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
  • B60N2/04—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable
  • B60N2/06—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable slidable
  • B60N2/08—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable slidable characterised by the locking device
  • B60N2/0812—Location of the latch
  • B60N2/0818—Location of the latch inside the rail
• • 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
  • B60N2/04—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable
  • B60N2/06—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable slidable
  • B60N2/07—Slide construction
  • B60N2/0702—Slide construction characterised by its cross-section
  • B60N2/071—T-shaped
• • 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
  • B60N2/04—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable
  • B60N2/06—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable slidable
  • B60N2/07—Slide construction
  • B60N2/0702—Slide construction characterised by its cross-section
  • B60N2/0715—C or U-shaped
• • 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
  • B60N2/04—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable
  • B60N2/06—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable slidable
  • B60N2/08—Seats specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement or mounting of seats in vehicles the seat or part thereof being movable, e.g. adjustable the whole seat being movable slidable characterised by the locking device
  • B60N2/0831—Movement of the latch
  • B60N2/0862—Movement of the latch sliding
  • B60N2/0875—Movement of the latch sliding in a vertical direction

Definitions

• the invention relates to a track assembly suitable for slidably mounting a seat on the floor of a vehicle.
• Vehicle seats are commonly mounted on the floor of a vehicle by engagement between a seat track member secured to the base of the seat and a floor track member secured to the floor of the vehicle.
• bearing assemblies such as the bearing assembly 1 shown in Figure 1, form fittingly retained between engaging portions of the two track members.
• the bearing assembly 1 effectively reduces friction between the relevant engaging portions of the two track members, and comprises a first steel ball 2, a spacer 3 and second and third steel balls 4,5 in a side by side configuration, that in use extends along the length of the two track members.
• the vehicle seat When a force is applied to a vehicle seat mounted in this way, in order to move the seat in either direction along the length of the floor track member, the vehicle seat transmits the force to the bearing assemblies 1.
• the majority of the force is transmitted to either the first steel balls 2, or the second and third steel balls 4,5, depending on the direction in which the force is applied to the seat, i.e. the desired direction of movement of the seat in respect to the floor track member.
• the force causes the particular steel balls to rotate and move in the general direction of the force. This effectively reduces friction between the two track members, and allows the seat track member to slide along the length of the floor track member in the direction of movement of the relevant steel balls.
• the force transmitted from the vehicle seat to the steel balls includes a first component generally perpendicular to the length of the track members (herein referred to as the first component), as well as a second component generally parallel to the length of the track members (herein referred to as the second component).
• the first component of the force causes the steel balls to form indentations in the track members.
• brinnelling Over the lifetime of a track assembly, the formation of such indentations, known as brinnelling, has an adverse effect on the movement of the seat track member along the length of the floor track member. The movement becomes bumpy and jerky due to the indentations, and this is particularly noticeable in vehicles in which the seats are moved frequently e.g. taxis and police cars.
• An alternative to using steel balls in the bearing assembly is the use of balls that are made from a plastics material.
• Plastic balls have a certain degree of resilience, and so when the first component of a force is transmitted from the seat to the bearing assembly, they are much less likely to form indentations in the track members.
• plastic balls in such assemblies do not withstand the same loads as steel balls.
• track members in such track assemblies are usually painted. Movement of steel balls between these track members causes burnishing of portions of the track members between which the bearing assemblies are form fittingly retained. Such burnishing involves removal of paint from the respective portions of the tracks, polishing these portions and increasing the overall clearance between the two track members.
• Plastic balls do not perform this burnishing action and so tend to slide between the track members, so forming flat edges. These flat edges eventually prevent any rolling movement of the plastic balls, and have a detrimental effect on the movement of a seat track member along the length of a floor track member in a track assembly.
• a track assembly suitable for slidably mounting a seat to the floor of a vehicle, comprising: a first track member, slidably connected to a second track member; and at least one bearing assembly retained between the first and second track members to facilitate sliding movement of the first track member along the length of the second track member; the or each bearing assembly including first and second groups of ball bearings separated by an elongate spacer extending in the longitudinal direction of the tracks, each group of ball bearings including a rigid ball formed from a rigid material and a resilient ball formed from a resilient material, the rigid ball being located between the resilient ball, and the respective end of the elongate spacer.
