TORSION SPRING BUSHING
A vehicle seating assembly is provided which includes a seat back and a seat base operably connected to the seat back. The seat base has a seat base frame that includes a torsion tube extending laterally between at least two side members. A height adjustment mechanism is disposed through at least one of the side members. A torsion spring extends within the torsion tube and is in contact with at least two side members. A torsion spring bushing is positioned around the torsion spring and extends into the torsion tube. The torsion spring bushing defines a brush configured to contact the torsion tube and a retaining ring positioned around the torsion tube. The retaining ring is in contact with at least one side member.
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The present disclosure generally relates to a vehicle seating assembly, and more particularly, a torsion tube assembly disposed within a seat bottom of the seating assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONVehicle seating assemblies may include a torsion spring disposed within a torsion tube to regulate the force for adjusting the height of the seating assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONAccording to one aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle seating assembly is provided that includes a seat back and a seat base operably connected to the seat back. The seat base has a seat base frame that includes a torsion tube extending laterally between at least two side members. A height adjustment mechanism is disposed through at least one of the side members. A torsion spring extends within the torsion tube and is in contact with at least two side members. A torsion spring bushing is positioned around the torsion spring and extends into the torsion tube. The torsion spring bushing defines a brush configured to contact the torsion tube and a retaining ring positioned around the torsion tube. The retaining ring is in contact with at least one side member.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle seat base is provided that includes a seat base frame having a torsion tube extending laterally between at least two side members. A torsion spring extends within the torsion tube and is in contact with both side members. A torsion spring bushing is positioned around the torsion spring and extends into the torsion tube. The bushing defines a plurality of brushes protruding from the bushing and configured to engage the torsion tube.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle seat base is provided that includes a seat base frame having a torsion tube extending laterally between at least two side members, a torsion spring extending within the torsion tube and a torsion spring bushing positioned around the torsion spring and extending into the torsion tube. The bushing defines a hinge and a fastener disposed on opposite sides of the bushing
These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present disclosure will be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art upon studying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.
In the drawings:
Reference will now be made in detail to the present embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof, shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in
As used herein, the term “and/or,” when used in a list of two or more items, means that any one of the listed items can be employed by itself, or any combination of two or more of the listed items can be employed. For example, if a composition is described as containing components A, B, and/or C, the composition can contain A alone; B alone; C alone; A and B in combination; A and C in combination; B and C in combination; or A, B, and C in combination.
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Extending through the torsion tube 32 is the torsion spring 44. The torsion spring 44 extends substantially coaxially with the torsion tube 32 and includes bent portions 128 extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of the torsion tube 32. The torsion spring 44 may store strain energy by twisting to resist motion of the seat base 18 (
Referring now to
Positioned around the bushing body 148 is a plurality of brushes 52. The brushes 52 are positioned on top of the protrusions 160. The brushes 52 may extend the length of the bushing body 148 and protrusions 160, only a portion of the length or may have an intermittent spacing or placement along the length of the body 148. The brushes 52 may have a length along the protrusions of between about 6.0 mm and about 20 mm. The brushes 52 may have a height of between about 1.0 mm and about 4.0 mm. Each of the brushes 52 include a plurality of fibers extending radially outward from the protrusion 160. The fibers of the brushes 52 may be integrally defined by the protrusions 160 or may be applied thereto. The fibers may be composed of the same material as the bushing 48, or may be a different material. For example, the fibers may be composed of a polymeric material, a natural material, or composite thereof. The brushes 52 may be flexible and capable of being pressed against the bushing body 148 and an inside surface of the torsion tube 32. The brushes 52 may be equally spaced around the bushing body 148 or may be positioned in another pattern or irregular spacing. In examples where the bushing lip 144 is a discontinuous structure, the brushes 52 may be positioned between the brushing lips 144. The brushes 52 may taper in width along the bushing body 148 (i.e. have more or less fibers or have a less or more dense spacing).
The brushes 52 are configured to provide an interference fit between the torsion spring bushing 48 and the torsion tube 32. The flexibility of the brushes 52 allow the brushes 52 to fill a space formed between the bushing body 148 and an inner surface of the torsion tube 32. The brushes 52 are configured to create friction between the torsion tube 32 and the torsion spring bushing 48 such that lateral motion of the bushing 48 out of the tube 32 is resisted. Additionally, the interference fit between the torsion spring bushing 48 and the torsion tube 32 resists rotational movement of the bushing 48 within the torsion tube 32. In some examples, the inner surface of the torsion tube 32 may be roughened. In such examples, the roughened inner surface of the torsion tube 32 may generate a greater friction between the torsion tube 32 and the brushes 52 of the torsion spring bushing 48 thereby generating a stronger interference fit.
