 (en) 2015-12-18 2018-10-16 Magna Seating Inc Quick adjust power adjuster with split nut
US9944201B2 (en) 2015-12-18 2018-04-17 Magna Seating Inc Quick adjust power adjuster with tubular lead screw
US11766956B2 (en) 2016-09-08 2023-09-26 Fisher & Company, Incorporated Open architecture power length adjuster assembly for a vehicle seat and method of manufacturing the same
WO2020146579A1 (en) 2019-01-09 2020-07-16 Fisher & Company, Incorporated Power seat track assembly
US11760233B2 (en) 2019-02-20 2023-09-19 Fisher & Company, Incorporated Ultra-compact power length adjuster with anti-back drive capability and pinion-rack output for a vehicle seat
US20210269160A1 (en) * 2020-02-27 2021-09-02 Ami Industries, Inc. Mechanical shaft locking mechanism with back-drive prevention
US11529892B2 (en) 2020-05-01 2022-12-20 Fisher & Company, Incorporated Gearbox for vehicle seat adjustment mechanism
US11485255B2 (en) * 2020-05-01 2022-11-01 Fisher & Company, Incorporated Gearbox for vehicle seat adjustment mechanism
US11577839B2 (en) 2020-08-05 2023-02-14 Ami Industries, Inc. Side to side tilting aircraft seat mechanism

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DE626327C (en) 1934-08-11 1936-02-24 Ferdinand Florstedt Locking device for sliding seats, in particular of motor vehicles
NL257000A (en) * 1959-10-20
US3450425A (en) * 1967-11-14 1969-06-17 Atwood Vacuum Machine Co Seat adjuster latch construction
US4232895A (en) * 1977-07-11 1980-11-11 Japan Automobile Research Institute, Inc. Impact absorbing device for protecting vehicle's occupant from impact caused by collision
GB9000181D0 (en) 1990-01-04 1990-03-07 Ti Cox Ltd Vehicle seat slides
DE4102312C2 (en) 1991-01-26 1994-08-25 Keiper Recaro Gmbh Co Seat rail for vehicle seats, in particular for motor vehicle seats
DE4436221C1 (en) * 1994-10-11 1996-02-22 Keiper Recaro Gmbh Co Locking device for vehicle seats
AUPN395195A0 (en) 1995-07-04 1995-07-27 Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation Adjustable seat mounting mechanism
DE19757110C1 (en) * 1997-12-20 1998-11-19 Keiper Gmbh & Co Longitudinal seat adjuster for motor vehicle
EP0979750A3 (en) * 1998-08-12 2001-04-11 C. Rob. Hammerstein GmbH & Co.KG Vehicle seat adjusting device with a spindle and a spindle nut
CA2387947C (en) * 1999-10-19 2008-12-23 Magna Seating Systems Inc. Seat track assembly having a locking mechanism with infinite engagement
US6318696B1 (en) * 1999-11-08 2001-11-20 Dura Global Technologies Seat track locking mechanism with infinite adjustment
DE19956614A1 (en) * 1999-11-25 2001-05-31 Hammerstein Gmbh C Rob Adjustment device for a vehicle seat with a spindle and an associated spindle nut
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DE10230514B4 (en) * 2002-07-06 2004-10-14 Keiper Gmbh & Co. Kg Longitudinal adjuster for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1975063B1 (en) 2012-05-23
US7887020B2 (en) 2011-02-15
CA2627183C (en) 2011-11-01
EP1975063A3 (en) 2010-04-21
US20080238124A1 (en) 2008-10-02
EP1975063A2 (en) 2008-10-01

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Effective date: 20150325