DRIVER'S SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a height adjustment mechanism that enables elevating and lowering of the seats by means of the valve system driven by the control arm in driver's seats used in vehicles in a manner to provide ease of use by easy mounting due to light and fast reaction functionality and by increasing comfort without making difficulties for the user. The invention especially relates to a system, wherein rotation gear assy provides control with reverse circular motion and this rotational motion provided to the cable placed in the rotation gear assy is transferred to the push rod by means of the cable connected to the push rod on its other end; thus valve mechanism is actuated and the leverage mechanism connected to the seat is activated. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In motor vehicles, driver's seat should be adjusted according to the physical properties of the person and travel comfort. The mentioned adjustment is performed by seat adjustment mechanisms connected to seating or backrest parts of seats. Seat adjustment mechanisms are generally divided into two groups; rotational adjustment mechanisms that adjust the angle of the backrest part or seating part of the seat and linear adjustment mechanisms that adjust the linear position of the seat as a whole, actuated from the seating part of the seat.

In literature, European patent application EP1857319 relates to a mechanism for a vehicle seat adjustment apparatus, wherein this mechanism is provided with a drive component that can be driven in the opposite rotation direction and a drive output component, that can be driven by this drive component and that moves in the opposite rotation direction. The mentioned mechanism is provided with two unidirectional pawl gear clutches between the drive component and drive output component, wherein these clutches are oppositely connected in a manner that the locking direction of the first clutch corresponds to the rotation direction of the second clutch and otherwise the locking direction of the second clutch corresponds to the free rotation direction of the first clutch. Meanwhile, gear pawl clutches are provided with teeth along the circular path.

Each of the single-acting gear pawl clutches is placed in a bearing pin fixed to the related drive component in a moveable manner and they can be pressed against the teeth due to the pressure of the spring. The intended spring for this purpose is designed as a spiral spring acting as a tension spring, which affects the first clutch on one hand and the second clutch on the other hand with its distal ends.

Regarding the partial rotation of the drive output component against the drive component known from the design in the European patent application ΈΡ1857319", in principle, the drive component is formed as a semi-hollow cylindrical collar that serves as a driving actuator, that is supported by bearings in a rotatable manner and that extends to the hand wheel. Around its axis of rotation, the mentioned collar is loaded selectively by the torque affecting the hand wheel and by the direction of the torque due to rotation; one of the locking pawls is disengaged from the gear pawl clutch and the other gear pawl clutch is locked. Therefore the related pawl and clutch are actuated by rotating the drive component by means of the stop pin fixed to the drive component. The drive component, by the single- acting spiral spring that is in engaged position as before acts, by rotating the teeth driving mechanism belonging to both gear pawl clutches by means of the other gear pawl clutch.

For pivoting of the drive component in the opposite direction, a torque similarly in the opposite direction can be applied to the hand wheel. Here, the condition described above is reversed. Consequently, according to the description above, disengaged gear pawl clutch remains in engaged position and it is used to transfer the torque due to rotation to the drive component. The other clutch is disengaged appropriately by means of the collar.

For both conditions, a stop pin is connected to the disengaged gear pawl clutch in order to enable the transmission of torque from the hand wheel to the drive component in its direction of rotation.

Although the mechanism known from the European patent application ΈΡ1857319" is currently used in vehicle seat adjustment apparatus; the fact that parts used in the system have a complex form, they are not suitably producible, simply structured and compact from the modular point of view makes it harder to produce them. Therefore, it has disadvantages in terms of costs and ease of mounting of the system.

Consequently, the existence of the abovementioned problems and absence of any existing solutions has necessitated making an improvement in the related technical field.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to solve the abovementioned problems, eliminate all disadvantages and provide additional advantages to the structure.

Another object of the invention is to design a novel height adjustment mechanism, in order to perform the height adjustment of vehicle seats with the motion provided, in a manner to increase the user's comfort without having difficulty by means of light and fast reaction functionality, wherein rotational motion is provided in a bidirectional manner by the gear mechanism that can move in the opposite direction and is placed in the control system and moreover user's comfort is provided by stabilizing the position at the desired height by the adjustment mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to aid the system weight and seat weight in general.