• This track assembly is advantageous because it includes both rigid and resilient balls.
• the rigid balls burnish relevant portions of the first and second track members between which the or each bearing assembly is retained.
• the provision of at least one resilient ball in the or each bearing assembly, at a position further away from the elongate spacer than the rigid ball, means that a relatively larger proportion of the first component of a force transmitted to the bearing assembly will be transmitted to the resilient ball, or balls, than to the rigid ball. Thus brinnelling of the track members is reduced.
• a track assembly suitable for slidably mounting a seat to the floor of a vehicle, comprising: a first track member, slidably connected to a second track member; and at least one bearing assembly retained between the first and second track members to facilitate sliding movement of the first track member along the length of the second track member; the or each bearing assembly including first and, second groups of ball bearings separated by an elongate spacer extending in the longitudinal direction of the tracks, each group of ball bearings including at least two different types of ball, wherein the compressibility of each of the different types of ball is such that the ball bearings burnish the track members and brinnelling of the track members is prevented.
• the or each bearing assembly comprises an elongate spacer, and at either end of the spacer, two resilient balls and a rigid ball in a side by side configuration, the rigid ball being located between the resilient balls and the respective end of the spacer.
• This particular configuration is advantageous over an assembly including a single resilient ball at either end of the bearing assembly. This is because a majority of the first component of a force transmitted to the bearing assembly will be spread over three balls at one end of the spacer, rather than two. Furthermore, the largest proportion of this component of the force will be transmitted to the resilient ball located furthest away from the spacer. This means that the size of the proportion of the first component of the force that is transmitted to the relevant rigid ball will be less than the proportion that is transmitted when only one resilient ball is provided in a side by side configuration with the rigid ball. Thus, brinnelling of the track member is further reduced.
• the elongate spacer acts to space apart each set of resilient and rigid balls located at either of its ends, preventing them from grouping together. This allows the first track member to move in either direction along the length of the second track member. If the elongate spacer were removed, and the two sets of balls grouped themselves together, then movement of the first track member in one particular direction along the length of the second track member may be prevented.
• the resilient and rigid balls used in the or each bearing assembly may have the same diameter as each other.
• the resilient balls used in the or each bearing assembly may have a relatively larger diameter than the rigid balls used in the or each bearing assembly.
• the relative difference in size of the resilient and rigid balls may compensate for compression of the resilient balls in use.
• the material from which the resilient balls are made is sufficient to absorb downward forces during movement of the seat, in order to avoid indentation of the track.
• the resilient material is also rigid enough to maintain a generally spherical shape to facilitate rolling.
• the resilient material may be an acetal resin such as Delrin (RTM), or a polyamide-amide resin or polyamide-imide resin such as Torlon (RTM).
• RTM Delrin
• RTM Torlon
• the rigid material may be steel.
• the elongate spacer in the or each bearing assembly may be an elongate cylindrical member having a diameter relatively smaller than the diameter of each of the resilient and rigid balls.
• the elongate spacer may be formed from metal or from a plastics material.
• the elongate spacer member is between 12.7cm and 15.2cm (5 in and 6 in) in length.
• Figure 1 is a plan view of a bearing assembly used in a prior art track assembly
• Figure 2 is a simplified representation of a track assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 3 is a detailed representation of the track assembly of Figure
• Figure 4 is a plan view of the bearing assembly used in the track assembly of Figures 2 and 3;
• Figure 5 is a simplified representation of the track assembly of Figure 2 when a force is applied to the track assembly in a first direction parallel to the length of the track assembly;
• Figure 6 is a simplified representation of the track assembly of
• Figure 2 when a force is applied to the track assembly in a second direction, parallel to the length of the track assembly and opposite in direction to the first direction.
• FIG. 2 A simplified representation of a track assembly 10 according to an embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 2.
