RAIL GUIDE FOR A LONGITUDINAL ADJUSTMENT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE SEAT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH A RAIL GUIDE

• US 20140175249A1
• Filed: 08/01/2012
• Published: 06/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keiper Seating Mechanisms Company Limited
• Original Assignee: C ROB Hammerstein GmbH & Company KG (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Becker, Burckhard, Kienke, Ingo, Balin, Alexander, Seibold, Kurt
• Granted Patent: US 9,050,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 248/429
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 19/08 by single or successive action of pressing tools, e.g. vice jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 22/02 Stamping using rigid devices or tools
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 53/88 other parts for vehicles, e.g. cowlings, mudguards
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/02246 Electric motors therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/06 slidable B60N2/12 , B60N2/2209 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/067 by linear actuators, e.g. linear screw mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0715 C or U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0745 the slide path being curved
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0747 the opening of the cross section being oriented in a direction different from the vertical, e.g. transversal
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/075 roller-less
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1695 with simultaneous height and inclination adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1832 including a curved slide
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/1853 Linear actuator, e.g. screw mechanism

Abstract

A rail guide that has at least one rail pair consisting of a floor rail (22) and a seat rail (24). The seat rail (24) has means (30) for fastening a seat frame to be arranged above the rail pair. The rails can be moved relative to each other in a longitudinal direction along a movement path (20). The floor rail (22) and the seat rail (24) are curved by the same circular radius of curvature (42) that ranges between 1,500 and 3,000 mm, in particular between 1,800 and 2,500 mm. The center point of curvature (44) is on the side of the rail pair facing away from the seat frame. The rail guide is a longitudinal adjustment device having a stationary spindle (52) and an associated spindle nut (54) that is longitudinally movable thereon, the spindle (52) being curved at the same circular radius of curvature (42). Also disclosed is a suitable method for producing said curved rails by means of at least one stamping mold (68) or by means of bending strips (96).

Claims

1. A rail guide for a longitudinal adjustment device of a motor vehicle seat, the rail guide comprising:

at least one pair of rails having a floor rail, a seat rail; and

guiding means disposed between the rails of the pair of rails, the rails of the pair of rails being displaceable relative to each other along a displacement path in a longitudinal direction, which is substantially parallel to an x-axis, the seat rail comprising fastening means for fastening a seat frame to be disposed above the pair of rails, wherein the floor rail and the seat rail are each curved with the same circular radius of curvature, and the radius of curvature is between 1,500 and 3,000 mm, and a center of curvature is located on a side of the pair of rails facing away from the seat frame.

2. The rail guide according to claim 1, wherein the center of curvature is located on a plane that is parallel to an x-z-plane and extends through a center of the pair of rails.

3. The rail guide according to claim 1, wherein the x-axis defines an x-direction and the floor rail and the seat rail delimit a channel-shaped cavity accessible only in the x-direction.

4. The rail guide according to claim 1, further comprising another pair of rails wherein the two pairs of rails are disposed parallel to each other, the two pairs of rails are disposed at a distance from each other in a y-direction, and the two pairs of rails are substantially constructionally identical, preferably or are constructionally identical.

5. A rail guide according to claim 1 in combination with an actuating drive to form a longitudinal adjustment device, the actuating drive comprising

a rotary drive unit having an output shaft;

a gear unit comprising a spindle nut rotationally connected to the output shaft;

a spindle nut; and

a spindle comprising a spindle thread with which the spindle nut is in engagement, the spindle being curved with the same circular radius of curvature as the rails, and the spindle nut being a straight nut.

10. The rail guide according to according to claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature is between 1,800 and 2,500 mm.

6. A motor vehicle seat comprising:

a seat frame;

a seat region;

a backrest; and

a rail guide comprising at least one pair of rails having a floor rail and a seat rail and guiding means disposed between the rails of the pair of rails, the rails of the pair of rails being displaceable relative to each other along a displacement path in a longitudinal direction, which is substantially parallel to an x-axis, the seat rail comprising fastening means for fastening to the seat frame, the seat frame being disposed above the pair of rails, wherein the floor rail and the seat rail are each curved with the same circular radius of curvature, and the radius of curvature is between 1,500 and 3,000 mm and a center of curvature is located on a side of the pair of rails facing away from the seat frame, the seat frame being connected to the fastening means.