Another object of the invention is to provide a modular system and thus ease of mounting.

Therefore, costs are reduced due to easy mounting and time saving in the assembly line.

Another object of the invention is to enable easy dismounting and mounting of the system at the point, where it is mounted to the seat (on the general system) due to its modularity.

Another object of the invention is to provide the stage feeling to the user and to enable the user to do the stage adjustment at the desired ease and comfort during travel.

Another object of the invention is to provide the comfort of the user by means of valves reaching the balance position at the desired speed and accuracy. Another object of the invention is to produce a low-cost product due to the low number of parts in the whole system.

Another object of the invention is to provide the user with full command and control of the system due to synchronized operation of the system and thus not experiencing system gaps and backlashes. Another object of the invention is to provide ease of mounting and modularity. Therefore, there is extra space for other systems inside the seat.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Figure-1 ; A perspective view of the height adjustment mechanism according to the invention.

Figure-2; A perspective view of the height adjustment lock mechanism according to the invention.

Figure-3; A view of the cross-section of the height adjustment lock mechanism according to the invention. Figure-4; An exploded perspective view of the height adjustment lock mechanism according to the invention.

Figure-5; A view of the cross-section of the height adjustment lock mechanism according to the invention. Figure-6; An exploded perspective view of the height adjustment valve mechanism according to the invention.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

100. Valve assy

101 . Push rod shaft

102. Arm rod

103. Cable

104. Spring arm load

105. First push rod

106. Second push rod

107. Pulling Cable length adjuster

108. Clockwise

109. Counterclockwise

1 10. Valve

1 1 1 . Valve actuation pin

200. Lock assy

230. Shaft

250. Rotation gear assy

251 . First gear pawl

252. Second gear pawl

253. Gear pawl push

254. Gear pawl pin

255. Gear Pawl push

256. Outer gear

257. Outer gear

258. Hard-stop

259. Out gear in-thread

260. Stage thread 261 . Dip

262. Dip hole

270. Lever assy

271 . Inner spring

272. Lever

273. Retaining spring

274. Inner sleeve

275. Cap nut

276. E-ring

280. Ball-catch pin assy

281 . Pin catch nut

282. Pin catch spring

283. Ball catch pin

290. Mounting bracket

291 . Bolt

300. Height adjustment mechanism

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In this section, height adjustment mechanism (300) of the invention will be described more clearly.

The invention is a mechanism that performs height adjustment by means of the height adjustment mechanism composed of - the first gear pawl (251 ) and the second gear pawl (252) that enable locking and that are located inside the outer gear (256) and outer gear (257) that provide the rotational motion in its structure in a clockwise (108) and counterclockwise (109) manner; gear pawl push (255) that actuates these elements; gear pawl push (253) that acts as a bearing for these elements; gear pawl pin (254) and E-ring (276) that are connecting components keeping the mentioned elements together; inner springs (271 ) that keep the mentioned connecting components axially stable; lever (272) that enables the control of the system by the user; retaining springs (273) that provide the returning of this lever to its initial horizontal position; shaft (230) that transmits the drive provided by the user to gear pawl push (255) and that keeps the whole system together; ball catch pin (283), pin catch nut (281 ) and pin catch spring (282) that apply force against the opposite impacts on the system; cable (103) and pulling cable length adjuster (107) that transfer the stage adjustment from this system to subsequent elements; mounting bracket (290) keeping the whole system together and bolts (291 ) that provide the connections of this mounting bracket (290) - and the cable(103) by connecting to the valve assy (100) and lock assy (200) with the aid of the elements push rod shaft (101 ), arm rod (102), spring arm load (104), first push rod (105), second push rod (106), pulling cable length adjuster (107), valve (1 10), valve actuation pin (1 1 1 ) within this assy.

