Rail guide for a longitudinal adjustment of a motor vehicle seat and method for producing such a rail guide

• US 9,050,907 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2012
• Issued: 06/09/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Keiper Seating Mechanisms Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Metals And Mechanisms GmbH & Co. KG (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Becker, Burckhard, Kienke, Ingo, Balin, Alexander, Seibold, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Morrow, Jason S
• Application Number:
  US14/236,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20140175249A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 296/65.13, 296/65.15, 296/65.14, 74/892.3, 248/429, 723/891
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 connectors (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 described is a suitable method for producing said curved rails by at least one stamping mold (68) or by bending strips (96).

Claims

1. 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 balls 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 bolts or holes 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,

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, wherein;

the floor rail is connected to the floor assembly, and, in relation to a vehicle located in a horizontal x-y-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°

the rail guide being disposed in the motor vehicle so as to rise in the x-direction, a tangent drawn to the foremost region of the floor rail substantially extending parallel to the x-y-plane and deviating from the x-y-plane by only ±

°

3.

2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the change of angle between the two positions is about 6°

.

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

4. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the spindle nut has a starting region on each axial side, the starting region is configured in a manner that expands outwards.

5. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a rear end of the rails constitutes the lowermost point of the rails, the designation rear corresponding to the negative direction of the x-direction, and low corresponding to the negative direction of the z-axis.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the spindle has a length from 10 to 20 mm.