11. The motor vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein the radius of curvature is between 1,800 and 2,500 mm.

12. The motor vehicle seat according to claim 6, further comprising an actuating drive cooperating with the rail guide to form a longitudinal adjustment device, the actuating drive comprising:

a rotary drive unit having an output shaft;

a gear unit comprising a spindle nut rotationally connected to the output shaft;

a spindle nut; and

a spindle comprising a spindle thread with which the spindle nut is in engagement, the spindle being curved with the same circular radius of curvature as the rails, and the spindle nut being a straight nut.

7. A motor vehicle comprising:

a floor assembly; and

a seat comprising;

a seat frame;

a seat region;

a backrest; and

a rail guide comprising at least one pair of rails having a floor rail and a seat rail and guiding means disposed between the rails of the pair of rails, the rails of the pair of rails being displaceable relative to each other along a displacement path in a longitudinal direction, which is substantially parallel to an x-axis, the seat rail comprising fastening means for fastening to the seat frame, the seat frame being disposed above the pair of rails, wherein the floor rail and the seat rail are each curved with the same circular radius of curvature, and the radius of curvature is between 1,500 and 3,000 mm and a center of curvature is located on a side of the pair of rails facing away from the seat frame, the seat frame being connected to the fastening means, wherein;

the floor rail is connected to the floor assembly, and, in relation to a vehicle located in a horizontal plane, the backrest, in a rearmost position of the seat frame relative to the rail guide, is inclined rearwards at an angle of 10°

to 15°

measured from the vertical, and, in the foremost position of the seat frame relative to the rail guide, is inclined rearwards at an angle of 5°

to 10°

measured from the vertical, with the change of angle between the two positions being at least 4°

.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the change of angle between the two positions is about 6°

.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the radius of curvature is between 1,800 and 2,500 mm.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 7, further comprising an actuating drive cooperating with the rail guide to form a longitudinal adjustment device, the actuating drive comprising:

a rotary drive unit having an output shaft;

a gear unit comprising a spindle nut rotationally connected to the output shaft;

a spindle nut; and

a spindle comprising a spindle thread with which the spindle nut is in engagement, the spindle being curved with the same circular radius of curvature as the rails, and the spindle nut being a straight nut.

8. A method for producing a rail guide, comprising at least one pair of rails having a floor rail and a seat rail and guiding means disposed between the rails of the pair of rails, the rails of the pair of rails being displaceable relative to each other along a displacement path in a longitudinal direction, which is substantially parallel to an x-axis, the seat rail comprising fastening means for fastening to the seat frame, the seat frame being disposed above the pair of rails, wherein the floor rail and the seat rail are each curved with the same circular radius of curvature, and the radius of curvature is between 1,500 and 3,000 mm and a center of curvature is located on a side of the pair of rails facing away from the seat frame, the seat frame being connected to the fastening means the method comprising the steps of:

manufacturing the floor rail from a floor rail blank; and

manufacturing the seat rail from a seat rail blank, wherein the blanks each extend curved with the radius of curvature of the rail, that the blanks are stamped in at least one respective stamping die having a curved profile, the profile being curved with the same circular radius of curvature as the rails, and that the finished floor rail or seat rail is prepared by stamping in at least one step.

9. The method for producing a rail guide according to claim 8, wherein the floor rail blank and the seat rail blank are manufactured from steel sheet and are elongated, wherein the longitudinal edges of the blank, if a base flange in the finished vehicle lies in the x-y-plane, extends in a straight manner and the blank is bent so as to correspond to a cylinder jacket, and the longitudinal edges of the blank, if a base flange in the finished vehicle lies in the x-z-plane, extends in a curved manner and the blank is plane, that the blank is bent in at least one bending step about two parallel bending bars, respectively, about bending lines extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal edge, and that at least one calibrating step is carried out in which bending is carried out in the direction opposite to the bend of the at least one bending step.