The torsion spring bushing 48 is configured to be operated between substantially open (
Referring now to
Various advantages may be gained through the use of the present disclosure. For example, use of the brushes 52 may prevent the force needed to increase the height of the seat base 18 from increasing over time. In traditional systems, bushings in torsion tubes may undergo rotational and lateral movement out of the tube, thereby contacting the torsion spring. As the bushing moves out of the torsion tube, increasing contact with the torsion spring may increase the force necessary to adjust the height of the seat. However, use of the brushes 52 may create an interference fit between the torsion spring bushing 48 and the torsion tube 32 such that the bushing 48 is resisted from negatively impacting the torsion spring 44. Additionally, use of the bushing fastener 172 and/or the hinge 168 may allow for quick and easy assembly of the bushing 48 around the torsion spring 44. Further, the alignment feature 170 may allow fast and accurate placement of the bushing 48 in the torsion tube 32.
It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structure without departing from the concepts of the present disclosure, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.
Claims
1. A vehicle seating assembly comprising:
- a seat back; and
- a seat base operably connected to the seat back, the seat base having a seat base frame comprising: a torsion tube extending laterally between at least two side members; a height adjustment mechanism disposed through at least one of the side members; a torsion spring extending within the torsion tube and in contact with at least two side members; a torsion spring bushing positioned around the torsion spring and extending into the torsion tube, the torsion spring bushing defining a brush configured to contact the torsion tube; and a retaining ring positioned around the torsion tube, the retaining ring in contact with at least one side member.
2. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the torsion spring bushing comprises a polymeric material.
3. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the retaining ring defines an angled portion.
4. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the torsion spring bushing is configured to center the torsion spring within the torsion tube.
5. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 1, wherein the torsion spring bushing defines a plurality of brushes.
6. The vehicle seating assembly of claim 5, wherein the plurality of brushes are configured to resist lateral and rotational movement of the torsion spring bushing within the torsion tube.
7. A vehicle seat base comprising:
- a seat base frame having a torsion tube extending laterally between at least two side members;
- a torsion spring extending within the torsion tube and in contact with both side members; and
- a torsion spring bushing positioned around the torsion spring and extending into the torsion tube, the bushing defining a plurality of brushes protruding from the bushing and configured to engage the torsion tube.
8. The vehicle seat base of claim 7, wherein the bushing defines an annulus around which a plurality of protrusions is defined.
9. The vehicle seat base of claim 8, wherein the plurality of brushes are positioned on the plurality of protrusions.
10. The vehicle seat base of claim 7, wherein the plurality of brushes are equally spaced on the torsion spring bushing.
11. The vehicle seat base of claim 7, wherein the plurality of brushes extend on the torsion spring bushing laterally relative to the torsion tube.
12. The vehicle seat base of claim 7, wherein each of the plurality of brushes comprise a plurality of fibers.
13. The vehicle seat base of claim 12, wherein the plurality of fibers comprise a polymeric material.
14. A vehicle seat base comprising:
- a seat base frame having a torsion tube extending laterally between at least two side members;
- a torsion spring extending within the torsion tube; and
- a torsion spring bushing positioned around the torsion spring and extending into the torsion tube, the bushing defining a hinge and a fastener disposed on opposite sides of the bushing.
15. The vehicle seat base of claim 14, wherein the hinge of the torsion spring bushing is configured to allow the bushing to open and close.
16. The vehicle seat base of claim 14, wherein the hinge of the bushing is a living hinge.
17. The vehicle seat base of claim 14, further comprising:
- an alignment feature defined by the torsion spring bushing, wherein the hinge is positioned within the alignment feature.
18. The vehicle seat base of claim 14, wherein the alignment feature is generally V-shaped.
19. The vehicle seat base of claim 18, wherein the fastener and secondary fastener each comprise a snap feature.
20. The vehicle seat base of claim 14, wherein the bushing defines an annulus having a curved conical shape.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 12, 2016
Publication Date: Oct 12, 2017
Applicant: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Dearborn, MI)
Inventor: Shailendra Yadav (Northville, MI)
Application Number: 15/096,857