• the track assembly 10 comprises a first elongate track member 12 that in use is secured to the base of a vehicle seat (not shown) slidably engaged with a second elongate track member 14 that in use is secured to the floor of a vehicle (not shown).
• a bearing assembly 16 is form fittingly retained between engaging portions of the two track members 12,14 along opposing sides of the track assembly 10.
• the first track member 12 is formed from two limbs 18,20 that are secured together proximate to the seat.
• the free ends of the limbs 18,20 remote from the seat, are shaped to form an inverted U-shaped cross- sectional engaging portion 22.
• the second track member 14 is generally U-shaped in cross-section, and includes lip portions 24,26 that curve inwardly towards the hollow interior of the second track member 14.
• Rollers 28 are provided on the floor 30 of the second track member 14 so that when the first track member 12 is slidably engaged within the hollow interior of the second track member 14, the engaging portion 22 rests over the rollers 28.
• the side walls 32,34 of the engaging portion 22 of the first track member 12 each include a curved portion 36 towards their free ends.
• a bearing assembly 16 is form fittingly retained on each opposing side of the track assembly 10, within ⁇ the relevant channel 44,46.
• the first track member 12 also includes two upwardly extending retaining limbs 48,50.
• the retaining limbs 48,50 engage within the curved lip portions 24,26 of the second track member 14. This engagement prevents movement of the first track member 12, relative to the first track member 14, in a direction perpendicular to the length of the track assembly 10. It thus ensures that the curved portions 36,42 remain in alignment with each other so that the cross-sectional shape of each of the channels 44,46 does not become distorted.
• the bearing assemblies 16 are prevented from escaping from the relevant channels 44,46 at either end of the track assembly 10, by ball retention dimples 49 provided in the curved portion 42 of each of the side walls 38,40 of the second track member 14.
• Figure 3 shows ball retention dimples 49 provided in the second track member 14 at one end of the track assembly 10.
• the ball retention dimples 49 are provided in a similar manner at the other end of the second track member 14 in the track assembly 10.
• the bearing assemblies 16 and the channels 44,46 may be lubricated with grease.
• the bearing assembly 16 shown generally in Figure 2, and also referred to in Figure 3, is shown in more detail in Figure 4.
• the bearing assembly 16 includes an elongate spacer 52 provided at either end with a steel ball 54.
• First and second resilient balls 56,58 formed from an acetal resin such as, for example, Delrin (RTM) or a polyamide-amide resin or a polyarr de-imide resin such as, for example, Torlon (RTM), are provided in a side by side arrangement with the steel ball 54, at either end of the spacer 52, so that each steel ball 54 is located between the spacer 52 and the first and second resilient balls 56,58.
• RTM Delrin
• RTM Torlon
• a large proportion of the first component Ft is transmitted to the first resilient balls 58 of the bearing assemblies 16, each positioned furthest away from the relevant spacer 52, in the general direction of the force F.
• a smaller proportion of the first component F is transmitted to the second resilient balls 56, each positioned between the relevant first resilient ball 58 and the relevant spacer 52.
• An even smaller proportion of the first component F t is transmitted to the steel balls 54, each positioned between the. relevant second resilient ball 56 and the relevant spacer 52.
• the resilience of the first and second resilient balls 56,58 means that the proportion of the first component F, of the force F transmitted to these balls 56,58 does not cause indentations to be formed in the first and second track members 12,14.
• the relative position of the steel balls 54 means that the indentation effect of the proportion of the first component Ft of the force F transmitted to the steel balls 54 is greatly reduced than if only one or two steel balls had been used in each of the bearing assemblies 16.
• the second component F 2 of the force F is also transmitted to the resilient and steel balls 54,56,58 causing them to turn and move in a direction generally parallel to the direction of the force F. This in turn allows the first track member 12 to slide along the second track member 14 in the direction of the force F.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Seats For Vehicles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=9895518

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (3)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2000
  • 2000-07-13 GB GB0017111A patent/GB2364632B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2001
  • 2001-07-13 WO PCT/US2001/022215 patent/WO2002006078A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2001-07-13 EP EP01952742A patent/EP1299259A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events