Figure-1 shows the height adjustment mechanism (300) according to the invention and Figure-2 shows the isometric view of the lock assy (200). Lock assy (200) is mounted between the lever assy (270), rotation gear assy (250) and the ball catch pin assy (280). Height adjustment mechanism (300) provides the user with a height adjustment at the desired stage and comfort during travel. Figure-4 shows the exploded view of the lever assy (270) and rotation gear assy (250) constituting the system.

Rotation gear assy (250) is axially grouped by the shaft (230) that keeps the system together and shaft (230) is fixed by the cap nut (275). Rotation gear assy (250) has many functions here. Rotation gear assy (250) performs stage adjustment on one hand by means of the teeth of out gear in-thread (259) located inside outer gear (256) and outer gear (257) and by means of the first gear pawl (251 ) and second gear pawl (252). This motion is performed by means of the first gear pawl (251 ) and second gear pawl (252); gear pawl push (253) that aids its motion by holding on to the teeth of out gear in-thread (259) located inside the outer gear (256) and outer gear (257); gear pawl pin (254) and E-ring (276). The same system also exists on other surfaces of the outer gear (256) and outer gear (257), wherein when the outer gear (256) and first gear pawl (251 ) are in lock position; the outer gear (257) and second gear pawl (252) are in free position. In the opposite situation, when outer gear (257) and second gear pawl (252) are in lock position, the outer gear (256) and first gear pawl (251 ) are in free position and teeth of out gear in-thread (259) are skipped. These reverse rotational movements provide bidirectional motion opportunity to the user. These rotational movements have a certain number of stages, wherein when the last stage is reached; movement is limited by means of the hard-stop (258) placed on surfaces of the outer gear (256) and outer gear (257). By means of the hard-stop (258) placed on the gear pawl push (253) contained within the abovementioned rotation gear assy (250); a dip (261 ), opened on the outer gear (256) and outer gear (257), pairs with the dip hole (262) on the gear pawl push (253) so as to provide safety during changing stages.

Stage threads (260) are designed to suit the outer surface of the mentioned rotation gear assy (250), wherein the ball catch pin assy (280) provides balance in the system by applying a force on these stage threads (260) in the opposite direction. While ball catch pin assy (280) performs this function, it enables changing stages between the mentioned stage threads (260) by means of the pin catch spring (282) comprised by the ball catch pin assy (280); and stability is provided by making sensitivity adjustment by the pin catch nut (281 ) for the sustainability of force. The user makes the desired height adjustment by means of the lever assy (270). Torque is transmitted to the rotation gear assy (250) via the shaft (230) that is connected to the lever (272) and that keeps the system together. The returning motion of the lever (272) back to its initial position is performed by retaining springs (273) in counterclockwise (109) direction. The user is provided with convenience by returning the lever (272) back to its initial position, after each stage change, by means of the retaining springs (273). Mentioned retaining springs (273) that are partially connected to the mounting bracket (290), are set up according to the position of the lever (272) and they perform the mentioned return movement in counterclockwise (109) direction.

Mounting bracket (290), on which the rotation gear assy (250), ball catch pin assy (280) and lever assy (270) in the system are mounted together, constitutes the external structure of the system. Mounting bracket (290) acts as a bearing for the system by serving as a body in motion transfer in this whole operating system. It also serves as a roof in protecting the system for external effects. Inner springs (271 ) and the inner sleeve (274) that are located between the mounting bracket (290) and rotation gear assy (250) and that have shaft (230) passing through them, help maintain the position of the rotation gear assy (250).

Rotation gear assy (250) transmits the motion provided by the user to the valve assy (100) by means of the cable (103). Cable (103) is connected to the rotation gear assy (250), wherein its length changes in accordance with rotational motion of this assy provided by the user. This change actuates the air driven system and thus, height adjustment is made. Height adjustment mechanism (300) which successfully provides solutions for the abovementioned technical problems, enables making vehicle seat height adjustments and is to be extensively used due to modularity, cost effectiveness, easy mounting and increased comfort of the user during travel.