Rotational variable torque damper for a seat assembly for a vehicle
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorJason Miles Baker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variable torque rotary damper for a vehicle seat comprises a housing defining a non-uniform chamber for retaining therein a viscous fluid. A rotor has an axial portion extending at least partially into the chamber and a resistive portion extending radially from the axial portion for moving through the viscous fluid within the chamber. When torque is applied to the rotor resulting in rotation of the resistive portion through the viscous fluid, a resistant force being applied by the viscous fluid on the resistive portion increases or decreases proportionally relative to a position of the resistive portion within the non-uniform chamber.
Claims19
A variable torque rotary damper for a vehicle seat having a seat base, comprising:
- a housing defining a non-uniform chamber for retaining therein a viscous fluid;
- a rotor having an axial portion extending at least partially into the chamber and a resistive portion extending radially from the axial portion for moving through the viscous fluid within the chamber, when the seat base is moved between a seated position and a stowed position torque is applied to the rotor resulting in rotation of the resistive portion through the viscous fluid, a resistant force being applied by the viscous fluid on the resistive portion increases or decreases proportionally relative to a position of the resistive portion within the non-uniform chamber;
- and
- the housing including a stationary ramp positioned within the chamber, the ramp providing for both a high torque resistance and a low torque resistance to the rotor as the resistive portion rotates within the chamber.
A damper associated with a hinge mechanism for a vehicle seat having a seat base and a seatback, the seat base being connected to a floor of the vehicle via the hinge mechanism and capable of moving between a seated position and a stowed position wherein a rear section of the seat base is rotated away from the vehicle floor, the damper comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber for retaining therein a viscous fluid;
- a rotor having an axial portion and at least one fin connected to the axial portion for rotation therewith in the chamber, the rotor rotating as the seat base is moved between the seated position and the stowed position;
- and
- a ramp located within the chamber, the ramp having an increasing axial thickness as the at least one fin rotates in a first direction within the chamber, the ramp providing for both a high torque resistance and a low torque resistance to the hinge mechanism via the rotor as the at least one fin rotates within the chamber.
A vehicle seat assembly comprising:
- a seat base connected to a vehicle floor, the seat base capable of moving between a seated position and a stowed position wherein a rear section of the seat base is rotated away from the vehicle floor;
- a hinge mechanism for rotatably connecting the seat base to the vehicle floor;
- a seatback pivotally connected to the seat base, the seatback capable of being folded toward the seat base;
- and
- a rotary damper operatively associated with the hinge mechanism, the damper including:
- a housing having a bottom wall, a top wall and a sidewall and defining a non-uniform chamber for retaining therein a viscous fluid;
- a rotor having an axial portion and a resistive portion for rotating through the viscous fluid within the chamber, the rotor rotating as the seat base is moved between the seated position and stowed position;
- and
- wherein at least one of the top wall and the bottom wall includes a stationary ramp, the ramp providing for both a high torque resistance and a low torque resistance to the hinge mechanism via the rotor as the resistive portion rotates within the chamber, the torque being applied to the hinge mechanism increasing or decreasing proportional to a rotational position of the resistive portion with respect to the ramp.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.